Father Figure (George Michael song)
Updated: 12/10/2025, 10:14:30 AM Wikipedia source
"Father Figure" is a song by English singer and songwriter George Michael from his debut studio album, Faith (1987). It was released on 28 December 1987 as the album's fourth single by Columbia Records. 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.
Infobox
B-side
"Love's in Need of Love Today" (live at Wembley Arena)
Released
28 December 1987 (1987-12-28)
Recorded
1987
Genre
Pop R&B blue-eyed soul gospel
Length
5:40
Label
Columbia
Songwriter
George Michael
Producer
George Michael
Tables
· Charts › Weekly charts
Australia (Australian Music Report)
Australia (Australian Music Report)
Chart (1988–2016)
Australia (Australian Music Report)
Peakposition
5
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Chart (1988–2016)
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)
Peakposition
17
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Chart (1988–2016)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Peakposition
2
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Chart (1988–2016)
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Peakposition
2
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)
Chart (1988–2016)
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)
Peakposition
1
Denmark (IFPI)
Denmark (IFPI)
Chart (1988–2016)
Denmark (IFPI)
Peakposition
13
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)
Chart (1988–2016)
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)
Peakposition
23
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Chart (1988–2016)
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)
Peakposition
9
France (SNEP)
France (SNEP)
Chart (1988–2016)
France (SNEP)
Peakposition
37
Germany (GfK)
Germany (GfK)
Chart (1988–2016)
Germany (GfK)
Peakposition
18
Hungary (Single Top 40)
Hungary (Single Top 40)
Chart (1988–2016)
Hungary (Single Top 40)
Peakposition
33
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 10)
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 10)
Chart (1988–2016)
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 10)
Peakposition
3
Iceland (RÚV)
Iceland (RÚV)
Chart (1988–2016)
Iceland (RÚV)
Peakposition
9
Ireland (IRMA)
Ireland (IRMA)
Chart (1988–2016)
Ireland (IRMA)
Peakposition
2
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)
Chart (1988–2016)
Italy Airplay (Music & Media)
Peakposition
7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Chart (1988–2016)
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
Peakposition
2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Chart (1988–2016)
Netherlands (Single Top 100)
Peakposition
2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Chart (1988–2016)
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
Peakposition
7
Norway (VG-lista)
Norway (VG-lista)
Chart (1988–2016)
Norway (VG-lista)
Peakposition
10
Spain (PROMUSICAE)
Spain (PROMUSICAE)
Chart (1988–2016)
Spain (PROMUSICAE)
Peakposition
4
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Chart (1988–2016)
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
Peakposition
13
UK Singles (OCC)
UK Singles (OCC)
Chart (1988–2016)
UK Singles (OCC)
Peakposition
11
US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100
Chart (1988–2016)
US Billboard Hot 100
Peakposition
1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
Chart (1988–2016)
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
Peakposition
3
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)
Chart (1988–2016)
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)
Peakposition
13
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)
Chart (1988–2016)
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)
Peakposition
6
| Chart (1988–2016) | Peakposition |
| Australia (Australian Music Report) | 5 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 17 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 2 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 2 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) | 1 |
| Denmark (IFPI) | 13 |
| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) | 23 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 9 |
| France (SNEP) | 37 |
| Germany (GfK) | 18 |
| Hungary (Single Top 40) | 33 |
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 10) | 3 |
| Iceland (RÚV) | 9 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 2 |
| Italy Airplay (Music & Media) | 7 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 2 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 2 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 7 |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 10 |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 4 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 13 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 11 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 3 |
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) | 13 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 6 |
· Charts › Year-end charts
Australia
Australia
Chart (1988)
Australia
Position
65
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Chart (1988)
Canada Top Singles (RPM)
Position
34
US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100
Chart (1988)
US Billboard Hot 100
Position
27
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
Chart (1988)
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)
Position
33
| Chart (1988) | Position |
| Australia | 65 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 34 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 27 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 33 |
· Certifications
Australia (ARIA)
Australia (ARIA)
Region
Australia (ARIA)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
35,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Region
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)
United Kingdom (BPI)
Region
United Kingdom (BPI)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Region
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 400,000‡ |
| ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
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