Faith (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Faith" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Single by George Michael | ||
| from the album Faith | ||
| Released | 1987 | |
| Label | Columbia Records | |
| George Michael singles chronology | ||
| "I Want Your Sex" (1987) |
Faith | "Father Figure" (1988) |
"Faith" is a song written and performed by George Michael and released on Columbia Records from his album of the same title in 1987.
Having disbanded Wham! the previous year, there was a keen expectation for Michael's solo career and "Faith" would go on to become one of his most popular and endearing songs, as well as being the most simplistic in its production. It was the second of six singles released from the well-received album.
"Faith" was just over three minutes long, almost the first minute of which was taken up by a straightforward, fade-up organ introduction (based on the Wham! song "Freedom"). Eventually, a one-chord guitar took up the song with Michael singing a basic but meaningful lyric about not being tempted away from his relationship by a nonetheless attractive third party.
The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA and reached number two in the UK singles chart. A famous video was made which provided some definitive images of the 1980s music industry in the process - Michael in shades, leather jacket and a particularly memorable pair of tight Levis jeans and cowboy boots, playing a guitar near a classic-design jukebox.
American nu metal band Limp Bizkit made a cover of "Faith", which is on the tracklist of their debut album Three Dollar Bill, Yall$ (1997).
At the 2003 BRIT Awards, a re-worded version of the song was performed by Ms Dynamite in order to show opposition to the war in Iraq. George, himself a vocal campaigner against the war, did not appear at the ceremony but duetted on the song via a pre-recorded video.
| Preceded by: "Heaven is a Place on Earth" by Belinda Carlisle |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single December 12, 1987 |
Succeeded by: "So Emotional" by Whitney Houston |
