I'm a Cuckoo

"I'm a Cuckoo" is the second single from Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian's sixth studio album, Dear Catastrophe Waitress (2003). Produced by Trevor Horn, the track was released as a single on 16 February 2004. B-side "Stop, Look and Listen" merges into "Passion Fruit" at the end of a song—an instrumental piece which was performed live prior to its release. The front cover features Shantha Roberts.

"I'm a Cuckoo"
Single by Belle & Sebastian
from the album Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Released16 February 2004 (2004-02-16)
StudioSarm Hook End (Checkendon, Oxfordshire)[1]
GenreIndie pop
Length5:26
LabelRough Trade
Songwriter(s)Richard Colburn, Mick Cooke, Chris Geddes, Stevie Jackson, Bobby Kildea, Sarah Martin, Stuart Murdoch, Robert Chater, Darren Seltmann
Producer(s)Trevor Horn
Belle & Sebastian singles chronology
"Step into My Office, Baby"
(2003)		 "I'm a Cuckoo"
(2004)		 "Funny Little Frog"
(2006)

"I'm a Cuckoo" fared better on the UK Singles Chart than previous single "Step into My Office, Baby", reaching number 14. It is the only Belle & Sebastian song to chart in Spain, peaking at number 19, and was their most recent hit in Sweden, reaching number 59. A Japanese version of the song was released as a B-side to the Japanese version of Belle & Sebastian's subsequent EP, Books.

Critical reception

An AllMusic reviewer described the track as being "like the indie pop version of Thin Lizzy",[2] who are also mentioned in the lyrics.

Reviewing the remix, PopMatters said, "the Avalanches’ remake draws out a more organic side with casual wind instruments and warm percussion. The samples of hustling, bustling chit-chat strike a note of extroverted gregariousness that shy, retiring types like Belle and Sebastian sometimes need someone else to bring out of 'em."[3]

Music video

The video for "I'm a Cuckoo" features Scottish Olympic 100m gold medallist Allan Wells as a running coach and lead singer, Stuart Murdoch, as an aspiring runner.

Track listings

Standard CD single[1][4][5]

  1. "I'm a Cuckoo"
  2. "Stop, Look and Listen"
  3. "I'm a Cuckoo (by the Avalanches)"
  4. "(I Believe In) Travellin' Light"
  5. "I'm a Cuckoo" (video)

UK 7-inch single[6]

  1. "I'm a Cuckoo"
  2. "(I Believe In) Travellin' Light"

UK DVD single[7]

  1. "I'm a Cuckoo" (video)
  2. "Stop, Look and Listen" (video)
  3. "I'm a Cuckoo (by the Avalanches)" (audio)
  4. "(I Believe In) Travellin' Light" (audio)

Charts
Chart (2004) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[8] 11
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[9] 19
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 59
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 14
UK Indie (OCC)[12] 2

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 16 February 2004
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
 Rough Trade [13]
Japan 25 February 2004 CD [14]

References
  1. I'm a Cuckoo (UK CD single liner notes). Belle & Sebastian. Rough Trade Records. 2004. RTRADSCD157.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. allmusic ((( I'm a Cuckoo > Overview )))
  3. Arnold Pan (17 November 2021). "THE 10 BEST BELLE AND SEBASTIAN NON-ALBUM SONGS". PopMatters.
  4. I'm a Cuckoo (US CD single liner notes). Belle & Sebastian. Rough Trade Records. 2004. 06076-83234-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. I'm a Cuckoo (Australian CD single liner notes). Belle & Sebastian. Rough Trade Records. 2004. URA125.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. I'm a Cuckoo (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Belle & Sebastian. Rough Trade Records. 2004. RTRADS 157.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. I'm a Cuckoo (UK DVD single liner notes). Belle & Sebastian. Rough Trade Records. 2004. RTRADSDVD 157.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  9. "Belle and Sebastian – I'm a Cuckoo" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  10. "Belle and Sebastian – I'm a Cuckoo". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  12. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  13. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 14 February 2004. p. 27.
  14. "CDリリース" [CD Releases] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 5 March 2004. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
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