Killer (Adamski song)

"Killer"
Single by Adamski
from the album Dr. Adamski's Musical Pharmacy
B-side "Bassline Changed My Life"
"I Dream of You"
Released 29 June 1990
Format 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl, CD
Recorded 1989 (1989)
Genre Acid house
Length 4:10
Label MCA
Writer(s) Adamski, Seal
Producer Adamski
Certification Gold (BPI)[1]
Adamski chronology
"N-R-G"
(1990)		 "Killer"
(1990)		 "The Space Jungle"
(1990)

"Killer" is a song by Adamski and Seal. Written by Adam Tinley (Adamski) and Seal and produced by Adamski, "Killer" was Adamski's breakthrough single, but is now more notable for introducing Seal as a vocalist. A major hit in the UK, it reached number one, spending four weeks at the top of the chart in May 1990. In total, the single sold over 400,000 copies in the UK, earning it a BPI Gold certification.[1]

Lyrically, the title of the song comes from the line "It's the loneliness that's the killer," which occurs only once in the introduction to the Seal version and not at all in the Adamski version. The distinctive opening bassline and keyboard melody during the chorus, however, are preserved in almost every version of the song in some form.

The song also contains the lyrics "Racism in among future kings can only lead to no good, besides, all our sons and daughters already know how that feels", these were recycled and used in Seal's song "Future Love Paradise" featured on his debut album.

Contents

Chart performance

Chart (1990) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[2] 1
Austrian Singles Chart[3] 11
Dutch Top 40[4] 2
German Singles Chart 2
Irish Singles Chart[5] 5
Swedish Singles Chart[6] 5
Swiss Singles Chart[7] 15
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[8] 23
Preceded by
"Vogue" by Madonna		 UK number one single
6 May 1990 (1990-05-06)		 Succeeded by
"World in Motion" by Englandneworder

Seal version

"Killer"

Cover of the 2005 release
Single by Seal
from the album Seal
B-side "Hey Joe" (live), "Come See What Love Has Done" (live)
Released December 21, 1991
Format 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl, CD
Recorded 1991
Genre Pop
Length 4:17 (radio version)
6:33 (single version)
6:21 (album version)
Label ZTT (1991)
Warner Bros. (2005)
Writer(s) Adamski, Seal
Producer Trevor Horn
Seal singles chronology
"The Beginning"
(1991)		 "Killer"
(1991)		 "Violet"
(1992)
"Walk On By"
(2004)
"Killer 2005"
(2005)
"A Father's Way
(2006)

In 1991 Seal re-recorded "Killer" for his eponymous debut album, produced by Trevor Horn. The single release of Seal's version peaked at #8 in the UK, squeezed onto the Billboard Hot 100 at #100 and peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart with a remix by William Orbit.[9] The music video for this version used computer-generated science-fiction themed imagery, largely built around a partial re-creation of the M. C. Escher print Another World.

The video was produced and directed by Don Searll. The song won Best British Video at the 1992 Brit Awards.

4 January 2005 saw a new single release of "Killer", containing new remixes of both "Killer" and "Crazy". This brought the single back to the Hot Dance Club Play chart, where it reached number one.[9]

Chart performance

Chart (1991) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[10] 8
Dutch GfK chart[11] 75
Irish Singles Chart[5] 6
Chart (1992) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 100
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play[9] 9
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[9] 14
Chart (2005) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play[9] 1
US Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales[9] 3

Track listings

U.S. maxi-single (1991)

  1. Killer (single version)
  2. Killer (William Orbit remix)
  3. Whirlpool (live)
  4. Killer (live)
  5. Come See What Love Has Done (live)
  6. Hey Joe (live) [ Billy Roberts cover ]
  7. Killer (William Orbit dub)

U.S. maxi-single (2005)

  1. "Killer" (Peter Rauhofer remix part 1)
  2. "Killer" (Peter Rauhofer remix part 2)
  3. "Killer" (Morel's Pink Noise vocal mix)
  4. "Killer" (DJ Monk remix)
  5. "Killer" (Jim Albert's Loneliness Is the Killer mix)
  6. "Crazy" (Ananda Project vocal mix)
  7. "Crazy" (Orange Factory mix)

George Michael version

"Killer" / "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
Single by George Michael
from the album Five Live
Released April 10, 1993
Format 12" vinyl, CD
Recorded 1992, Wembley Arena
Genre Dance
Length 5:58
Label Hollywood (U.S.)
Parlophone (Rest of the world)
Writer(s) Adamski, Seal, Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
Producer George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Somebody to Love"
(1993)		 "Killer" / "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
(1993)		 "Jesus to a Child"
(1995)

In 1992, George Michael performed "Killer" live at the Wembley Arena in a version that was released on the 1993 EP Five Live. "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" was also recorded and released on the same album. The two songs were blended together in the live performance, then remixed several times. P.M. Dawn released an extended and radio remix for the "Killer"/"Papa" combination in 1993. The singer also shot a video for it, in which he did not appear personally. It was during the time when Michael refused to exploit his outward look, which he thought would distract the audience from the music, his main concern. The video was directed by Marcus Nispel.

