Faith (George Michael song)
"Faith" is a song by English singer and songwriter George Michael. Written and produced by Michael, it was released via Columbia Records as the second single from his 1987 debut solo album of the same name. It held the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for four weeks and, according to Billboard magazine, was the number-one single of the year in the United States in 1988. The song also reached number one in Australia and Canada and number two on the UK Singles Chart. In 2001, it placed at number 322 on the Songs of the Century list.[3]
"Faith"
- "Faith" (instrumental)
- "Hand to Mouth"
12 October 1987
May, 1–2 September 1987
3:16
George Michael
George Michael
History[edit]
The song incorporates the famed Bo Diddley beat, a classic rock and roll rhythm.[9] It begins with organ played by Chris Cameron, referencing Wham!'s song "Freedom", followed by guitar strumming, finger clicking, hand-claps, tambourine and hi-hat.[5]
The song was featured in the film Bitter Moon, directed by Roman Polanski.[10] More recently, it featured in Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One[11] and plays during the wedding scene in Ridley Scott's House of Gucci.[12] It also featured in TV show Eli Stone with a cameo from George Michael.
Music video[edit]
The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan.[13] It features Michael, with noticeable stubble on his face, wearing a black leather jacket with 'Rockers Revenge' and BSA logo, Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses and a pair of Levi's blue jeans with cowboy boots, playing a guitar near a classic-design Wurlitzer jukebox, and a woman's bare legs. Writers Bob Batchelor and Scott Stoddart say the music video positions him as a "masculine sex object", breaking him up into individual body parts such as "stubbled" [sic] chin and butt.[14]
The music video also features part of another song by Michael. The video starts by playing "I Want Your Sex", and then is interrupted by the jukebox starting into "Faith".
Chart performance[edit]
The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in late October and early November 1987. It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 10 but was kept off the top spot by "You Win Again" from the Bee Gees.[15]
On the Billboard Hot 100 chart, "Faith" went from number 54 to number 37, the week of 31 October 1987. It reached number one on 12 December 1987 and remained there for four consecutive weeks. Altogether, "Faith" stayed in the top 10 for nine weeks, the top 20 for 11 weeks and the top 40 for 15 weeks.
Credits sourced from Sound on Sound.[1]