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Killing Me Softly with His Song
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"Killing Me Softly with His Song" is a song composed by Charles Fox with lyrics by Norman Gimbel.
The song was written in collaboration with Lori Lieberman, who recorded the song in late 1971. In 1973 it became a number-one hit in the US and Canada for Roberta Flack, also reaching number six in the UK Singles Chart. Many artists have covered the song; the version by the Fugees won the 1997 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
Contents
1 Lori Lieberman version and disputed origins
2 Roberta Flack version
2.1 Charts
3 Fugees version
3.1 Background
3.2 Composition
3.3 Critical reception
3.4 Music video
3.5 Bounty Killer remix
3.6 Track listing
3.7 Charts and certifications
3.7.1 Weekly charts
3.7.2 Year-end charts
3.7.3 Sales and certifications
4 Other cover versions
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
Lori Lieberman version and disputed origins[edit]
According to Lori Lieberman, who performed the original recording in 1971, the song was born of a poem she wrote after experiencing a strong reaction to the Don McLean song "Empty Chairs",[1][2] writing some poetic ideas on a napkin at the Troubadour Club after seeing him perform the song,[3] and then relating this information to Norman Gimbel, who took her feelings and converted them into song lyrics. Gimbel passed his lyrics to Charles Fox, who set them to music.[4]
According to Gimbel, he was introduced to the Argentinian-born composer Lalo Schifrin (then of Mission: Impossible fame) and began writing songs to a number of Schifrin's films.[5] Both Gimbel and Schifrin made a suggestion to write a Broadway musical together, and Schifrin gave Gimbel an Argentinean novel—Hopscotch by Julio Cortázar—to read as a possible idea. The book was never made into a musical, but in chapter two, the narrator describes himself as sitting in a bar listening to an American pianist friend "kill us softly with some blues".[5][6] Gimbel put the phrase in his "idea book" for use at a future time with a parenthesis around the word "blues" and substituted the word "song" instead.[7]
Don McLean said he didn't know that the song described his singing and, when asked about it, said "I'm absolutely amazed. I've heard both Lori's and Roberta's version and I must say I'm very humbled about the whole thing. You can't help but feel that way about a song written and performed as well as this one is."[8]
Nevertheless, Fox repudiated Lieberman's having input into the song's creation, saying: "We [Gimbel and Fox] wrote the song and [Lieberman] heard it and said it reminded her of how she felt at [a Don McLean] concert. Don McLean didn't inspire Norman or me to write the song but even Don McLean thinks he's the inspiration for the song."[9]
McLean supported Lieberman, both on his website and from the stage of a concert which he invited her to attend in 2010. However, the matter only reached an unequivocal conclusion when contemporaneous articles from the early 1970s were retrieved, all of them vindicating Lieberman. In an April 5, 1973 article in the New York Daily News, Gimbel was quoted as follows: "She [Lori Lieberman] told us about this strong experience she had listening to McLean ('I felt all flushed with fever / Embarrassed by the crowd / I felt he had found my letters / And read each one out loud / I prayed that he would finish / But he just kept right on'). I had a notion this might make a good song so the three of us discussed it. We talked it over several times, just as we did for the rest of the numbers we wrote for this album and we all felt it had possibilities."[10]
Roberta Flack version[edit]
"Killing Me Softly with His Song"
One of A-side labels of U.S. vinyl single
Single by Roberta Flack
from the album Killing Me Softly
B-side
"Just Like a Woman"
Released
January 21, 1973
Format
7-inch single
Recorded
November 17, 1972
Studio
Atlantic, New York City[11][12]
Genre
Soul
Length
4:46
Label
Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
Charles Fox
Norman Gimbel
Producer(s)
Joel Dorn
Roberta Flack singles chronology
"Where Is the Love"
(1972) "Killing Me Softly with His Song"
(1973) "Jesse"
(1973)
Alternative release
German single picture sleeve
Audio
"Killing Me Softly with His Song" on YouTube
Lieberman was the first to record the song in late 1971, releasing it in early 1972.[13] Helen Reddy has said she was sent the song, but "the demo... sat on my turntable for months without being played because I didn't like the title".[14]
Roberta Flack first heard the song on an airline, when the Lieberman original was featured on the in-flight audio program. After scanning the listing of available audio selections, Flack would recall: "The title, of course, smacked me in the face. I immediately pulled out some scratch paper, made musical staves [then] play[ed] the song at least eight to ten times jotting down the melody that I heard. When I landed, I immediately called Quincy [Jones] at his house and asked him how to meet Charles Fox. Two days later I had the music." Shortly afterwards Flack rehearsed the song with her band in the Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, but did not then record it.[15]
In September 1972, Flack was opening for Marvin Gaye at the Greek Theater; after performing her prepared encore song, Flack was advised by Gaye to sing an additional song. Flack later said, "I said well, I got this song I've been working on called 'Killing Me Softly...' and he said 'Do it, baby.' And I did it and the audience went crazy, and he walked over to me and put his arm around me and said, 'Baby, don't ever do that song again live until you record it.'"[16]
Released in January 1973, Flack's version spent a total of five non-consecutive weeks at #1 in February and March, more weeks than any other record in 1973, being bumped to number 2 by the O'Jays' "Love Train" after four straight weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard ranked it as the No. 3 song for 1973.[17]
Charles Fox suggested that Flack's version was more successful than Lieberman's because Flack's "version was faster and she gave it a strong backbeat that wasn't in the original".[9] According to Flack: "My classical background made it possible for me to try a number of things with [the song's arrangement]. I changed parts of the chord structure and chose to end on a major chord. [The song] wasn't written that way.".[18] In actual fact the only chord changed by Flack was the chorus chord under "Fingers" which was changed from Major to Minor. Flack plays electric piano on the track. The bass is played by Ron Carter, the guitar by Hugh McCracken and the drums by Ray Lucas.[citation needed] The single appeared as the opening track of the album of the same name, issued in August 1973.
