Aretha Franklin & George Michael – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
Aretha’s biggest hit, the duet with George Michael, topped the Hot 100 and won a 1987 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal!
“I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” was a perfect pop song with soulful voices from both Aretha and George.
When George was approached to write a song for his favorite artists, he was very busy with Wham! still climbing the charts and touring… He also thought it was nuts that he could write a song worthy of the “Queen Of Soul”.
After George died 2017, Aretha remembered the recording of the song:
“The first time I heard George was with Wham! and I liked it then. He had a very unique sound, very different from anything that was out there. When Clive (Davis, Franklin’s producer and label boss) suggested we get together for “I Knew You Were Waiting,” I was all ready. It reminded me of (working with producer]) Jerry Wexler. We’d go in the studio and cut songs. If we were happy with what we recorded, Jerry would say “Let’s wait until tomorrow. If we feel the same way (then) that we do now, maybe we have a hit.” “I Knew You Were Waiting” had that. Musically, it does not grow old.”
