Spinning the Wheel

Last updated

"Spinning the Wheel"
Spinning the Wheel (George Michael single - cover art).jpg
Single by George Michael
from the album Older
B-side
  • "You Know That I Want To"
  • "Safe"
Released19 August 1996 (1996-08-19) [1]
Genre
Length6:22
Label Virgin
Songwriter(s)
  • George Michael
  • Jon Douglas
Producer(s)
  • George Michael
  • Jon Douglas
George Michael singles chronology
"Fastlove"
(1996)		"Spinning the Wheel"
(1996)		"Older" / "I Can't Make You Love Me"
(1997)
Music video
"Spinning the Wheel" on YouTube

"Spinning the Wheel" is a song by English singer-songwriter George Michael. The song was co-written and co-produced by Michael and Jon Douglas. It was released on Virgin Records as the third single from Michael's third studio album, Older (1996), and depicts the worry of a lover whose partner is sexually promiscuous during the period when AIDS was newly discovered and rampant in the West. [2] The song peaked at number two in the United Kingdom, kept off the top by the Spice Girls' "Wannabe". The single also peaked within the top 10 in Denmark, Hungary, Italy, and Spain where it spent 3 consecutive weeks at #1. The accompanying music video was directed by Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton.

Contents

"Spinning the Wheel" subsequently appeared on both of George Michael's compilations Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael and Twenty Five .

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard praised the Forthright remix of "Spinning the Wheel" as a "hard-driving dance record", noting that the "sleek and jazzy interlude" from the Older album had been reconstructed "with a textured house music sound." He also complimented Michael for breaking "interesting new ground", and that the sophistication of the original recording "remains fully intact, though Forthright darkens the groove to complimentary effect". [3] Sarah Davis from Dotmusic named it the album's "upbeat highlight", adding that it finds Michael "sending out warning signs to an errant partner": Five o'clock in the morning, you ain't home ... I will not accept this as part of my life... I would rather be alone than watch you spinning the wheel for me. [4]

Swedish Göteborgs-Tidningen stated that it is "at least as good" as "Jesus to a Child" and "Fastlove". [5] Elysa Gardner from Los Angeles Times said that Michael "achieves a light jazz feel [on the song] that also makes for good background music". [6] Paul Lester from Melody Maker said songs like "Spinning the Wheel" "are snazzily produced late-night smoochathons that'll provide horny shop assistants and bank clerks with shag material for months." [7] A reviewer from Music Week gave it four out of five, adding that this "balladic" follow-up to two number ones, "could just hit the spot again." [8] Victoria Segal from NME noted its "brassy bleakness". [9] Bob Waliszewski of Plugged In said that the singer "demonstrates 'tough love' on 'Spinning the Wheel' as he walks out on an adulterous woman." [10] Ed Morales for Vibe wrote that "the singular swing of the trip-hoppy" song "is compelling". [11]

Music video

A black-and-white music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton. [12] It features Michael performing with a band in a club and was later made available on Michael's official YouTube channel in 2010. The video has amassed more than 7,8 million views as of August 2023. [13]

Track listings

  1. "Spinning the Wheel" (radio edit) – 4:57
  2. "You Know That I Want To" – 4:35
  3. "Safe" – 4:25
  4. "Spinning the Wheel" (Forthright edit) – 4:41
  1. "Spinning the Wheel" (Forthright club mix) – 8:11
  2. "Fastlove" (Forthright edit) – 4:23
  3. "Spinning the Wheel" (Jon Douglas remix) – 6:40

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [37] Silver200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)</span> 1984 single by Dead or Alive

"You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" is a song by the English pop band Dead or Alive, featured on their second studio album, Youthquake (1985). Released as a single in November 1984, it reached No. 1 in the UK in March 1985, taking 17 weeks to get there. It was the first UK number one hit by the Stock Aitken Waterman production trio. On the US Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at No. 11 on 17 August of that year, becoming their highest-charting single there. The song also reached No. 1 in Ireland and in Canada, while in Australia it peaked at No. 3 and it charted highly in numerous European countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turn Back Time (Aqua song)</span> 1998 single by Aqua

