Accidentally in Love

Album: Shrek 2 Soundtrack (2004)
Charted: 28 39
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was written for the Shrek 2. It appears near the beginning of the movie.
  • Lead singer Adam Duritz (from Billboard): "I was really struggling with it. I generally don't write songs on demand, and I almost got to the point where I thought I wasn't going to do it. They just told me that the song had to be uplifting. They actually said, 'Don't write a song about Shrek. Write a song that's about you.' The funny thing is, the song ended up reflecting a lot of what was going on in my life at the time: falling in love with someone you're not supposed to fall in love with because it's inconvenient. My songs for Counting Crows are mature and generally don't get a chance to reach kids. To be part of something like that is pretty cool."
  • The girl in the video is Ashley Roberts from the Pussycat Dolls. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Stefani - Amherst, WI
  • This was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song. It lost to "Al otro lado del río" from The Motorcycle Diaries.

Comments: 16

  • Jason Melgarejo from Las Vegas, NevadaI love Accidentally in Love by Counting Crows so much because it's a beautiful and romantic song that really touches my heart forever! I want to kiss Counting Crows but I mostly want to kiss the lead singer Adam Duritz who sang Accidentally in Love that really touches my heart forever!
  • Paul Crumpler from Cheddington, UkIf you are in love it is always an accident even when you are searching for love. Great song.
  • Terry from Grafon, WiThis song totally proves what a talented musician and lyricist Adam Duritz is. He writes the most profound music, like in several of his songs (Carriage, Anna Begins, Four Days, Colorblind, etc) about some of the heaviest stuff in life and then he writes this song for a children's movie that both kids and adults can relate too on several different levels. Comparing love to strawberry ice cream- nothing short of brilliant. Kids get it, and adults love it, and every time I see strawberry ice cream I think of being in love :) I will always love the Counting Crows and Adam Duritz!
  • Mary from Tampico, MexicoI love this song ! ...Adam Duritz it's a great songwriter, but the video kind of sucks. I guess there's a shrek video version
  • Aimee from Renton, WaThere's actually two music videos for this song. There is another version with Adam Duritz recording the song and with scenes from Shrek 2.
  • Violet from Indianapolis, InI love this video... and the cute little animated bunny singing it! lol
  • April from Nashville, TnIn an interview, Adam claimed his favorite line of the song was when he compaired love to "strawberry ice cream".
  • Gaymann from Gainesville, Fli this song is about kenny loving libby. or sydney. but thats his sister thats why it was an accident. their mom was pissed... i <3 the florida GAYders! woo!
  • Stephanie from Nashville, TnI love this song. It's a Great Song!!! I love how upbeat it is!
  • Caitlin from Upper Township, NjThis is such a cool love song, its upbeat and fun. My friends and I love it!
  • Grunge=dead from Nowhereville, Cai think this song is about shannon, being accidently in love with austin
  • Naiomi` from MelbourneI can really relate to this song. When the right person walks into your life..you just know. Sometimes love comes around when you least expect it, but it's these times that make it worth it...
    The lyrics really describe the feeling of falling in love when you least expect it.
    Nai, Melbourne, Australia
  • Alex from Las Vegas , NvFor some reason whenever I hear this song I feel that it means that the only way you can find love is that it just drops in your lap. I never thought it necessarily was about how you didn't want that relationship to be because you couldn't help it. But that's just me and I'm weird.
  • Maria from Cork, IrelandIt's actually about a girl he met in Dublin. I went to their gig last time they were there just after it was released and Adam was talking about it. They didn't work out '_' Fantastic concert.
  • Aiedail from Carnation, Waits kind of like you do something that you werent supposed to do that you did, and everything just was perfect.
  • Lorelei from Tokyo, Caheh, it really is frustrating when ur the type of person that falls immediately for whomever shows interest in you. it's feels like a disease almost. and u really do start thinking "how much longer WILL it take to cure this." u can't help falling in love, it just happens to ya.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he Inspired

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he InspiredSong Writing

Before he was the champ, Ali released an album called I Am The Greatest!, but his musical influence is best heard in the songs he inspired.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.

Devo

DevoSongwriter Interviews

Devo founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale take us into their world of subversive performance art. They may be right about the De-Evoloution thing.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Evolution Of The Prince Symbol

Evolution Of The Prince SymbolSong Writing

The evolution of the symbol that was Prince's name from 1993-2000.