Fake (Alexander O'Neal song)


"Fake" is a song written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and recorded by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It is the first single from the singer's second solo album, Hearsay. It is one of the artist's most recognizable signature songs, and a favorite of many O'Neal fans worldwide.

Meaning

The song's lyrics are a personal commentary, critical of a loudmouth - implied to be a groupie. The woman being criticized continues to change details about her wardrobe, personality and history with each successive date, causing the narrator's response that she is a fraudulent person. On the accompanying album Hearsay, "Fake" is preceded by a brief interlude in which a woman accidentally knocks O'Neal's beverage onto his shirt; his friends promptly criticize her colour contact lenses, saying that she'd be able to see where she was going if she was less concerned about maintaining a false appearance.

Release

The single was O'Neal's most successful song on both the US soul and pop charts. "Fake" went to number one on the Hot Black Singles chart for two weeks, and peaked at number twenty-five on the Hot 100. The single was also O'Neal's most successful single on the dance charts, peaking at number seven. It initially reached number thirty-three on the UK Singles Chart in 1987, but would reach a higher peak of number sixteen with the release of a remixed version in 1988.

In popular culture

  1. "Fake " - 5:20
  2. "Fake " - 3:11
  3. "Fake " - 3:10
  4. "Fake " - 2:20
  5. "Fake " - 4:35
  1. "Fake " - 3:10
  2. "A Broken Heart Can Mend" - 3:40

    Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.

Peak positions