"Turn Back Time" is a song by Danish dance-pop group Aqua, released as their seventh single overall, and the sixth from their debut album, Aquarium (1997). The song was also included on the soundtrack for the 1998 film Sliding Doors, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, and was released across the world throughout 1998, starting with the United States in January. The track possesses less of a bubble pop sound than Aqua's other releases; it is slow-paced and shows the full range of Lene Nystrøm's vocals but maintains the Aqua sound. In Japan, "Turn Back Time" was released along with "My Oh My". "Turn Back Time" was successful on the charts on several countries, becoming Aqua's third consecutive number one on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cream (Prince song)</span> 1991 single by Prince and the New Power Generation

"Cream" is a song by American singer-songwriter Prince and his backing band the New Power Generation, released in September 1991 by Paisley Park and Warner as the second single from Prince's 13th studio album, Diamonds and Pearls (1991). In a 2004 MTV special, Prince joked that he wrote the song while looking at himself in the mirror. "Cream" became Prince's fifth and last number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100, staying at the top for two weeks. The song entered the top 10 in 15 other countries worldwide, peaking within the top three in Australia, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland. Its music video was directed by Rebecca Blake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pure Shores</span> 2000 single by All Saints

"Pure Shores" is a song by English girl group All Saints from their second studio album, Saints & Sinners (2000). Group member Shaznay Lewis and producer William Orbit wrote the song for a scene in the 2000 adventure drama film, The Beach. Eschewing the R&B sound of All Saints' previous releases, "Pure Shores" is a dream pop song with ambient and electronic production, and a syncopation of synth delays, arpeggiated guitar and ethereal sound effects. It was released by London Records on 14 February 2000 as the lead single from the film's soundtrack and Saints & Sinners.

<i>Older</i> (George Michael album) 1996 studio album by George Michael

Older is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released on 13 May 1996 in Europe by Virgin Records and Aegean Records. The American release, which occurred one day later, was the first album released by DreamWorks Records. It was Michael's first studio album since 1990's Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 – the five-and-a-half-year gap was due to the legal battle that Michael experienced with his former record company Sony Music. Michael dedicated three years to the recording of Older, and the album found him exploring new musical territories in a more serious fashion compared to his previous work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beautiful Life (Ace of Base song)</span> 1995 single by Ace of Base

"Beautiful Life" is a song by Swedish band Ace of Base, released on October 20, 1995 from their second album, The Bridge (1995). In North America, it was the first single released from the album; in Europe, it followed "Lucky Love" as the second single. Co-written by band member Jonas Berggren and produced by him with Denniz Pop and Max Martin, the single reached number 15 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart in December 1995. It reached number one on the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart and Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart. In 2017, BuzzFeed ranked "Beautiful Life" number 51 in their list of The 101 Greatest Dance Songs Of the '90s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Your Man (Wham! song)</span> 1985 single by Wham!

"I'm Your Man" is a song by British pop duo Wham!, released in 1985 on Epic Records in the UK and most of the world, and Columbia Records in the US. It was written and produced by George Michael.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outside (George Michael song)</span> 1998 single by George Michael

"Outside" is a song by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released on 19 October 1998 as the lead single from his first greatest hits album, Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1998). It was released through Epic Records and reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Michael's most recent UK top-three hit. In Greece, Hungary, and Spain, the song peaked at number one. The song's music video, directed by Vaughan Arnell, shows couples of various sexual orientations engaging in lewd public activities while Michael, dressed as a police officer, dances in a public toilet, referencing his arrest for cottaging in April 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fastlove</span> 1996 single by George Michael

"Fastlove" is a song by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released on 22 April 1996 by Virgin Records in the United Kingdom and by DreamWorks Records in the United States as the second single from his third album, Older (1996). Written by Michael, Patrice Rushen, Freddie Washington and Terri McFaddin and produced by Michael and Jon Douglas, the song interpolates Rushen's 1982 single "Forget Me Nots".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesus to a Child</span> 1996 single by George Michael

"Jesus to a Child" is a song by English singer and songwriter George Michael. Written as a melancholic tribute to his late lover Anselmo Feleppa, it was released in January 1996 as the first single from his third studio album, Older (1996). The song peaked at number one in Australia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom; it was Michael's sixth UK number one and his third as a solo performer. It also reached the top three on several other European charts and peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. The accompanying music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ooh It's Kinda Crazy</span> 1998 single by soulDecision

