{{short description|1997 single by Garbage}} {{Correct title|title=#1 Crush|reason=hash}} {{Infobox song | name = <nowiki>#1 Crush</nowiki> | cover = Numberonecrushcover.png | alt = | type = single | artist = Garbage | album = William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet: Music from the Motion Picture | released = {{Start date|1997|3|14}} | recorded = 1994–1995 | studio = Smart Studios<br>(Madison, Wisconsin) | genre = {{flatlist| * Trip hop<ref name= "Rolling Stone Staff 2024">{{cite web|last= Rolling Stone Staff|title= The 101 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time|website= Rolling Stone|date= September 24, 2024|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-movie-soundtracks-1235083518/|accessdate= October 4, 2024|quote=Garbage’s sultry, trip-hop-inflected “#1 Crush” set the perfect tone of star-crossed love...}}</ref> * alternative rock<ref>{{cite web|website=BuzzFeed|author=Brian Galindo, Alex Naidus & Ryan Creed|title=37 Alt Rock Songs You Haven't Thought About Since The Late '90s|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/90s-alt-rock-songs-you-forgot-you-loved|access-date=November 19, 2015|date=November 5, 2023}}</ref> }} | length = {{duration|m=4|s=50}} | label = Mushroom | writer = Garbage | producer = {{hlist|Garbage|Nellee Hooper (remix)}} | prev_title = Milk | prev_year = 1996 | title = #1 Crush | year = 1997 | next_title = Push It | next_year = 1998 }}
"'''#1 Crush'''" is a song by American rock band Garbage, released internationally as a B-side to their debut single "Vow" (1995), and in the United Kingdom on the B-side to their second single "Subhuman" (1995).
In 1996, Nellee Hooper and Marius de Vries remixed "#1 Crush" for the soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann's film ''Romeo + Juliet''. In addition to downplaying the guitars and reworking the percussion and synth elements of the song, Hooper added a distorted vocal sample from Madonna's 1995 single "Bedtime Story".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Sandiford-Waller|first=Theda|title=Hot 100 Singles Spotlight; Wherefore Art Thou|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uAkEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22%231%20crush%22&pg=PA91|date=1996-12-07|pages=91}}</ref> The remix of "#1 Crush" was released in March 1997 and went to number one on the ''Billboard'' Modern Rock Tracks chart, where it stayed for four weeks.
==Composition and release== "#1 Crush" was written and recorded between March 1994 and May 1995 during sessions between band members Duke Erikson, Shirley Manson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig in either Marker's basement recording studio or at their own Smart Studios in Madison.<ref>"''Q'' (issue 09/01/1996)" (Retrieved - 2008-02-10)</ref> Manson was concerned that listeners wouldn't realise that the song is about a stalker: "It's about somebody who wasn't quite right. The song however [was] slightly autobiography. Everybody's felt obsessive about something or somebody in their life".<ref name=Dustbin>{{cite book|last=Simpson|first=Dave|title=Vig's Atomic Dustbin|publisher=Melody Maker|location=UK|date=1995-08-12}}</ref> "#1 Crush" was slated for inclusion on the band's debut album, ''Garbage'', until Almo Sounds co-founder Jerry Moss called his label manager worried that the song might end up "a suicide note".<ref name="TITNTKMA">{{cite book| title=This Is the Noise That Keeps Me Awake|title-link=This Is the Noise That Keeps Me Awake |publisher=Akashic Books|year=2017|page=64|isbn=978-1-61775-550-7}}</ref> The band didn't think the song was particularly problematic. Erikson said "the lyrics were a bit over the top".<ref name="TITNTKMA" /> Reflecting on the lyrics, Manson felt, "All real love is a form of obsession. If you love someone more than anything else, that degree of exclusivity requires an abnormal amount of passion and care. And that can be positive," contrasting with the protagonist of "#1 Crush.<ref name=BillObsession>{{cite book|last=Bambarger|first=Bradley|title=The Modern Age|year=1997|publisher=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wQ4EAAAAMBAJ&q=Garbage%20%231%20crush&pg=PT88}}</ref> Butch Vig later described "#1 Crush" as "disturbing".<ref name=Dustbin/>
