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{{Infobox single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
{{Infobox single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
| Name = I Know Him So Well
| Name = I Know Him So Well
| Cover = Susan and peter I know him so well.jpg|200px
| Cover = Peter Kay and Susan Boyle.jpg|200px
| Caption =
| Caption =
| Border = yes
| Border = yes
| Alt =
| Alt =
| Artist = [[Geraldine McQueen]] featuring [[Susan Boyle]]
| Artist = Peter Kay as [[Geraldine McQueen]] featuring [[Susan Boyle]]
| Album =
| Album =
| Released = {{Start date|2011|03|21|df=y}}
| Released = {{Start date|2011|03|21|df=y}}
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}}}}
}}}}


"'''I Know Him So Well'''" is a version of the song recorded by [[Peter Kay]] and [[Susan Boyle]] for [[Comic Relief|Comic Relief 2011]], with Kay appearing as his alter ego [[Geraldine McQueen]] for the song.
"'''I Know Him So Well'''" is a version of the song recorded by [[Peter Kay]] and [[Susan Boyle]] for [[Comic Relief|Comic Relief 2011]], with Kay appearing as his alter ego [[Geraldine McQueen]] for the song. Boyle asked to appear on the record by Kay, as she thinks the spoof video perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Comic Relief. She said: "I felt honoured when Peter asked me to take part in this video. His vision was clear from the start and I wanted to be involved."<ref name=Worldwide>[http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/858652-peter-kay-and-susan-boyles-single-to-be-released-worldwide#ixzz1HMuFkANY Peter Kay and Susan Boyle's Comic Relief single to be released worldwide] Metro.co.uk, 21 March 2011</ref>

Susan was "honoured" to be asked to appear on the record by Kay, as she thinks the spoof video perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Comic Relief. She said: "I felt honoured when Peter asked me to take part in this video. His vision was clear from the start and I wanted to be involved."<ref name=Worldwide>[http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/858652-peter-kay-and-susan-boyles-single-to-be-released-worldwide#ixzz1HMuFkANY Peter Kay and Susan Boyle's Comic Relief single to be released worldwide] Metro.co.uk, 21 March 2011</ref>


===Music video===
===Music video===
The music video made its debut on the night of [[Red Nose Day 2011]] and features both Kay and Boyle re-enacting the original video.
The music video made its debut on the night of [[Red Nose Day 2011]] and features both Kay and Boyle re-enacting the original video.
The video stayed true to the original, while at the same time it was able to parody it,<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1367782/Comic-Relief-2011-Susan-Boyle-surprise-duet-I-Know-Him-So-Well-Peter-Kay-helps-raise-42m-10pm.html Susan Boyle's surprise duet of I Know Him So Well with Peter Kay helps Comic Relief raise an astonishing £42m by 10pm] Mail Online, 21 March 2011</ref> including:
The video stayed true to the original, while at the same time it was able to parody it.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1367782/Comic-Relief-2011-Susan-Boyle-surprise-duet-I-Know-Him-So-Well-Peter-Kay-helps-raise-42m-10pm.html Susan Boyle's surprise duet of I Know Him So Well with Peter Kay helps Comic Relief raise an astonishing £42m by 10pm] Mail Online, 21 March 2011</ref> including:


* Susan's hair getting bigger throughout the video
* Boyle's hair getting bigger throughout the video
* Geraldine travelling down the stairs on a stair lift
* Kay travelling down the stairs on a stair lift
* Both Susan and Geraldine making toast at an open fire
* Both making toast at an open fire
* Geraldine putting her hand through missing pane of glass
* Kay putting her hand through missing pane of glass
* Susan going downstairs instead of walking along a travelator
* Boyle going downstairs instead of walking along a travelator


===Worldwide===
===Worldwide===

Revision as of 21:51, 25 March 2011

"I Know Him So Well"
Song
B-side"Chess" (London Symphony Orchestra)

"I Know Him So Well" is a song from the concept album and subsequent musical Chess by Tim Rice, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. In this duet, two women – Svetlana, the Russian chess champion's estranged wife, and Florence, his mistress – express their bittersweet feelings for him and at seeing their relationships fall apart.

Original version

The duet was number one in the UK for four weeks in 1985 when released as a single by Elaine Paige (as Florence) and Barbara Dickson (as Svetlana), who laid down their vocals separately and never met during the recording of the song, only for the video and subsequent performances on Top of the Pops and the European tours.[1][2] This recording remains in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest selling UK Chart single ever by a female duo. Paige also appeared in the original London West End stage production of Chess.

In the UK on 18 September 2004, the BBC's All-Time Greatest Love Songs (hosted by Lionel Richie) saw the duet performed live by Paige and Dickson, together for the first time in 20 years, to a rapturous reception. Paige played her solo demo recording of the song on her BBC Radio 2 show, Elaine Paige on Sunday.

Original recording credits

  • Benny Andersson – keyboards, synthesizers
  • Barbara Dickson – vocals
  • Anders Eljas – keyboards, synthesizers
  • Rutger Gunnarsson – bass
  • Per Lindvall – drums, percussion
  • Elaine Paige – vocals
  • Lasse Wellander – guitars
  • Writers and producers – Benny Andersson, Tim Rice and Björn Ulvaeus
  • Arrangement – Benny Andersson and Anders Eljas
  • Engineer and mixer – Michael B. Tretow

Cover versions

The song has been covered by various music artists including:

Geraldine McQueen and Susan Boyle version

"I Know Him So Well"
Song

"I Know Him So Well" is a version of the song recorded by Peter Kay and Susan Boyle for Comic Relief 2011, with Kay appearing as his alter ego Geraldine McQueen for the song. Boyle asked to appear on the record by Kay, as she thinks the spoof video perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Comic Relief. She said: "I felt honoured when Peter asked me to take part in this video. His vision was clear from the start and I wanted to be involved."[3]

Music video

The music video made its debut on the night of Red Nose Day 2011 and features both Kay and Boyle re-enacting the original video. The video stayed true to the original, while at the same time it was able to parody it.[4] including:

  • Boyle's hair getting bigger throughout the video
  • Kay travelling down the stairs on a stair lift
  • Both making toast at an open fire
  • Kay putting her hand through missing pane of glass
  • Boyle going downstairs instead of walking along a travelator

Worldwide

Many viewers and fans of Susan and Peter from Asia, Australia, the US and Canada have contacted, Comic Relief chiefs about acquiring copies of the song.[3]

References

  1. ^ Elaine Paige And Barbara Dickson - I Know Him So Well Chart Stats
  2. ^ Discography - I KNOW HIM SO WELL Barbara Dickson
  3. ^ a b Peter Kay and Susan Boyle's Comic Relief single to be released worldwide Metro.co.uk, 21 March 2011
  4. ^ Susan Boyle's surprise duet of I Know Him So Well with Peter Kay helps Comic Relief raise an astonishing £42m by 10pm Mail Online, 21 March 2011
Preceded by UK number one single
3 February 1985 - 3 March 1985 		Succeeded by
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