French Kiss (Lil Louis song)


"French Kiss" is a house song by American DJ and record producer Lil Louis that became a European and American hit in 1989. The song also was a hit in clubs around the world, and it spent two weeks at number one on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in October 1989. It became a crossover pop hit, 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 two in August 1989.
Originally an instrumental song, vocals were recorded after the song was picked up for distribution by major labels. In the United States, the lead vocals on the track were performed by American singer Shawn Christopher, and in Europe vocal duties were performed by a woman known only as "Pasquale".

Structure and usage

Distinctions of this song are that it is based on a single note and that it gradually slows down to a complete stop, marked by the sound of female moans, and then gradually speeding up. This was an innovative feature for any dance track at that time. The song includes a more erotic vocal performance than the title implies.
The American 12-inch single was never released commercially on compact disc. 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."
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 featured on the 1999 Carl Cox DJ album Non-stop 2000—CD 1, starting roughly midway through track six, "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 eight.
The song was also sampled in "Custom Made " by Lil' Kim, which appeared on her album The Notorious K.I.M..

Impact and legacy

Q Magazine ranked "French Kiss" at number 516 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever" in 2003.
Slant Magazine ranked the song 7th in its "100 Greatest Dance Songs" list in 2006, 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.

Time Out's 2015 list of "The 20 Best House Tracks Ever" included it as #4, adding:
This number from Chicago's Lil' Louis was one of the first house tracks to enjoy both considerable commercial success and heavy club airplay on its release. Even one listen to its infectious, unrelenting groove and orgasmic tempo shifts is enough to understand why it got everyone so excited.

Slant Magazine placed the song at number 26 in their list of "The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time" in 2020.

Formats and track listings

UK

;12-inch, cassette and CD single
  1. "French Kiss" — 10:02
  2. "Wargames" — 7:18
• The tracks are actually 9:55 and 7:13 long, respectively, but almost all artwork denote the longer durations.
;7-inch single
  1. "French Kiss" — 4:09
  2. "New York" — 3:40
;French Kisses – 12-inch, cassette and CD
  1. "French Kiss " — 10:02
  2. "French Kiss " — 9:45
  3. "French Kiss " — 4:15
  4. "French Kiss " — 9:45
  5. "French Kiss " — 3:50

    US

;12-inch single
  1. "French Kiss" — 10:02
  2. "New York" — 3:40
  3. "Wargames " — 7:18
  4. "Jupiter" — 5:20
;12-inch remix single
  1. "French Kiss" — 9:54
  2. "French Kiss" — 4:14
  3. "French Kiss" — 4:08
  4. "French Kiss" — 9:59
  5. "French Kiss" — 5:29

    Certifications and sales

Charts

Peak positions

Year-end charts