Even a famous crooner as well-loved and legendary as Aretha Franklin isn’t immune to career downturns. It happens to literally everyone in the music business. Back in 1987, the soul singer hadn’t scored a no. 1 hit for the better part of 20 years. In 1967, she broke records with the song “Respect”. Sadly, she didn’t make it to the top of the charts for years after. However, one particular duet changed everything.
That duet in question is “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” with pop icon George Michael. The dance-pop and gospel-leaning tune was released in 1987. It very quickly catapulted to the top of the charts. In fact, the song made it to no. 1 in the US within a few weeks of its release. Franklin would then break the record for the longest span between no. 1 hits in US Billboard chart history. And it’s a crazy good song, too.
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The Collaboration Between Aretha Franklin and George Michael That Changed Everything
The era of disco music in the 1970s wasn’t the best time for Aretha Franklin. Her soulful sound fell through the cracks into obscurity as new genres began to take over the airwaves. Thankfully, she got a bit of a boost in the mid-1980s. Narada Michael Walden, the producer behind Franklin’s 1985 record Who’s Zoomin’ Who?, got Franklin back on the radio with songs like “Freeway Of Love”.
With a proven track record to put Franklin’s mind at ease, Walden worked with her again to record “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)”. Aretha Franklin teamed up with George Michael for the tune very shortly after he left his band, Wham!
Franklin needed a push to breathe new life into her career, and Michael was itching to kick off a successful solo career. Both superstars got exactly what they wanted with “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)”
On April 18, 1987, “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” made it to no. 1 on the US charts. A music video released for the song did similarly well and appealed to viewers and listeners who tuned into MTV and VH1.
From there, Michael released his debut solo record, Faith, and went on to nurture an extremely successful solo career. Franklin jump-started her career yet again. And they both definitely deserved it.
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