Flack won the 1973 Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, for the single, with Gimbel and Fox earning the Song of the Year Grammy.
In 1996 a house remix of Flack's version went to number one on the US dance chart.[19]
In 1999 Flack's version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[20] It ranked number 360 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and number 82 on Billboard's greatest songs of all time.[21]
Charts[edit]
Chart (1973)
Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[22] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[23] 19
Canada (RPM)[24] 1
Germany (Official German Charts)[25] 30
Ireland (IRMA) 10
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[26] 3
Norway (VG-lista)[27] 4
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 32
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[29] 6
US Billboard Hot 100[30] 1
US Hot R&B Singles[30] 2
US Hot Adult Contemporary Singles[30] 2
Fugees version[edit]
"Killing Me Softly"
Single by Fugees
from the album The Score
Released
May 31, 1996
Format
CD single
Recorded
1995
Genre
R&B
hip hop soul
Length
4:58 (album version)
4:16 (radio edit)
4:00 (radio edit: without intro)
Label
Ruffhouse
Songwriter(s)
Charles Fox
Norman Gimbel
Producer(s)
Fugees
Fugees singles chronology
"Fu-Gee-La"
(1996) "Killing Me Softly"
(1996) "Ready or Not"
(1996)
Audio
"Killing Me Softly" (audio) on YouTube
Hip hop group Fugees covered the Flack version of the song (as "Killing Me Softly") on their album The Score (1996), with Lauryn Hill singing the lead vocals. Their version became a hit, reaching number two on the U.S. airplay chart. The song topped the charts in the United Kingdom, where it became the country's biggest-selling single of 1996. It has since sold 1.36 million copies in Britain.[31] The Fugees recording won the 1997 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal[32] and their video earned the MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video.[33]
This version sampled the 1990 song "Bonita Applebum" by A Tribe Called Quest (ATCQ) from their debut album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. ATCQ themselves had sampled the riff from the song "Memory Band" from psychedelic soul band Rotary Connection's 1967 eponymous debut album. The Fugees single was so successful that the track was "deleted" and thus no longer supplied to retailers whilst the track was still in the top 20 so that attention could be drawn to the next single, "Ready or Not". Propelled by the success of the Fugees track, the 1972 recording by Roberta Flack was remixed in 1996 with the vocalist adding some new vocal flourishes: this version topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart. Flack and the Fugees have performed the song together since then.[34] In 2008, "Killing Me Softly" was ranked number 25 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop and number 44 on its list of the "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s".
Background[edit]
"Killing Me Softly" was the last song the Fugees recorded for The Score, after member Pras Michael made the suggestion to cover it. They wanted to "see how we can create break beats. And of course, we all love A Tribe Called Quest and we went in like 'Okay, let’s cut that sample.'" They then added a bass reggae drop.[35] Initially, the Fugees wanted to change the lyrics of the song to make it anti-drugs and anti-poverty but the songwriters, Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox, refused.[36]
Composition[edit]
The Fugees' version features "percussive rhythms" with "a synth sitar sound, Wyclef's blurted chants, Hill's vocal melisma on the scatted bridge, and a bombastic drum-loop track".[37]
Critical reception[edit]
In January 1997, Spin called the song "an instant classic, pumped out of every passing car from coast to coast, with Lauryn Hill's timeless voice never losing its poignant kick".[38] Celebrating the album's 20th anniversary in February 2016, Billboard reviewed the song, saying: "It's a lovely cover that maintains the spirit of the original while taking the material in new directions."[39]
Music video[edit]
The video, directed by Aswad Ayinde[40] and based on Lauryn Hill's ideas, never came out commercially in America.[41] It features Roberta Flack.[37][42]
Bounty Killer remix[edit]
The Fugees recorded a dancehall version with Bounty Killer rapping and Hill singing a rewritten chorus. However, they did not receive permission to release it on The Score.[34]
Track listing[edit]
UK CD1
"Killing Me Softly" (Album Version W/Out Intro) – 4:03
"Killing Me Softly" (Album Instrumental) – 4:03
"Cowboys" (Album Version) – 3:35
"Nappy Heads" (Remix) – 3:49
UK CD2
"Killing Me Softly" (Album Version With Intro) – 4:16
"Fu-Gee-La" (Refugee Camp Global Mix) – 4:15
"Vocab" (Refugees Hip Hop Mix) – 4:07
"Vocab" (Salaam's Acoustic Remix) – 5:54
Charts and certifications[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
Chart (1996–1997)
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[43] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[44] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[45] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[46] 1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[47] 6
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[48] 6
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[49] 1
Czech Republic (IFPI CR)[50] 1
Denmark (IFPI)[citation needed] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[citation needed] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[51] 1
France (SNEP)[52] 1
Germany (Official German Charts)[53] 1
Hungary (Mahasz)[54] 1
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[55] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[56] 1
Italy (Hit Parade Italia)[57] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[58] 1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[59] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[60] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[61] 1
