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

Band Names

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.