Killer (Adamski song) explained

Killer
Cover:Adamskikiller.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Adamski
Album:Doctor Adamski's Musical Pharmacy
B-Side:
  • "Bassline Changed My Life"
  • "I Dream of You"
Recorded:1989–1990[1]
Genre:
Length:
  • 4:10 (album version)
  • 3:46 (UK radio edit)
Label:MCA
Producer:Adamski
Chronology:Adamski
Prev Title:N-R-G
Prev Year:1990
Next Title:The Space Jungle
Next Year:1990

"Killer" is a song by British DJ and record producer Adamski. It was written by Adamski and British singer-songwriter Seal, who also provided vocals. It was released in March 1990 by MCA Records as the first single from Adamski's second album, Doctor Adamski's Musical Pharmacy (1990), and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. The single spent four weeks at the top in May and June 1990 and sold over 400,000 copies in the UK, earning it gold certification. It also reached number one in Belgium and Zimbabwe and number two in the Netherlands and West Germany.

The song's music video was directed by Don Searll. Melody Maker ranked "Killer" the ninth-best single of the year.[4] In 1991, Seal re-recorded "Killer" for his debut album, Seal, produced by Trevor Horn. Seal's version reached number eight in the UK and number 100 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Background

Adamski recounted that Seal saw him perform in 1989 at an illegal rave at the Santa Pod Raceway. Seal afterwards handed a demo tape to Adamski's MC, Daddy Chester, with which both were impressed. Seal had previously been singing in blues bands but a year spent travelling in Asia had changed his view of life and he had since become involved in the rave scene.

Adamski and Seal later happened to meet on New Year's Eve 1989 at a club named Solaris in London, and Seal was invited to work on one of a number of pieces that Adamski was performing at that time. Adamski had an instrumental track he called "The Killer" because he felt that it sounded 'like the soundtrack to a movie murder scene'. According to Adamski, Seal's vocals were recorded against this track on 27 January 1990: coincidentally the same day that 10,000 people gathered in Trafalgar Square (not far from the studio where they were working) for the 'Freedom to Party' demonstration against a government crackdown on rave culture, which Adamski himself attended.

Musically, the song is characterized by a distinctive opening bassline and keyboard melody during the chorus. The track makes use of only two instruments – Ensoniq SQ80 Synthesizer and a Roland TR-909 drum machine – and occupied only eight tracks of a 48-track mixing console.[5]

Release

Both Adamski and Seal recalled that they were in financial trouble at the time of recording. Seal was almost penniless and was living in a squat. Although Adamski had his own following as a DJ and was enjoying success with his previous single "N-R-G", he was on a government scheme which paid his rent and allowed him £40 a week. Both Adamski and Seal were struck by the popularity of "Killer" following its release on 21 March 1990. The song topped the UK Singles Chart and reached the top 10 in many European countries. Adamski recounted his surprise at people singing the memorable bassline to him in the street and, in particular, at hearing the track played at a wedding in a hotel at which he stayed following a performance in Cambridge. Seal recalled, "within a week, I went from being a relative nobody – this weird guy at raves, with silver bits in my hair – to a household name."[5]

Lyrics

Seal explained that the words he provided for "Killer" were intended as an exhortation to freedom and overcoming; that "the lyrics are about transcending whatever holds you back".[5] The song's line "Racism in amongst future kids can only lead to no good, besides, all our sons and daughters already know how that feels" was re-used in Seal's 1991 song "Future Love Paradise". The introduction to the Seal version also contains the line "It's the loneliness that's the killer", which does not occur in the Adamski version.

Chart performance

"Killer" debuted within the UK Singles Chart top 40 at number 39 on 14 April 1990.[6] Although the track was credited solely to Adamski by the Official Charts Company, various publications credited Seal's contribution to the song as a featured artist. It reached the top 10 during its fourth week on the chart before reaching number one on 12 May. After a four-week run at the top, the track fell one place to number two, being replaced in pole position by "World in Motion" by New Order. It spent 16 weeks in the top 40.

