George Michael started his phenomenal career with Wham!, his musical partnership with friend Andrew Ridgeley. After he went solo, he collaborated with some of the best singers in the world. He sang duets with high-profile artists from Aretha Franklin to Whitney Houston to Elton John. He also provided backup vocals to other singers, including his friends.
Here is a comprehensive listing of George’s duets and collaborations with other singers, including where he provided backup vocals:
Andrew Ridgeley: ‘Red Dress’
- Year: 1990
- Album: Son Of Albert / Andrew Ridgeley
- Where Performed: n/a
- Notes: George lend his vocals in his former Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley’s debut and only solo album.
Aretha Franklin: ‘I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)’
- Year: 1987
- Album: Aretha
- Where Performed: n/a
- Notes: Penned by the songwriting team of Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan, the duet reached number-one on both the UK Singles Chart and Billboard Hot 100.
Astrud Gilberto: ‘Desafinado’
- Year: 1996
- Album: Red Hot + Rio
- Where Performed: n/a
- Notes: Red Hot + Rio is a compilation album produced by Béco Dranoff and Paul Heck as part of the Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series
Band Aid: ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’
- Year: 1984
- Album: Red Hot + Rio
- Where Performed: n/a
- Notes: Not a duet, but Band Aid is one of the most important collaboration work done by George. Band Aid is a charity supergroup founded by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for anti-famine efforts in Ethiopia by releasing the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” for the Christmas market that year. George was one of the forty artists who sang on the song.
Beyonce: ‘If I Were a Boy’
- Year: June 11, 2009
- Album: n/a
- Where Performed: Beyonce’s “I Am…” World Tour in London’s O2 Arena
- Notes: George Michael made a surprise appearance on stage and joined Beyonce in a duet of the I Am…Sasha Fierce hit “If I Were a Boy.”
David Cassidy: ‘The Last Kiss’
- Year: 1985
- Album: Romance (David Cassidy, Arista Records)
- Where Performed: n.a.
- Notes: George Michael sang backing vocals to the single of his long-time friend David Cassidy. The song peaked at no. 6 in the UK Singles Chart, and charted all over Europe and in Australia.
David Austin: ‘Turn to Gold’
- Year: 1984
- Album: Turn to Gold (David Austin, Parlophone Records)
- Where Performed: n.a.
- Notes: Co-written by George Michael, George also provided backing vocals on the song. It reached number 68 on the UK Singles Chart during the summer of 1984. In this video, George Michael introduces David Austin performing Turn to Gold on Cheggers Plays Pop, Series 7, Episode 8
Deon Estus: ‘Heaven Help Me’
- Year: 1989
- Album: Spell (Deon Estus)
- Where Performed: n.a.
- Notes: George Michael produced, co-wrote, and sang background vocals on Estus’ debut solo LP, Spell. Deon Estus was Wham!’s bassist, and worked on George’s first two solo albums. The song “Heaven Help Me” reached Number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1989.
Deon Estus: ‘123 / The Party / Stand by Me’
- Year: 1987
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: Stand By Me AIDS Benefit Concert at London’s Wembley on January 4, 1987
- Notes: George Michael performed with Deon in the Stand By Me AIDS Benefit Concert that was televised in UK on April 3, 1987 and in the U.S. on June 16, 1988.
Diana Ross: ‘I Wanna Know What Love Is’
- Year: 1985
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: Motown Returns to the Apollo
- Notes: “Motown Returns to the Apollo,” a three-hour television special taped by NBC celebrating the reopening of the Apollo Theater, New York City
Elton John: ‘Candle in the Wind’
- Year: 1986
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: Wham! Final Concert in 1986 with Elton on the piano
- Notes:
Elton John: ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’
- Year: 1985 / 1991 / 1995
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: Geldof’s Live Aid concert in 1985 | Cover to Cover Tour 1991 | Commitment to Life VIII 19th January 1995, Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles | Elton John Concert, 22nd September 1995 Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
- Notes: The live recording eventually came out in 1991, going to No. 1 on both the U.K. singles chart and the Billboard Hot 100 in America.
Elton John: ‘Nikita’
- Year: 1985
- Album: Ice on Fire (Elton John)
- Where Performed: n.a.
- Notes: George’s backing vocals at song’s end. The video shoot starred actress and model Anya Major and a Bentley Continental Convertible automobile that belonged to Elton at the time.
Elton John: ‘Wrap Her Up’
- Year: 1985
- Album: Ice on Fire (Elton John)
- Where Performed: n.a.
- Notes:
Elton John: ‘Someone Saved My Life Tonight’
- Year: 1994
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: AIDS Benefit in England
- Notes:
Garth Brooks: ‘Freedom 90’
- Year: 2000
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: ‘Equality Rocks’ concert, April 29, 2000 in Washington DC, United States.
- Notes: The concert at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., was scheduled the night before a gay and lesbian march in Washington expected to draw one million people. The concert benefited the Human Rights Campaign, which lobbies Congress for legislation fair to gays and lesbians. Melissa Etheridge, k.d. lang, Queen Latifah, the Pet Shop Boys and Ellen DeGeneres are also on the bill.
Jody Watley: ‘Learn to Say No’
- Year: 1987
- Album: Jody Watley (Jody Watley, MCA)
- Where Performed: n.a.
- Notes: George co-wrote the song together with Jody, but unfortunately, the song was not released as a single.
