- I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
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"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" Single by Aretha Franklin and George Michael from the album Aretha Released January 30, 1987 Format 7" single, CD single Recorded 1986 Genre R&B, pop Length 4:00 Label Arista Writer(s) Simon Climie, Dennis Morgan Producer Narada Michael Walden for Perfection Light Productions Aretha Franklin singles chronology "Jimmy Lee"
(1987)"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"
(1987)"Rock-a-Lott"
(1987)George Michael singles chronology "A Different Corner"
(1986)"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"
(1987)"I Want Your Sex"
(1987)"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" is a song performed by Aretha Franklin and George Michael as a duet in 1987. It was written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan.
Contents
Music video
The video begins with George Michael and two bodyguards entering a dark room. There is a large screen on the wall showing Aretha Franklin preparing for George Michael. In the course of the video the two are shown performing the song both are shown in front of a screen and on it. At the end of the clip Aretha winks at the camera.[1]
Chart performance
The song was a one-off project that helped Michael achieve his ambition to sing with one of his favourite artists, and it reached number one in both the UK Singles Chart and Billboard's Hot 100. The song was, remarkably, Franklin's first and only UK number-one hit, and only her fourth top ten achievement in the country since "I Say a Little Prayer", nearly two decades earlier. This was also the last of Franklin's eighteen Top 10 hits in the Billboard Hot 100.
For Michael, it became his third consecutive number-one in the UK since going solo, following 1984's "Careless Whisper" (though the single was actually from the Wham! album Make It Big) and 1986's "A Different Corner". However, as the song was a duet, he was not afforded the same status or level of congratulation as Gerry & the Pacemakers or Frankie Goes to Hollywood, the only two artists to have previously achieved number one with their first three releases. Michael's previous success (with Wham!, which included four number-ones) was also a factor in watering down the achievement. In the U.S., it was Michael's fourth #1 hit, counting his Wham! days.
The single was the first Michael had recorded (as a lead artist) which he had not written himself. The co-writer, Simon Climie, was unknown at the time, although he later had success as a performer with Climie Fisher in 1988.
The continuous run of UK chart-toppers ended for Michael thereafter, with his next number-one coming in 1991—again as part of a duet (this time with Elton John) - while his next entirely solo number-one in the UK didn't appear until 1996.
On the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" debuted at #59, the week of February 21, 1987, reaching #1 in its ninth week, April 18, 1987, and remaining there for two consecutive weeks.
Charts and certifications
Charts
Certifications
Country Certification Netherlands Gold[11] Preceded by
"Jack Your Body" by Steve 'Silk' HurleyIrish Singles Chart number-one single
7 February 1987 – 21 February 1987 (3 weeks)Succeeded by
"Stand By Me" by Ben E. KingUK number-one single
15 February 1987 – 22 February 1987 (2 weeks)Preceded by
"I Want to Wake Up with You" by Boris GardinerAustralian Kent Music Report number-one single
16 March 1987 – 6 April 1987 (4 weeks)Succeeded by
"Boom Boom (Let's Go Back to My Room)" by Paul LekakisPreceded by
"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by StarshipBillboard Hot 100 number-one single
April 18, 1987 – April 25, 1987 (2 weeks)Succeeded by
"(I Just) Died in Your Arms" by Cutting CrewTrack listing
- 7"
- "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" – 3:52
- "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (Instrumental) – 4:00
- US 12" maxi-single
- "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (Edited remix) – 5:29
- "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (Percappela) – 5:14
- "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (Album version) – 4:01
- "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (Extended remix) – 7:30
- Remixed by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero
Cover versions
- The Shadows did an instrumental version in 1987 on the album Simply Shadows.
- A live version of the song was featured on the Bucks Fizz album Live at Fairfield Halls in 1991.
- A cover of "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" was recorded in 2001 by Hear'Say as the B-side to their single "Everybody".
- Also Michael McDonald covered it in 2008 on his album Soul Speak.
- Simon Climie had co-written the song and also produced it.
- A cover version of the chorus of "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" featured in "Welcome Back", a 3-minute-long British TV commercial for telecommunications company T-Mobile which first aired on 29 October 2010.[12]
References
- ^ music video in MyVideo.de
- ^ David Kent (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970 - 1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W.. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b c d e I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me). Retrieved May 22, 2011.