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[62] 1
Spain (AFYVE)[63] 8
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[64] 1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[65] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[66] 1
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[67] 1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[68] 30
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[69] 20
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[70] 48
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[71] 1
US Radio Songs (Billboard)[72] 2
Year-end charts[edit]
Chart (1996)
Position
Australia (ARIA)[73] 2
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[74] 43
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[75] 72
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[76] 2
Germany (Official German Charts)[77] 1
Italy (Hit Parade Italia)[57] 6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[78] 2
Sales and certifications[edit]
Region
Certification
Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[73]
4× Platinum 280,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[79]
Platinum 50,000*
Belgium (BEA)[80]
Platinum 50,000*
France (SNEP)[81]
Platinum 500,000*
Germany (BVMI)[82]
2× Platinum 1,000,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[83]
2× Platinum 1,200,000^
*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
Other cover versions[edit]
This section may contain indiscriminate, excessive, or irrelevant examples. Please improve the article by adding more descriptive text and removing less pertinent examples. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for further suggestions. (September 2018)
Artist
Album
Year Released
Perry Como And I Love You So 1973
Vicki Lawrence The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia 1973
Eric Gale Forecast 1973
The Jacksons 5 1974
The Undisputed Truth Law of the Land 1973
Dottie West If It's All Right With You / Just What I've Been Looking For 1973
Johnny Mathis Killing Me Softly with Her Song 1973
Lynn Anderson Top of the World 1973
Bobby Goldsboro Summer (The First Time) 1973
Rusty Bryant For the Good Times 1973
Vikki Carr Ms. America 1973
Sergio Mendes & Brasil '77 Love Music 1973
The Ventures Only Hits! 1973
Ellen Freckles 1973
John Holt 1000 Volts of Holt 1973
Anne Murray Danny's Song 1973
Tim Weisberg Dreamspeaker 1973
Maynard Parker Midnight Rider 1973
The Hiltonaires Made in England 6 1973
Shirley Bassey Never, Never, Never 1973
Ray Conniff and The Singers You Are the Sunshine of My Life 1973
Clint Holmes Playground in My Mind 1973
Elaine Delmar Elaine Delmar 1973
New World Believe in Music 1973
Gianni Oddi Oddi 1973
Perry Como And I Love You So 1973
Andy Williams The Way We Were 1974
Petula Clark Come on Home 1974
Charlie Byrd Byrd by the Sea 1974
Janice Hoyte I'm a Winner 1974
Ed Kilbourne Missionary 1974
Joy Fleming Live 1974
Frances Yip Frances Scores Hits 1974
Engelbert Humperdinck My Love 1974
Ohashi Junko Feeling Now 1974
Lena Martell That Wonderful Sound of Lena Martell 1974
Piet Noordijk Prototype 1974
Swingle II Words and Music 1974
Aura Oh, My Love 1974
Jr. Walker & The All Stars Jr. Walker & The All Stars 1974
Bobby Vinton The Bobby Vinton Show 1975
The Les Humphries Singers The Les Humphries Singers Live 1975
Peters & Lee Favorites 1975
The Geoff Love Singers Close to You 1975
Vince Hill Mandy 1975
The Singers Unlimited A Capella II 1975
Tuxen Smilin' Steel 1975
Therapy Bringing the House Down 1975
Peter North Saxomania 1975
Sandra Reemer Trust In Me 1976
Cleo Laine & John Williams Best Friends 1976
The Brothers Four New 1976
Brenda Lee Just for You - Something Nice 1976
Val Doonican Some of My Best Friends Are Songs 1977
Rita Remington Magical, Musical, Memories 1978
Hampton Hawes At the Piano 1978
Howard Carpendale Und so geh'n wir unsere Wege 1978
Precious Wilson On the Race Track 1980
Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson Live & More 1980
Kimiko Kasai Love Talk 1984
The Eddy Starr Singers 28 Golden Love Songs 1984
Mina Finalmente ho conosciuto il conte Dracula vol. 1 1985
Al B. Sure! In Effect Mode 1988
Casal Histeria 1989
Samurai & Hardbartle SynTronic MegaHits 1990
Linda Imperial Killing Me Softly (Single) 1991
Des'ree Why Should I Love You? 1992
Päivi Mäkinen & Mökö Rakkaudesta elämään 1993
Amii Stewart Lady to Ladies 1994
Curiosity Back to Front 1994
Ron Sanfilippo Now and Then 1994
Luther Vandross Songs 1994
Extempo Channel 32 1995
Cassandra Wilson Spirit of '73 - Rock for Choice 1995
Michelle Avex Reggae System Vol. 7 1996
Destroy All Monsters Silver Wedding Anniversary 1996
The Spades Killing Me Softly (Single) 1996
Georgetown Phantoms Spank Your Eardrum 1997
Siiri, Boris Björn Bagger & the International Acoustic Band 1st Acoustic Grafitti 1997
Gitte Hænning My Favorite Songs 1998
Victoria Abril Enciende mi pasión 1998
Nils Landgren Ballads 1999
The BB Band That Soul Sound of the 70's 1999
Cindy Scott Red Hot - Cindy Scott Captured Live in England 2002
Susan Wong Close to You 2002
Marianna Leporace Pop Acústico 2002
Chenoa Mis canciones favoritas - En concierto acústico 2003
Kimberly Caldwell American Idol Season 2 - All-Time Classic American Love Songs 2003
Cheryl Bentyne The Lights Still Burn 2003
Captain Smartypants Undercover 2004
Coco d'Or Coco d'Or 2 2006
Perpetuum Jazzile Čudna Noč 2006
Don Latarski and Marilyn Keller Nightingale 2006
Michael Sagmeister Soul Ticket 2006
The Mardi Gras Band Requests 2007
Georgeana Bonow Pop Bossa - When Pop Goes Bossa 2008
Deborah Sasson Pop Classics 2008
Layla Zoe Live at Errington Hall 2008
Starburkes & The Tea Leaf Acoustic Coffee House 2009
Colbie Caillat iTunes Session 2010
Shanti Snyder Born to Sing 2010
Chelsey Forrest, Kirk Smart Talk to Me Nice 2010
Soul Kitchen-Band feat. Gail Anderson 15 Years Soul Kitchen - The Band 2011
Virginia Belles Good Morning Mr. Jefferson 2011
Afro Blue The Sing-Off Season 3 Episode 6 - Hip Hop (Album) 2011
Harvard Opportunes Out Loud 2011
