Below is the article “Queen sees more duets” written by Gary Graff for Detroit Free Press published on August 31, 1988.
For Aretha Franklin, George Michael was “Dr. Feelgood” on Monday night at the Palace.
“He’s very, very talented,” the 46-year-old Queen of Soul said as she finished a late-night dinner at the Palace Grille after joining Michael to recreate their chart-topping duet, “I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me),” in front of more than 16,200 screaming fans. “I would say that he’s definitely a perfectionist. He’s very exciting to watch.”
Franklin said Michael called about 10 days ago to ask her to join him onstage. “Normally at this point of the show,” he told the crowd on Monday night, “my spiel goes, ‘Unfortunately, the lady is not with us tonight.’ ” The duo was able to rehearse during the afternoon, though there were differing opinions about the performance; some patrons said Michael wasn’t loud enough, others said Aretha was too quiet.
But it still qualified as a special part of the evening for everyone. “It was wonderful, fabulous, just great,” Franklin said. “I think there’s really a great chemistry between us.”
She said that may lead to more work together, including the possibility of Michael performing “I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me)” with her when Franklin helps reopen the Fox Theatre during December.
Franklin also said that she planned to begin recording her next album during September, working again with producer Narada Michael Walden.
