This Kiss (Faith Hill song)
"This Kiss" is a song recorded by American country music singer Faith Hill from her third studio album Faith. It was written by Beth Nielsen Chapman, Robin Lerner and Annie Roboff, and produced by Hill and Byron Gallimore. It was released in March 1998 as the album's first single.
"This Kiss" | ||||
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Single by Faith Hill | ||||
from the album Faith | ||||
B-side | "Better Days" "Somebody Stand By Me" | |||
Released | March 3, 1998 | |||
Genre | Country pop | |||
Length | 3:17 (Album Version) 3:16 (Pop Remix) | |||
Label | Warner Bros. Nashville | |||
Songwriter(s) | Beth Nielsen Chapman, Robin Lerner, Annie Roboff | |||
Producer(s) | Faith Hill and Byron Gallimore[1] | |||
Faith Hill singles chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
![]() International cover | ||||
Music video | ||||
"This Kiss" on YouTube |
The song became a crossover hit, reaching number one on the American and Canadian country charts and peaking within the top 10 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. Outside the US, it reached number four in Australia, number 13 in the United Kingdom, and number 24 in Canada, while also charting within the top 30 in Austria and Sweden. "This Kiss" was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song, losing both to "You're Still the One" by Canadian singer Shania Twain.
Content
"This Kiss" is an uptempo song where the female narrator expresses the joys of being in love through the act of her lover's kiss.
The song's B-side, "Better Days", was previously recorded by Bekka & Billy, a duo composed of former Fleetwood Mac members Billy Burnette and Bekka Bramlett.
Critical reception
Billboard noted the song as "Brilliantly produced" and explained further that "this uptempo tune boasts clever lyrics and an infectious melody that are extremely radio-friendly." They complimented Hill's vocal performance as "passionate, jubilant, and thoroughly appealing."[2]
Chart performance
"This Kiss" became Hill's fourth solo number-one, and fifth overall, on both the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts and Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts. The song was also a crossover hit, reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts, her first entry on the latter chart. In addition, it reached number 24 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart and number two on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart.
The single also saw significant chart success outside North America, becoming Hill's first hit outside the continent. It reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart, number four on the Australian Singles Chart, and number 18 on the Austrian Singles Chart; it also charted in Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
Music video
The song's music video, directed by Steven Goldmann, features Hill in a colorful fantasy-like sequence. She is featured swinging on a nectarine, jumping from flower to flower, and riding flying bees and butterflies. The video is notable for its extensive use of CGI technology, and won numerous awards for its creativity.
Hill was pregnant with her second daughter Maggie at the time and she was forced to alter her costuming for the video as a result. In her CMT Video Bio, Hill revealed that clothing she tried on and approved for the video just days prior to the shoot, was already too small because of her pregnancy when she arrived on set.
A few months after the video's release, Hill (who was further along in her pregnancy by then) performed the song live at the 1998 Academy of Country Music Awards while dancing in a giant flower in the center of the stage, as a tribute.
Track listings
US single
- This Kiss [Album Version] 3:18
- Better Days [Album Version] 3:36
UK vinyl, 12", promo
- A This Kiss (The Almighty Mix)
- B This Kiss (The Original Mix)
Europe maxi-CD
- This Kiss [Radio Version] 3:18
- Somebody Stand By Me 5:50
- This Kiss [Mr. Mig Mix] 3:47
Personnel
The following musicians perform on this track:[1]
- Mike Brignardello – bass guitar
- Larry Byrom – acoustic guitar
- Beth Nielsen Chapman – background vocals
- Glen Duncan – fiddle
- Sonny Garrish – steel guitar
- Jeff King – electric guitar
- Brent Mason – electric guitar
- Steve Nathan – keyboards
- Chris Rodriguez – background vocals
- Lonnie Wilson – drums
- Glenn Worf – bass guitar
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[26] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] | Silver | 200,000![]() |
United States (RIAA)[28] | Platinum | 1,000,000[29] |
^shipments figures based on certification alone |
Covers and parodies
In 1999, American country music parody artist Cledus T. Judd released a parody of "This Kiss" titled "Christ-Mas" on his album Juddmental.
Italian singer Paola Turci released a cover entitled "Questione di sguardi" on her 2000 album Mi basta il paradiso.[30]
British singer Cilla Black sang a duet of "This Kiss" with Cliff Richard on Black's 2003 album Beginnings: Greatest Hits & New Songs.
In 2012, YouTube musician Alex Day recorded a cover of "This Kiss", featuring the vocals of Carrie Fletcher. The album art is also borrowed from the original.
In popular culture
"This Kiss" also became the soundtrack for the 1998 movie Practical Magic. Hill performed the song at the 1999 VH1 Divas concert, and it was included on the show's CD and DVD releases.[31][32] The song also gave Hill the Video Of The Year awards at the 1998 Country Music Association awards.
References
- Faith (CD booklet). Faith Hill. Warner Bros. Records. 1998. 9 46790-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard magazine. February 28, 1998. p. 71. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- "Australian-charts.com – Faith Hill – This Kiss". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- "Austriancharts.at – Faith Hill – This Kiss" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7044." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. October 26, 1998. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7075." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. October 12, 1998. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 3524." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. April 20, 1998. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15 no. 47. November 21, 1998. p. 16. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Faith Hill – This Kiss". GfK Entertainment Charts.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Faith Hill – This Kiss" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Faith Hill – This Kiss". Singles Top 100.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- "Faith Hill Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "Faith Hill Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
- "Faith Hill Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- "Faith Hill Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- "Faith Hill Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63 no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
- "RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1998". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- "RPM's Top 100 Country Tracks of 1998". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40-1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
- "Billboard Top 100 - 1998". Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- "Best of 1998: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1998. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 1999". ARIA. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
- "British single certifications – Faith Hill – This Kiss". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 9, 2018. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type This Kiss in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- "American single certifications – Faith Hill – This Kiss". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.
- "Best-Selling Records of 1998". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 111 (5): 75. January 30, 1999. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- "Paola Turci - Mi Basta Il Paradiso". Allmusic. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- "VH1 Divas Live 99". VH1. April 13, 1999. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
- "Various Artists - VH1 Divas Live 1999". Allmusic. 1999. Retrieved October 14, 2018.