Track listing

  1. "Killer/Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (English edit)
  2. "Killer/Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (Ligosa Mix)
  3. "Killer/Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (P.M. Dawn Remix)

Charts

Chart (1993) Peak
position
Canadian RPM Top Singles[12] 19
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 69
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs[13] 5

ATB version

"Killer"
Single by ATB
from the album Movin' Melodies
Released 31 May 1999 (1999-05-31)
Format 12" vinyl, CD
Genre Trance
Length 4:01
Label Kontor (Germany)
Radikal (U.S.)
Writer(s) Adamski, Seal
Producer André Tanneberger, Woody van Eyden
ATB singles chronology
"Don't Stop!"
(1999)		 "Killer"
(1999)		 "The Summer"
(2000)

Trance act ATB recorded a version in 1999, released as a single on 31 May 1999 in Germany and on 19 September 2000 in the United States. The ATB version peaked at #4 on the UK singles chart and #36 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Featuring vocals by Drue Williams, it was the producer's first fully vocal-based song under the ATB name.

The song uses elements from both Adamski and Seal's versions, updated with more contemporary production techniques.

Track listings

  1. Killer (Video Edit) 4:08
  2. Killer (Radio Edit) 4:01
  3. Killer (Killer Mix) 5:56
  4. Killer (Original Mix) 6:15
  1. Killer (UK Radio Edit) 3:25
  2. Killer (Radio Edit) 4:00
  3. Killer (2000) 5:52
  4. Killer (Trevor & Simon Remix) 6:50
  5. Killer (Lost Witness Remix) 7:45
  6. Killer (Joe Fandango Remix) 7:11
  7. Killer (Video Edit) 4:06
  1. Killer (UK Radio Edit) 3:28
  2. Killer (Lost Witness Remix) 7:48
  3. Killer (Lock 'n Load Remix) 8:25
  1. Killer (Killer 2000 Mix) 5:55
  2. Killer (Trevor Reilly & Simon Foy Remix) 6:52
  3. Killer (Joe Fandango Remix) 7:11
  1. Killer (UK Radio Edit) 4:02
  2. Killer (Joe Fandango Remix) 7:16
  3. Killer (Lost Witness Remix) 7:49
  4. Killer (Lock N' Load Remix) 8:29
  5. Killer (Joe Fandango Dub) 5:27
  6. Killer (Lost Witness Dub) 7:45
  7. Killer (Trevor & Simon Remix) 8:57
  8. Killer (Gareth Jones Radio) 3:20
  1. Killer 2000 (UK Radio Edit) 3:26
  2. Killer 2000 (Killer 2000 Mix) 5:51
  3. Killer 2000 (Lost Witness Vocal Remix) 7:45
  4. Killer 2000 (Lock 'n Load Vocal Remix) 8:23
  5. Killer 2000 (Trevor & Simon Remix) 6:50
  6. Killer 2000 (Joe Fandango Mix) 7:11

Chart performance

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Dutch GfK chart[14] 25
Dutch Top 40[15] 22
UK Singles Chart[16] 4
Chart (2000) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play[17] 36
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[17] 32

Other versions

Other versions of "Killer" were performed by Northern Kings on the 2008 album Rethroned, power metal band Angel Dust on the 2002 album Of Human Bondage, girl group Sugababes as a B-side to the 2003 single "Shape", Scottish garage rock band Sons And Daughters as a B-side to their 2007 single "Gilt Complex" and Rhythm Police on the 2009 Remix release Killer. In 2010 Tiësto contributed a remix of the song for the game DJ Hero 2.

