Kissing a Fool (song)

"Kissing a Fool"
Single by George Michael
from the album Faith
B-side	"A Last Request (I Want Your Sex Part 3)"
Written	Early 1985
Released	21 November 1988 (1988-11-21)
Recorded	1987
Studio	Sarm West (London) [1]
Genre	Sophisti-pop [2] jazz jazz pop
Length	4:35
Label	Columbia
Songwriter	George Michael
Producer	George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Monkey" (1988) "Kissing a Fool" (1988) "Praying for Time" (1990)
Music video
"Kissing a Fool" on YouTube

"Kissing a Fool" is a song written and performed by English singer and songwriter George Michael, released by Columbia Records in November 1988 as the seventh and final single from his debut studio album, Faith (1987). It was also the least successful, reaching number 18 on the UK Singles Chart and becoming the first single in five not to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. However, it reached number one on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks and became a number 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, ^[3] being regarded critically as one of his most vulnerable recordings and one of his best ballads. ^{[4] [5]} In 2021, BBC Radio 2 listeners voted "Kissing a Fool" as number 15 in their top 40 George Michael songs. ^[6]

"Kissing a Fool" was Michael's last single for almost two years in the United Kingdom. It was later covered by Michael Bublé on his self-titled album and released as a single in the United States and reached No. 29 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. ^[7]

Background and composition

In an interview published in the December 1987 issue of International Musician and Recording World magazine, Michael remembers writing "Kissing a Fool" en route to Japan for Wham!'s 1984 tour (referring to the Big Tour) in early 1985. ^[8] However, much like other songs Michael was writing at the time, it couldn't be used for Wham! due to certain restrictions in the duo's image; a solo album would be the best chance to use it (which, in that case, turned out to be the Faith album more than two years later). ^[9]

Michael elaborated on the writing of "Kissing a Fool":

I don't think I've ever been influenced by other friends as to who I should or shouldn't go out with. "Kissing a Fool" isn't really about that. It's about a relationship I had with someone who couldn't handle the situation because of who I was, George Michael. At the time it did surprise me. First I hadn't realized how much I'd achieved and secondly I hadn't realized it could have its limitations. I write it in that swing style because I think that period of music had that feeling of resignation. It's very much a late night giving up feeling. ^[10]

A ballad with minimal instrumentation and a jazz feel, "Kissing a Fool" features arrangement by English film composer John Altman. ^[11] Aside from Michael's vocals, the song employs piano, guitar, bass, drums and a brass section. According to Michael, the vocals were recorded a cappella in one take.^{[ citation needed ]}

Track listings

All tracks are written by George Michael.

7″: Epic / EMU 7 (UK) ^[12]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Kissing a Fool"	4:34
2.	"Kissing a Fool" (instrumental)	4:34

12″: Epic / EMU T7 (UK) ^[13]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Kissing a Fool"	4:34
2.	"Kissing a Fool" (instrumental)	4:34
3.	"A Last Request (I Want Your Sex Part 3)"	3:47

Personnel

Personnel taken from Faith liner notes. ^[14]

• George Michael – vocals, bass
• Hugh Burns – guitar
• Lee Fothergill – guitar
• Chris Cameron – piano
• Ian Thomas – drums
• John Altman – saxophone
• Mark Chandler – trumpet
• Malcolm Griffiths – trombone
• Steve Sidwell – trumpet
• Paul Spong – trumpet
• Jamie Talbot – alto saxophone
• Rick Taylor – trombone
• Steve Waterman – trumpet

Charts

Weekly charts George Michael version Chart (1988–1989) Peak position Australia (ARIA) [15] 55 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [16] 10 Canada ( The Record's Retail Singles Chart) [17] 7 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) [18] 41 France (SNEP) [19] 45 Germany (GfK) [20] 44 Ireland (IRMA) [21] 9 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [22] 13 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [23] 13 Spain (PROMUSICAE Top 40 Radio) [24] 28 UK Singles (OCC) [25] 18 US Billboard Hot 100 [26] 5 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [27] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [28] 33 US Cash Box Top 100 [29] 4 Michael Bublé version Chart (2003) Peak position US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [7] 29

Year-end charts Chart (1988) Position Canada [30] 61 US Billboard Hot 100 [31] 91

References

1. Horton 2022, p. 74.
2. Greene, Jayson (17 July 2007). "George Michael – Faith – Review". Stylus Magazine . Archived from the original on 14 September 2007. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
3. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 169.
4. Dan Cairns (2 July 2023). "Ranked: George Michael's top 22 songs to make you dance and cry" . The Times . Retrieved 1 June 2024.
5. Maura Johnston (26 October 2017). "George Michael's 'Kissing a Fool': A Pop Scholar's Final 'Faith' Thesis". Billboard . Retrieved 1 June 2024.
6. "BBC Radio 2 listeners crown Careless Whisper their favourite George Michael song". BBC . 1 January 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
7. "Michael Buble Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
8. Horkins, Tony (December 1987). "George Michael: A Question of Faith". International Musician and Recording World . UK. p. 33.
9. Jensen, David (21 February 1987). "Everything He Wants". Number One . No. 192. pp. 44–45. Retrieved 21 January 2025– via Flickr.
10. Simper, Paul (14 November 1987). "Faith: GM Speaks". Number One . No. 230. p. 9. Retrieved 21 January 2025– via Flickr.
11. Horton 2022, p. 73.
12. Kissing a Fool (UK 7-inch single). George Michael. Epic Records. 1988. EMU 7.
13. Kissing a Fool (UK 12-inch single). George Michael. Epic Records. 1988. EMU T7.
14. Faith (Album liner notes). George Michael. 1987.
15. Scott, Gavin. "This Week In 1989: January 15, 1989". chartbeats.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
16. "George Michael – Kissing a Fool" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
17. Nanda Lwin (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN   1-896594-13-1.
18. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 21 January 1989. p. 74. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
19. "George Michael – Kissing a Fool" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
20. "George Michael – Kissing a Fool" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
21. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Kissing a Fool". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
22. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 51, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
23. "George Michael – Kissing a Fool" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
24. Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
26. "George Michael Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
27. "George Michael Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
28. "George Michael Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
29. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, November 26, 1988". Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
30. "Barry's Hits of All Decades Pop rock n roll Music Chart Hits".
31. "Top 100 Hits of 1988/Top 100 Songs of 1988 | Music Outfitters".

Bibliography

• Horton, Matthew (5 May 2022). George Michael's Faith. United States: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN   9781501377983.