In August 1995, "#1 Crush" was released on the B-side of Garbage's singles "Vow" (in Europe, South Africa and Australasia) and "Subhuman" (in the United Kingdom).<ref name=Ltssinglesnotes>{{cite web|title=Vow (Discordant) / Subhuman (Mushroom)|url=http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/boylikearose/Garbage%20Memorabilia/1995OnlyHappyWhenItRainspresssheet.jpg|work=Press release|publisher=Mushroom Records UK|access-date=2011-07-15}}</ref> Both "Subhuman" and "#1 Crush" were included as bonus tracks on the Japanese release of ''Garbage'' (titled ''G'' in Japan).<ref>{{cite web|last=Watson|first=Rob|title=Garbage BVCP-881 (1st Japanese Pressing)|url=http://www.garbage-discography.co.uk/garbage_jap_cd1.php|publisher=Garbage-Discography.co.uk|access-date=2011-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050427015152/http://garbage-discography.co.uk/garbage_jap_cd1.php|archive-date=2005-04-27|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Remix release and commercial performance== thumb|Shirley Manson's platinum plaque certifying seven million worldwide sales for the ''Romeo + Juliet'' soundtracks
Early in 1996, Garbage's manager Shannon O'Shea pitched "#1 Crush" to 20th Century Fox for inclusion on the ''Romeo + Juliet'' film. The song was received enthusiastically by Fox; however, the band's label Almo Sounds were against it as the soundtrack would be released on another label, Capitol. After months of negotiation, Almo finally agreed. By this time, Garbage had two big hits in the US ("Only Happy When It Rains" and "Stupid Girl") and had broken through into the mainstream. Capitol planned to release the Garbage track first and then follow it up with another artist's song from the film's soundtrack album. Almo were concerned that "#1 Crush" was competing with Garbage's last single releases from their debut album: "Supervixen" had just been released to alternative radio and "Milk" to adult radio formats.<ref name="TITNTKMA"/> Almo had already pressed CDs and cassettes for the physical release of "Milk", and refused to give Capitol single rights. No commercial single for "#1 Crush" could be made available in stores, therefore the song would be ineligible for the Hot 100.<ref name=Hot100spotlight/> Capitol, however, wanted Garbage to shoot a music video for the song.<ref name="TITNTKMA"/>
The soundtrack album for ''Romeo + Juliet'' was released in North America on October 29, 1996, three days before the film's release on November 1; "#1 Crush" was placed as the album opener.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mayfield|first=Geoff|title=Between the Bullets|year=1996|publisher=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ugkEAAAAMBAJ&q=garbage%20nov%20%201996&pg=PA104}}</ref> O'Shea had already given a couple of radio stations early copies of the track on hastily burned CDRs. "#1 Crush" quickly got added to 22 station playlists, even though "Supervixen" was officially the current Garbage single and still increasing in airplay.<ref>{{cite book|title=R&R Alternative Top 50; November 8, 1996 (Airplay from October 28-November 3)|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-11-08.pdf|page=85|publisher=R&R, Inc|date=1996-11-08}}</ref> The following week, "#1 Crush" was the Most Added track at alternative radio, eclipsing "Supervixen" by adding a further 38 stations, while "Supervixen" gained none.<ref>{{cite book|title=R&R Alternative Top 50; November 15, 1996 (Airplay from November 4-10)|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-11-15.pdf|page=84|publisher=R&R, Inc|date=1996-11-15}}</ref> The ''Romeo + Juliet'' OST debuted at #44 on the Billboard 200.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Billboard 200|year=1996|publisher=Billboard|pages=96|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vQkEAAAAMBAJ&q=garbage%20nov%20%201996&pg=PA96}}</ref> "#1 Crush" debuted at #17 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and #49 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart;<ref name=Hot100spotlight>{{cite book|last=Sandiford-Waller|first=Theda|title=Hot 100 Singles Spotlight|year=1996|publisher=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uAkEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22%231%20crush%22&pg=PA91}}</ref> "Supervixen" quickly lost traction as "#1 Crush" soared ahead, gaining more station adds and almost tripling its weekly play total.<ref>{{cite book|title=R&R Alternative Top 50; November 22, 1996 (Airplay from November 11-17)|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-11-22.pdf|page=77|publisher=R&R, Inc|date=1996-11-08}}</ref> At this time, Almo was still refusing to support the single and were now focused on servicing "Milk".<ref name="TITNTKMA"/> Don O'Neal, program director of KFRR in Fresno, California, praised Garbage's crossover appeal with the radio success of their previous single "Stupid Girl" as well as the "almost gothic" alternative song "#1 Crush", stating that if they "didn't play that record, top 40 probably wouldn't have."<ref name="Carter">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aA4EAAAAMBAJ&q=Garbage%20%231%20crush&pg=PA106|title=Maintaining an Acts Modern Base|last=Carter|first=Kevin|date=March 15, 1997|publisher=Billboard}}</ref>
