GEORGE MICHAEL’S “CARELESS WHISPER” CELEBRATES 40 YEARS | FORTHCOMING EP OUT OCTOBER 18
GEORGE MICHAEL ENTERTAINMENT AND SONY MUSIC
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the release of George Michael’s much-loved iconic masterpiece Careless Whisper, George Michael Entertainment, GME, and Sony Music will be releasing the Careless Whisper EP on October 18.
Available on both digital and physical formats, the Careless Whisper EP will feature a previously unreleased live recording of the timeless hit performed at the illustrious Madison Square Garden in New York City during George’s electrifying concert on the 23rd of July 2008. The recording captures the historic performance marking his reunion with a New York audience after an astounding 17-year hiatus. It was part of his monumental 25Live tour, a worldwide phenomenon that sold out arenas and stadiums and captivated over 1.3 million fans across the globe.
The EP will also include newly mastered versions of the original single, the extended mix and instrumental.
Topping the charts in 25 countries back in 1984, today Careless Whisper is certified 7 x Platinum in The United States and has sold over 1.5 million copies in the UK alone. It has also been certified Platinum and Diamond
Written with Wham! band mate Andrew Ridgeley when George Michael was just 17 years old, and widely remarked as a masterpiece of contemporary songwriting, today it is hailed as a modern-day classic.
Careless Whisper holds a truly unparalleled legacy that resulted in him becoming the youngest recipient of an Ivor Novello Award at just 21 years old, propelling him into global superstardom. Also making him the first artist ever to top the charts as both a soloist and as a member of a group/duo in the same calendar year.
Today, 40 years after its release, Careless Whisper resonates even more with new generations of listeners, with TikTok currently surpassing 700 million views, while on YouTube the video averages close to half a million views every day. It is also a member of YouTube’s and Spotify’s exclusive Billions Club.
George Michael Entertainment says:
“As we celebrate 40 years of ‘Careless Whisper’, we are proud to share something truly special with George’s millions of fans around the world. This EP is a heartfelt ‘thank you’ from us to you for your unwavering support and love. We are truly grateful. Thank you”.
About George Michael
Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Philanthropist and Creative Icon, George Michael is considered one of the most influential recording artists of all time. He rose to fame in the 1980’s as a member of the duo WHAM! selling over 30 million records. He later embarked on a solo career and sold over 125 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart eight times in the US and hitting the No.1 spot on the UK singles charts seven times as a solo artist and redefining pop music in the process.
He won six Ivor Novello Awards and remains the only individual songwriter ever to win their prestigious Songwriter of The Year Award three times. He won two Grammys, was nominated nine times, and won four American Music Awards as well as winning twelve Billboard awards and being nominated forty times. He also won three BRIT Awards. Billboard has listed him among the “Greatest Hot 100 Artists of All Time”, and Rolling Stone, in the “200 Greatest Singers of All Time”. In 2004, George was named by the Radio Academy as the “Most Played Artist” on British radio over the previous 20 years, and in November 2023 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
During a career that spanned thirty-five years, he famously duetted with Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Mary J. Blige, Paul McCartney and Queen, and his songs have been covered by Adele, Chris Martin, Ariana Grande, H.E.R, Miguel, Dua Lipa, Sam Smith, Taylor Swift Olli Alexander and Christine and the Queens to name but a few. He is also considered one of the most significant cultural icons of his generation and was known as a leading creative force in music production, songwriting, vocal performance and visual presentation. His songs remain a part of the fabric of our culture, many achieving over a Billion Streams, and include Careless Whisper, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Faith, Freedom 90’, Father Figure, Last Christmas, Fastlove, Club Tropicana, Jesus To A Child, Praying For Time and many more.
George Michael
Careless Whisper EP
(Sony Music)
Release Date: October 18, 2024
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