Joanie Samra - Jesse Green Serendipity 2011
Ruth Jacott Simply the Best - One Woman Show 2012
Katrina Parker The Voice - Killing Me Softly with His Song (Single) 2012
Sussan Kameron Romantic Nights 2012
Keiko Lee Keiko Lee Sings Super Standards 2 2012
Connie Evingson Sweet Happy Life 2012
Sydney Claire Rocks in My Bed 2012
Gary Brown Generations 2012
The Dear Abbeys Proclamation 2012
Miss Murphy The Voice [AU] - Killing Me Softly (Single) 2013
Keaira LaShae The Voice - Killing Me Softly with His Song (Single) 2013
Nancy Sinatra Shifting Gears 2013
Lulu Roman At Last 2013
Ale Vanzella Indie Bossa II 2015
Norah Benatia IDOL 2016 Topp 3 (EP) 2016
Joseph Vincent Killing Me Softly (Single) 2016
Scott & Ben Scott & Ben - Acoustic Cover Sessions Volume 2 2016
Meg Birch Acoustic Covers Pop 2017
Scary Pockets feat. India Carney Nu Funk 2017
Alyssa Bernal Killing Me Softly (Single) 2017
Nicole Cross Shapeshifter 2018
See also[edit]
List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1970s
List of RPM number-one singles of 1973
List of number-one singles in 1973 (New Zealand)
List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1973 (U.S.)
List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1990s
List of number-one hits of 1996 (Austria)
List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 1996
List of European number-one hits of 1996
List of number-one hits of 1996 (France)
List of number-one singles of 1996 (Ireland)
List of number-one singles in 1996 (New Zealand)
List of number-one singles from the 1990s (UK)
List of number-one dance singles of 1996 (U.S.)
List of Mainstream Top 40 number-one hits of 1996 (U.S.)
List of Billboard Rhythmic number-one songs of the 1990s
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Jump up ^ "Fugees Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard.
^ Jump up to: a b "ARIA End Of Year Singles 1996". Australian Recording Industry Association. 1997. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
Jump up ^ "RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
Jump up ^ "RPM Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
Jump up ^ "RPM Year End Dance Top 50". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
Jump up ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
Jump up ^ "End of Year Charts 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
Jump up ^ "Austrian single certifications – Fugees – Killing Me Softly" (in German). IFPI Austria. Enter Fugees in the field Interpret. Enter Killing Me Softly in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen.
Jump up ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1996". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
Jump up ^ "French single certifications – Fugees – Killing Me Softly" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
Jump up ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Fugees; 'Killing Me Softly')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
Jump up ^ "British single certifications – Fugees – Killing Me Softly". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Killing Me Softly in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
External links[edit]
Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
show
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Roberta Flack
Studio albums
First Take (1969)
Chapter Two (1970)
Quiet Fire (1971)
Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway (1972)
Killing Me Softly (1973)
Feel Like Makin' Love (1975)
Blue Lights in the Basement (1977)
Roberta Flack (1978)
Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway (1980)
I'm the One (1982)
Born to Love (1983)
Oasis (1988)
Set the Night to Music (1991)
Roberta (1994)
The Christmas Album (1997)
Holiday (2003)
Live albums
Live & More (1980)
At Her Best – Live (2008)
Soundtrack albums
Bustin' Loose (1981)
Compilation albums
The Best of Roberta Flack (1981)
Greatest Hits (1984)
Softly with These Songs: The Best of Roberta Flack (1993)
The Very Best of Roberta Flack (2006)
Singles
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"
"Where Is the Love"
"Killing Me Softly with His Song"
"Feel Like Makin' Love"
"The Closer I Get to You"
"If Ever I See You Again"
"Making Love"
"Tonight, I Celebrate My Love"
"Oasis"
"Uh-Uh Ooh-Ooh Look Out (Here It Comes)"
Related articles
Discography
Donny Hathaway
show
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Fugees
Lauryn Hill
Wyclef Jean
Pras
Albums
Studio
Blunted on Reality (1994)
The Score (1996)
Compilation
Bootleg Versions (1996)
Greatest Hits (2003)
Singles
"Boof Baf"
"Nappy Heads"
"Vocab"
"Refugees on the Mic"
"Fu-Gee-La"
"Killing Me Softly"
"Ready or Not"
"No Woman, No Cry"
"Rumble in the Jungle"
"Take It Easy"
Related articles
Discography
show
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Best-selling singles by year in the United Kingdom
1952–1969
1952: "Here in My Heart" – Al Martino
1953: "I Believe" – Frankie Laine
1954: "Secret Love" – Doris Day
1955: "Rose Marie" – Slim Whitman
1956: "I'll Be Home" – Pat Boone
1957: "Diana" – Paul Anka
1958: "Jailhouse Rock" – Elvis Presley
1959: "Living Doll" – Cliff Richard (UK)
1960: "It's Now or Never" – Elvis Presley
1961: "Wooden Heart" – Elvis Presley
1962: "I Remember You" – Frank Ifield (UK)
1963: "She Loves You" – The Beatles (UK)
1964: "Can't Buy Me Love" – The Beatles (UK)
1965: "Tears" – Ken Dodd (UK)
1966: "Green, Green Grass of Home" – Tom Jones (UK)
1967: "Release Me" – Engelbert Humperdinck (UK)
1968: "Hey Jude" – The Beatles (UK)
1969: "Sugar, Sugar" – The Archies
1970–1989
1970: "The Wonder of You" – Elvis Presley
1971: "My Sweet Lord" – George Harrison (UK)
1972: "Amazing Grace" – Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (UK)
1973: "I Love You Love Me Love" – Gary Glitter (UK)
1974: "Tiger Feet" – Mud (UK)
1975: "Bye Bye Baby" – Bay City Rollers (UK)
1976: "Save Your Kisses for Me" – Brotherhood of Man (UK)
1977: "Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School" – Wings (UK)
1978: "Rivers of Babylon" / "Brown Girl in the Ring" – Boney M.
