"Good Kisser"
Single by Usher
from the album Hard II Love (Japanese edition)
ReleasedMay 5, 2014
GenreR&B
Length
  • 4:09 (single version)
  • 3:49 (radio edit)
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Usher singles chronology
"Rest of My Life"
(2012)		 "Good Kisser"
(2014)		 "New Flame"
(2014)
Music video
"Good Kisser" on YouTube

"Good Kisser" is a song by American singer Usher. The single was released on May 5, 2014, by RCA Records. The accompanying music video debuted the same day. The song was written by Andrew "Pop" Wansel, Bobby Bloom, Jeff Barry, Ronald "Flippa" Colson, Jameel Roberts, Terry Sneed and Warren "Oak" Felder, with co-writing done by Usher, produced by Pop Wansel and Co-produced by Ronald "Flippa" Colson, Jproof, Terry "Tru" Sneed, Natural and Oak Felder. Originally intended to be the lead single from his eighth studio album, Hard II Love, the song was scrapped from the standard edition track listing, with the track only being included on the Japanese edition of the album.

In North America, the song reached number 65 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, and number 14 on the Rhythmic Songs chart. It also charted in Australia, Flanders, France, Germany, the Netherlands and South Korea. "Good Kisser" was ranked at number two on Billboard's "10 Best R&B Songs on 2014" list.[1] It was nominated for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

"Good Kisser" was supposed to be a track from his upcoming eighth studio album, Flawed, which Usher announced was in the works on March 19, 2013.[2] Talking to The Fader, he described the album as "everything you can imagine", saying that it's "gonna be freaking out of here".[2] In an interview with Eric Bellinger by Rap-Up, the former explained that he, along with Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Brian Alexander Morgan, were working on Usher's next album.[3] Bellinger compared the album's music to Usher's Confessions (2004), saying that it is "more R&B, more urban" than Usher's Looking 4 Myself.[3] The latter declared that his next album would show that he is "still Usher".[3] The official remix features an additional verse from Rick Ross.

Production and composition

"Good Kisser" was written by Andrew "Pop" Wansel, Ronald "Flippa" Colson, Jameel Roberts, Terry Sneed and Warren "Oak" Felder, with co-writing done by Usher. It was produced by Pop Wansel, with co-production handled by Ronald "Flippa" Colson, JProof, Terry "Tru" Sneed, Natural and Oak Felder.[4][5] In an interview, Pop discussed how the song was conceived:

"...a lot of times when I wake up singing something random, it turns into a song. So I woke up one morning just singing 'Don't nobody kiss it like you baby,' and I was just singing it all day long. [...] Later that night, I went to the studio and just put it all down, then forgot about it.[6]

Pop later went to a Los Angeles studio to show the song to Mark Pitts, who later gave it to Usher for him to perform. Usher made some lyrical changes to the song, including the change of the word "suck" to "kiss" in order to make the song less "X-rated".[6]

"Good Kisser" is an uptempo "stripped-back soul-funk" R&B song that has a "sensuous, sturdy bassline", "salsa drums", a "dusty vinyl pops", '"Rich Harrison-recalling" "cowbell-heavy percussion", "jazzy keyboards", "handclaps" and Usher's "loose vocal delivery".[5][7][8][9] According to Rolling Stone writer Ryan Reed, the lyrics consist of "praising one particular set of lips", "setting the scene with lots of specific imagery".[5] Consequence of Sound's "Good Kisser" described the lyrics as a mix between "[19]60s pop innocence and slightly naughtier, early ’90s R&B fare a la Bell Biv DeVoe".[8] There are also "awesome innuendos and racy metaphors" in the song as well.[10] Idolator's Carl Williott suggested the song wasn't about kissing, but rather an ode to oral sex.[11] In addition, in the song Usher states that he has "lipstick on his leg".[12]

Release and reception

In most countries, except for the United Kingdom, "Good Kisser" was issued as a single, by RCA Records on May 5, 2014. RCA issued the single in the UK on June 15.[13] It was Usher's first solo release since his song, "Scream" (2012).[14] Two teasers of the song and video had been released previously, one on April 29,[15] and another one on May 2.[16] The track was sent to Urban adult contemporary radio stations in the United States on May 12,[17] where on that same day, he also made a performance debut of the song on The Voice.[18]

On the week that was issued May 24, 2014, "Good Kisser" landed a hot shot debut on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 70,[19] and on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 18.[20] It also made a debut on the Rhythmic Songs chart at number 32.[21] The track was downloaded more than 29,000 times and got 13 million radio plays on the week ending May 11.[22] While dropping to number 73 on the Hot 100[23] and number 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart the next week,[24] it had also made a new peak on the Rhythmic Songs chart of the twenty-fourth place.[25] After a few weeks, the song reached number 65 on the Hot 100 issue dated June 28. In Europe, the song debuted at number 70 on the Belgian Flanders Ultratip chart, number 27 on the Flanders Urban chart,[26] and number 133 in France.[27] It made its start at number 44 and number seven on the ARIA pop and urban charts respectively,[28][29] both official record chart of the Oceania country of Australia. In Asia, it debuted at number 36 on the South Korean International chart, with sales of 329,520.[30]

Reviews for "Good Kisser" have been mixed. Rolling Stone writer Jon Dolan, giving it a 2.5 out of 5 star, called it a "half-mast funk-soul jam", say that it was "like watching a guy rev his engine for five minutes and never leave the driveway".[31] In July 2014, Billboard listed "Good Kisser" as one of the "10 Best Songs of 2014 (so far)" saying that the song "simmers without boiling but leaves listeners fully satisfied".[32]

Music video

"Good Kisser"'s accompanying music video, directed by Christopher Sims, was released on May 5, the same day of the release of the single.[33] An official behind-the-scenes video came out on May 14.[34] The video shows Usher dancing and drumming shirtless, and features model Felicia Fo Porter.[14] USA Today's Patrick Ryan described the video as "Pharrell's "Marilyn Monroe" video, only with fewer Smokey the Bear hats".[35] As of April 2021 the video has over 50 million views.

