40th Anniversary EP Re-release of George Michael’s ‘Careless Whisper’: “Thank You”

George Michael’s estate has announced a special re-release of “Careless Whisper” to mark its 40th anniversary.

When “Careless Whisper” was released in 1984, it quickly became a global sensation. The song topped the charts in 25 countries and is now certified seven times Platinum in the United States. It has also sold over 1.5 million copies in the United Kingdom alone.

To commemorate four decades of this iconic track, George Michael Entertainment and Sony Music are releasing a new EP. Available in both digital and physical formats, the EP includes a previously unreleased live recording of the song from Michael’s 2008 performance at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. This show marked his return to the city after a 17-year hiatus.

In addition to the live track, the “Careless Whisper EP” will feature newly mastered versions of the original single, an extended mix, and an instrumental version. The EP is set for release on October 18, and fans can pre-order it now.

A representative from George Michael Entertainment expressed gratitude to the fans, saying, “As we celebrate 40 years of ‘Careless Whisper,’ we are proud to share something truly special with George’s millions of fans around the world. This EP is a heartfelt ‘thank you’ from us to you for your unwavering support and love. We are truly grateful. Thank you.”

The song “Careless Whisper” was written by Michael and his Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley when they were just 17 years old. Alongside the EP announcement, Michael’s official social media account shared a clip of him reminiscing about the creation of the hit. “I remember saying to Andrew one day when we were walking home from school, we were bunking off, and I remember we’d written ‘Careless Whisper.’ We’d finished it about a week before in a basement flat in Peckham,” Michael recounted.

He continued, “I remember saying to Andrew, ‘I’ve no idea who will do it, whether it’ll be us or not, but this is a hit. This is a Number One record for someone.’ It’s interesting, I had absolute confidence then, and it took about three or four albums before I realized that maybe I was as good a singer as I was a writer.”

George Michael passed away on Christmas Day in 2016 at the age of 53. In December of the same year, Wham!’s song “Last Christmas” finally achieved the Number One spot on the UK singles chart, 39 years after it was first released.

Last year, Michael was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The ceremony featured tributes with performances of his biggest hits by artists like Miguel, Adam Levine, and Carrie Underwood. Notably, Miguel performed “Careless Whisper.”

Earlier this year, the Royal Mint issued a new coin in tribute to the late singer as part of their Music Legends series. This series celebrates iconic British performers.

In other George Michael news, one of the singer’s jackets was listed among more than 200 pieces of music memorabilia up for auction last November. Items at the auction included a leather jacket worn by Michael Jackson and a hairpiece that belonged to Amy Winehouse. The La Rocka! jacket worn by George Michael in the music video for “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” a duet with Aretha Franklin, sold for £93,750 including the buyer’s premium.

In an interview with NME in June, Ridgeley reflected on the impact of Michael’s death, stating, “With George’s death, I became far more aware of how strong the affection for Wham! is, the place it holds in people’s imagination, and fondness towards the band.” He added, “Therefore, it seemed natural to address the Wham! legacy. The documentary sets our success in the context of our friendship and how that defined Wham!. It’s our authentic friendship that marked us out as unique. George is fondly remembered by everyone who knew him, and I’m pretty sure he would have liked and approved of the choices we’ve made. The good thing is it’s narrated purely in George’s voice, using archive interviews, and my own, which makes it feel intimate.”

NME praised the film in a four-star review, calling it “a ray of sunshine through dark clouds.” They noted, “This feature-length documentary makes for affecting viewing because it tells the duo’s incredible success story through the lens of their rock-solid friendship. In the process, it shows that Ridgeley was a lot more than a lucky hanger-on.”

Source: NME, Instagram