Tag: Icon

40 Years of Careless Whisper

GM Infonet

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the release of George Michael’s much-loved iconic masterpiece Careless Whisper, George Michael Entertainment, GME, and Sony Music will be releasing the Careless Whisper EP on 18th October 2024.


Available on both digital and physical formats, the Careless Whisper EP will feature a previously unreleased live recording of the timeless hit performed at the illustrious Madison Square Garden in New York City during George’s electrifying concert on the 23rd of July 2008. The recording captures the historic performance marking his reunion with a New York audience after an astounding 17-year hiatus. It was part of his monumental 25Live tour, a worldwide phenomenon that sold out arenas and stadiums and captivated over 1.3 million fans across the globe.
The EP will also include newly mastered versions of the original single, the extended mix and instrumental.
Available on 12” vinyl picture disc, 12” ruby marble vinyl, 12” white vinyl, standard 12” vinyl, CD and digitalAvailable on both digital and physical formats, the ‘Careless Whisper EP’ will feature a previously unreleased live recording of the timeless hit performed at the illustrious Madison Square Garden in New York City during George’s electrifying concert on the 23rd of July 2008. The recording captures the historic performance marking his reunion with a New York audience after an astounding 17-year hiatus. It was part of his monumental 25Live tour, a worldwide phenomenon that sold out arenas and stadiums and captivated over 1.3 million fans across the globe.
The EP will also include newly mastered versions of the original single, the extended mix and instrumental.
Available on 12” vinyl picture disc, 12” ruby marble vinyl, 12” white vinyl, standard 12” vinyl, CD and digital.

Topping the charts in 25 countries back in 1984, today Careless Whisper is certified 7 x Platinum in The United States and has sold over 1.5 million copies in the UK alone. It has also been certified Platinum and Diamond in a further 20 countries.   Written with Wham! band mate Andrew Ridgeley when George Michael was just 17 years old, and widely remarked as a masterpiece of contemporary songwriting, today it is hailed as a modern-day classic.  Careless Whisper holds a truly unparalleled legacy that resulted in him becoming the youngest recipient of an Ivor Novello Award at just 21 years old, propelling him into global superstardom. Also making him the first artist ever to top the charts as both a soloist and as a member of a group/duo in the same calendar year.

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Also this year Careless Whisper has come top of a radio poll for the nation’s favourite song for a sixth year in a row.
The track was voted top of Smooth Radio’s All Time Top 500, an annual list of the UK’s best-loved songs.
On YouTube the song has more than one billion views..

Royal Mint unveils George Michael collectable coins

GM Infonet

The Royal Mint has added George Michael to its Music Legends series, producing three collectible coins featuring the late pop star. Available in gold, silver, and silver, red and black, the coin shows Michael wearing the aviator sunglasses and cross-shaped earring from the video for his 1987 solo single Faith, along with a guitar fretboard. The back features an engraving of the song’s refrain.


The Royal Mint said the coin had been approved by Michael’s estate. A representative from George Michael Entertainment said it was “deeply honoured” by the tribute, and added that the singer – who died in 2016, aged 53 – would have been “enormously proud and genuinely touched that a national institution should have decided to pay tribute to his memory in this way”.
King Charles and the privy council also gave assent to the production of the coins, which come in denominations of 50p, £2, £10, £25, £100 and £200. Other new coins outside the Music Legends series honour James Bond, Star Wars and Robin Hood.
Royal Mint director of collector services, Rebecca Morgan, said: “From his debut with Wham! to becoming one of the bestselling solo musicians of all time, George Michael is a global superstar whose work has inspired and influenced generations with his music and his unique style. Loved by millions of fans worldwide, we are delighted to be introducing an official UK coin celebrating his life and legacy.”

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