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
Released23 January 1987
Recorded1986
Genre
Length4:01
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Narada Michael Walden
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 released by American singer Aretha Franklin and English singer George Michael as a duet in 1987.[3] The song was a number one hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.[4] Billboard listed "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" as Franklin's all-time biggest Hot 100 single.[5] The song was Franklin's biggest hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, reaching number two.[6][7] The song was written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan and produced by Narada Michael Walden.[8] Franklin and Michael won a 1987 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)".[9][10]

Background and recording[edit]

In 1984, Michael was approached to write and produce a song for Franklin for an unspecified soundtrack album; however, his busy schedule with Wham! made it impossible for him to do so at the time. Michael was also anxious that writing for one of his favourite artists could be too nerve-wracking (considering himself to be unworthy) and that for Franklin to sing a song he had written would be "ludicrous".[11][12] According to Michael, he originally approached both Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder respectively, before Franklin.[13]

Following Michael's death in December 2016, Franklin recalled the following about the recording of "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)":

The first time I heard George was with Wham! and I liked it then. He had a very unique sound, very different from anything that was out there. When Clive (Davis, Franklin's producer and label boss) suggested we get together for "I Knew You Were Waiting," I was all ready. It reminded me of (working with producer) Jerry Wexler. We'd go in the studio and cut songs. If we were happy with what we recorded, Jerry would say "Let's wait until tomorrow. If we feel the same way (then) that we do now, maybe we have a hit." "I Knew You Were Waiting" had that. Musically, it does not grow old.[14]

Reception and chart performance[edit]

The song was a one-off project that helped Michael achieve his ambition to sing with one of his favorite artists, and it reached number one on both the UK Singles Chart and Billboard Hot 100.[4] The song was Franklin's first and only UK number-one hit.[15]

In his book titled Dynamic Duets: The Best Pop Collaborations from 1955 to 1999, author Bob Leszczak described "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" as a "joyous and uplifting duet".[16]

Music video[edit]

The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan[17] and was filmed in Detroit.[18] It begins with George Michael and two bodyguards entering a dark room. There is a large viewing screen on the wall showing Aretha Franklin preparing for George Michael. Over the course of the video, each of the singers is shown performing the song both in front of the screen and on it. During the second verse, footage from both Franklin's and Michael's earlier careers is shown on the screen. As the second chorus ends, Michael joins Franklin on the stage, and footage of earlier famous duet pairs—Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Sonny and Cher, Ike and Tina Turner, and others—are shown on the viewing screen while Michael and Franklin sing the song's bridge. At the end of the video, Franklin winks at the camera.[19]

Personnel[edit]

Charts and certifications[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (February 12, 2021). "The Number Ones: Aretha Franklin & George Michael's "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". Stereogum. Retrieved October 5, 2023. ...if you're going to record a gospel song that's also a pop song, you really can't do any better than Aretha Franklin...Walden's backing track is pure big-'80s dance-pop...
  2. ^ Stanley, Bob (September 13, 2013). "Chicago and Detroit: House and Techno". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 614. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
  3. ^ "George Michael & Aretha Franklin: I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". IMDb.
  4. ^ a b Billboard (December 25, 2016). "George Michael Dead: His Biggest Hits". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  5. ^ "Aretha's biggest Hot 100 hits". Billboard. August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  6. ^ "Aretha Franklin I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me) Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  7. ^ "Aretha Franklin Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  8. ^ ""I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" — George Michael and Aretha Franklin". Medium.com. August 17, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  9. ^ "A look back at Aretha Franklin's Grammy wins". www.cnn.com. August 16, 2018.
  10. ^ "George Michael". GRAMMY.com. June 4, 2019.
  11. ^ MTV Whamerica Interview [unedited]. August 30, 1986. Event occurs at 4m50s.[dead YouTube link]
  12. ^ George Michael MTV Interview. 1988. Event occurs at 5m07s.[dead YouTube link]
  13. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "George Michael | Talks about duets with Aretha , Michael and Stevie". YouTube.
  14. ^ Goodman, Jessica (January 4, 2017). "Remembering George Michael: 3 Friends Look Back On His Legacy". EW.com.
  15. ^ "Aretha Franklin | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com.
  16. ^ Leszczak, Bob (October 7, 2016). Dynamic Duets: The Best Pop Collaborations from 1955 to 1999. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 45. ISBN 9781442271500 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - George Michael - "I knew you were waiting (for me)"". Music Video DataBase. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  18. ^ "Aretha Franklin talks about her duet with "talented" George Michael in rare footage". Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  19. ^ "Video". www.prosieben.de. July 2, 2013.
  20. ^ David Kent (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 199. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  21. ^ "Aretha Franklin & George Michael – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  22. ^ "Aretha Franklin & George Michael – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
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  24. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8800." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  25. ^ Danish Singles Chart 13 March 1987
  26. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. March 7, 1987. p. 52. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  27. ^ "Singlet 1987-02 helmikuu" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  28. ^ "Aretha Franklin & George Michael – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  29. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Knew You Were Waiting". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  30. ^ "Indice per Interprete: F: Franklin, Aretha" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  31. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 9, 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  32. ^ "Aretha Franklin & George Michael – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  33. ^ "Aretha Franklin & George Michael – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  34. ^ "Aretha Franklin & George Michael – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". VG-lista. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  35. ^ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  36. ^ "Aretha Franklin & George Michael – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  37. ^ "Aretha Franklin & George Michael – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  38. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  39. ^ "George Michael Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  40. ^ "George Michael Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  41. ^ "George Michael Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  42. ^ "George Michael Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  43. ^ Kimberley, Christopher. Zimbabwe Singles Chart Book: 1965-1996.
  44. ^ "Kent Music Report No 701 – 28 December 1987 > National Top 100 Singles for 1987". Kent Music Report. Retrieved April 6, 2022 – via Imgur.com.
  45. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1987" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  46. ^ "Top 100 Singles of '87". RPM. Vol. 47, no. 12. Library and Archives Canada. December 26, 1987. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  47. ^ "European Charts of the Year 1987: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. December 26, 1987. p. 34. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  48. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  49. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  50. ^ "END OF YEAR CHARTS 1987". Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  51. ^ "Gallup Year End Charts 1987: Singles". Record Mirror. London. January 23, 1988. p. 36. ISSN 0144-5804.
  52. ^ "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Adult Contemporary Singles". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. December 26, 1987. p. Y-31. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  53. ^ "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. December 26, 1987.
  54. ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1987 . TOP 100 POP SINGLES". Cash Box. December 26, 1987. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  55. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts: 1987". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  56. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  57. ^ "Dutch single certifications – Aretha Franklin and George Michael – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1987 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  58. ^ "British single certifications – Aretha Franklin and George Michael – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". British Phonographic Industry.
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