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Faith (George Michael song)

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"Faith"
Single by George Michael
from the album Faith
B-side
  • "Faith" (instrumental)
  • "Hand to Mouth"
Released12 October 1987 (1987-10-12)
RecordedMay–September 1987
Studio
Genre
Length3:16
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)George Michael
Producer(s)George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"I Want Your Sex"
(1987) 		"Faith"
(1987) 		"Hard Day"
(1987)
Music video
"Faith" on YouTube

"Faith" is a song by English singer and songwriter George Michael. Written and produced by Michael, it was released via Columbia Records as the second single from his 1987 debut solo album of the same name. It held the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for four weeks and, according to Billboard magazine, was the number-one single of the year in the United States in 1988. The song also reached number one in Australia and Canada and number two on the UK Singles Chart. In 2001, it placed at number 322 on the Songs of the Century list.[3]

Writing and recording

[edit]

As with the rest of the album, the track was written, arranged, and produced by Michael.[4] It is claimed that the idea came from publisher Dick Leahy's suggestion that Michael write a rock and roll pastiche.[5] The song began life in May 1987 at Puk Studios in Gjerlev, Denmark, with Michael doing a 2-bar LinnDrum loop and Hugh Burns playing the Bo Diddley-style acoustic rhythm guitar part on a nameless metal-bodied acoustic.[6][1] Long-time bassist Deon Estus laid down a bass part, while the cathedral organ part was recorded with a Yamaha DX7 (although some sources state it is from a Roland D-50).[1][7] While recording the vocals on the Faith album and other subsequent solo albums, Michael would usually write lyrics in front of the mic, and build the lead vocal by singing a line, each time he had Chris Porter rewind the tape so he could drop in at certain points to create the right emotional effect with his voice.[1] For this song, George wanted the vocals to be "dry and in-your-face", like on Prince's songs at the time, which Porter noted "had a very tight delay on the vocals, making him sound very growly but dry and aggressive"—it was that kind of effect they managed to recreate with an AMS digital delay.[1]

Work on the song later resumed on 1 September 1987, when a new bridge added and a 1950s-inspired guitar solo by Burns—played on a Geffen custom Stratocaster[6]—were added at Sarm West Studio 2 in London.[1] According to Porter, the solo was constructed bar-by-bar over a period of 4 hours in a similar fashion to recording George's vocals.[1]

Michael never thought of releasing "Faith" as a single in the beginning but once he decided it was going to be released he extended the song length to add the guitar solo, as explained in an interview with Countdown in 1988:

"Faith" was never actually intended as a single when I first recorded it. And then I listened to it more and more and... 'cause in fact, originally it was two minutes long. Originally there was no guitar solo. There was no real guitar sound on it or anything. And everyone said it's great, it's great but it's too short, you know. And everyone kept saying that "I love 'Faith', I love 'Faith'". So I thought, well maybe I should put it out as a single when it came to that. I said, I think a two-minute long single is a bit, you know... so I went in and extended it. But it was originally never intended as a single. It was just gonna be a small track on the album, a really short track.[8]

History

[edit]

The song incorporates the famed Bo Diddley beat, a classic rock and roll rhythm.[9] It begins with organ played by Chris Cameron, referencing Wham!'s song "Freedom", followed by guitar strumming, finger clicking, hand-claps, tambourine and hi-hat.[5]

The song was featured in the film Bitter Moon, directed by Roman Polanski.[10] More recently, it featured in Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One[11] and plays during the wedding scene in Ridley Scott's House of Gucci.[12] It also featured in TV show Eli Stone with a cameo from George Michael.

Music video

[edit]

The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan.[13] It features Michael, with noticeable stubble on his face, wearing a black leather jacket with 'Rockers Revenge' and BSA logo, Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses and a pair of Levi's blue jeans with cowboy boots, playing a guitar near a classic-design Wurlitzer jukebox, and a woman's bare legs. Writers Bob Batchelor and Scott Stoddart say the music video positions him as a "masculine sex object", breaking him up into individual body parts such as "stubbled" [sic] chin and butt.[14]

The music video also features part of another song by Michael. The video starts by playing "I Want Your Sex", and then is interrupted by the jukebox starting into "Faith".

Chart performance

[edit]

The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in late October and early November 1987.[15]

On the Billboard Hot 100 chart, "Faith" went from number 54 to number 37, the week of 31 October 1987. It reached number one on 12 December 1987 and remained there for four consecutive weeks. Altogether, "Faith" stayed in the top 10 for nine weeks, the top 20 for 11 weeks and the top 40 for 15 weeks.[citation needed]

Track listing

[edit]
  • 7": UK / Epic EMU 2
  1. "Faith" – 3:16
  2. "Hand to Mouth" – 4:36
  • 12": UK / Epic EMU T2
  1. "Faith" – 3:16
  2. "Faith" (instrumental) – 3:07
  3. "Hand to Mouth" – 4:36

Personnel

[edit]

Credits sourced from Sound on Sound.[1]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Faith"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[54] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[55] Gold 50,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[56] Gold 45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[57] Gold 50,000‡
Netherlands (NVPI)[58] Platinum 100,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[59] Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[61] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Limp Bizkit version

[edit]
"Faith"
Promotional single by Limp Bizkit
from the album Three Dollar Bill, Yall$
Released31 October 1998 (1998-10-31)
Recorded1997
StudioIndigo Ranch Studio, Malibu, California
Genre
Length2:26
Label
Songwriter(s)George Michael
Producer(s)
Limp Bizkit singles chronology
"Sour"
(1998) 		"Faith"
(1998) 		"Nookie"
(1999)