Critical reception

Upon the release, Bill Coleman from Billboard found that this "enchanting techno-hip-house charmer from the keyboardist's Liveandirect project sports a languid vocal to complement the instrumentation."[7] Dave Jennings from Melody Maker wrote, "This is much like it. "Killer" isn't the brutish thin its title suggests. It's a medium-paced dance track built around a rock-solid bassline, laced with eerie synthetics and topped with the plaintive voice of guest singer Seal — who sounds firmly in the grip of lovely desolution. "Killer" shifts more than enough to fit on the dancefloor, but it might also suit your mood if you have to go home alone when the club has closed. Emotive and effective."[8] David Giles from Music Week called it a "strange release", adding, "It sounds as though a bluesy soul vocalist has become trapped inside a throbbing piece of machinery; it actually takes a fair while to warm up into the familiar pace of house rhythm." He also stated that "Adamski seems to be plotting a move towards the soul world but is still overawed by technology."[9]

Ian McCann from NME declared it as "a perfect pop moment, if Adamski never makes another record half as good it will stand as a testament to its time like Bowie's, Numan's and Human League's best."[10] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits remarked that the song is "a bit of surprise", complimenting Seal, "who turns in a fine soul-singing". He explained that the song "builds up from a slow Depeche Mode-sounding beginning into a full-blown "rave" record and then drops down for the moody bit again at the end. A complete success."[11]

Retrospective response

In an retrospective review, John Bush from AllMusic stated that the songs like "Killer" "still have an inkling of the freshness they must have possessed back in 1989".[12] In 2010, Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger commented, "What was startling about the record in 1990—and what lets it keep its charge now—is that the music simply refuses to get out of Seal's way. In fact, if you only knew Seal from the rolling smoothness of his latterday career 'Killer' would come as a real shock: here he is, making his debut not as a highfalutin' loverman but as an isolated paranoid battling through a tangle of wires and buzz. Adamski is truly as much the star here, putting together a tense, crisp piece of house music which doesn't actually need his singer to be memorable (though surely needed him to reach number one)."[13]

In 2020, The Guardian ranked "Killer" number 87 in their list of "The 100 greatest UK No. 1s".[14] They added, "Every part of Adamski’s production is perfectly designed: the sad chords, the funkily interrupted alien transmission of the synths, the prodding bassline with its edges almost imperceptibly corroded by acid. Most beautiful of all is Seal: half activist, half oracle." In December 1990, Melody Maker ranked it number nine in their list of "Singles of the Year", saying, "A superlative fusion single in a year in which the word 'fusion' was glibly overused. 'Killer' was 1990's postscript to Marvin Gaye's 'What's Goin' On?'. Adamski's low-key techno-dub proved the perfect backdrop for Seal's mournful vocals."[4]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Killer" was directed by Don Searll.[15]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1990)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[16] 112
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[17] 2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[18] 14
Spain (AFYVE)[19] 15
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[20] 23
Zimbabwe (ZIMA)[21] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1990)Position
Belgium (Ultratop)[22] 9
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[23] 12
Germany (Official German Charts)[24] 21
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[25] 17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] 13
UK Singles (OCC)[27] 5

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United Kingdom21 March 1990MCA[28]
Japan25 July 1990Mini-CD[29]

Seal version

Killer
Cover:Seal-killer-1991.jpg
Caption:1991 7-inch UK single
Type:single
Artist:Seal
Album:Seal
B-Side:
  • "Hey Joe" (live)
  • "Come See What Love Has Done" (live)
Recorded:1991
Length:
  • 4:17 (radio version)
  • 6:33 (single version)
  • 6:21 (album version)
Label:
Producer:Trevor Horn
Prev Title:The Beginning
Prev Year:1991
Next Title:Violet
Next Year:1992

In 1991, Seal re-recorded "Killer" for his debut album, Seal, produced by Trevor Horn. Seal's version, released in November 1991 by ZTT Records, reached number eight in the United Kingdom, number 100 on the US Billboard Hot 100,[30] and number nine on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart with a remix by William Orbit.[31]

The music video for Seal's version was produced and directed by Don Searll, and used computer-generated science-fiction themed imagery, largely built around a partial re-creation of the M. C. Escher print Another World. The song won British Video of the Year at the 1992 Brit Awards.

A new single release of "Killer", containing new remixes of both this and another Seal hit, "Crazy", was released in January 2005. This brought the single back to the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, where it reached number one.[31]

Track listing

  1. "Killer"
  2. "Killer"
  3. "Whirlpool"
  4. "Killer"
  5. "Come See What Love Has Done"
  6. "Hey Joe"
  7. "Killer"
  1. "Killer"
  2. "Killer"
  3. "Killer"
  4. "Killer"
  5. "Killer"
  6. "Crazy"
  7. "Crazy"

Charts

Chart (1991–1992)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[32] 95
Europe (European Dance Radio)[33] 13
Ireland (IRMA)[34] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[35] 75
UK Singles (OCC)[36] 8
UK Dance (Music Week)[37] 15
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[38] 14

George Michael version

Killer" / "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
Cover:George_Michael_Killer.jpg
Type:single
Artist:George Michael
Album:Five Live
Released:[39]
Recorded:22 March 1991
Venue:Wembley Arena (London)
Length:
  • 5:58 (full version)
  • 4:15 (single version)
Label:
Producer:George Michael
Prev Title:Somebody to Love
Prev Year:1993
Killer
Title2:Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
Next Title:Jesus to a Child
Next Year:1996

In 1991, English singer-songwriter 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. The P.M. Dawn extended and radio remix for the "Killer" / "Papa" combination was released in 1993. Michael shot a video for the release, in which he did not appear personally. It was directed by German director Marcus Nispel.

