Killer (Seal song)

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 <td style="width: 33%;" valign="top">"Walk On By"
(2004)</td>
 <td style="width: 33%;" valign="middle">"Killer 2005"
(2005)</td>
 <td style="width: 33%;" valign="top"></td>

"Killer" is a popular song by Seal.

Written by Adam Tinley (aka 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. The song reached #23 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the US. It was then re-recorded by Seal the following year, produced by Trevor Horn.

In 1992, George Michael performed the song live in a version that was released on the 1993 EP Five Live; it was also released as a single in 1993 in a medley with "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", and was remixed by P. M. Dawn. Trance act ATB recorded a version in 1999, also released as a single. Other cover versions were performed by power metal band Angel Dust on the 2002 album Of Human Bondage, and girl group Sugababes as a B-side to the 2003 single "Shape".

The opening bassline and keyboard melody during the chorus are preserved in almost every version of the song in some form.

[edit] Seal version

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. The music video for this version used computer-generated science-fiction themed imagery, largely built around a partial recreation of the M. C. Escher image Another World (Other World).

[edit] "Killer 2005"

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.

[edit] U.S. maxi-single

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)

[edit] ATB version

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, and his only one until the later album Dedicated.

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

[edit] Track listings

[edit] Killer (Germany release)

• 01. Killer (Video Edit) 4:08
• 02. Killer (Radio Edit) 4:01
• 03. Killer (Killer Mix) 5:56
• 04. Killer (Original Mix) 6:15

[edit] Killer (US release)

• 01. Killer (UK Radio Edit) 3:25
• 02. Killer (Radio Edit) 4:00
• 03. Killer (2000) 5:52
• 04. Killer (Trevor & Simon Remix) 6:50
• 05. Killer (Lost Witness Remix) 7:45
• 06. Killer (Joe Fandango Remix) 7:11
• 07. Killer (Video Edit) 4:06

[edit] Killer CD 1 (UK release)

• 01. Killer (UK Radio Edit) 3:28
• 02. Killer (Lost Witness Remix) 7:48
• 03. Killer (Lock 'n Load Remix) 8:25

[edit] Killer CD 2 (UK release)

• 01. Killer (Killer 2000 Mix) 5:55
• 02. Killer (Trevor Reilly & Simon Foy Remix) 6:52
• 03. Killer (Joe Fandango Remix) 7:11

[edit] Killer (The remixes) (Canada release)

• 01. Killer (UK Radio Edit) 4:02
• 02. Killer (Joe Fandango Remix) 7:16
• 03. Killer (Lost Witness Remix) 7:49
• 04. Killer (Lock N' Load Remix) 8:29
• 05. Killer (Joe Fandango Dub) 5:27
• 06. Killer (Lost Witness Dub) 7:45
• 07. Killer (Trevor & Simon Remix) 8:57
• 08. Killer (Gareth Jones Radio) 3:20

[edit] Killer 2000 (Australia release)

• 01. Killer 2000 (UK Radio Edit) 3:26
• 02. Killer 2000 (Killer 2000 Mix) 5:51
• 03. Killer 2000 (Lost Witness Vocal Remix) 7:45
• 04. Killer 2000 (Lock 'n Load Vocal Remix) 8:23
• 05. Killer 2000 (Trevor & Simon Remix) 6:50
• 06. Killer 2000 (Joe Fandango Mix) 7:11