Joe McElderry: ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’
- Year: 2009
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: X Factor 2009
- Notes:
Lisa Moorish: ‘I’m Your Man’
- Year: 1996
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: n.a.
- Notes: Aspiring British singer Lisa Moorish worked with Johnny Douglas, George Michael’s regular collaborator. Douglas produced a funked up version of Wham!’s I’m Your Man and George loved it so much he sang on the track, turning it into an uncredited duet. He’s later use the version himself.
Lisa Stansfield / Queen: ‘These are the Days of Our Lives’
- Year: 1992
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness at London’s Wembley Stadium
- Notes:
Lucianno Pavarotti: ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’
- Year: 2000
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: Lucianno Pavarotti Annual Charity Concert in Modena, Italy
- Notes:
Lynn Mabry: ‘Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)’
- Year: 1991
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: Rock in Rio 2 music festival in 1991 | Cover to Cover tour (some shows in 1991)
- Notes: A song originally sung by the British R&B band Soul II Soul, George performed this song with Lynn Mabry in several performances
Mary J. Blige: ‘As’
- Year: 1999
- Album: Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael / Mary (Mary J. Blinge)
- Where Performed: n.a.
- Notes: The song was not released on the U.S. version of the album compilation ‘Mary’ allegedly because Blige’s record label objected after Michael’s 1998 arrest for committing a lewd act in a public park.
Mutya Buena: ‘This is Not Real Love’
- Year: 2006
- Album: Twenty Five (George Michael)
- Where Performed: 25 Live concert in London Earl’s Court
- Notes:
Paul McCartney: ‘Heal the Pain’
- Year: 2006
- Album: Twenty Five (George Michael)
- Where Performed:
- Notes:
Paul McCartney: ‘Baby You Can Drive My Car’
- Year: 2005
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: Live 8 (Benefit concert – Founded by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure), London, Hyde Park, 2 July 2005.
- Notes:
Paul Young: ‘Everytime You Go Away’
- Year: 1986
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: Prince’s Trust Concert
- Notes: Paul and George were joined by Elton John in the piano and Eric Clapton playing guitar
Pepsi Demacque: ‘You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)’
- Year: 1984
- Album: Infamy featuring Lawrie Demacque – You Spin Me Round
- Where Performed: n.a.
- Notes: The Infamy project formed in 1994 when George Michael and cousin Andros Georgiou decided to re-record several of their favorite dance tracks and release them with hopes of jump-starting Andros’ new record label. First up was one of George’s favorites, You Spin Me Round (Like A Record). Due to contractual issues and the recent loss of his court case against Sony, George was not credited on record. Instead, they decided to call the group Infamy and gave Pepsi DeMacque top billing on the single. Infamy (4) Featuring Lawrie Demacque* – You Spin Me Round was recorded during a marathon 36-hour session at George Michael’s countryside studio in England.
Queen: ‘Somebody to Love’
- Year: 1992
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness at London’s Wembley Stadium
- Notes: Strictly speaking not a duet, but George gave such an outstanding performance that it is one of his most important collaborations
Ray Charles: ‘Blame it on the Sun’
- Year: 2005
- Album:Genius and Friends (Ray Charles)
- Where Performed:
- Notes:
Smokey Robinson: ‘Careless Whisper’
- Year: 1985
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: “Motown Returns to the Apollo,” a three-hour television special taped by NBC celebrating the reopening of the Apollo Theater, New York City
- Notes:
Stevie Wonder: ‘Love’s in Need of Love Today’
- Year: 1985
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: “Motown Returns to the Apollo,” a three-hour television special taped by NBC celebrating the reopening of the Apollo Theater, New York City
- Notes:
Stevie Wonder: ‘Living for the City’
- Year: 1997
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: Fourth annual VH1 Honors concert in Los Angeles, California
- Notes:
Sting: ‘Every Breathe You Take’
- Year: 1993
- Album: n.a.
- Where Performed: Amazon Rain Forest Benefit
- Notes:
Toby Bourke: ‘Waltz Away Dreaming’
- Year: 1997
- Album: Room 21 (Toby Bourke, 2000)
- Where Performed: n.a.
- Notes: The duet appeared in 1998 on George’s greatest hits album Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael, but only on the cassette, DVD and MiniDisc versions.
Tony Bennett: ‘How Do You Keep the Music Playing?’
- Year: 2006
- Album: Tony Bennett Duets: An American Classic (Tony Bennett, 2006)
- Where Performed: n.a.
- Notes: Tony Bennett celebrated his 80th birthday by recording this best-selling duets collection with various pop stars including George Michael. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at 2007 Grammy Award.
Whitney Houston: ‘If I Told You That’
- Year: 2000
- Album: Whitney: The Greatest Hits (Whitney Houston)
- Where Performed: n.a.
- Notes: The song was originally to feature Michael Jackson. “If I Told You That” peaked at number 1 in Iceland and Poland.
Similar Posts:
- George Michael Interview with Capital FM Radio with Dr. Fox (Dec 1998)
- An Audience with George Michael: Interview with Chris Evans (1996)
- George Michael Interview on the David Letterman Show (1998)
- George Michael: Artist or Airhead? (Musician, 1988)
- Stand By Me: AIDS Day Benefit Live at Wembley (1987)
Baby You Can Drive My Car is not on album 🙂
Thank you! Entry corrected