This Kiss (Faith Hill song)

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 Faith Hill's vocal performance as "passionate, jubilant, and thoroughly appealing."^[4] In 2024, Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 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.^[6][7] 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.^[8][9] In addition, it reached number 24 on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number two on the RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.^[10][11] 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.^[12][13][14] "This Kiss" also charted in Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.^[15][16][17]

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.^[18]

Hill was pregnant with her second daughter Maggie McGraw at the time and she was forced to alter her costuming for the video as a result. In a CMT Video Bio segment, 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 33rd Academy of Country Music Awards in 1998 while dancing in a giant flower in the center of the stage, as a tribute.^[19]

US CD, 7-inch, and cassette single^[20][21][22]

1. "This Kiss" (radio version) – 3:18
2. "Better Days" (album version) – 3:36

UK, European, Australian, and Japanese CD single^[23][24][25]

1. "This Kiss" (radio/pop version) – 3:18
2. "Somebody Stand by Me" – 5:50
3. "This Kiss" (Mr. Mig mix) – 3:47

UK cassette single^[26]

1. "This Kiss" (radio version) – 3:18
2. "Somebody Stand by Me" – 5:50

Personnel are taken from the Faith liner notes.^[1]

"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.^[58][59]