Killin' Time (Tina Cousins song) explained

Killin' Time
Cover:TinaKTSingleCover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Tina Cousins
Album:Killing Time
Length:3:58
Label:
  • Jive
  • Eastern Bloc
Producer:
  • Mark Topham
  • Karl Twigg
Next Title:Angel
Next Year:1997

"Killin' Time" is the debut single by British singer, songwriter and former model Tina Cousins, released on 9 June 1997 from her debut album, Killing Time (1999).[1] [2] The song was written by Mark Topham and Karl Twigg, and initially charted at number 80 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1999, German DJ Sash!, who had collaborated with Cousins on "Mysterious Times", remixed "Killin' Time" for its re-release on 15 March 1999. "Killin' Time '99" peaked at number 15 in the United Kingdom, number 16 in Finland, and number 17 in Spain.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor MacKenzie Wilson described the song as a "jaunty pop tune twisted into a trance-like vibe".[3] Michael Paoletta from Billboard complimented it as a "buoyant" hit.[4] In 1999, a reviewer from Birmingham Evening Mail wrote, "The voice of Sash's "Mysterious Times", Cousins has returned to the dance pop sounds of the keyboard master for her second solo release. A relentless electronic beat underpins the sensual vocals which should prove a staple in the clubs leading up to the summer season."[5] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel deemed it as "dark-tinged" in his review of Killing Time.[6] Talia Jackson from Dayton Daily News said, "Brightening an otherwise familiar electronic techno setting, tracks such as "Killin' Time" and "Mysterious Times" mesh with her vocals."[7] Chris Finan from Music Weeks RM gave the 1997 version four out of five, remarking that the Fishead mix "really is very good".[8] Smash Hits declared it as a "hard hittin' floor filler", adding that it is "setting feet and booties moving in clubs everywhere. Tina has a huge voice."[9] An editor from Sunday Mirror felt that "this is pure Saturday night disco", saying, "Where's my stilettos?"[10]

Chart performance

"Killin' Time" was a top-10 hit in Scotland and a top 20 hit in Finland, Spain, and the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart on 21 March 1999; the single had previously charted at number 80 on its first release in 1997. During its second run on the chart, "Killin' Time" spent four weeks in the top 100. The single also peaked at number 12 on the UK Dance Singles Chart and number four on the UK Indie Singles Chart. In the Flanders region of Belgium, it spent nine weeks on the Ultratop 50, peaking at number 30 in May 1999. In the Netherlands, "Killin' Time" also was a top-30 hit, peaking at number 23 on both the Dutch Top 40 and Single Top 100 charts in August 1997. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 57 on 3 April 1999. The song also charted in Romania, ranking in at number 64 on the country's year-end chart for 1999.

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single. It features Cousins alone in a room, performing the song. In between, there are black-and-white scenes from a party at the same place. Here, the singer is seen dancing and having fun with other people. Other scenes also shows Cousins sitting alone in a couch, while people are walking by or around.

Track listings

  1. "Killin' Time" (radio edit) – 3:59
  2. "Killin' Time" (Fishead club mix) – 6:50
  3. "Killin' Time" (W.I.P. dub) – 6:22
  4. "Killin' Time" (Rhythm Masters Murder Mix) – 7:00

A1. "Killin' Time" (Fishead club mix) – 6:50

AA1. "Killin' Time" (Rhythm Masters Murder Mix) – 7:00

AA2. "Killin' Time" (W.I.P. dub) – 6:22

  1. "Killin' Time" (radio edit) – 3:59
  2. "Killin' Time" (Fishead club mix) – 6:50
  1. "Killin' Time" ('99 radio edit) – 4:05
  2. "Killin' Time" (original) – 3:59
  3. "Killin' Time" (Sash! radio edit) – 3:30
  4. "Killin' Time" (Nelson's filthy dub) – 5:23

A1. "Killin' Time" (Sash! maxi mix) – 4:55

A2. "Killin' Time" (Grant's club vocal) – 5:22

B1. "Killin' Time" (Rhythm Masters Murder) – 7:02

  1. "Killin' Time" ('99 radio edit) – 4:05
  2. "Killin' Time" (Sash! maxi mix) – 4:53
  1. "Killin' Time" ('99 radio edit) – 4:05
  2. "Killin' Time" (original) – 3:59
  1. "Killin' Time" (Sash! radio edit) – 3:30
  2. "Killin' Time" ('99 radio edit) – 4:05
  3. "Killin' Time" (original) – 3:59
  4. "Killin' Time" (Nelson's filthy dub) – 5:23

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1997–1999)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[19] 57
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[20] 18

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 33. 7 June 1997. 19 July 2021.
  2. New Releases – For Week Starting 15 March, 1999: Singles. Music Week. 27. 13 March 1999. 19 July 2021.
  3. Web site: MacKenzie. Wilson. Tina Cousins - Killing Time. AllMusic. 17 February 2020.
  4. Paoletta, Michael (17 Jun 2000). "Republic/Universal Imports Brit Cousins' 'Killing Time'". Billboard. Vol. 112. Issue 25.
  5. "Single of the Week". Birmingham Evening Mail. 9 March 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  6. Olsson's new 'Words' don't make a point. Daily News. 28 June 2000. 15 March 2020.
  7. Jackson, Talia (11 Aug 2000). "Recordings On Review". Dayton Daily News.
  8. Chris. Finan. Hot Vinyl. Music Week, in RM. 15 March 1997. 10. 14 May 2022.
  9. What's The Story: They're Gonna Be Huge! . . 23 April 1997 . 14 . 5 October 2020.
  10. Sunday Mirror. 11 July 1999. p. 44.
  11. Killin' Time. Tina Cousins. 1997. UK CD single liner notes. Eastern Bloc Records. BLOC 105CD.
  12. Killin' Time. Tina Cousins. 1997. UK 12-inch single sleeve. Eastern Bloc Records. BLOC 105T.
  13. Killin' Time. Tina Cousins. 1997. European CD single liner notes. Eastern Bloc Records. 0516380.
  14. Killin' Time. Tina Cousins. 1999. UK CD single liner notes. Jive Records, Eastern Bloc Records. 0519232.
  15. Killin' Time. Tina Cousins. 1999. UK 12-inch single sleeve. Jive Records, Eastern Bloc Records. 0519230.
  16. Killin' Time. Tina Cousins. 1999. UK cassette single sleeve. Jive Records, Eastern Bloc Records. 0519234.
  17. Killin' Time. Tina Cousins. 1999. European CD single liner notes. Jive Records, Eastern Bloc Records. 0580252.
  18. Killin' Time. Tina Cousins. 1999. European maxi-CD single liner notes. Jive Records, Eastern Bloc Records. 0519282.
  19. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 16. 14. 17. 3 April 2021. 26 June 2018.
  20. The Club Chart 15.3.97. Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 7. 15 March 1997. 26 January 2023.
  21. 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. 22 January 2005.