American rap rock band 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.[65]

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, Y'all, 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.[65] "I love George Michael and decided to cover 'Faith' for fun. We like to do really aggressive versions of cheesy pop hits," lead singer Fred Durst told Billboard. "I didn't expect him to get busted in that bathroom but his misfortune actually helped us. We couldn't ask for more of a buzz."[66]

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,[67] but Durst was unsatisfied with it and directed a second video which paid tribute to tourmates such as Primus, Deftones and Mötley Crüe, who appeared in the video.[68] Borland stated in an interview that George Michael, the writer of the song, hated the cover and "hates us for doing it".[68]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Buskin, Richard (March 2013). "Classic Tracks: George Michael 'Faith'". Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  2. ^ Breihan, Tom (2 April 2021). "The Number Ones: George Michael's "Faith". Stereogum. Retrieved 8 November 2023. ...Michael threw himself into the task, coming up with a playful homage to American rockabilly.
  3. ^ "The RIAA/NEA's Top 365 Songs of the 20th Century". Music Database. Retrieved 5 November 2018
  4. ^ Simpson, Paul (2003). The Rough Guide to Cult Pop. Rough Guides. p. 144.
  5. ^ a b Lucy Ellis, Bryony Sutherland (1998). The Complete Guide to the Music of George Michael & Wham!. Music Sales Group. pp. 38–39. ISBN 9780711968226.
  6. ^ a b "Interview with Hugh Burns". Archived from the original on 7 July 2011.
  7. ^ "Roland D-50 Famous Examples".
  8. ^ "George Michael Interview on Countdown (1988)".
  9. ^ Huey, Steve. "Faith (album review)". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  10. ^ "Bitter Moon (1992) - Soundtracks - IMDb". IMDb.
  11. ^ "Ready Player One (2018) - Soundtracks - IMDb". IMDb.
  12. ^ "House of Gucci (2021) - Soundtracks - IMDb". IMDb.
  13. ^ Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - George Michael - "Faith"". Music Video DataBase. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  14. ^ Bob Batchelor, Scott Stoddart (2007). The 1980s. Greenwood. p. 125.
  15. ^ "Official Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. 31 October 1987. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  16. ^ "Australian ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart – Week Ending 24th January, 1988". ARIA, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019. N.B. ARIA licensed the Australian Music Report chart between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988.
  17. ^ "George Michael – Faith" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  18. ^ "George Michael – Faith" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  19. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 5 December 1987. p. 62. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  20. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8678." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  21. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8742." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  22. ^ Danish Singles Chart 13 November 1987
  23. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 19 December 1987. p. 60. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  24. ^ "Singlet 1987-10 lokakuu" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  25. ^ "George Michael – Faith" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  26. ^ "George Michael – Faith" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  27. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  28. ^ "George Michael Chart History". RÚV. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  29. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Faith". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  30. ^ "George Michael Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  31. ^ ジョージ・マイケルのランキング (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  32. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 46, 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  33. ^ "George Michael – Faith" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  34. ^ "George Michael – Faith". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  35. ^ "George Michael – Faith". VG-lista. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  36. ^ "George Michael – Faith". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  37. ^ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  38. ^ "George Michael – Faith". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  39. ^ "George Michael – Faith". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  40. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  41. ^ "George Michael Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  42. ^ "George Michael Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  43. ^ "George Michael Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  44. ^ "Australian Music Report No 701 – 28 December 1987 > National Top 100 Singles for 1987". Australian Music Report, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  45. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1987" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  46. ^ "European Charts of the Year 1987: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. 26 December 1987. p. 34. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  47. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1987". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  48. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987". Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  49. ^ "Gallup Year End Charts 1987: Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror. 23 January 1988. p. 36. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  50. ^ "1988 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 12 December 2019. N.B. This page is missing some ARIA certifications.
  51. ^ "Jahreshitparade 1988". Austrian Charts Portal (in German). Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  52. ^ "Top 100 Singles of 1988 in Canada". RPM. 5 December 1987. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  53. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  54. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  55. ^ "Canadian single certifications – George Michael – Faith". Music Canada. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  56. ^ "Danish single certifications – George Michael – Faith". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  57. ^ "Italian single certifications – George Michael – Faith" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  58. ^ "Dutch single certifications – George Michael – Faith" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 16 February 2020. Enter Faith in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1987 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  59. ^ "Spanish single certifications – George Michael – Faith". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  60. ^ "British single certifications – George Michael – Faith". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  61. ^ "American single certifications – George Michael – Faith". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  62. ^ Maughan, Sophie (20 April 2020). "20 Nu-Metal Covers of Popular Songs". Loudwire. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  63. ^ "Where Are They Now? 1999's Biggest Pop Acts". Rolling Stone. 2 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  64. ^ Faith (American CD promotional single cover). Limp Bizkit. Interscope Records. 1998. INT5P-6452. Retrieved 8 April 2024.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  65. ^ a b Devenish, Colin (2000). Limp Bizkit. St. Martin's. pp. 21–49. ISBN 0-312-26349-X.
  66. ^ Bell, Carrie (13 February 1999). "The Modern Age". Billboard. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  67. ^ DeSalvo, Kathy (25 September 1998). "Tool of North America signs Peter Berg". Shoot. 39 (39). ISSN 1074-5297.
  68. ^ a b Devenish, Colin (2000). Limp Bizkit. St. Martin's. pp. 51–78. ISBN 0-312-26349-X.
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