Faith guitar solo
George Michael, 1987. Solo by Hugh Burns.
A short, twangy rockabilly break that nods to Bo Diddley and keeps the song's stripped-back charm intact.
Faith is built on a stripped-back, Bo Diddley-style rhythm, and Hugh Burns' guitar break keeps that minimalist spirit. It is short, twangy and rooted in rockabilly, with clean, snappy notes and a playful bounce rather than any distortion or excess. The solo fits the song's retro feel perfectly, sounding like something from the late 1950s filtered through 1980s production. Its brevity is its strength; it adds colour and fun without breaking the momentum. Listen for the crisp, bright attack of each note and the way the phrases stay close to the song's chords, and notice how the break sits almost alone over the drums and handclaps, giving it room to sparkle.
Faith by George Michael is featured in our Pop (#16) list. The solo is played by Hugh Burns and the song was released in 1987.
In our lists
- The 25 Greatest Pop Guitar Solos — #16
- Top 20 Guitar Solos of 1987 — #20
- Pop Songs You Didn't Know Had a Guitar Solo — #3
Sources
Who played the guitar solo on Faith?
Hugh Burns played the solo on George Michael's Faith (1987).