Father Figure (George Michael song)

"Father Figure"
Single by George Michael
from the album Faith
B-side
Released28 December 1987 (1987-12-28)
Recorded1987
Genre
Length5:40
Label
SongwriterGeorge Michael
ProducerGeorge Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Hard Day"
(1987)		 "Father Figure"
(1987)		 "One More Try"
(1988)
Music video
"Father Figure" on YouTube

"Father Figure" is a song by the English singer and songwriter George Michael from his debut studio album, Faith (1987). It was released on 28 December 1987 by Columbia Records and Epic Records as the fourth single from the album. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 11 on the UK singles chart. Additionally it was a top five hit in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain.

Production

"Father Figure" was written entirely in the studio. Originally, the song was envisioned as a dance track. Said Michael, "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."[3] The output resulted in a "dreamy" atmosphere, which Michael worked the rest of the song around. "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-sounding thing on the album."[3]

Michael elaborated on the track's origins in an interview with Mark Goodier for the 2011 remastered release of Faith:

It started off with a rhythm track with a snare, and when you play it like that it sounds a bit like Prince. But I must have been listening to it without the snare and gone, "Oh my God, that totally changes the record!" It suddenly becomes a gospel record.[4]

Composition

"Father Figure" is an R&B ballad, and features elements of Egyptian music and gospel music.[5] It is composed in the key of B♭ major, and Michael's vocal range spans D4 to G5.[6]

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.[7]

In the United States, "Father Figure" debuted on 16 January 1988 at number 49, while "Faith" was still prominent (at number nine) in the top ten of the chart. "Father Figure" reached number one on 27 February 1988, staying at the top for two weeks. Altogether, the single spent 17 weeks in the chart.[8]

After being prominently featured in Halina Reijn's 2024 erotic thriller Babygirl, the song recharted on the UK Singles Downloads Chart (No. 71) and UK singles chart (No. 73).[9]

Critical reception

Sue Dando from Smash Hits wrote, "Once again, George unveils a blinding talent for wonderful sentiment and swoony lovesome lyrics, all elegantly swathed in pristine 'epic' production and the usual echoey voice-oice which trails-ails off almost every note-ote...It's in a similar 'vein' (though not nearly as good) as 'A Different Corner', it's perfect Radio Two fodder, and it will doubtless be a top ten hit."[10]

In 2017, a Billboard article about the song described it as a "smoky ballad" which alluded to his status as a gay man who had not yet declared his sexuality and was operating during a homophobic time in the music industry and wider society, with journalist Barry Walters saying it "established Michael both as a nuanced grown-up and as a skilled singer-songwriter, able to intertwine racy innuendo and romantic steadfastness". He added that "on the surface, it's a traditional love ballad, the particularly passionate kind George mastered when he wrote 'Careless Whisper'", but that "like his idol and contemporary Prince, George searched for something 'sacred' in sexuality; a healing balm that will protect both him and his beloved. He aims to provide it, both with his reassuring words and steadfast delivery – whispery and intimate during the verses, commanding and declamatory during the chorus." He concluded that the song "allowed George to celebrate forbidden desires without drawing explicit attention to his own [...] Without the elements that nudge the lyric toward off-limits territory, 'Father Figure' would be a far more conventional and much less compelling song. They serve as crucial metaphors that brought George as close as he could to writing from the heart, without alienating much of his audience and the industry."[11]

In 2021, "Father Figure" was included on The Guardian's list of Michael's 30 greatest songs.[12] Ranking the song eighth, reviewer Alexis Petridis opined that "the shift from the hushed longing of the verses to the explosive, gospel-inspired chorus is just fabulous."[12]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Father Figure" depicts a relationship between a cab driver (Michael) and a high-fashion model (Tania Coleridge).[13] Various intercut flashbacks tell a backstory. Michael and Andy Morahan[14] won "Best Direction of a Video" at the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards for the video.[15]

Track listings

7″: Epic / EMU 4 (UK)[16]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Father Figure"George Michael5:38
2."Love's in Need of Love Today" (live at Wembley Arena, 1 Apr '87)Stevie Wonder4:42
CD: Epic / CD EMU 4 (UK and Europe)[17]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Father Figure"Michael5:38
2."Love's in Need of Love Today" (live at Wembley Arena, 1 Apr '87)Wonder4:42
3."Father Figure" (instrumental)Michael5:38

