"Fake" is a song written by

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959) and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956) are an American R&B/pop songwriting and record production team. They have enjoyed great success since the 1980s with various artists, most ...

and recorded by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It is the first single from the O'Neal's second studio album, ''

Hearsay Hearsay evidence, in a legal forum, is testimony from an under-oath witness who is reciting an out-of-court statement, the content of which is being offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted. In most courts, hearsay evidence is inadmi ...

'' (1987). 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 term groupie is a slang word that refers to a fan of a particular musical group who follows the band around while they are on tour or who attends as many of their public appearances as possible, with the hope of meeting them. The term is us ...

. 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 belligerent woman accidentally knocks a man's drink onto his shirt at a party and insists it was his fault. He and his friends defend themselves, eventually deriding her bad behavior as the song begins.

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 25 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The single was also O'Neal's most successful single on the dance charts, peaking at number seven. It initially reached number 33 on the UK Singles Chart in 1987, but would reach a higher peak of number 16 with the release of a remixed version in 1988.

In popular culture

* The song was later interpolated for

Patti LaBelle Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American R&B singer, actress and businesswoman. LaBelle is referred to as the " Godmother of Soul". She began her career in the early 1960s as lead singe ...

's 1997 hit, " When You Talk About Love", repeating the "Patti Patti" refrain after the singer demands her background to say her name. * The song was also a part of the '' Black Mirror'' episode " San Junipero". The main characters Kelly and Yorkie perform their first dance to this song at Tucker's, an '80s style club.

Track listing

* 12" Maxi (Tabu TBU 650859 6, 650859 6) #"Fake (Extended Version)" – 5:20 #"Fake (Edited Version)" – 3:11 #"Fake (Patty Mix)" – 3:10 #"Fake (A Cappella)" – 2:20 #"Fake (Instrumental)" – 4:35 * 7" Single (Tabu ZS4-07100) #"Fake (Edited Version)" – 3:10 #" A Broken Heart Can Mend" – 3:40

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes. * Alexander O'Neal – lead vocals * Jimmy Jam – drum and keyboard programming, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals * Terry Lewis – percussion, backing vocals * Jerome Benton, Jellybean Johnson, James 'Popeye' Greer, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis – fake fellas

Sales chart performance

Peak positions

References

External links

* 1987 singles Alexander O'Neal songs Songs written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Song recordings produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis 1987 songs Dance-pop songs Post-disco songs {{1980s-R&B-song-stub