George was really “desperate to work with” Lauryn Hill. Too bad it was not meant to me. How awesome do you think this would have been?
Dr Fox: Who else would you like to work with?
George Michael: At the moment, the only person I’m desperate to work with, but I don’t know, they said that obviously, she’s really busy, she’s just had a baby, that’s Lauryn Hill.
Dr Fox: Oh, I thought you were going to say Billy.
George Michael: No, no, no, I don’t think so, not yet (both laughing). I don’t want to dismiss the poor girl, but not yet. Anyway it’s illegal, isn’t it? Err, but em, no, I’d really love to work with Lauryn Hill. They said it was because she was having a baby, and, she couldn’t do anything right now, so, I’ll get back onto them later in the year and see if it’ll work.
Dr Fox: Now, she also has a brilliant voice now doesn’t she?
George Michael: I think she’s gonna be the biggest, erm, definitely the best R&B star over the next ten years.
Dr Fox: Really?
George Michael: Yeah I do, yeah. It’s just that people are a little slower catching on to her here, cos she’s based in Hip Hop.
Dr Fox: But the whole Fugee project was incredibly good, I mean three very talented people working together there.
George Michael: Yeah, I’m not that mad about some of the other stuff that the other two have done. But she, I mean her solo album I think, is the best soul album that I’ve heard in many years. I’d really love to work with her.
SOURCE: George Michael Interview with Capital FM Radio with Dr. Fox (Dec 1998)