- ^ Top Singles - Volume 46, No. 3, April 25 1987. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
- ^ Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
- ^ Single-Chartverfolgung. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
- ^ The Irish Charts. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
- ^ Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
- ^ Top 75 Releases. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
- ^ a b c I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) - Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
- ^ Goud/Platina Muziek. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB3NPNM4xgo
Aretha Franklin Studio albums Songs of Faith (1956) · Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo (1961) · The Electrifying Aretha Franklin (1962) · The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin (1962) · Laughing on the Outside (1963) · Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington (1964) · Runnin' Out of Fools (1964) · Soul Sister (1966) · Take It Like You Give It (1967) · Take a Look (1967) · I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967) · Aretha Arrives (1967) · Lady Soul (1968) · Aretha Now (1968) · Soul '69 (1969) · Soft and Beautiful (1969) · This Girl's in Love with You (1970) · Spirit in the Dark (1970) · Young, Gifted and Black (1972) · Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky) (1973) · Let Me in Your Life (1974) · With Everything I Feel in Me (1974) · You (1975) · Sparkle (1976) · Sweet Passion (1977) · Almighty Fire (1978) · La Diva (1979) · Aretha (1980) · Love All the Hurt Away (1981) · Jump to It (1982) · Get It Right (1983) · Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985) · Aretha (1986) · Through the Storm (1989) · What You See Is What You Sweat (1991) · A Rose Is Still a Rose (1998) · So Damn Happy (2003) · This Christmas, Aretha (2008) · A Woman Falling Out of Love (2011)Live albums Yeah!!! In Person with Her Quartet (1965) · Aretha in Paris (1968) · Aretha Live at Fillmore West (1971) · Amazing Grace (1972) · One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism (1987) · Oh Me Oh My: Aretha Live in Philly, 1972 (2007)Compilation albums Aretha's Gold (1969) · Aretha's Greatest Hits (1971) · The Best of Aretha Franklin (1973) · Aretha Sings the Blues (1980) · Greatest Hits (1980–1994) (1994) · Greatest Hits (1998) · Aretha's Best (2001) · Rare & Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul (2007) · Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen (2007) · A Deeper Love: The Best of Aretha Franklin (2009) · The Great American Songbook (2011)Box sets Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings (1992) · Take A Look: Aretha Franklin Complete on Columbia (2011)Singles "Precious Lord (Part 1)" (1959) · "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" (1961) · "I Surrender, Dear" (1962) · "Try a Little Tenderness" (1962) · "Say It Isn't So" (1963) · "Skylark" (1963) · "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" (1964) · "One Step Ahead" (1965) · "You Made Me Love You" (1965) · "Mockingbird" (1967) · "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" (1967) · "Respect" (1967) · "Baby I Love You" (1967) · "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (1967) · "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" · "Chain of Fools" (1967) · "Satisfaction" (1968) · "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" (1968) · "Think" (1968) · "You Send Me" (1968) · "I Say a Little Prayer" (1968) · "The Weight" (1969) · "Tracks of My Tears" (1969) · "Gentle on My Mind" (1969) · "Share Your Love with Me" (1969) · "Eleanor Rigby" (1969) · "Call Me" (1970) · "Son of a Preacher Man" (1970) · "The Thrill Is Gone" (1970) · "Don't Play That Song" (1970) · "You're All I Need to Get By" (1971) · "Bridge over Troubled Water" (1971) · "Spanish Harlem" (1971) · "Rock Steady" (1971) · "Day Dreaming" (1972) · "Wholy Holy" (1972) · "Angel" (1973) · "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" (1973) · "I'm in Love" (1974) · "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (1974) · "Something He Can Feel" (1976) · "Break It to Me Gently" (1977) · "What a Fool Believes" (1981) · "It's My Turn" (1981) · "Jump to It" (1982) · "Get It Right" (1983) · Freeway of Love" (1985) · "Who's Zoomin' Who" (1985) · "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (1985) · "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (1986) · "Jimmy Lee" (1986) · "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987) · "Oh Happy Day" (1988) · "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (1989) · "Everyday People" (1991) · "Someday We'll All Be Free" (1992) · "A Deeper Love" (1993) · "Willing to Forgive" (1994) · "A Rose Is Still a Rose" (1998) · "Wonderful" (2003) · "Put You Up on Game" (2007)Record labels Related topics Studio albums Faith (1987) · Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990) · Older (1996) · Songs from the Last Century (1999) · Patience (2004)Compilations Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1998) · Twenty Five (2006)Extended plays Five Live (1993)Singles "Careless Whisper" (1984) · "A Different Corner" (1986) · "I Want Your Sex" (1987) · "Hard Day" (1987) · "Faith" (1987) · "Father Figure" (1988) · "One More Try" (1988) · "Monkey" (1988) · "Kissing a Fool" (1988) · "Praying for Time" (1990) · "Waiting for That Day" (1990) · "Mother's Pride" (1990) · "Freedom! '90" (1990) · "Heal the Pain" (1991) · "Cowboys and Angels" (1991) · "Too Funky" (1992) · "Killer"/"Papa Was a Rolling Stone" (1993) · "Jesus to a Child" (1996) · "Fastlove" (1996) · "Spinning the Wheel" (1996) · "Older" (1997) · "Star People '97" (1997) · "You Have Been Loved"/"The Strangest Thing '97" (1997) · "Outside" (1998) · "Freeek!" (2002) · "Shoot the Dog" (2002) · "Amazing" (2004) · "Flawless (Go to the City)" (2004) · "Round Here" (2004) · "John and Elvis Are Dead" (2005) · "An Easier Affair" (2006) · "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)" (2008) · "True Faith" (2011)Duets"Wrap Her Up" (1985) · "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987) · "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1991) · "Waltz Away Dreaming" (1997) · "As" (1999) · "If I Told You That" (2000) · "This Is Not Real Love" (2006) · "Heal the Pain" (2008)Video albums Faith (1988) · George Michael (1990) · Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1999) · Twenty Five (2006) · George Michael Live in London (2009)Tours Faith World Tour (1988-89) · Cover to Cover tour (1991) · 25 Live (2006-08) · Live in Australia (2010) · Symphonica Tour (2011)Related articles Categories:- George Michael songs
- Aretha Franklin songs
- 1987 singles
- UK Singles Chart number-one singles
- Number-one singles in Australia
- European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
- Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
- Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
- Hear'Say songs
- Vocal duets
- Songs written by Simon Climie
- Songs written by Dennis Morgan
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