French Kiss

Album: From the Mind of Lil' Louis (1989)
Charted: 2 50
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Released on the Epic label, on the same record as "The Songbird Sings Long Vocal Mix" (9 minutes 59 seconds) and "Cherry Talk Conversational Mix" (5 minutes 29 seconds), "French Kiss" was written by Karlana Johnson and Lil Louis (Louis Burns). Johnson wrote the words - such as they are.

    This song was caught up in one of the UK's periodic censorship flaps when future Home Secretary Jack Straw told the Times that his 9-year-old son could not understand "why so many people should buy a record of a woman panting, then groaning, interspersed with the occasional mumbled phrase."
  • The song has been widely sampled, including on "Custom Made (Give It to You)" by Lil' Kim, "Quickie" by Geto Boys, "Au Pair Girls" by The Wiseguys, "Send to Robin Immediately" by Robyn and "I Feel So Free" by Madonna. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2
  • Li'l Louis - real name Marvin Louis Burns - is a Chicago DJ and producer and the son of guitarist Bobby Sims. A pioneer of the house genre, he began DJing in the mid-1970s.
  • Originally an instrumental track (apart from wordless moans), vocals were recorded after the song was picked up for distribution by major label, with American singer Shawn Christopher performing lead vocals on the US version, and a woman known only as "Pasquale" handling vocal duties on the European release.
  • "French Kiss" became a local Chicago hit in 1987 before becoming a Platinum-selling international classic after being licensed to CBS and FFRR, spending two weeks at #1 on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart in October 1989. British DJ Pete Tong called it "one of the most important riffs ever written in house music."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Leslie West of Mountain

Leslie West of MountainSongwriter Interviews

From the cowbell on "Mississippi Queen" to recording with The Who when they got the wrong Felix, stories from one of rock's master craftsmen.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Motley Crue

Motley CrueFact or Fiction

Was Dr. Feelgood a dentist? Did the "Crüecifixion" really happen?

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.