French Kiss (song)
Encyclopedia
"French Kiss" is a 1989 house-music
single that became a Europe
an and American
hit for American
artist Lil Louis
. The song also was a hit in dance clubs around the world, and it spent two weeks at #1 on the American dance chart
in October 1989. It was a crossover pop hit as well, peaking at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100
. It was also a mainstream pop hit in the UK, where it peaked at #2. The lead vocals on the track—recorded after the track was picked up for distribution by major labels—were performed by Chicago
native and noted female house-music
singer Shawn Christopher
, although another vocal version exists in Europe with vocal duties performed by a woman named Pasquale.
Slant Magazine
ranked the song 7th in its 100 Greatest Dance Songs list, adding: ""French Kiss" is a moaning, sex-as-house track that audaciously and amazingly slows down and then stops altogether. It builds again, chugging back to its initial speed until it fades brighter than ever in post-orgasmic glow."
It was sampled heavily on Josh Wink
's single “How's Your Evening So Far?”—credited to Wink vs. Lil Louis. It was also sampled on The Wiseguys
’ song "Au-Pair Girls," from 1998. In 1990, the French
TV presenter Lagaf'
used the sample of the song in a parodic version under the name "Bo le lavabo (WC Kiss)
." The American 12-inch single was never released on compact disc.
The song was also sampled on a remix of The Loco-Motion for Kylie Minogue's
Enjoy Yourself 1990 Tour
titled "The Oz Tour Mix," which remained unreleased in studio form for many years until it was finally released on the bonus disc of remixes of the 2002 Greatest Hits ’87–’92.
The track was also featured on the 1999 Carl Cox
DJ album "Non-stop 2000"—CD 1, starting roughly midway through track 06, "Funk on the Roll." Carl seamlessly mixes it in the background continuously, through the whole of the next track, "Let it roll," before it plays in its entire original form as track 08.
The song was also sampled in “Custom-Made (Give it to You)” by Lil' Kim
, which appeared on her album The Notorious K.I.M..
CD-5—UK
12-inch single—UK
12-inch single—UK
12-inch single—US
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
single that became a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hit for American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist Lil Louis
Lil Louis
Lil Louis is the stage name used by Chicago-born house-music producer and DJ Louis Sims. He scored a number of hits on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the 1980s and 1990s, three of which hit #1....
. The song also was a hit in dance clubs around the world, and it spent two weeks at #1 on the American dance chart
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
in October 1989. It was a crossover pop hit as well, peaking at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It was also a mainstream pop hit in the UK, where it peaked at #2. The lead vocals on the track—recorded after the track was picked up for distribution by major labels—were performed by Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
native and noted female house-music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
singer Shawn Christopher
Shawn Christopher
Shawn Christopher is a female African American dance music singer from Chicago, Illinois.-Career:She was a touring backing vocalist for R&B singer Chaka Khan from 1982 to 1985. She is also a former member of the industrial dance band known as My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, and sang with the...
, although another vocal version exists in Europe with vocal duties performed by a woman named Pasquale.
Structure and usage
Distinctions of this song are that it is based on a single note (F-natural) and that it gradually slows down to a complete stop, marked by the vocal climax, and then, again gradually, speeds up. This was an innovative feature for any dance track at that time. Note that the track includes a more erotic vocal performance than the title implies.Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
ranked the song 7th in its 100 Greatest Dance Songs list, adding: ""French Kiss" is a moaning, sex-as-house track that audaciously and amazingly slows down and then stops altogether. It builds again, chugging back to its initial speed until it fades brighter than ever in post-orgasmic glow."
It was sampled heavily on Josh Wink
Josh Wink
Josh Wink is an electronic music DJ, label owner, producer, remixer, and artist. He is a native of Philadelphia, United States. A pioneering DJ in the American rave scene during the early 1990s, Wink was the most prominent exponent of the tribal forms of techno and house in the U.S...
's single “How's Your Evening So Far?”—credited to Wink vs. Lil Louis. It was also sampled on The Wiseguys
The Wiseguys
The Wiseguys was a British electronica and hip hop band that was responsible for creating the song "Start the Commotion" that was in a Mitsubishi TV advertisement, as well as the films Lizzie McGuire, Zoolander and Kangaroo Jack; and "Ooh La La", which was used in Budweiser commercials...
’ song "Au-Pair Girls," from 1998. In 1990, the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
TV presenter Lagaf'
Lagaf'
Lagaf is a famous French humorist, TV presenter, singer and actor.-Biography:...
used the sample of the song in a parodic version under the name "Bo le lavabo (WC Kiss)
Bo le lavabo
"Bo le lavabo " is a 1990 novelty song recorded by the French TV presenter and humorist Lagaf'. It was his debut single and achieved success in France.-Background and writing:...
." The American 12-inch single was never released on compact disc.
The song was also sampled on a remix of The Loco-Motion for Kylie Minogue's
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
Enjoy Yourself 1990 Tour
Enjoy Yourself Tour
The Enjoy Yourself Tour was Kylie Minogue's first world tour following the success of her second studio album, Enjoy Yourself. By the start of the European leg of the tour, Minogue had started to take control of her image and musical direction, demonstrated by the release of the career milestone...
titled "The Oz Tour Mix," which remained unreleased in studio form for many years until it was finally released on the bonus disc of remixes of the 2002 Greatest Hits ’87–’92.
The track was also featured on the 1999 Carl Cox
Carl Cox
Carl Cox is a British techno and house music DJ.-Biography:Cox grew up in Oldham, Lancashire, before attending Glastonbury High Boys secondary modern school on Glastonbury Road in Morden. Cox began his career as a hardcore and rave DJ in the mid 1980s...
DJ album "Non-stop 2000"—CD 1, starting roughly midway through track 06, "Funk on the Roll." Carl seamlessly mixes it in the background continuously, through the whole of the next track, "Let it roll," before it plays in its entire original form as track 08.
The song was also sampled in “Custom-Made (Give it to You)” by Lil' Kim
Lil' Kim
Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
, which appeared on her album The Notorious K.I.M..
Formats and track listings
CD single—UK- "French Kiss"—10:02
- "Wargames"—7:18
CD-5—UK
- Original Mix – 10:02
- "French Kiss" (vocal remix) —9:45
- "French Kiss" (passion radio mix) —4:15
- "French Kiss" (conversion mix) —9:45
12-inch single—UK
- "French Kiss"—10:02
- "War Games"—7:18
12-inch single—UK
- "French Kiss"—4:09
- "New York"—3:40
12-inch single—US
- "French Kiss" (the original underground mix) —9:54
- "French Kiss" (talkin' all that jazz mix) —4:14
- "French Kiss" (short but sweet radio vocal mix) —4:08
- "French Kiss" (the songbird sings long vocal mix) —9:59
- "French Kiss" (cherry talk conversational mix) —5:29
Certifications and sales
Charts
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 35 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 4 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 1 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 5 |
| German Singles Chart | 2 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 6 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 16 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 2 |
| UK Singles Chart | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 50 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 1 |