1979: "Bright Eyes" – Art Garfunkel
1980: "Don't Stand So Close to Me" – The Police (UK)
1981: "Tainted Love" – Soft Cell (UK)
1982: "Come On Eileen" – Dexys Midnight Runners (UK)
1983: "Karma Chameleon" – Culture Club (UK)
1984: "Do They Know It's Christmas?" – Band Aid (UK)
1985: "The Power of Love" – Jennifer Rush
1986: "Don't Leave Me This Way" – The Communards (UK)
1987: "Never Gonna Give You Up" – Rick Astley (UK)
1988: "Mistletoe and Wine" – Cliff Richard (UK)
1989: "Ride on Time" – Black Box
1990–2009
1990: "Unchained Melody" – The Righteous Brothers
1991: "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" – Bryan Adams
1992: "I Will Always Love You" – Whitney Houston
1993: "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" – Meat Loaf
1994: "Love Is All Around" – Wet Wet Wet (UK)
1995: "Unchained Melody" – Robson & Jerome (UK)
1996: "Killing Me Softly" – Fugees
1997: "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" / "Candle in the Wind 1997" – Elton John (UK)
1998: "Believe" – Cher
1999: "...Baby One More Time" – Britney Spears
2000: "Can We Fix It?" – Bob the Builder (UK)
2001: "It Wasn't Me" – Shaggy featuring Rikrok (UK)
2002: "Anything Is Possible" / "Evergreen" – Will Young (UK)
2003: "Where Is the Love?" – The Black Eyed Peas
2004: "Do They Know It's Christmas?" – Band Aid 20 (UK)
2005: "(Is This the Way to) Amarillo" – Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay (UK)
2006: "Crazy" – Gnarls Barkley
2007: "Bleeding Love" – Leona Lewis (UK)
2008: "Hallelujah" – Alexandra Burke (UK)
2009: "Poker Face" – Lady Gaga
2010–present
2010: "Just the Way You Are" – Bruno Mars
2011: "Someone like You" – Adele (UK)
2012: "Somebody That I Used to Know" – Gotye featuring Kimbra
2013: "Blurred Lines" – Robin Thicke featuring T.I. & Pharrell Williams
2014: "Happy" – Pharrell Williams
2015: "Uptown Funk" – Mark Ronson (UK) featuring Bruno Mars
2016: "One Dance" – Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla (UK)
2017: "Shape of You" - Ed Sheeran (UK)
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Grammy Award for Record of the Year
1959−1980
"Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)" by Domenico Modugno (1959)
"Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin (1960)
"Theme from A Summer Place" by Percy Faith (1961)
"Moon River" by Henry Mancini (1962)
"I Left My Heart in San Francisco" by Tony Bennett (1963)
"Days of Wine and Roses" by Henry Mancini (1964)
"The Girl from Ipanema" by Astrud Gilberto & Stan Getz (1965)
"A Taste of Honey" by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass (1966)
"Strangers in the Night" by Frank Sinatra (1967)
"Up, Up and Away" by The 5th Dimension (Billy Davis Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamont McLemore, Ron Townson) (1968)
"Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel (Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon) (1969)
"Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" by The 5th Dimension (Billy Davis Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamont McLemore, Ron Townson) (1970)
"Bridge over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel (Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon) (1971)
"It's Too Late" by Carole King (1972)
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack (1973)
"Killing Me Softly with His Song" by Roberta Flack (1974)
"I Honestly Love You" by Olivia Newton-John (1975)
"Love Will Keep Us Together" by Captain & Tennille (Daryl Dragon, Toni Tennille) (1976)
"This Masquerade" by George Benson (1977)
"Hotel California" by Eagles (Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, Joe Walsh) (1978)
"Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel (1979)
"What a Fool Believes" by The Doobie Brothers (Jeffrey Baxter, John Hartman, Keith Knudsen, Michael McDonald, Tiran Porter, Patrick Simmons) (1980)
1981−2000
"Sailing" by Christopher Cross (1981)
"Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes (1982)
"Rosanna" by Toto (Bobby Kimball, Steve Lukather, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, David Hungate, Steve Porcaro) (1983)
"Beat It" by Michael Jackson (1984)
"What's Love Got to Do with It" by Tina Turner (1985)
"We Are the World" by USA for Africa (1986)
"Higher Love" by Steve Winwood (1987)
"Graceland" by Paul Simon (1988)
"Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin (1989)
"Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler (1990)
"Another Day in Paradise" by Phil Collins (1991)
"Unforgettable" by Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole (1992)
"Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton (1993)
"I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston (1994)
"All I Wanna Do" by Sheryl Crow (1995)
"Kiss from a Rose" by Seal (1996)
"Change the World" by Eric Clapton (1997)
"Sunny Came Home" by Shawn Colvin (1998)
"My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion (1999)
"Smooth" by Santana (Rodney Holmes, Tony Lindsay, Karl Perazzo, Raul Rekow, Benny Rietveld, Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson) featuring Rob Thomas (2000)
2001−present
"Beautiful Day" by U2 (Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr.) (2001)
"Walk On" by U2 (Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr.) (2002)
"Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones (2003)
"Clocks" by Coldplay (Guy Berryman, Jon Buckland, Will Champion, Phil Harvey, Chris Martin) (2004)
"Here We Go Again" by Ray Charles and Norah Jones (2005)
"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day (Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Frank Edwin Wright III) (2006)
"Not Ready to Make Nice" by Dixie Chicks (Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison) (2007)