By December, the soundtrack album had risen to #12; ''Billboard'' declared that "#1 Crush" has become "the driving force behind the [''Romeo + Juliet'' OST]"<ref name=Hot100spotlight/> as it broke into the Modern Rock top ten.<ref>{{cite book|title=Modern Rock Tracks - December 7th, 1996|year=1996|publisher=Billboard|pages=85|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uAkEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22%231%20crush%22&pg=PA85}}</ref> Due to the song's success, Garbage considered filming a music video for it at the end of their touring commitments.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.chicagosuntimes.com | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516211808/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4356556.html | title='Romeo, Juliet' doth climbeth albums chart | work=Chicago Sun-Times, December 27, 1996 issue| archive-date=2011-05-16}}</ref> Almo reluctantly agreed to support "#1 Crush" after Geffen executives put pressure on the label.<ref name="TITNTKMA"/> On the first week of January 1997, "#1 Crush" peaked at #29 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart as it hit the #1 spot on the Modern Rock chart.<ref name=BillObsession/> The song would spend the next four weeks at the summit.<ref name="BillObsession"/> The ''Romeo + Juliet'' soundtrack eventually reached #2 on the albums chart; while ''Garbage'' rebounded from the lower-70s into the top 50.<ref>{{cite book|title=Billboard 200 (Jan 25, 1997)|year=1997|publisher=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Q4EAAAAMBAJ&q=Garbage%20%231%20crush&pg=RA1-PA106}}</ref> By the end of its chart-run, "#1 Crush" had spent a total of 16 weeks on the Hot 100 Airplay chart<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/garbage/chart-history/hsb/|title=Garbage Chart History "#1 Crush"|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2011-07-15}}</ref> and twenty-two on the Modern Rock chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/garbage/chart-history/mrt/|title=Garbage Chart History "#1 Crush"|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2011-07-15}}</ref> Erikson later recalled: "Turns out we didn't even need a video."<ref name="TITNTKMA"/>
From March through May 1997, ''Romeo + Juliet'' opened in theatres throughout Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=romeoandjuliet.htm|title=Romeo + Juliet; Foreign |publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref> In April, Mushroom serviced "#1 Crush" to European radio, where it placed on ''Music & Media'''s Most Added list,<ref>{{cite book|title=M&M Airplay; Station Reports; Most Added|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-04-12.pdf|page=17|publisher=Music & Media|date=1997-04-12}}</ref> and re-released the debut album bundled with a bonus "#1 Crush" CD single.<ref name=EUCD>{{cite AV media notes|title=#1 Crush|others=Garbage|date=1997|type=EU CD Single liner notes|publisher=Mushroom Records UK/BMG|id=74321 47771-2}}</ref>
In 2007, the remix of "#1 Crush" was remastered for Garbage's greatest hits album, ''Absolute Garbage'',<ref name="absolutegarbage">{{cite web|url=http://www.garbage.com/news/news.php?uid=336|title=New Best Of Album|publisher=Garbage.com|access-date=2008-02-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501180833/http://www.garbage.com/news/news.php?uid=336|archive-date=2010-05-01}}</ref> and ''Romeo + Juliet: Music from the Motion Picture (10th Anniversary Edition)''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/romeo-and-juliet-10th-anniversary-edition-original-soundtrack/|title=Review: Romeo + Juliet: 10th Anniversary Edition, Original Soundtrack|first=Sal|last=Cinquemani|date=2007-02-20|publisher=Slant}}</ref> In 2012, it was included in the band's second greatest hits album, ''The Absolute Collection'', released in Oceania. In 2015, an early demo mix of "#1 Crush" was included as a previously unreleased bonus track on ''Garbage (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition)'', along with new remasters of the original version and the remix.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2015/09/garbage-20th-anniversary-self-titled-deluxe-edition-album/|title=Garbage Announces Release Date, Track List for 20th Anniversary Edition of Debut Album|publisher=Spin|access-date=2015-09-02|first=Rachel|last=Brodsky|date=2 September 2015}}</ref> That year, ''The Absolute Collection'' was remastered for iTunes, where the "#1 Crush" remix was replaced with the original version. In 2022, the remix was remastered again and included in the band's third greatest hits album ''Anthology''.
