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)
Released28 December 1987 (1987-12-28)
Recorded1987
Length5:40
LabelColumbia
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 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-soundting thing on the album"[1]

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[2] won "Best Direction of a Video" at the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards for the video.

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. The song remained a live favourite at Michael's concerts for many years and is also one of his most frequently aired songs on the radio in the United Kingdom.

In the United States, "Father Figure" became George Michael's sixth number one single (including three number one singles garnered as half of Wham!). "Father Figure" debuted at number 49 on 16 January 1988, while "Faith" was still prominent (at number nine) in the top ten of the chart. In the subsequent weeks, "Father Figure" was a surefire hit, reaching number one by its seventh week, 27 February 1988, staying at the top for two weeks. Altogether, the single spent six weeks in the top ten, nine weeks in the top twenty, and 14 weeks in the top forty.

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

Samples

References
  1. Bonson, Fred (1992). The Billboard book of number one hits. Billboard books. p. 692. ISBN 978-0823082988.
  2. Profile of Andy Morahan; www.andymorahan.com. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  3. "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.
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  9. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 20 February 1988. p. 69. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  10. "Singlet 1988-01 tammikuu" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
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  14. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 10 (18. mars 1988)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved 26 July 2018. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
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  16. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Father Figure". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
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  20. "Norwegiancharts.com – George Michael – Father Figure". VG-lista. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  21. Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  22. "Swisscharts.com – George Michael – Father Figure". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  23. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
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  27. "George Michael Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  28. "1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 100 (52): Y-20. 24 December 1988.
  29. "Billboard Top 100 – 1988". Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  30. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  31. "British single certifications – George Michael – Father Figure". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
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