"Rehab" by Amy Winehouse (2008)
"Please Read the Letter" by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant (2009)
"Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon (Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill, Nathan Followill) (2010)
"Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum (Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood) (2011)
"Rolling in the Deep" by Adele (2012)
"Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye featuring Kimbra (2013)
"Get Lucky" by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers (2014)
"Stay with Me" (Darkchild version) by Sam Smith (2015)
"Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars (2016)
"Hello" by Adele (2017)
"24K Magic" by Bruno Mars (2018)
show
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Grammy Award for Song of the Year
1959−1980
"Volare" – Domenico Modugno (songwriter) (1959)
"The Battle of New Orleans" – Jimmy Driftwood (songwriter) (1960)
"Theme from Exodus" – Ernest Gold (songwriter) (1961)
"Moon River" – Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini (songwriters) (1962)
"What Kind of Fool Am I?" – Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley (songwriters) (1963)
"Days of Wine and Roses" – Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini (songwriters) (1964)
"Hello, Dolly!" – Jerry Herman (songwriter) (1965)
"The Shadow of Your Smile" – Paul Francis Webster & Johnny Mandel (songwriters) (1966)
"Michelle" – John Lennon & Paul McCartney (songwriters) (1967)
"Up, Up, and Away" – Jimmy Webb (songwriter) (1968)
"Little Green Apples" – Bobby Russell (songwriter) (1969)
"Games People Play" – Joe South (songwriter) (1970)
"Bridge over Troubled Water" – Paul Simon (songwriter) (1971)
"You've Got a Friend" – Carole King (songwriter) (1972)
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" – Ewan MacColl (songwriter) (1973)
"Killing Me Softly with His Song" – Norman Gimbel & Charles Fox (songwriters) (1974)
"The Way We Were" – Alan and Marilyn Bergman & Marvin Hamlisch (songwriters) (1975)
"Send In the Clowns" – Stephen Sondheim (songwriter) (1976)
"I Write the Songs" – Bruce Johnston (songwriter) (1977)
"Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)" – Barbra Streisand & Paul Williams (songwriters) / "You Light Up My Life" – Joe Brooks (songwriter) (1978)
"Just the Way You Are" – Billy Joel (songwriter) (1979)
"What a Fool Believes" – Kenny Loggins & Michael McDonald (songwriters) (1980)
1981−2000
"Sailing" – Christopher Cross (songwriter) (1981)
"Bette Davis Eyes" – Donna Weiss & Jackie DeShannon (songwriters) (1982)
"Always on My Mind" – Johnny Christopher, Mark James & Wayne Carson (songwriters) (1983)
"Every Breath You Take" – Sting (songwriter) (1984)
"What's Love Got to Do with It" – Graham Lyle & Terry Britten (songwriters) (1985)
"We Are the World" – Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie (songwriters) (1986)
"That's What Friends Are For" – Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager (songwriters) (1987)
"Somewhere Out There" – James Horner, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil (songwriters) (1988)
"Don't Worry, Be Happy" – Bobby McFerrin (songwriter) (1989)
"Wind Beneath My Wings" – Larry Henley & Jeff Silbar (songwriters) (1990)
"From a Distance" – Julie Gold (songwriter) (1991)
"Unforgettable" – Irving Gordon (songwriter) (1992)
"Tears in Heaven" – Eric Clapton & Will Jennings (songwriters) (1993)
"A Whole New World" – Alan Menken & Tim Rice (songwriters) (1994)
"Streets of Philadelphia" – Bruce Springsteen (songwriter) (1995)
"Kiss from a Rose" – Seal (songwriter) (1996)
"Change the World" – Gordon Kennedy, Wayne Kirkpatrick & Tommy Sims (songwriters) (1997)
"Sunny Came Home" – Shawn Colvin & John Leventhal (songwriters) (1998)
"My Heart Will Go On" – James Horner & Will Jennings (songwriters) (1999)
"Smooth" – Itaal Shur & Rob Thomas (songwriters) (2000)
2001−present
"Beautiful Day" – Adam Clayton, David Evans, Laurence Mullen & Paul Hewson (songwriters) (2001)
"Fallin'" – Alicia Keys (songwriter) (2002)
"Don't Know Why" – Jesse Harris (songwriter) (2003)
"Dance with My Father" – Richard Marx & Luther Vandross (songwriters) (2004)
"Daughters" – John Mayer (songwriter) (2005)
"Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" – Adam Clayton, David Evans, Laurence Mullen & Paul Hewson (songwriters) (2006)
"Not Ready to Make Nice" – Emily Burns Erwin, Martha Maguire, Natalie Maines Pasdar & Dan Wilson (songwriters) (2007)
"Rehab" – Amy Winehouse (songwriter) (2008)
"Viva la Vida" – Guy Berryman, Jonathan Buckland, William Champion & Christopher Martin (songwriters) (2009)
"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" – Thaddis "Kuk" Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart (songwriters) (2010)
"Need You Now" – Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott (songwriters) (2011)
"Rolling in the Deep" – Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth (songwriters) (2012)
"We Are Young" – Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess (songwriters) (2013)
"Royals" – Joel Little & Ella Yelich O'Connor (songwriters) (2014)
"Stay with Me" (Darkchild version) – James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith (songwriters) (2015)
"Thinking Out Loud" – Ed Sheeran & Amy Wadge (songwriters) (2016)
"Hello" – Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin (songwriters) (2017)
"That's What I Like" – Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip (songwriters) (2018)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Killing_Me_Softly_with_His_Song&oldid=866176466"
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text:
Man on the Moon (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
"Man on the Moon"
Single by R.E.M.