Track listing

  1. "Killer/Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
  2. "Killer/Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
  3. "Killer/Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"

Charts

Chart (1993)Peak
position
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[40] 4
UK Airplay (Music Week)[41] 43
UK Dance (Music Week)[42] 56
US Billboard Hot 100[43] 69
Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)5
US Cash Box Top 100[44] 77

ATB version

Killer 2000
Cover:Atb_Killer.jpg
Type:single
Artist:ATB
Album:Movin' Melodies
Length:4:04
Label:
Producer:
Prev Title:Don't Stop!
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:The Summer
Next Year:2000

German DJ ATB recorded a version of "Killer" in 1999, released as a single on 31 May 1999 in Germany and on 19 September 2000 in the United States. 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. The UK radio edit differs from others in that it includes ATB's signature guitar sound. This version of "Killer" peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and number 36 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

The song featured on the acclaimed[45] 2000 mix album CreamLive.

Track listings

  1. "Killer" – 4:08
  2. "Killer" – 4:01
  3. "Killer" – 5:56
  4. "Killer" – 6:15
  1. "Killer" – 3:25
  2. "Killer" – 4:00
  3. "Killer" – 5:52
  4. "Killer" – 6:50
  5. "Killer" – 7:45
  6. "Killer" – 7:11
  7. "Killer" – 4:06
  1. "Killer" – 3:28
  2. "Killer" – 7:48
  3. "Killer" – 8:25
  1. "Killer" – 5:55
  2. "Killer" – 6:52
  3. "Killer" – 7:11
  1. "Killer" – 4:02
  2. "Killer" – 7:16
  3. "Killer" – 7:49
  4. "Killer" – 8:29
  5. "Killer" – 5:27
  6. "Killer" – 7:45
  7. "Killer" – 8:57
  8. "Killer" – 3:20
  1. "Killer 2000" – 3:26
  2. "Killer 2000" – 5:51
  3. "Killer 2000" – 7:45
  4. "Killer 2000" – 8:23
  5. "Killer 2000" – 6:50
  6. "Killer 2000" – 7:11

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1999)Peak
position
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[46] 16
Germany (Media Control Charts)31
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[47] 22
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[48] 25
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 24
Chart (2000)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[49] 33
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)20
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)36
UK Singles (OCC)[50] 4
US Hot Dance Music/Club Play (Billboard)[51] 36
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)32

Year-end charts

Chart (1999)Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[52] 134
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[53] 85

Usage in media

An instrumental version of "Killer" was used as the Goal of the Tournament backing music for the BBC's Italia 90 coverage. It also featured in the 1991 Only Fools and Horses Christmas special, Miami Twice. It has also been used in video games DJ Hero 2 (as a remix by Tiësto) and Forza Horizon 3 (on the in-game radio station "Bass Arena"). A short fragment of the song was played in the first scene of the first episode of Bancroft. It was also used in a May 2018 episode of ITV soap opera Emmerdale, playing on the radio in Charity Dingle's car, and triggering memories of when she was raped at age 14 by Detective Inspector Mark Bails in 1990. Most recently, it has been used by BT in a 2018 advertising campaign.

The music video for the George Michael version of the song appeared in an episode of Beavis and Butthead, called "The Trial".

Other versions

"Killer" has been recorded and performed by numerous other artists over the years:

