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 Hill's vocal performance as "passionate, jubilant, and thoroughly appealing."
Chart performance
"This Kiss" became Hill's fourth solo number-one, and fifth overall, on both the US BillboardHot Country Singles & Tracks charts and Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts. The song was also a crossover hit, reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts, her first entry on the latter chart. In addition, it reached number 24 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart and number two on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart. The single also saw significant 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; it also charted in Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
Music video
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 is notable for its extensive use of CGI technology, and won numerous awards for its creativity. Hill was pregnant with her second daughter Maggie at the time and she was forced to alter her costuming for the video as a result. In her CMT Video Bio, 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 performed the song live at the 1998 Academy of Country Music Awards while dancing in a giant flower in the center of the stage, as a tribute.
In 1999, American country music parody artist Cledus T. Judd released a parody of "This Kiss" titled "Christ-Mas" on his album Juddmental. Italian singer Paola Turci released a cover entitled "Questione di sguardi" on her 2000 album Mi basta il paradiso. British singer Cilla Black sang a duet of "This Kiss" with Cliff Richard on Black's 2003 album . In 2012, YouTube musician Alex Day recorded a cover of "This Kiss", featuring the vocals of Carrie Fletcher. The album art is also borrowed from the original.
In popular culture
"This Kiss" also became the soundtrack for the 1998 moviePractical Magic. Hill performed the song at the 1999 VH1 Divas concert, and it was included on the show's CD and DVD releases. The song also gave Hill the Video Of The Year awards at the 1998 Country Music Association awards.
