Father Figure (George Michael song)

"Father Figure" is a song by English singer George Michael from his debut studio album, Faith (1987). It was released on 28 December 1987 as the album's fourth single by Columbia Records. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. Additionally it was a top 5 hit in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain.

"Father Figure"
Single by George Michael
from the album Faith
B-side	"Love's in Need of Love Today" (live at Wembley Arena)
Released	28 December 1987 (1987-12-28)
Recorded	1987
Genre	Pop R&B
Length	5:40
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	George Michael
Producer(s)	George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Hard Day" (1987) "Father Figure" (1987) "One More Try" (1988)

Background

George Michael had this to say on the genesis of "Father Figure":

The initial concept was totally different from the way the song turned out. In fact, the initial concept for 'Father Figure' was to make it a kind of mid-tempo dance track. And what happened was I wanted to hear something in my mix so I happened to cut out the snare on the board and suddenly it changed the whole entire mood of the track. Suddenly it seemed really dreamy. And this was halfway through writing it because I was writing the song as I was going along in the studio. And I just thought, well, hey, this is actually much better! So I worked the rest of the feel of the track around this spacey type sound. And it ended up, in my mind, being the most original-sounding thing on the album.^[1]

Composition

This song was an R&B ballad, and also features elements of Middle Eastern music and gospel.^[2]

On the tracks origins George Michael said:

It started off with a rhythm track with a snare, and when you play it like that it sounds a bit like Prince. But I must have been listening to it without the snare and gone, “Oh my God, that totally changes the record!” It suddenly becomes a gospel record.^[3]

Music video

The music video depicts a relationship between a cab driver (Michael) and a high-fashion model (Tania Coleridge). Various intercut flashbacks tell a backstory. Michael and Andy Morahan^[4] won "Best Direction of a Video" at the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards for the video.^[5]

Chart performance

Released in the United Kingdom in December 1987, "Father Figure" reached number eleven on the UK Singles Chart – the first time Michael had failed to reach the top ten in his home country.^[6]

In the United States, "Father Figure" debuted on 16 January 1988 at number 49, while "Faith" was still prominent (at number nine) in the top ten of the chart. "Father Figure" reached number one on 27 February 1988, staying at the top for two weeks. Altogether, the single spent 17 weeks in the chart.^[7]

Track listings

• UK single (7")

1. "Father Figure" – 5:40
2. "Love's In Need Of Love Today" (Live at Wembley Arena, 1 Apr '87) – 4:42

• US single (CD and cassette)

1. "Father Figure" – 5:40
2. "Look at Your Hands" – 4:37

• International single (CD and cassette maxi single)

1. "Father Figure" – 5:28
2. "Love's In Need Of Love Today" (Live at Wembley Arena, 1 Apr '87) – 4:42
3. "Father Figure" (Instrumental version) – 5:28

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1988–2016) Peak position Australia (Australian Music Report)^[8] 5 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[9] 17 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[10] 2 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[11] 2 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[12] 1 Denmark (IFPI)^[13] 13 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[14] 23 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[15] 9 France (SNEP)^[16] 37 Germany (Official German Charts)^[17] 18 Hungary (Single Top 40)^[18] 33 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 10)^[19] 3 Iceland (RÚV)^[20] 9 Ireland (IRMA)^[21] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[22] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[23] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[24] 7 Norway (VG-lista)^[25] 10 Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[26] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[27] 13 UK Singles (OCC)^[28] 11 US Billboard Hot 100^[29] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[30] 3 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[31] 13 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[32] 6

Year-end charts Chart (1988) Position Australia ^[33] 65 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[34] 34 US (Billboard) Hot 100^[35]^[36] 27 US (Billboard) Adult Contemporary^[37] 33 Certifications and sales Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)^[38] Gold 35,000 United Kingdom (BPI)^[39] Silver 200,000 Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Sampled in

• P.M. Dawn - Looking Through Patient Eyes (1993)
• L.L. Cool J - Father (1997)
• Destiny's Child - Winter Paradise (2001)

References

1. Bonson, Fred (1992). The Billboard book of number one hits. Billboard books. p. 692. ISBN 978-0823082988.
2. George Michael's Faith. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. 5 May 2022. ISBN 9781501377983.
3. "Faith: Legacy Edition (George Michael Interview Booklet, Part 3)". gmforever.com. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
4. Profile of Andy Morahan; www.andymorahan.com. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
5. "MTV VMAs 1988 - MTV Video Music Awards 1988". www.awardsandshows.com. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
6. "George Michael | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
7. "George Michael". Billboard. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
8. "Australian ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart – Week Ending 3rd April, 1988". ARIA, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019. N.B. ARIA licensed the Australian Music Report between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988.
9. "George Michael – Father Figure" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
10. "George Michael – Father Figure" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
11. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0950." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
12. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8885." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
13. Danish Singles Chart 29 January 1988
14. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 20 February 1988. p. 69. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
15. "Singlet 1988-01 tammikuu" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
16. "George Michael – Father Figure" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
17. "George Michael – Faith" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
18. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
19. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 10 (18. mars 1988)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved 26 July 2018. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
20. "George Michael Chart History". RÚV. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
21. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Father Figure". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
22. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 6, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
23. "George Michael – Father Figure" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
24. "George Michael – Father Figure". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
25. "George Michael – Father Figure". VG-lista. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
26. Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
27. "George Michael – Father Figure". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
28. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
29. "George Michael Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
30. "George Michael Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
31. "George Michael Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
32. "George Michael Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
33. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
34. Carolyn Hope. "Barry's Hits of All Decades Pop rock n roll Music Chart Hits". hitsofalldecades.com.
35. "1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. 24 December 1988. p. Y-20.
36. "Billboard Top 100 – 1988". Retrieved 3 October 2016.
37. Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1988
38. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
39. "British single certifications – George Michael – Father Figure". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 July 2020.

External links

• George Michael - Father Figure on YouTube