„#1 Crush” is a song by Garbage, released internationally on the b-side to their debut release „Vow„, and in the United Kingdom on the b-side to second single „Subhuman”.

In 1996, the track was remixed by Nellee Hooper and Marius de Vries for the soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann’s modernised William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet movie adaptation. The remix of „#1 Crush” peaked at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Modern Rock Tracks, where it stayed for four weeks, and as of 2010 is Garbage’s sole #1 entry on any US chart. It was nominated for Best Song From a Movie at the 1997 MTV Movie Awards. „#1 Crush” was the first of two hit singles from the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack; „Lovefool” by The Cardigans continued the success of the compilation.

In 2007, the remix of „#1 Crush” was remastered and included on Garbage’s greatest hits album Absolute Garbage.

Song profile

„#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.[ Manson was concerned that listeners wouldn’t realise that the song was about a stalker: „It’s about somebody who wasn’t quite right. The song however were slightly autobiographical. Everybody’s felt obsessive about something or somebody in their life. I’ve felt crazy about somebody before,” she explained, „That feeling – usually when you’ve split up with somebody – when you’re absolutely obsessed with what they are doing. It’s all to do with being pathetic”.

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, „It’s just that keeping it short of unhealthy, short of violence, really requires a bit of moderation. You can’t let something like that take over all of your thought processes”. Butch Vig later described „#1 Crush” as „disturbing”.

Garbage’s debut international single release „Vow” featured „#1 Crush” on the b-side, and was released in Europe, South Africa and Australasia in June 1995. The August re-release for the United Kingdom saw the track order reversed, with accompanying b-side „Subhuman” released in its own right, with „#1 Crush” remaining as its b-side, and „Vow” being added as a CD single bonus track. In Japan, both „#1 Crush” and „Subhuman” were included as bonus tracks on the Japanese pressings of the band’s debut album (titled G in Japan).  At the end of 1995, BMG France included „#1 Crush” on an album sampler titled Rare Track Collection to give away free with copies of the debut album purchased in Virgin Megastores.

Nellee Hooper remixed „#1 Crush” for inclusion on the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack, working with producers Marius de Vries and Jim Abbiss. 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 1994 single „Bedtime Story”.

I feel this is more of a confession of her love. I always envisioned the two sitting quietly together. He asks Shirley how she feels about their relationship. She’s been struggling with the right words for a long time. His question opens the floodgates and out pours her soul to her love. She loves him so much she’s willing to die for him. She would give him her soul if he but asked for it. Sure, it’s a bit scary to be that obsessive, but that’s usually what happens at the start of a relationship when the two are falling in love. To me, this is the ultimate expression of love and personally holds a much higher place on my own list. How many can say they’ve ever felt that much in love with anyone?

#1 Crush Lyrics
Artist(Band):Garbage

I would die for you,
I would die for you,
I’ve been dying just to feel you by my side,
To know that you’re mine

I will cry for you,
I will cry for you,
I will wash away your pain with all my tears,
And drown your fear

Ah ah, ah ah ah,
Ah ah, ah ah ah,
Ah ah, ah ah,
Ah ah, ah ah ah

I will pray for you,
I will pray for you,
I will sell my soul for something pure and true,
Someone like you

See your face every place that I walk in,
Hear your voice every time that I’m talking,
You will believe in me,
And I will never be ignored

I will burn for you,
Feel pain for you,
I will twist the knife and bleed my aching heart,
And tear it apart

I will lie for you,
Beg and steal for you,
I will crawl on hands and knees until you see,
You’re just like me

Violate all the love that I’m missing,
Throw away all the pain that I’m living,
You will believe in me,
And I can never be ignored

I would die for you,
I would kill for you,
I will steal for you,
I’d do time for you,
I will await for you,
I’d make room for you,
I’d sail ships for you,
To be close to you,
To be a part of you,
‘cause I believe in you,
I believe in you,
I would die for you