References

  1. ^ a b "ADAMSKI , KILLER , Gold , Fri Jun 1, 1990". BPI. http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=18023. Retrieved 8 January 2009. 
  2. ^ "Chart Stats - Adamski - Killer". http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=17483. Retrieved 19 April 2009 (2009-04-19). 
  3. ^ "Adamski - Killer - austriancharts.at (German)". http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Adamski&titel=Killer&cat=s. Retrieved 19 April 2009 (2009-04-19). 
  4. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40, 11 Augustus 1990/Week 32 (Dutch)". http://www.top40.nl/index.aspx?week=32&jaar=1990. Retrieved 19 April 2009 (2009-04-19). 
  5. ^ a b "irishcharts.ie search results". http://www.irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 19 April 2009 (2009-04-19). 
  6. ^ "swedishcharts.com - Adamski - Killer". http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Adamski&titel=Killer&cat=s. Retrieved 19 April 2009 (2009-04-19). 
  7. ^ "Adamski - Killer - hitparade.ch (German)". http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Adamski&titel=Killer&cat=s. Retrieved 19 April 2009 (2009-04-19). 
  8. ^ "allmusic ((( Adamski > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p12142. Retrieved 19 April 2009 (2009-04-19). 
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "allmusic ((( Seal > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p5383. Retrieved 19 April 2009 (2009-04-19). 
  10. ^ "Chart Stats - Seal - Killer (EP)". http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=19330. Retrieved 19 April 2009 (2009-04-19). 
  11. ^ "dutchcharts.nl - Seal - Killer... On The Loose (Dutch)". http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Seal&titel=Killer%2E%2E%2E+On+The+Loose&cat=s. Retrieved 19 April 2009 (2009-04-19). 
  12. ^ Top Singles - Volume 58, No. 5, August 14 1993. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  13. ^ a b Killer/Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - George Michael. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  14. ^ "dutchcharts.nl - atb - Killer (Dutch)". http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?key=10596&cat=s. Retrieved 19 April 2009 (2009-04-19). 
  15. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40, 7 Augustus 1999/Week 32 (Dutch)". http://www.top40.nl/index.aspx?week=32&jaar=1999&maand=8. Retrieved 19 April 2009 (2009-04-19). 
  16. ^ "Chart Stats - ATB - Killer". http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=28078. Retrieved 19 April 2009 (2009-04-19). 
  17. ^ a b "allmusic ((( ATB > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p359933. Retrieved 19 April 2009 (2009-04-19). 
Seal
Studio albums
Seal (1991) · Seal II (1994) · Human Being (1998) · Seal IV (2003) · System (2007) · Soul (2008) · Commitment (2010) · Soul 2 (2011)
Live albums
Compilations
Best 1991–2004 (2004) · Hits (2009)
Unreleased albums
Singles
"Killer" (1990) · "Crazy" (1990) · "Future Love Paradise" (1991) · "The Beginning" (1991) · "Killer (remix)" (1991) · "Violet" (1992) · "Prayer for the Dying" (1994) · "Kiss from a Rose" (1994) · "Newborn Friend" (1994) · "Don't Cry" (1996) · "Fly Like an Eagle" (1997) · "Human Being" (1998) · "This Could Be Heaven" (2001) · "Les Mots" (2001) · "Love's Divine" (2003) · "Walk on By" (2004) · "Killer 2005" (2005) · "A Father's Way" (2006) · "Amazing" (2007) · "The Right Life" (2008) · "A Change Is Gonna Come" (2008) · "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" (2008) · It's Alright (2009) · "I Can't Stand the Rain" (2009) · "If You Don't Know Me By Now" (2009) · "Secret" (2010) · "Weight of My Mistakes" (2010)  · "Let's Stay Together" (2011) · "Wishing on a Star" (2011)
Related articles
George Michael
Studio albums
Faith (1987) · Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990) · Older (1996) · Songs from the Last Century (1999) · Patience (2004)
Compilations
Extended plays
Five Live (1993)
Singles
"Careless Whisper" (1984) · "A Different Corner" (1986) · "I Want Your Sex" (1987) · "Hard Day" (1987) · "Faith" (1987) · "Father Figure" (1988) · "One More Try" (1988) · "Monkey" (1988) · "Kissing a Fool" (1988) · "Praying for Time" (1990) · "Waiting for That Day" (1990) · "Mother's Pride" (1990) · "Freedom! '90" (1990) · "Heal the Pain" (1991) · "Cowboys and Angels" (1991) · "Too Funky" (1992) · "Killer"/"Papa Was a Rolling Stone" (1993) · "Jesus to a Child" (1996) · "Fastlove" (1996) · "Spinning the Wheel" (1996) · "Older" (1997) · "Star People '97" (1997) · "You Have Been Loved"/"The Strangest Thing '97" (1997) · "Outside" (1998) · "Freeek!" (2002) · "Shoot the Dog" (2002) · "Amazing" (2004) · "Flawless (Go to the City)" (2004) · "Round Here" (2004) · "John and Elvis Are Dead" (2005) · "An Easier Affair" (2006) · "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)" (2008) · "True Faith" (2011)
Duets
"Wrap Her Up" (1985) · "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987) · "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1991)  · "Waltz Away Dreaming" (1997) · "As" (1999) · "If I Told You That" (2000) · "This Is Not Real Love" (2006) · "Heal the Pain" (2008)
Video albums
Faith (1988) · George Michael (1990) · Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1999) · Twenty Five (2006) · George Michael Live in London (2009)
Tours
Faith World Tour (1988-89) · Cover to Cover tour (1991) · 25 Live (2006-08) · Live in Australia (2010) · Symphonica Tour (2011)
Related articles
Book · Category
ATB
Studio albums
In the Mix albums
Singles
"9pm (Till I Come)" • "Don't Stop!" • "Killer" • "The Summer" • "The Fields of Love" • "Let U Go" • "Hold You" • "You're Not Alone" • "I Don't Wanna Stop" • "Long Way Home" • "In Love with the DJ/Sunset Girl" • "Marrakech" • "Ecstasy" • "Here with Me/IntenCity" • "Believe in Me" • "Humanity" • "Let U Go (Reworked)" • "Summer Rain" • "Renegade" • "Feel Alive" • "Justify" • "What About Us / L.A. Nights" • "Behind" • "Could You Believe"  • "Twisted Love" • "Gold" • "Move On"
DVD releases
Addicted to Music • No Silence • Seven Years (1998-2005) • Live in Poznan
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