from the album Automatic for the People
B-side
"New Orleans Instrumental No. 2"
Released
November 21, 1992 (1992-11-21)
Format
CD single
7" single
12" single
cassette
Recorded
1992
Genre
Country rock[1]
Length
5:15 (album version)
4:39 (edit)
Label
Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Bill Berry
Peter Buck
Mike Mills
Michael Stipe
Producer(s)
Scott Litt
R.E.M.
R.E.M. singles chronology
"Drive"
(1992) "Man on the Moon"
(1992) "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite"
(1993)
"Drive"
(1992) "Man on the Moon"
(1992) "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite"
(1993)
Music video
"Man on the Moon" on YouTube
"Man on the Moon" is a song by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released as the second single from their 1992 album Automatic for the People. The lyrics were written by lead singer Michael Stipe, and the music by drummer Bill Berry and guitarist Peter Buck, and credited to the whole band as usual. The song was well received by critics and peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. It remains one of R.E.M.'s most popular songs[2][3] and was included on the compilations In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003 and Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982–2011.
Lyrically, the song is a tribute to the comedian and performer Andy Kaufman with numerous references to his career including his Elvis impersonation, wrestling, and the film My Breakfast with Blassie. The song's title and chorus refer to the moon landing conspiracy theories as an oblique allusion to rumors that Kaufman's death in 1984 was faked. The song gave its name to Man on the Moon (1999), Miloš Forman's film based on Kaufman's life, and was featured prominently in the film's soundtrack.
Contents
[hide]
1 Composition
2 Lyrics
3 Release and reception
4 Music video
5 Track listing
5.1 US 7", cassette and CD single
5.2 UK "collector's edition" CD single
5.3 DE 12" and CD maxi-single
5.4 UK and DE 7" and cassette single
6 Charts
6.1 Weekly charts
6.2 Year-end charts
7 References
8 External links
Composition[edit]
"Man on the Moon" is a mid-tempo country-rock song following a verse-chorus structure with an added pre-chorus and an instrumental bridge following the second and third choruses. The song is somewhat unusual in that the verses are unequal in length, with six lines in the first verse but only four in the second and third verses.[4]
An early instrumental demo of the song was known to the band as "C to D Slide".[5] Guitarist Peter Buck has explained how the music came together: "'Man on the Moon' was something that Bill [Berry] had, this one chord change that he came in with, which was C to D like the verse of the song, and he said: 'I don't know what to do with that.' I used to finish some of Bill's things... he would come up with the riffs, but I would be the finish guy for that. I sat down and came up with the chorus, the bridges, and so forth. I remember we showed it to Mike and Michael when they came in later; definitely we had the song finished. I think Bill played bass and I played guitar; we kept going around with it. I think we might have played some mandolin on it in the rehearsal studio."
Michael Stipe later explained in an interview with Charlie Rose how the lyrics were written independently of the music, which had no prior association with the song's eventual lyrical content regarding Kaufman. Stipe recounted that the rest of the members of R.E.M. had written and performed the music of the song and recorded it along with the rest of the Automatic for the People album during studio sessions in Seattle. As of the final week of the recording sessions, Stipe was still struggling to write lyrics for the song, and the other band members continued to plead with him to finish it. Stipe attempted to argue that the track should be an instrumental, but his bandmates were insistent.[5] Stipe listened to the track on a walk around Seattle on his Walkman cassette player and was inspired to write about the performances of entertainer Andy Kaufman.[6] After Stipe went back to the studio to complete the vocal track, the master was mixed that night and sent out the following day to be mastered.[7]
Lyrics[edit]
The song's lyrics do not tell a conventional story, and may instead be seen as a collection of cultural references, images and ideas. There are repeated mentions of Andy Kaufman, including references to his Elvis impersonation and work with wrestlers Fred Blassie and Jerry Lawler. Some critics find the song also invokes the conspiracy theories surrounding the moon landing and Elvis Presley as an indirect nod to the persistent rumors that Kaufman faked his own death.[2][8] Speaking in 2017 to the NME, Mills explained that the perceived ambiguity of Kaufman's legacy, including questions of whether he was a comedian or a performance artist, and whether or not his work was funny or irritating, was a way to frame other questions about life within the song:
He's the perfect ghost to lead you through this tour of questioning things. Did the moon landing really happen? Is Elvis really dead? He was kind of an ephemeral figure at that point so he was the perfect guy to tie all this stuff together as you journey through childhood and touchstones of life.[5]
Other lyrical references include persons from the history of science and religion, as well as board-games and the rock band Mott the Hoople of whom Stipe had been a fan in his youth, and whose music he associated with the years of Kaufman's original television broadcasts.[9] Regarding the cryptic lyrics, critic Greg Kot wrote that the song "presents a surreal vision of heaven."[10] According to Ann Powers, "Mentioning Kaufman in the same breath as Moses and Sir Isaac Newton, Stipe makes a game of human endeavor, insisting that it all ends in dust. 'Let's play Twister, let's play Risk,' Stipe jokes to the notables he's invoked. 'I'll see you in heaven if you make the list.'"[11]
The lyrics to Man on the Moon also feature a prominent repeated refrain of "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah". Stipe has explained that his friend Kurt Cobain was in the habit of placing "yeah" in the lyrics to the songs of his band, Nirvana, and that Stipe intended to outdo him, even to the extent of counting the "yeahs".[6]
Release and reception[edit]
"Man on the Moon" was released as the second single from Automatic for the People on November 21, 1992, reaching number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100[12] and number 18 on the UK Singles Chart.[13] The song was enthusiastically received by critics. Writing for the New York Times, Ann Powers said it "shines with a wit that balances R.E.M.'s somber tendencies."[11] Stewart Mason went even further in his review for Allmusic, calling the song "near-perfect", "almost inarguably Stipe's pinnacle as a singer", and "one of R.E.M.'s most enduring achievements".[2] The song was listed at number 19 on the Village Voice "Pazz & Jop" year-end critics' poll in 1993.[14]
