Lil Louis
Encyclopedia
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.
His best known song
, "French Kiss
," featured vocals
by Shawn Christopher
and spent two weeks at #1 on the dance chart in 1989. The track features a several-minutes-long breakdown in which the music gradually slowed down in tempo
to a stop. Even with its sensual sound, it crossed over to some pop
radio station
s and climbed to #50 on the Billboard Hot 100
. It was a big success throughout Europe
reaching #2 in the UK Singles Chart
and in Germany
, and number one in the Netherlands.
The video was directed by Marek Budzynski
Laurent Garnier
's 1997 12" single
"Flashback" contained a remix made by Lil Louis called "Lil Louis Civilized Instrumental Painting."
British Jungle/Drum 'n' Bass producer Ed Rush
remixed the track "French Kiss
".
In 2000, fellow producer Josh Wink
released "How's Your Evening So Far?"—credited to Wink vs. Lil Louis—a track that heavily sampled "French Kiss." The song peaked at #3 on the dance chart. The song was also sampled
in 2000 by female hip hop
emcee Lil' Kim
on the track "Custom Made (Give It To You)," which was featured on The Notorious KIM
.
Louis also released albums under the names Li'l Louis & the World and Li'l Louis & the Party.
In the track "Teachers" from the Homework album by Daft Punk
, Lil' Louis is one of the many musician
s mentioned.
/SME Records
, U.S.
)
1989 : "New York" (Diamond Records)
1989 : "War Games" (Remix) (Diamond Records)
1989 : "Jupiter" (Diamond Records)
1989 : "Frequency" (Remix) (Diamond Records)
1989 : Li'l Louis & The World - "I Called U," "Blackout" (FFRR/PolyGram), (Epic
/SME Records
, U.S.)
1989 : From The Mind of Li'l Louis (FFRR/PolyGram UK
(Epic
/SME Records
U.S.
), album
1992 : Li'l Louis & the World - "Club Lonely" (Epic/SME Records) (single)
1992 : Li'l Louis & the World - Journey with the Lonely (Epic
/SME Records
U.S.
), album
1997 : Li'l Louis - "Clap Your Hands" (Go! Beat)
2000 : Josh Wink & Li'l Louis - "How's Your Evening So Far?"
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...
-born 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...
producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
Louis Sims. He scored a number of hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
in the 1980s and 1990s, three of which hit #1.
His best known song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
, "French Kiss
French Kiss (song)
"French Kiss" is a 1989 house-music single that became a European 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...
," featured vocals
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
by 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...
and spent two weeks at #1 on the dance chart in 1989. The track features a several-minutes-long breakdown in which the music gradually slowed down in tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
to a stop. Even with its sensual sound, it crossed over to some pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s and climbed to #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 a big success throughout 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...
reaching #2 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and number one in the Netherlands.
The video was directed by Marek Budzynski
Laurent Garnier
Laurent Garnier
Laurent Garnier , is a French techno music producer and DJ. Garnier began DJ-ing in Manchester during the late 1980s. By the following decade, he had a broad stylistic range, able to span deep house, Detroit techno, trance and jazz...
's 1997 12" single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Flashback" contained a remix made by Lil Louis called "Lil Louis Civilized Instrumental Painting."
British Jungle/Drum 'n' Bass producer Ed Rush
Ed Rush
Ed Rush is the recording name of Ben Settle; a prominent jungle/techstep/neurofunk DJ, who often produces tracks in collaboration with Optical. Hailing from west London, he came to prominence with the release of the track Bludclot Artattack in 1993...
remixed the track "French Kiss
French Kiss (song)
"French Kiss" is a 1989 house-music single that became a European 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...
".
In 2000, fellow producer 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...
released "How's Your Evening So Far?"—credited to Wink vs. Lil Louis—a track that heavily sampled "French Kiss." The song peaked at #3 on the dance chart. The song was also sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
in 2000 by female hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
emcee 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.....
on the track "Custom Made (Give It To You)," which was featured on The Notorious KIM
The Notorious KIM
The Notorious K.I.M. is the second studio album by rapper Lil' Kim, released on June 27, 2000. It debuted at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 387,000 in its first week, among Kim's highest peaks and biggest first week sales yet, and reached the top of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums...
.
Louis also released albums under the names Li'l Louis & the World and Li'l Louis & the Party.
In the track "Teachers" from the Homework album by Daft Punk
Daft Punk
Daft Punk are an electronic music duo consisting of French musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter . Daft Punk reached significant popularity in the late 1990s house movement in France and met with continued success in the years following, combining elements of house with synthpop...
, Lil' Louis is one of the many musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s mentioned.
Selected discography
1989 : "French Kiss" (12"), (FFRR) , (Diamond Records), (EpicEpic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
/SME Records
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
)
1989 : "New York" (Diamond Records)
1989 : "War Games" (Remix) (Diamond Records)
1989 : "Jupiter" (Diamond Records)
1989 : "Frequency" (Remix) (Diamond Records)
1989 : Li'l Louis & The World - "I Called U," "Blackout" (FFRR/PolyGram), (Epic
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
/SME Records
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
, U.S.)
1989 : From The Mind of Li'l Louis (FFRR/PolyGram UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(Epic
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
/SME Records
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
), album
- "I Called U" (Original Mix)
- "Blackout" (Original Mix)
- "Tuch Me" (Written with Larry HeardLarry HeardLarry Heard is a Memphis, Tennessee-based musician widely known for the Chicago-based house music he produced during the mid-1980s and continues to produce today. He was leader of the influential group Fingers Inc. and has recorded solo under various names, most notably Mr...
) - "French Kiss"
- "War Games"
- "6 AM" (Larry HeardLarry HeardLarry Heard is a Memphis, Tennessee-based musician widely known for the Chicago-based house music he produced during the mid-1980s and continues to produce today. He was leader of the influential group Fingers Inc. and has recorded solo under various names, most notably Mr...
) - "Nyce & Slow"
- "Insecure"
- "The Luv U Wanted" (Written/Co-Produced By Ferrante Eric(Hickerson)-Vocals By Sherel Riley)
- "Brittany" (featuring Joi CardwellJoi CardwellJoi Cardwell is a female Biracial Club/Dance, House music and R&B music singer-songwriter.-Career:She has had major success on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where she placed eight songs in the top ten between 1995 to 2007...
) - "Li'l Tanya"
1992 : Li'l Louis & the World - "Club Lonely" (Epic/SME Records) (single)
1992 : Li'l Louis & the World - Journey with the Lonely (Epic
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
/SME Records
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
), album
- "Club Lonely" (featuring Joi CardwellJoi CardwellJoi Cardwell is a female Biracial Club/Dance, House music and R&B music singer-songwriter.-Career:She has had major success on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where she placed eight songs in the top ten between 1995 to 2007...
) - "New Dance Beat" (Masters At WorkMasters At WorkMasters at Work is the house/garage production and remix team of "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez. They first worked together using the name, which had been given to them by mutual friend Todd Terry , in 1990...
remix) - "Saved My Life"
- "Aahhhh!"
- "Do U Love Me"
- "You're My Reason"
- "Dancing in My Sleep"
- "Funny How U Luv" (feat. Barbara TuckerBarbara TuckerBarbara Tucker , is an African American house, R&B and soul singer, songwriter and choreographer. Her impact on the mainstream music scene has been felt more in Europe, than in her home country....
) - "Thief"
- "Share"
1997 : Li'l Louis - "Clap Your Hands" (Go! Beat)
2000 : Josh Wink & Li'l Louis - "How's Your Evening So Far?"
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart