Fastlove
"Fastlove" | ||||
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Single by George Michael | ||||
from the album Older | ||||
B-side | "I'm Your Man '96" | |||
Released | 22 April 1996 | |||
Studio | Sarm West (London)[1] | |||
Genre | Dance-pop[2] | |||
Length |
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Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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George Michael singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Fastlove" on YouTube |
"Fastlove" is a song by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released on 22 April 1996 by Virgin Records in the United Kingdom and by DreamWorks Records in the United States as the second single from his third album, Older (1996). Written by Michael, Patrice Rushen, Freddie Washington and Terri McFaddin and produced by Michael and Jon Douglas, the song interpolates Rushen's 1982 single "Forget Me Nots".
The song received positive reviews from
The song's accompanying music video, directed by Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton, was nominated for the video category at the Brit Awards and three MTV Video Music Awards in 1996. It eventually won the International Viewer's Choice Award—MTV Europe.
Recording
In a 2022 interview, engineer Dave Crews recalled how producer Jon Douglas came on board while the song was being created. While working on production of Lisa Moorish's album I've Gotta Have It All, Douglas asked Michael to contribute vocals to her cover of the Wham! song "I'm Your Man". Afterwards, Michael asked Douglas to work with him on the album.[1]
Michael's initial concept of the song was built on a laid-back latin/bossa nova rhythm. When Douglas was brought on as producer, the demo backing track was scrapped; Douglas created a new musical arrangement whilst retaining Michael's original vocal performance and the saxophone part played by Andy Hamilton. The "Forget Me Nots" sample was a change that Michael added at the last minute, as he wanted to change the end of the song. Douglas didn't like the idea at first, and before working to the transition, he listened to the song over and over for two weeks to work on the transition at the end of the song.[1]
Release
An energetic tune about needing gratification and fulfillment without concern for commitment, "Fastlove" was the second single taken from Michael's third studio album, Older, which was his first studio album in six years. For the single's B-side, a remake of the Wham! song "I'm Your Man" was used. Entitled "I'm Your Man '96", it was an update of one of their last singles, a decade earlier.
Jon Kutner from 1000 UK Number One Hits said the line "Stupid Cupid keeps on calling me and I see lovin' in his eyes" had a dual interpretation which could imply Michael's homosexuality.[3]
Critical reception
While reviewing
Michael E. Ross from
This song was featured in and a part of the soundtrack for the 2019 film Last Christmas. The song was also featured in season 6 of the Netflix television series The Crown.[20]
Chart performance
The song reached the number one spot in United Kingdom, where it stayed for three weeks. It also reached number one in Australia, Hungary, Italy and Spain. "Fastlove" later became Michael's seventh-most downloaded track in the United Kingdom, according to
Music video
Directed by
The music video was nominated for three
Live performances
Michael performed the song on his
"Fastlove" was the opening song for his first leg of the 25 Live tour with graphics flowed behind and beneath him on a curved, cascading screen.[29]
Adele performed the song during the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, in tribute to Michael. She restarted her slow, mournful arrangement of it at one point because she was not satisfied with how it was going and saying that Michael was too important to her for her to not get it right.[30][31]
Track listings
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Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[77] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
France ( SNEP)[90]
|
Gold | 250,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[91] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[93] | Gold | 500,000[92] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | 16 April 1996 | Contemporary hit radio | [94] | |
United Kingdom | 22 April 1996 |
|
|
[95] |
Japan | 22 May 1996 | CD | [96] |
References
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{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Fastlove (Australasian CD single liner notes). George Michael. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1996. VSCDT 1579.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Fastlove (Japanese CD single liner notes). George Michael. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1996. VJCP-12034.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Fastlove (UK 12-inch single sleeve). George Michael. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1996. VST 1579, 7243 8 93523 6 8.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Fastlove (UK cassette single sleeve). George Michael. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1996. VSC 1579, 7243 8 93523 4 4.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Fastlove (European CD single liner notes). George Michael. Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1996. VSCDE 1579, 7243 8 93522 2 1.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Fastlove (US CD single liner notes). George Michael. DreamWorks SKG Records, Aegean Records. 1996. DRMDS-59001.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Fastlove (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). George Michael. DreamWorks SKG Records, Aegean Records. 1996. DRMS7-59001.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Fastlove (US cassette single cassette notes). George Michael. DreamWorks SKG Records, Aegean Records. 1996. DRMCS-59001.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Fastlove (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). George Michael. DreamWorks SKG Records, Aegean Records. 1996. DRM12-58001.
{{cite AV media notes}}
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