| This Kiss | |
| Cover: | Kisssingle.jpg |
| Border: | yes |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Faith Hill |
| Album: | Faith |
| B-Side: |
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| Genre: | Country pop |
| Length: |
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| Label: | Warner Bros. Nashville |
| Producer: |
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| Prev Title: | It's Your Love |
| Prev Year: | 1997 |
| Next Title: | Just to Hear You Say That You Love Me |
| Next Year: | 1998 |
"This Kiss" is a song 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 on February 23, 1998, as the album's first single.
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,[2] losing both to "You're Still the One" by Canadian singer Shania Twain.[3]
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."[4]
In 2024, Rolling Stone ranked the song at #118 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking.[5]
"This Kiss" became Hill's fourth solo number one, and fifth overall, on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, and it also peaked atop the Canadian RPM Country 100 chart. The song was a crossover hit, reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts—Hill's first entry on the latter chart. In addition, it reached number 24 on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number two on the RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. The single also experienced 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. "This Kiss" also charted in Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
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 features extensive use of CGI technology, and it won the Video of the Year award at the 1998 Country Music Association awards.[6]
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.[7]
US CD, 7-inch, and cassette single[8] [9] [10]
UK, European, Australian, and Japanese CD single[11] [12] [13]
UK cassette single[14]
Personnel are lifted from the Faith liner notes.[1]
| Chart (1998–1999) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] | 81 | |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[16] | 20 | |
| US Top Country Singles Sales (Billboard)[17] | 1 |
| Chart (1998) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[18] | 91 | |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[19] | 15 | |
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[20] | 5 | |
| UK Singles (OCC)[21] | 167 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[22] | 25 | |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[23] | 20 | |
| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[24] | 50 | |
| US Hot Country Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[25] | 3 | |
| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[26] | 42 | |
| US Top Country Singles Sales (Billboard)[27] | 3 |
| Chart (1999) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[28] | 39 | |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[29] | 30 | |
| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[30] | 61 | |
| US Top Country Singles Sales (Billboard)[31] | 4 |
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | February 23, 1998 | Country radio | Warner Bros. | [32] |
| March 3, 1998 | [33] [34] | |||
| June 30, 1998 | Contemporary hit radio | [35] | ||
| United Kingdom | November 2, 1998 | [36] | ||
| Japan | May 12, 1999 | CD | [37] |
"This Kiss" was included in 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.[38] [39]
