music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Kisses on the Wind" is the third single released from Swedish singer Neneh Cherry's debut album, Raw Like Sushi (1989). Like many songs on the album, "Kisses on the Wind" refers to Cherry's schooldays; the song is about a girl who matures before the other girls do, and as a result, she is the first to draw boys' attentions.[2] It peaked within the top 10 in Finland, New Zealand, and Switzerland and just reached the top 20 in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 20. In the United States, it peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Kisses on the Wind"
Single by Neneh Cherry
from the album Raw Like Sushi
B-side	"Buffalo Blues"
Released	1989
Studio	Matrix (London, England)
Genre	Alternative dance house urban[1]
Length	3:57
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Neneh Cherry Cameron "Booga Bear" McVey
Producer(s)	The Dynamik Duo Nick Plytas
Neneh Cherry singles chronology
"Manchild" (1989) "Kisses on the Wind" (1989) "Heart" / "Inna City Mamma" (1989)
Music video
"Kisses on the Wind" on YouTube

"Kisses on the Wind" is one of many songs containing the sample "What we're gonna do right here is go back, way back, back into time" from the intro of the 1972 single "Troglodyte" by the Jimmy Castor Bunch.

Critical reception

Angus Taylor for BBC wrote in his review of Raw Like Sushi, that "the Cuban-tinged Kisses On The Wind's autobiographical words give an intriguing insight into a young girl who wanted to be remembered for more than just her incredible looks."[3] Bill Coleman from Billboard described the song as a "Latin- tinged pop narrative complete with Cherry's spunk, humor, and knack for telling it like it really is."[4] Music & Media said it is "a good choice as the follow-up to Manchild. Probably the most commercial track from her debut LP."[5] Lesley Chow from The Quietus noted the song as "a paean to a girl whose breeziness enchants the young neighbourhood boys. Her presence is reflected in the salsa rhythm, Spanish dialogue and the flowing feel of the whole song. The melody keeps billowing upwards ("More like a woman, she walks like one") and is thus subtly suggestive of the female shape."[6]

Charts

Chart (1989)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[7]	52
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8]	23
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9]	17
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[10]	5
Canada Retail Singles (RPM)[11]	14
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12]	33
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[13]	4
Ireland (IRMA)[14]	13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15]	14
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16]	14
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17]	8
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18]	9
UK Singles (OCC)[19]	20
US Billboard Hot 100[20]	8
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[21]	19
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[22]	9
West Germany (Official German Charts)[23]	23

References

---