French Kiss (Lil Louis song)

"French Kiss"
Single by Lil Louis
from the album From the Mind of Lil Louis
Released	October 14, 1989
Format	12" CD MCD
Recorded	1989
Genre	House porn groove
Length	5:16
Label	FFRR PolyGram Epic CBS
Writer(s)	Lil Louis Karlana Johnson
Producer(s)	Lil Louis
Certification	Silver (SNEP)
Lil Louis singles chronology
"French Kiss" (1989) "New York" (1989)
Alternative cover US release, B-side

"French Kiss" is a song by American DJ and record producer Lil Louis. The song became an European and American hit in 1989. The song also was a hit in dance clubs around the world, and it spent two weeks at number one on the American dance chart in October 1989. It was a crossover pop hit as well, peaking at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also a mainstream pop hit in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number 2 in August 1989. The lead vocals on the track—recorded after the track was picked up for distribution by major labels—were performed by Chicago native and noted female house-music singer Shawn Christopher, although another vocal version exists in Europe with vocal duties performed by a woman named Pasquale.

Structure and usage

Distinctions of this song are that it is based on a single note (F-natural) and that it gradually slows down to a complete stop, marked by the vocal climax, and then, again gradually, speeds up. This was an innovative feature for any dance track at that time. Note that the track includes a more erotic vocal performance than the title implies.

Slant Magazine ranked the song 7th in its 100 Greatest Dance Songs list, adding: “‘French Kiss’ is a moaning, sex-as-house track that audaciously and amazingly slows down and then stops altogether. It builds again, chugging back to its initial speed until it fades brighter than ever in post-orgasmic glow.”^[1]

It was sampled heavily on Josh Wink's single “How's Your Evening So Far?”—credited to Wink vs. Lil Louis. It was also sampled on The Wiseguys’ song "Au-Pair Girls," from 1998. In 1990, the French TV presenter Lagaf' used the sample of the song in a parodic version under the name "Bo le lavabo (WC Kiss)." The American 12-inch single was never released on compact disc.

The song was also sampled on a remix of "The Loco-Motion" for Kylie Minogue's Enjoy Yourself 1990 Tour titled "The Oz Tour Mix," which remained unreleased in studio form for many years until it was finally released on the bonus disc of remixes of the 2002 Greatest Hits ’87–’92.

The track was also featured on the 1999 Carl Cox DJ album Non-stop 2000—CD 1, starting roughly midway through track 06, "Funk on the Roll." Carl seamlessly mixes it in the background continuously, through the whole of the next track, "Let it roll," before it plays in its entire original form as track 08.

The song was also sampled in "Custom Made (Give it to You)" by Lil' Kim, which appeared on her album The Notorious K.I.M..

Formats and track listings

CD single — UK

1. "French Kiss" — 10:02
2. "Wargames" — 7:18

CD-5 — UK

1. Original Mix — 10:02
2. "French Kiss" (vocal remix) — 9:45
3. "French Kiss" (passion radio mix) — 4:15
4. "French Kiss" (conversion mix) — 9:45

12-inch single — UK

1. "French Kiss" — 10:02
2. "War Games" — 7:18

7-inch single — UK

1. "French Kiss" — 4:09
2. "New York" — 3:40

12-inch single — US

1. "French Kiss" (the original underground mix) — 9:54
2. "French Kiss" (talkin' all that jazz mix) — 4:14
3. "French Kiss" (short but sweet radio vocal mix) — 4:08
4. "French Kiss" (the songbird sings long vocal mix) — 9:59
5. "French Kiss" (cherry talk conversational mix) — 5:29

Certifications and sales

Charts

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)

References