- Father Figure (song)
Infobox Single
Name = Father Figure
Artist =George Michael
from Album = Faith
B-side =
Released = 1987
Format =CD single
Recorded = 1987
Genre = Pop, R&B
Length = 5:40
Label = Columbia
Writer = George Michael
Producer = George Michael
Certification =
Last single = "Faith" (1987)
This single = "Father Figure" (1987)
Next single = "One More Try" (1988)Extra tracklisting
Album = Faith
Type = studio
prev_track = "Faith"
prev_no = 1
this_track = "Father Figure"
track_no = 2
next_track = "I Want Your Sex "
next_no = 3Extra tracklisting
Album = Twenty Five
Type = compilation
prev_track = "A Different Corner "
prev_no = 3
this_track = "Father Figure"
track_no = 4
next_track = "One More Try"
next_no = 5"Father Figure" is a U.S. number-one song written and performed by
George Michael and released onEpic Records in 1987 as the third single from the album "Faith".History
"Father Figure" is a sharp and sensual tale of seduction which is more than five minutes long and epitomized the sexual nature of Michael's writing which he had adopted since the latter years of
Wham! .The song was actually supposed to be an uptempo dance track, but while checking his mix of the song, Michael inadvertently turned off the snare track and realized he liked the song better without it.
The video starred Vogue model
Tania Coleridge .Chart Performance
Released in 1987, "Father Figure" reached number eleven in the
UK singles chart - the first time Michael had failed to reach the top ten in his home country. The song remained a live favourite at Michael's concerts for many years and is also one of his most frequently aired songs on the radio in the UK.In the U.S., "Father Figure" became
George Michael 's sixth number one single (counting #1 singles garnered as half ofWham! ). "Father Figure" debuted at #49 onJanuary 16 ,1988 , while "Faith" was still prominent (at #9) in the top tier of the chart. In the subsequent weeks, "Father Figure" was a surefire hit, reaching #1 by its seventh week,February 27 ,1988 , staying at the top for two weeks. Altogether, the single spent 6 weeks in the Top 10, 9 weeks in the Top 20, and 14 weeks in the Top 40.Peak positions
Music Video
The music video begins with a brief time-lapse scene of a city landscape. A well-dressed woman (model Tania Coleridge) hails a cab, driven by George Michael. As he drives her through the city, the shot is interrupted by images of George Michael cutting photographs of Coleridge from magazines. The remainder of the video alternates between scenes of Coleridge modeling (photo shoots, catwalks) and sex scenes with George Michael.
George Michael and Andy Morahan won "Best Direction of a Video" at the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards for "Father Figure."
Covers & cultural references
*"Father Figure" is also the name of a "" episode. The series frequently names its episodes after song titles. [http://www.tv.com/degrassi-the-next-generation/father-figure-1/episode/276668/summary.html]
*In1993 , the song was prominently sampled byP.M. Dawn on their hit "Looking Through Patient Eyes ".
*The backing music and hook of the song are also sampled inLL Cool J 's song "Father," from his 1997 album, "Phenomenon".
*In1993 , George Michael performed an acoustic version of this song for "MTV Unplugged ".
*In June 2005,Tori Amos covered the song at a live performance at the Hammersmith Apollo (London, UK) and it appears in her "The Original Bootlegs" Box Set.
*In February 2006, the song hit #37 on the U.S.iTunes Store chart shortly after "American Idol (season 5) " contestantAce Young sang it during the first final round. Young later recorded a full studio version for "". Young's version of the track peaked at #108 on U.S. Billboard.
*The Top 12 American Idol season 7 sang this song at the American Idol season 7 grand finale.Track listings
*U.S. single (CD/cassette):
# "Father Figure" – 5:40
# "Look at your Hands" – 6:43*International single (CD/cassette
Maxi single ):
# "Father Figure" – 5:40
# "Father Figure (Deep Remix)" – 4:43
# "Father Figure (handrix verison)" – 3:13
# "Father Figure (Cinema Remix) " – 4:11References
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