Personnel

Personnel taken from Faith liner notes.[18]

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[50] Gold 35,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[51] Platinum 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Samples and interpolations

References

  1. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal; Henderson, Eric (31 December 2016). "The 15 Best George Michael Songs". Slant. Retrieved 13 July 2025. "Father Figure" is nonetheless a sexy slice of blue-eyed soul...
  2. ↑ Mitchell, Matt (21 October 2023). "The Greatest Debut Albums of the 1980s". Paste. Retrieved 23 July 2025. Father Figure" is a sensual, divine gospel,...
  3. 1 2 Bonson, Fred (1992). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. Billboard Publications. p. 608. ISBN 978-0823082988.
  4. ↑ "Faith: Legacy Edition (George Michael Interview Booklet, Part 3)". gmforever.com. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  5. ↑ Horton 2022, p. 87.
  6. ↑ "Father Figure – George Michael Digital Sheet Music (Digital Download)". MusicNotes.com. Alfred Publishing Co. Inc. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "George Michael | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  8. ↑ "George Michael". Billboard. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  9. ↑ McIntyre, Hugh (21 January 2025). "George Michael's Hit Reaches A New Peak, Almost A Decade After His Passing". Forbes. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  10. ↑ Dando, Sue (30 December 1987). "Singles". Smash Hits. p. 53. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  11. ↑ Walters, Barry (26 October 2017). "George Michael's 'Father Figure': When Love Meets Crime". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  12. 1 2 Petridis, Alexis (9 December 2021). "George Michael's 30 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  13. ↑ Gavin, James (2022). George Michael: A Life. Abrams Press. p. 119. ISBN 9781419747946.
  14. ↑ Profile of Andy Morahan; www.andymorahan.com. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  15. ↑ "MTV VMAs 1988 – MTV Video Music Awards 1988". www.awardsandshows.com. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  16. ↑ Father Figure (UK 7-inch single). George Michael. Epic Records. 1987. EMU 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ↑ Father Figure (UK and European CD single). George Michael. Epic Records. 1987. CD EMU 4, 651321 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ↑ Faith (Album liner notes). George Michael. 1987.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ↑ "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.
  20. ↑ "George Michael – Father Figure" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  21. ↑ "George Michael – Father Figure" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  22. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Image 0950". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  23. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Image 8885". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  24. ↑ "Danish Singles Chart for the week of 29 January 1988". B.T. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2025 – via UKMIX Forums.
  25. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 20 February 1988. p. 69. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  26. ↑ "Singlet 1988-01 tammikuu" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  27. ↑ "George Michael – Father Figure" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  28. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  29. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  30. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 10 (18. mars 1988)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved 26 July 2018. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  31. ↑ "George Michael Chart History". RÚV. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  32. ↑ "Father Figure | IRMA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  33. ↑ "Playlist Report: RAI - Italy" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 9. 27 February 1988. p. 8.
  34. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 6, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  35. ↑ "George Michael – Father Figure" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  36. ↑ "George Michael – Father Figure". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  37. ↑ "George Michael – Father Figure". VG-lista. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  38. ↑ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  39. ↑ "George Michael – Father Figure". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  40. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 10/1/1988 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  41. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  42. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  43. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  44. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  45. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  46. ↑ Carolyn Hope. "Barry's Hits of All Decades Pop rock n roll Music Chart Hits". hitsofalldecades.com.
  47. ↑ "1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. 24 December 1988. p. Y-20.
  48. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1988". Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  49. ↑ Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1988
  50. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  51. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – George Michael – Father Figure". Radioscope. Retrieved 6 July 2026. Type Father Figure in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  52. ↑ "British single certifications – George Michael – Father Figure". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 8 August 2026. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Father Figure George Michael in the "Search:" field.
  53. ↑ Jones, Alan (27 February 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 6. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  54. ↑ Stovall, Natasha (30 October 1997). "Bigger and deffer". Rolling Stone. No. 772. pp. 65–66. Archived from the original on 9 November 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  55. ↑ Andaloro, Angela (1 October 2025). "Everything to Know About George Michael's 1987 Hit 'Father Figure' as Taylor Swift Unveils New Showgirl Version of Iconic Song". People. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  56. ↑ Perry, Kevin E G (3 October 2025). "George Michael Estate thanks Taylor Swift for incorporating classic song on new album". The Independent. Retrieved 3 October 2025.

Works cited

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