Music video[edit]
The song's video, directed by Peter Care, was shot over three days in the desert, at Lancaster in the Antelope Valley area of California, in October 1992. Care kept a journal of the unusually long planning, filming, and editing process, which was published by Raygun magazine and reprinted in the R.E.M. fan club newsletter. It gave a clear idea of the amount of work, money, and attention-to-detail involved.[15]
The video depicts Michael Stipe, attired in a cowboy hat, walking along a desert road before leaping onto a passing truck (driven by Bill Berry) and hitching a ride to a truck stop where Peter Buck is tending bar and Mike Mills is shooting pool. Berry trades his truck seat for a bar stool, and along with a few of the other customers (in the shooting, they used actors and non-actors), sings along during the choruses. Stipe eats an order of fries, and then leaves and walks back into the desert. The video is punctuated with moon-related images, including footage of the NASA moon landings, an orrery in motion and a clip from Georges Méliès' 1902 film, A Trip to the Moon. Television footage of Kaufman wrestling and impersonating Elvis Presley is also shown.
This video, which uses the shorter version instead of the full album version, was ranked #41 on Rolling Stone magazine's The 100 Top Music Videos, and has been described as 'iconic' by the NME's Andrew Trendell.[5]
Track listing[edit]
All songs written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe except as noted.
US 7", cassette and CD single[edit]
"Man on the Moon" – 5:12
"New Orleans Instrumental #2" – 3:48
UK "collector's edition" CD single[edit]
"Man on the Moon" – 5:12
"Fruity Organ" – 3:26
"New Orleans Instrumental #2" – 3:48
"Arms of Love" (Robyn Hitchcock) – 3:35
DE 12" and CD maxi-single[edit]
"Man on the Moon" (edit) – 4:39
"Turn You Inside-Out" – 4:15
"Arms of Love" (Hitchcock) – 3:35
UK and DE 7" and cassette single[edit]
"Man on the Moon" (edit) – 4:39
"Turn You Inside-Out" – 4:15
Charts[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
Chart (1992–93)
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[16] 39
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[17] 24
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] 20
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 3
Germany (Official German Charts)[20] 34
Ireland (IRMA)[21] 17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 54
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 8
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[24] 18
US Billboard Hot 100[25] 30
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[26] 46
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[27] 2
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[28] 4
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[29] 9
US Radio Songs (Billboard)[30] 26
Year-end charts[edit]
Chart (1993)
Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[31] 29
References[edit]
Jump up ^ In Time: The Best Of REM 1988-2003 Review
NME
Retrieved 9 August 2016
^ Jump up to: a b c Mason, Stewart. "Song review: Man on the Moon". Allmusic. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
Jump up ^ Greene, Andy (28 September 2011). "Readers Poll: The 10 Best R.E.M. Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
Jump up ^ Kelly, Casey; Hodge, David (2011). The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Art of Songwriting. New York: Alpha Books. ISBN 978-1-101-54337-5.
^ Jump up to: a b c d "REM talk to us about the classic 'Man On The Moon' to mark the single's 25th anniversary". NME. 21 November 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b "R.E.M. Reflects On 25 Years Of 'Automatic For The People'". NPR. 2 November 2017.
Jump up ^ R.E.M. - Charlie Rose, retrieved 2018-03-16
Jump up ^ Staggs, Matt (17 September 2014). "Memoir in a Melody: R.E.M.'s Ode to Andy Kaufman in 'Man On the Moon'". Signature. Penguin Random House. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
Jump up ^ "Michael Stipe looks back at Automatic For The People 25 years on and living with the fear of HIV for 10-years". The Sun. 17 November 2017.
Jump up ^ Kot, Greg (October 4, 1992). "Killing 'Em Softly". Chicago Tribune.
^ Jump up to: a b Powers, Ann (October 11, 1992). "A Weary R.E.M. Seems Stuck in Midtempo". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
Jump up ^ "R.E.M.: Billboard singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
Jump up ^ "Man on the Moon". Chart Stats. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
Jump up ^ "The 1993 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
Jump up ^ Gray, Marcus (1997). It Crawled from the South: An R.E.M. Companion. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80751-3.
Jump up ^ "Australian-charts.com – R.E.M. – Man on the Moon". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Jump up ^ "Austriancharts.at – R.E.M. – Man on the Moon" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Jump up ^ "Ultratop.be – R.E.M. – Man on the Moon" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Jump up ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1781." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Jump up ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – R.E.M. – Man on the Moon". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Jump up ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Man on the Moon". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Jump up ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – R.E.M. – Man on the Moon" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Jump up ^ "Charts.org.nz – R.E.M. – Man on the Moon". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Jump up ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Jump up ^ "REM Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Jump up ^ "REM Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Jump up ^ "REM Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Jump up ^ "REM Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Jump up ^ "REM Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Jump up ^ "REM Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Jump up ^ "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
External links[edit]
Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
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