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: How we made Killer, by Seal and Adamski. Interviews by Dave. Simpson. 11 March 2013. 26 August 2017. The Guardian.
  2. Book: O'Neill, Siobhan. Robert . Dimery . 2015 . 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. Seal - "Crazy. Universe. New York. 653.
  3. Web site: Tom. Eames. The 100 greatest songs of the 1990s, ranked. Smooth Radio. July 31, 2024. August 15, 2024.
  4. Melody Maker. Singles Of The Year. 22 December 1990. 24 February 2023.
  5. Web site: How we made Killer, by Seal and Adamski . 11 March 2013 . .
  6. Book: McAleer, David. The Virgin Book of Top 40 Charts. Virgin Books. 2009. 978-0-7535-2200-4. UK. 605–610.
  7. Bill . Coleman . Single Reviews . . 30 June 1990 . 79 . 28 October 2020 .
  8. Dave. Jennings. Melody Maker. Singles. 31 March 1990. 24 February 2023.
  9. David . Giles . Singles . . 31 March 1990 . 23 . 29 October 2020 .
  10. Ian. McCann. NME. Long Play. 6 October 1990. 24 February 2023.
  11. Tom. Doyle. Review: Singles. Smash Hits. 53. 4 April 1990. 8 March 2020.
  12. Web site: John . Bush . Adamski – Liveandirect . . 4 November 2020 .
  13. Web site: Tom. Ewing. Adamski – "Killer". Freaky Trigger. 14 December 2010. 6 March 2020.
  14. Web site: The 100 greatest UK No 1s: 100-1. The Guardian. 5 June 2020. 27 July 2020.
  15. Web site: Killer – Version 2 (1991) by Adamski feat. Seal. IMVDb. 18 October 2018.
  16. Web site: Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 5 June 2015 . 25 August 2015 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150605213523/http://i.imgur.com/DkGCr8v.jpg . 5 June 2015.
  17. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 7. 24. 16 June 1990. IV. 1 June 2020.
  18. Book: Pennanen, Timo . 2006 . Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 . fi . 1st . Tammi . 978-951-1-21053-5 . Helsinki.
  19. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st. September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
  20. Dance Club Songs. Billboard. 8 September 1990. subscription. 24 July 2023.
    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  21. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1990. Ultratop. nl. 15 October 2019.
  22. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles – 1990. Music & Media. 7. 51. 22 December 1990. 36. 1 June 2020.
  23. Web site: Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1990. GfK Entertainment. de. 15 October 2019.
  24. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1990. Dutch Top 40. 21 May 2020.
  25. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990. MegaCharts. nl. 15 October 2019.
  26. 1990 Top 100 Singles. Music Week. Spotlight Publications. London, England. 41. 2 March 1991.
  27. Web site: BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for 'Adamski'. British Phonographic Industry. 22 January 2016.
  28. Web site: キラー アダムスキー. Killer Adamski. Oricon. ja. 26 January 2024.
  29. Web site: Billboard > Artists / Seal > Chart History > The Hot 100. Billboard. 22 January 2016.
  30. Billboard > Artists / Seal > Chart History > Dance Club Songs. Billboard. 22 January 2016.
  31. 246.
  32. European Dance Radio. Music & Media. 8. 47. 23 November 1991. 26. 29 October 2021.
  33. Web site: The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for 'Seal' (page 1). Fireball Media. 22 January 2016.
  34. Web site: dutchcharts.nl > Seal – Killer... On The Loose. nl. 19 April 2009.
  35. Web site: Official Charts > Seal. The Official UK Charts Company. 22 January 2016.
  36. Top 60 Dance Singles . . 16 November 1991 . 22 . 28 September 2020.
  37. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20101222203953/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/seal-p5383/charts-awards/billboard-singles. allmusic > Seal > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles. Rovi Corporation. 22 December 2010. 22 January 2016.
  38. 15 May 1993. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 23. 16 August 2024.
  39. Web site: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (12.04.1993 – 18.04.1993). Dagblaðið Vísir – Tónlist. 9 March 2018. is. 3 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181003014140/http://timarit.is/files/11767804.pdf#navpanes=1&view=FitH. dead.
  40. Top 50 Airplay Chart. Music Week. 22 May 1993. 16. 29 April 2024.
  41. Top 60 Dance Singles . . 5 June 1993 . 20 . 9 April 2021.
  42. Killer/Papa Was a Rollin' Stone – George Michael
  43. Top 100 Pop Singles. Cash Box. LVI. 47. 31 July 1993. 12. 20 April 2024.
  44. Rated 4.5/5 stars by AllMusic http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/cream-live-mr0002978718
  45. Web site: Atb: Killer . 28 July 2014.
  46. Web site: Nederlandse Top 40, 7 Augustus 1999/Week 32 (Dutch) . 19 April 2009.
  47. Web site: dutchcharts.nl – atb – Killer (Dutch) . 19 April 2009.
  48. Web site: australian-charts.com > ATB – Killer 2000. 25 August 2015. Hung Medien.
  49. Web site: The Official Charts Company – ATB – Killer . . 19 April 2009.
  50. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p359933|pure_url=yes}} allmusic (((ATB > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles))) ]. 19 April 2009.
  51. Web site: Jaarlijsten 1999. nl. Dutch Top 40. 11 May 2022.
  52. Web site: Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999. Romanian Top 100. ro. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050122081829/http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1999.html. January 22, 2005.
  53. Web site: It's All Indie: 2:54 cover Seal's 90's classic 'Killer' . 11 September 2012 . 31 May 2014.
  54. Web site: 2:54 – Sugar/Killer (Vinyl) at Discogs . . 31 May 2014.
  55. Web site: Killer. Spotify. 12 June 2019.