Track listings

  • Digital download[36]
  1. "Good Kisser" – 4:09
  • Digital download[37]
  1. "Good Kisser" (Disclosure remix) – 4:49

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[53] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Australia[54] May 5, 2014 Digital download RCA
Austria[55]
Belgium[56]
Canada[57]
Denmark[58]
Finland[59]
France[60]
Germany[61]
Ireland[62]
Italy[63]
Japan[64]
Latin America[65]
Luxembourg[66]
Mexico[67]
Netherlands[68]
Norway[69]
New Zealand[70]
Spain[71]
Sweden[72]
Switzerland[73]
United States[74]
United States[17] May 12, 2014 Urban adult contemporary radio
United Kingdom[13][75] Urban contemporary radio
June 22, 2014 Digital download

References

  1. ↑ "The 10 Best R&B Songs of 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  2. 1 2 "Usher's Next Album Is 'Everything You Can Imagine'". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Rap-Up TV: Eric Bellinger Talks New Usher and Keri Hilson Albums". Rap-Up. SPIN Media Group (a division of Spin Media). Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  4. ↑ "New Music: Usher – 'Good Kisser' (Full Audio)". Directlyrics. May 5, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Reed, Ryan (May 5, 2014). "Usher Gets Funky With New Single 'Good Kisser'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  6. 1 2 Fresh, Mikey (May 8, 2014). "Interview: Pop Wansel On Writing And Producing Usher's 'Good Kisser' Single". Vibe. Spin Media. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  7. ↑ Wood, Mikael (May 5, 2014). "Usher gets lipstick on his leg in new single 'Good Kisser'". The Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  8. 1 2 Coplan, Chris (May 5, 2014). "Listen: Usher's new song "Good Kisser"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  9. ↑ Kameir, Rawlya (May 14, 2014). "Why U Still Love Usher, Baby". The Daily Beast. The Newsweek Daily Beast Company. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  10. ↑ "New Music: Usher 'Good Kisser'". Vibe. Spin Media. May 5, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  11. ↑ Williott, Carl (May 5, 2014). "Usher's "Good Kisser" Is Not About Kissing: Hear The Ode To Oral Sex". Idolator. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  12. ↑ This Week's Fresh Music Top 20. 25 June 2014. 4Music.
  13. 1 2 "Good Kisser – Single by Usher". iTunes Store (GB). Apple Inc. 5 May 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  14. 1 2 Liv, Moss (May 16, 2014). "Watch Usher's video for new single, Good Kisser". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Usher – Good Kisser". Teaser on YouTube. April 29, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Usher – Good Kisser (Teaser 2)". YouTube. May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  17. 1 2 "Single: Good Kisser". Frequency News. Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Usher to Debut New Single 'Good Kisser' on THE VOICE, 5/12". Broadway World. May 9, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  19. 1 2 "Usher Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: May 24, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  21. ↑ Trust, Gary (May 12, 2014). "Chart Highlights: Trey Songz Tops Rhythmic Songs With 'Na Na'". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  22. ↑ Wete, Brad (May 20, 2014). "Usher Says He's "Keeping It Sexy' with Next Album and 'Good Kisser' Single". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  23. ↑ "The Billboard Hot 100: May 31, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: May 31, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Rhythmic: May 31, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  26. 1 2 "Usher – Good Kisser" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  27. 1 2 "Usher – Good Kisser" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  28. 1 2 "Usher – Good Kisser". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  29. 1 2 "Australian Urban Singles Chart". ARIA Charts. Archived from the original on May 18, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  30. 1 2 "Gaon International Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
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  32. ↑ "10 Best Songs of 2014 (So Far): Critics' Picks". Billboard. July 10, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Usher – Good Kisser". Music Video on YouTube. May 5, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Usher – Good Kisser (Behind The Scenes)". YouTube. May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  35. ↑ Ryan, Patrick (May 5, 2014). "Usher releases 'Good Kisser' video". USA Today. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  36. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Good Kisser - Single by Usher". itunes.apple.com. 5 May 2014.
  37. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Good Kisser - Single by Usher". itunes.apple.com. 4 July 2014.
  38. ↑ "Usher – Good Kisser" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Usher – Good Kisser" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Deutsche Black Charts". Trendcharts. Media Control. Archived from the original on October 27, 2008. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  41. ↑ "Tipparade-lijst van week 24, 2014". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Usher – Good Kisser" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  43. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  44. ↑ "EMA Top 10 Airplay: Week Ending 2014-07-08". Entertainment Monitoring Africa. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  45. ↑ "Gaon Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  46. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  47. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  48. ↑ "Usher Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  49. ↑ "Usher Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  50. ↑ "Usher Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  51. ↑ "Usher Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  52. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  53. ↑ "British single certifications – Usher – Good Kisser". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
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  55. ↑ "Good Kisser – Single von Usher". iTunes Store (AT) (in German). Apple Inc. 5 May 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
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  60. ↑ "Good Kisser – Single par Usher". iTunes Store (FR) (in French). Apple Inc. 5 May 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
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