==Critical reception and awards== {{expand section|date=September 2025}} "#1 Crush" was nominated for Best Song from a Movie at the 1997 MTV Movie Awards.{{citation needed|date=September 2025}}
==Media appearances== In 2004, the original version of "#1 Crush" became the theme tune to the British sci-fi drama ''Hex''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0423668/soundtrack|title=Hex (TV Series 2004-2005) - Soundtracks|publisher=IMDb|access-date=2 February 2015}}</ref> The song was also licensed for episodes of the shows ''La Femme Nikita'' and ''True Blood''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://io9.com/true-blood-brings-back-everything-we-love-about-this-se-1604690342|title=True Blood Brings Back Everything We Love About This Series|author=Woerner, Meredith|work=io9|date=14 July 2014}}</ref> and is performed by a character in the series ''Shameless''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2108266/soundtrack?ref_=tt_trv_snd|title="Shameless" I'll Light a Candle For You Every Day - Soundtracks|publisher=IMDb|access-date=27 December 2016}}</ref> and movie ''Soldier's Girl''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0324013/soundtrack|title=Soldier's Girl (TV Movie 2003) - Soundtracks|publisher=IMDb|access-date=2 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube| id=gmELX5BRLUI | title=Lee Pace performing to "No 1 Crush" in Soldier's Girl}}</ref> In 2022, the remix was used in episode 7 of the second season of ''American Horror Stories''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Topham |first=Michelle |date=2022-09-02 |title=Listen to Garbage's '#1 Crush" from American Horror Stories, Season 2, Ep. 7 |url=https://leosigh.com/listen-to-garbages-1-crush-from-american-horror-stories-season-2-ep-7/ |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=Leo Sigh |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Personnel== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Garbage''' * Shirley Manson – vocals * Steve Marker – guitars, bass guitar, samples and loops * Duke Erikson – guitars, keyboards, six-string and fuzz bass * Butch Vig – drums, loops, noise and efx
'''Production''' * Recorded & produced by Garbage * Second engineer: Mike Zirkel * Mastered: Howie Weinberg (Masterdisk) * Editing & post production: Scott Hull (Masterdisk) {{col-2}} '''"#1 Crush (Remix)"''' * Remix and additional production: Nellee Hooper * Additional programming: Marius de Vries * Mix engineer: Jim Abbiss {{col-end}}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- !scope="col"|Chart (1997) !scope="col"|Peak<br>position |- {{singlechart|Canadatopsingles|20|chartid=9891|rowheader=true|access-date=October 8, 2017}} |- {{singlechart|Canadarock|1|chartid=9795|rowheader=true|access-date=October 8, 2017}} |- !scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timarit.is/view_page_init.jsp?pageId=2953827|title=Íslenski Listinn |newspaper=DV|language=is|date=April 25, 1997|page=16|issn=1021-8254 |access-date=October 8, 2017}}</ref> |align="center"|2 |- {{singlechart|Billboardalternativesongs|1|artist=Garbage|rowheader=true|access-date=October 8, 2017}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardpopsongs|39|artist=Garbage|rowheader=true|access-date=October 8, 2017}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardradiosongs|29|artist=Garbage|rowheader=true|access-date=October 8, 2017}} |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- !scope="col"|Chart (1997) !scope="col"|Position |- !scope="row"|Canada Rock/Alternative (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3415&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3415.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3415|title=RPM '97 Year End Top 50 Alternative Tracks|work=RPM|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref> |align="center"|17 |- !scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timarit.is/view_page_init.jsp?pageId=2963913|title=Árslistinn 1997|newspaper=DV|language=is |date=January 2, 1998|page=16|issn=1021-8254|access-date=October 8, 2017}}</ref> |align="center"|6 |- !scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0g0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Garbage+Crush&pg=SL680-PA73 |title=1997 The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=109|issue=52|date=December 27, 1997|page=YE-73|issn=0006-2510|access-date=October 8, 2017}}</ref> |align="center"|11 |} {{col-end}}
==See also== * List of ''Billboard'' number-one alternative singles of 1997
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Wikiquote|Garbage (band)#William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet: Music from the Motion Picture (1996)}} * [http://www.garbage.com Official Garbage website] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110623041934/http://www.garbage.com/discog/indexe919-2.html "#1 Crush" lyrics]
{{garbage}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Number 1 Crush}} Category:1997 singles Category:Capitol Records singles Category:Garbage (band) songs Category:Mushroom Records singles Category:Song recordings produced by Butch Vig Category:1995 songs Category:Songs written by Shirley Manson Category:Songs written by Duke Erikson Category:Songs written by Steve Marker Category:Songs written by Butch Vig