Freddie's Dead

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“Freddie's Dead (Theme From Superfly)”
Single by Curtis Mayfield from the album Super Fly
B-side	"Underground"
Released	July 1972
Format	7"
Genre	Soul/Funk
Length	3:17 (single edit) 5:27 (album version)
Label	Curtom/Buddha CR-1975
Writer(s)	Curtis Mayfield
Producer	Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield singles chronology
"Freddie's Dead (Theme from Superfly)" (1972) "Superfly" (1972)

"Freddie's Dead" is a song by Curtis Mayfield. It was the first single from his 1972 soundtrack album for the film Super Fly. The single was released before the Super Fly album, and in fact before the film itself was in theaters. The song peaked at #4 on the U.S. Pop Chart and #2 on the R&B chart.

The song laments the death of Fat Freddie, a character in the film who is run over by a car.

Like most of the music from the Super Fly album, "Freddie's Dead" appears in the film only in an instrumental arrangement, without any lyrics. The song's music is featured prominently in the film's opening sequence and also recurs at several other points. Because of this usage the song was subtitled "Theme from Superfly" on its single release (but not on the album). It is not to be confused with "Superfly", a different song and the second single released from the Super Fly album.

[edit] Cover versions

"Freddie's Dead" has been covered by performers including E.U., MFSB and The Derek Trucks Band.

The band Fishbone covered "Freddie's Dead" for the lead track on their 1988 album Truth and Soul.

[edit] References and parodies

• The Nightmare on Elm Street film Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare is a play on the song's title.

• Master P recorded "Kenny's Dead", a parody of Mayfield's song featuring the hapless South Park character Kenny McCormick, for Chef Aid: The South Park Album.

• Lorne sings the song in the episode "The Magic Bullet" of Angel, as a reference to Fred and her possible death for not accepting Jasmine.

• Late Night With Conan O'Brien In a memorable sketch where Conan is seen walking through the lobby of 30 Rock dressed like a pimp