Jesus to a Child

Infobox Single
Name = Jesus to a Child


Caption =
Artist = George Michael
from Album = Older
A-side =
B-side = "One More Try" (Live Gospel Version)
Released = October 9,1995
Format = Cassette , CD Single
Recorded = 1995
Genre = Soul, Blues ,Gospel
Length = 6:51
Label = Virgin Records
Writer = George Michael
Producer = George Michael
Certification = Gold (RIAA)
Chart position = * #1 (Australia)
* #1 (UK)
* #7 (US)
* #22 (US R&B)
* #12 (Germany)
* #2 (Eurochart)
Last single = "Killer"/"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (1993)
This single = "Jesus to a Child" (1995)
Next single = "Fastlove" (1996)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Twenty Five
Type = compilation
prev_track = "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"
prev_no = 8
this_track = "Jesus to a Child"
track_no = 9
next_track = "Older"
next_no = 10

"Jesus to a Child" is a song by British musician George Michael. The song peaked No. 1 in the British Isles and Australian charts and No. 2 in the Mainland European charts. The song has also become George Michael's highest direct entry in the American charts. The song was one of George Michael's best-known songs and was included in the 1996 album "Older". It was a melancholy tribute to his friend Anselmo Feleppa.

History

The song was Michael's first self-penned hit in his homeland for almost four years and entered the UK singles chart straight at #1 in January 1996. It became his first solo single to enter the UK charts at the top, his first solo #1 from a studio album (all his previous solo #1s had been one-off projects, either during the Wham! years or as a guest or co-vocalist) and, on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA, it became the highest new entry (#7) by a British artist for more than 25 years. It was also Michael's longest UK Top 40 single at almost seven minutes long.

The song was a melancholy tribute to Michael's Brazilian friend and lover Anselmo Feleppa, whom he met when performing in Rio de Janeiro in 1991. Feleppa died two years later from an AIDS-related brain haemorrhage. Michael had been unable to write for the next 18 months as a consequence of his grief, but then penned the words to "Jesus To A Child" in little more than an hour, indicating that the time was right to move on with his life.

The exact identity of the song's subject - and the nature of their relationship - was cause for a certain amount of innuendo at the time, however, as Michael had not confirmed his homosexuality and did not do so until 1998. Nowadays, Michael consistently dedicates the song to Feleppa before performing it live.

"Jesus To A Child" was the first of six singles from the album "Older". It was Michael's sixth UK #1 under his solo name, although only the third as an entirely solo performer.

Tracklist

CD Single

*"Jesus To A Child" (6:50)
*"One More Try" (Live Gospel Version) (5:21)

Cassette Single

*"Jesus To A Child" (6:50)
*"One More Try" (Live Gospel Version) (5:21)
*"Older" (Instrumental Version) (5:18)