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

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)Songwriter Interviews

The Brazilian rocker sees pictures in his riffs. When he came up with one of his gnarliest songs, there was a riot going on.

Cy Curnin of The Fixx

Cy Curnin of The FixxSongwriter Interviews

The man who brought us "Red Skies" and "Saved By Zero" is now an organic farmer in France.