"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" is a song sung as a duet by American singer Aretha Franklin and English singer George Michael for Franklin's 1986 album Aretha.[4] The song was released January 23,1987 by Arista Records in the United States and Canada as the second single from Aretha,and topped the Billboard Hot 100,Franklin's second and last #1 single in the United States.[5]Billboard listed "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" as Franklin's all-time biggest Hot 100 single.[6] The song was Franklin's biggest hit on the BillboardAdult Contemporary chart,reaching number two.[7][8] In the rest of the world,Epic Records,Michael's label,released the song as a non-album single,and it topped the UK singles chart,Franklin's only #1 placing in the United Kingdom.
In 1984,Michael was approached to write and produce a song for Franklin for an unspecified soundtrack album;however,his busy schedule with Wham! made it impossible for him to do so at the time. Michael was also anxious that writing for one of his favourite artists could be too nerve-wracking (considering himself to be unworthy) and that for Franklin to sing a song he had written would be "ludicrous".[12][13] According to Michael,he originally approached both Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder respectively,before Franklin.[14] Following Michael's death in December 2016,Franklin recalled the following about the recording of "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)":
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.[15]
Reception and chart performance
"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart,[5] marking Franklin's first and only UK number-one hit.[16]
In his book titled Dynamic Duets: The Best Pop Collaborations from 1955 to 1999, author Bob Leszczak described "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" as a "joyous and uplifting duet".[17]
Music video
The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan[18] and was filmed in Detroit.[19] It begins with Michael and two bodyguards entering a dark room. There is a large viewing screen on the wall showing Franklin preparing for Michael. Over the course of the video, each of the singers is shown performing the song both in front of the screen and on it. During the second verse, footage from both Franklin's and Michael's earlier careers is shown on the screen. As the second chorus ends, Michael joins Franklin on the stage, and footage of earlier famous duet pairs—Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Sonny and Cher, Ike and Tina Turner, and others—are shown on the viewing screen while Michael and Franklin sing the song's bridge. At the end of the video, Franklin winks at the camera.[20]
Track listings
All tracks are written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan.
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