"9 Crimes" is the first single

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

 from the album 9

9 (Damien Rice album)

9 is the second studio album by Irish singer, songwriter and producer Damien Rice, released in 2006. The album was released on 3 November in Ireland, 6 November in the United Kingdom and 14 November in the US. It was followed by the single "9 Crimes", which was released on 27 November 2006...

by Damien Rice

Damien Rice

Damien Rice is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician and record producer who plays guitar, piano, clarinet and percussion....

. This song features additional vocals from Lisa Hannigan

Lisa Hannigan

Lisa Margaret Hannigan is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. For several years she was a member of Damien Rice's band before beginning her solo career in 2008. She has been the recipient of various award nominations and critical praise both in Ireland and the USA...

 as does the whole album. The 7" single is pressed on clear-colored vinyl and comes with a fold-out poster.

Music video

The single's video was directed by Jamie Thraves

Jamie Thraves

Jamie Thraves is a British film writer and director.Jamie Thraves began making early short experimental films in 1989 at Hull University, having previously studied illustration . His graduation film Scratch and The Take-Out both went on to win numerous awards at short film festivals worldwide...

. The video is very reminiscent of the classic short film, The Red Balloon

The Red Balloon

The Red Balloon is a 1956 fantasy short film directed by French filmmaker Albert Lamorisse.The thirty-four minute short, which follows the adventures of a young boy who one day finds a sentient, mute, red balloon, was filmed in the Ménilmontant neighborhood of Paris, France.It won numerous awards,...

Appearances in other media

"9 Crimes" featured during the episode "From a Whisper to a Scream" on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...

., and on CBS's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

A shortened version of the song features in the animated movie Shrek the Third

Shrek the Third

Shrek the Third is a 2007 American animated film, and the third film in the Shrek series. It was produced by Jeffrey Katzenberg for DreamWorks Animation, and is distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was released in U.S. theaters on May 18, 2007...

's soundtrack as a lyrical interlude after Prince Charming imprisons Shrek

Shrek (character)

Shrek is a fictional character from the children's book Shrek! and the Shrek films. He is the main protagonist of both the book and the films...

,

"9 Crimes" was featured at the end of Season 2 Episode 4 of the American television series "Jericho

Jericho (TV series)

Jericho is an American action/drama series that centers on the residents of the fictional town of Jericho, Kansas, in the aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities in the contiguous United States...

".

"9 Crimes" was featured during the episode "Hello America" on the A&E drama "The Cleaner

The Cleaner (TV series)

The Cleaner was an A&E television series starring Benjamin Bratt. It debuted on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 10:00 pm EST and the last episode aired on September 15, 2009, when the show was officially cancelled....

".

"9 Crimes" was played during the obsequies of German

Germany national football team

The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....

 Goalkeeper Robert Enke

Robert Enke

Robert Enke was a German football goalkeeper.Enke played at leading clubs in several European countries, namely Barcelona, Benfica and Fenerbahçe, but made the majority of his appearances for Bundesliga side Hannover 96 in his homeland.He won eight full international caps for the German national...

 (Hannover 96

Hannover 96

Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:...

).

The 4th episode of the 3rd season of HBO's True Blood

True Blood

True Blood is an American television series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, detailing the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional, small town in the state of Louisiana...

was titled "9 Crimes" after the song, with the demo version featuring in the end credits.