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 III)"
Written	Early 1985
Released	21 November 1988 (1988-11-21)
Recorded	1987
Genre	Sophisti-pop[1] jazz jazz pop
Length	4:35
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	George Michael
Producer(s)	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 1988.

A ballad with minimal instrumentation and a jazz feel, the song was written about Michael's insecurities as a soulmate and partner because of the baggage and reputation with which he came. According to Michael, the vocals were recorded a cappella in one take.^[citation needed]

Aside from Michael's vocals, the song employs piano, guitar, bass, drums and a brass section. It was the seventh and final single to be released from the album Faith. It was also the least successful, making number 18 on the UK Singles Chart and becoming the first single in five not to make 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,[2] being regarded critically as one of his most vulnerable recordings and one of his best ballads.[3][4] In 2021, BBC Radio 2 listeners voted "Kissing a Fool" as number 15 in their top 40 George Michael songs.[5]

"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.

Writing

According to 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.[6] 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).[7]

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.[8]

Track listing

7": UK / Epic EMU 7

1. "Kissing a Fool" – 4:34
2. "Kissing a Fool" (instrumental) – 4:34

12": UK / Epic EMU T7

1. "Kissing a Fool" – 4:34
2. "Kissing a Fool" (instrumental) – 4:34
3. "A Last Request (I Want Your Sex Part III)" – 3:48

CD: UK / Epic CD EMU 7

1. "Kissing a Fool" – 4:34
2. "Kissing a Fool" (instrumental) – 4:34
3. "A Last Request (I Want Your Sex Part III)" – 3:48

Charts

Weekly charts George Michael version Chart (1988–1989) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[9] 55 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 10 Canada (The Record's Retail Singles Chart)[11] 7 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[12] 41 France (SNEP)[13] 45 Germany (GfK)[14] 44 Ireland (IRMA)[15] 9 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 13 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 13 Spain (PROMUSICAE Top 40 Radio)[18] 28 UK Singles (OCC)[19] 18 US Billboard Hot 100[20] 5 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[21] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] 33 US Cash Box Top 100[23] 4 Michael Bublé version Chart (2003) Peak position US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 29

Year-end charts Chart (1988) Position Canada[24] 61 US Billboard Hot 100[25] 91

References

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