Faith (George Michael song)
| "Faith" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by George Michael | ||||
| from the album Faith | ||||
| Released | 12 October 1987 | |||
| Format | CD single, 7" single | |||
| Recorded | 1987 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 3:16 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Writer(s) | George Michael | |||
| Producer | George Michael | |||
| George Michael singles chronology | ||||
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"Faith" is a number 1 song, written and performed by George Michael, released as a single on Columbia Records, from his 1987 Faith album. According to Billboard magazine, it was the top-selling single of the year in the United States in 1988.
Contents |
Track listing [edit]
7": UK / Epic EMU 2
- "Faith" – 3:14
- "Hand To Mouth" – 4:36
12": UK / Epic EMU T2
- "Faith" – 3:14
- "Faith" (Instrumental) – 3:08
- "Hand to Mouth" – 4:36
Mixes [edit]
- Album version – 3:16
- Instrumental – 3:08
History [edit]
Having disbanded Wham! the previous year, there was a keen expectation for Michael's solo career and "Faith" would go on to become one of his most popular and enduring songs, as well as being the most simplistic in its production. It was the second of six singles released from the well-received album.
Music video [edit]
A famous video was made, which provided some definitive images of the 1980s music industry in the process - Michael in shades, designer stubble, a leather jacket & a particularly memorable pair of tight Levi's blue jeans & cowboy boots, playing a guitar near a classic-design Wurlitzer jukebox.
The music video also features parts of two other songs by George Michael. The jukebox starts by playing "I Want Your Sex", and then is interrupted by a pipe organ version of Wham!'s "Freedom" before starting into the song.
The video for "Freedom! '90", released three years later, used some of the elements used in the "Faith" video, from the guitar, jeans, jacket all the way to the jukebox.
Chart performance [edit]
The song reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number two on the UK Singles Chart.
On the Hot 100 chart, "Faith" rocketed from number 54 to number 37, the week of 31 October 1987, reaching number 1 on 12 December 1987 and remaining there for 4 consecutive weeks, easily becoming the longest running chart topper of 1987. Altogether, "Faith" lingered in the Top 10 for 9 weeks, the Top 20 for 11 weeks & the Top 40 for 15 weeks.
Charts and certifications [edit]
Charts [edit] |
Certifications [edit]
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| Preceded by "Beds Are Burning" by Midnight Oil |
New Zealand RIANZ number-one single 4 December 1987 – 15 January 1988 |
Succeeded by "I Think We're Alone Now" by Tiffany |
| Preceded by "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" by Belinda Carlisle |
Billboard Hot 100 number-one single 12 December 1987 – 2 January 1988 |
Succeeded by "So Emotional" by Whitney Houston |
| Preceded by "Walk Like An Egyptian" by The Bangles |
Billboard Hot 100 Year-End number-one single 1988 |
Succeeded by "Look Away" by Chicago |
| Preceded by "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes |
Canadian RPM Singles Chart number-one single 19 December 1987 - 9 January 1988 |
Succeeded by "Got My Mind Set on You" by George Harrison |
| Preceded by "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley |
Australian ARIA Singles Chart number-one single 18 January 1988 |
Limp Bizkit cover [edit]
| "Faith" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Limp Bizkit | ||||
| from the album Three Dollar Bill, Yall$ | ||||
| Released | 1998 | |||
| Format | CD | |||
| Recorded | May 1997 at Indigo Ranch Studio in Malibu, California | |||
| Genre | Nu metal | |||
| Length | 2:26 | |||
| Label | Flip/Interscope/MCA | |||
| Producer | Fred Durst Ross Robinson DJ Lethal |
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| Limp Bizkit singles chronology | ||||
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American nu metal group Limp Bizkit covered the song "Faith" in their live performances, using the cover to attract attention to the band. Word of mouth attendance and energetic live performances in which guitarist Wes Borland appeared in bizarre costumes increased the band's cult following. Audiences, in particular, were attracted to Borland's guitar playing and appearance.[14]
Despite the success of the song in Limp Bizkit's live performances, producer Ross Robinson was opposed to recording the cover for their debut album, Three Dollar Bill, Yall$, and tried to persuade the band not to play it on the album. However, the final recording, which incorporated heavier guitar playing and drumming, as well as DJ scratching, impressed Robinson.[14]
Peter Berg directed a music video featuring a bizarre wedding monologue for the song in promotion for its appearance in his film Very Bad Things,[15] but Fred Durst was unsatisfied with it and directed a second video which paid tribute to tourmates like Primus, Deftones and Mötley Crüe, who appeared in the video.[16] Borland stated in an interview that George Michael, the writer of the song, hated the cover and "hates us for doing it".[16]
Other covers [edit]
- Alvin and the Chipmunks covered this song as the opening track to their 1988 album The Chipmunks and The Chipettes: Born to Rock. In this version, they changed the lyric "If I could touch your body" to "If you could be my baby."
- The Russian pop duo Smash!! produced a cover of this song on its 2004 album 2Nite and was later released as a single.
- Joel McHale's character Jeff Winger sang a different version of this song on the episode "Intro to Political Science" on the NBC sitcom Community.
Samples [edit]
- Joe McElderry who won the British X Factor in 2009 samples "Faith" in his song "Until the Stars Run Out" on the 25 October album release Wide Awake.
- The song also inspired a dancehall/reggae riddim of the same name.
Personnel [edit]
- Vocals: George Michael
- Bass: Deon Estus
- Guitars: Hugh Burns
- Cathedral Organ: Chris Cameron
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d e f George Michael - Faith (song). Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ Top Singles - Volume 47, No. 11, 19 December 1987. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ Single-Chartverfolgung. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ The Irish Charts. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ George Michael singles sales ranking. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ Listas de Afyve. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ Top 75 Releases. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ a b c Faith - George Michael. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ Canadian Certifications. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ Goud/Platina Muziek. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ Gold & Platinum: Searchable Database. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ a b Devenish, Colin (2000). Limp Bizkit. St. Martin's. pp. 21–49. ISBN 0-312-26349-X.
- ^ DeSalvo, Kathy (25 September 1998). "Tool of North America signs Peter Berg". Shoot 39 (39). ISSN 1074-5297.
- ^ a b Devenish, Colin (2000). Limp Bizkit. St. Martin's. pp. 51–78. ISBN 0-312-26349-X.
External links [edit]
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- 1987 singles
- 1997 singles
- Limp Bizkit songs
- George Michael songs
- Rockabilly songs
- Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
- Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
- European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
- Number-one singles in Australia
- Number-one singles in Italy
- Number-one singles in New Zealand
- RPM Top Singles number-one singles
- Songs written by George Michael
- Columbia Records singles
