Peak
1
Weeks
23
Score
4,384
Chart Year
1981
This is a very misinterpreted song, as many people hear the lyric as "kiss on my lips." According to Daryl Hall, it is what he calls "an anti-love song," and the lyric, "Your kiss is on my list of the best things in life" means that the kiss is simply another item on the guy's list - and certainly not the best thing. Said Hall: "Everyone thinks it's 'I love you and without you I would die.' It's exactly the opposite of that." This was co-written by Janna Allen, the sister of Daryl Hall's long-term girlfriend Sara Allen. She also co-wrote "Private Eyes," which was a chart-topper later in the year for Hall & Oates, and also their Top 10 singles "Did It in a Minute" and "Method of Modern Love." Janna Allen died of leukemia at the age of 36 in 1993. She passed away at Daryl and Sara's home in Millbrook, New York. Their musical versatility has made Hall & Oates the best-selling duo of all time, and this song is a good example of how they captured the sound of the '80s with keyboards and a big chorus. In our interview with John Oates, he said: "I think no artist wants to be put into a box and say they're limited. I think you have to be realistic. I don't think I'd ever go into jazz fusion. (laughs) That's not something that's interesting to me. But here's the thing: we started out as songwriters. And both Daryl and myself, individually and collectively, have a wide variety of musical tastes. Just because the music we made may have fallen into a certain category doesn't mean we weren't aware of and interested in other kinds of music." In an interview with Mix magazine, Daryl Hall said: "Eddie Van Halen told me that he copied the synth part from 'Kiss On My List' and used it in 'Jump.' I don't have a problem with that at all." This is featured in the 2010 comedies She's Out of My League, starring Jay Baruchel and Alice Eve, and You Again, starring Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Sigourney Weaver. Before she co-wrote this hit, Janna Allen had never written a song before. In our Daryl Hall interview, he explained that he and Janna wrote the song for Janna to record, as she was hoping to become a solo artist. When they made the demo, Hall sang on it, and when the Hall & Oates camp heard it, they insisted that the duo record it, not Janna. In fact, they thought the demo was fine the way it was, so that's what was released. "What you heard was literally the demo," said Hall. "That's why the drum machine is so dicky and all that stuff. It was really not meant for prime time."
My friends wonder why I call you all of the time What can I say I don't feel the need to give such secrets away You think maybe I need help, no, I know I'm right I'm just better off not listening to friends' advice When they insist on knowing my bliss I tell them this When they want to know what the reason is I only smile when I lie, then I tell them why CHORUS: (Because your kiss) your kiss is on my list (Because your kiss) your kiss is on my list Because your kiss is on my list of the best things in life (Because your kiss) your kiss is on my list (Because your kiss) your kiss I can't resist Because your kiss is what I miss when I turn out the light I go crazy wondering what there is to really see Did the night just take up your time, 'cause it means more to me Sometimes I forget what I'm doing, I don't forget what I want Regret what I've done, regret you? I couldn't go on And if you insist on knowing my bliss I'll tell you this If you want to know what the reason is I'll only smile when I lie, then I'll tell you why CHORUS
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 24, 1981 | 69 | 57 |
| 2 | Jan 31, 1981 | 55 | 71 |
| 3 | Feb 7, 1981 | 43 | 83 |
| 4 | Feb 14, 1981 | 33 | 93 |
| 5 | Feb 21, 1981 | 28 | 98 |
| 6 | Feb 28, 1981 | 25 | 101 |
| 7 | Mar 7, 1981 | 17 | 109 |
| 8 | Mar 14, 1981 | 14 | 112 |
| 9 | Mar 21, 1981 | 12 | 114 |
| 10 | Mar 28, 1981 | 9 | 117 |
| 11 | Apr 4, 1981 | 4 | 122 |
| 12 | Apr 11, 1981 | 1 | 125 |
| 13 | Apr 18, 1981 | 1 | 125 |
| 14 | Apr 25, 1981 | 1 | 125 |
| 15 | May 2, 1981 | 5 | 121 |
| 16 | May 9, 1981 | 6 | 120 |
| 17 | May 16, 1981 | 9 | 117 |
| 18 | May 23, 1981 | 16 | 110 |
| 19 | May 30, 1981 | 26 | 100 |
| 20 | Jun 6, 1981 | 31 | 95 |