"Ooh It's Kinda Crazy" is a song by Canadian pop group soulDecision, originally released in 1998 as an independent single when the band was known as Indecision. It was re-released in August 2000 as the third single from their debut album No One Does It Better, and it was released to Contemporary hit radio in the United States on January 23, 2001. The pop soul song drew comparisons to George Michael's 1996 single "Fastlove".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Michael discography</span>

English singer-songwriter George Michael's releases consist of five studio albums, two compilation albums, one extended play, 44 singles, six promotional singles, 36 music videos, and five video albums. In his career, Michael sold an estimated 100 million to 125 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dov'è l'amore</span> 1999 single by Cher

"Dov'è l'amore" is a song recorded by American singer Cher for her twenty-second studio album, Believe (1998). It was written by Mark Taylor and Paul Barry, and produced by Taylor and Brian Rawling, and released as the fourth single from the album on October 25, 1999, by Warner Bros. Records, and WEA. The song is a Latin-influenced track with Spanish guitar over dance beats. In the song, Cher mixes English with Italian lyrics as she sings: "Dov'è l'amore /dov'è l'amore /I cannot tell you of my love/ here is my story".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Precious Illusions</span> 2002 single by Alanis Morissette

"Precious Illusions" is a song written, performed, and produced by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette for her fifth studio album, Under Rug Swept (2002). It released as the album's second and final international single on May 20, 2002. Its lyrics describe a conflict between idealism and realism, and its protagonist refers to her childhood fancies as "precious illusions" that she has distanced herself from with a feeling that reminds her of "parting with an imaginary friend".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Call the Man</span> 1997 single by Celine Dion

"Call the Man" is a song by Canadian singer Celine Dion, recorded for her fourth English-language album, Falling into You (1996). It was released as the fifth and last single outside of North America on 9 June 1997. "Call the Man" was written by Andy Hill and Peter Sinfield, who had already written Dion's 1995 smash hit "Think Twice". The song was produced by Jim Steinman, who had also worked on her previous pop single, "It's All Coming Back to Me Now".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anything (3T song)</span> 1995 single by 3T

"Anything" is a song written and recorded by American R&B trio 3T, released as the first single from their debut album, Brotherhood (1995). The song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It received a gold certification on January 26, 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Make You Love Me</span> 1991 single by Bonnie Raitt

"I Can't Make You Love Me" is a song written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin and recorded by American singer Bonnie Raitt for her eleventh studio album, Luck of the Draw (1991). Released as the album's second single in 1991, "I Can't Make You Love Me" became one of Raitt's most successful singles, reaching the top-20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the top-10 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Star People (song)</span> 1997 single by George Michael

"Star People '97" is a song by British singer-songwriter George Michael, released as the fifth single from his third studio album, Older (1996). It was written and performed by George Michael and released by Virgin Records in the United Kingdom and DreamWorks Records in the United States. The lyrics make reference to the materialism and frivolity of certain (unspecified) people in show business, suggesting that those behaviours are derived from some insecurity or a bad childhood. The single version is titled "Star People '97", on most issues, because the track was re-recorded for the single release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Older (George Michael song)</span> 1997 single by George Michael

"Older" is a song by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released as the fourth single from his third album, Older (1996). It was also released as an EP under the name The Older EP. The single's other A-side is a cover of Bonnie Raitt's song "I Can't Make You Love Me". The single peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart while becoming a top-ten hit in Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, and Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Hot (Kool & the Gang song)</span> 1980 single by Kool & the Gang

"Too Hot" is a song recorded by the American band Kool & the Gang for their first Platinum selling 1979 album Ladies' Night. It was written by George Brown and Kool & the Gang, and produced by Eumir Deodato and Kool & the Gang.

References

  1. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 17 August 1996. p. 35. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  2. ↑ "George Michael on open relationships". Attitude . Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  3. ↑ Flick, Larry (21 September 1996). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . p. 64. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  4. ↑ Davis, Sarah (15 April 1996). "GEORGE MICHAEL - OLDER". Dotmusic . Archived from the original on 1 September 2000. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  5. ↑ Göteborgs-Tidningen . 19 August 1996.
  6. ↑ Gardner, Elysa (25 May 1996). "Music Reviews: "Older"". Lakeland Ledger . Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  7. ↑ Lester, Paul (25 May 1996). "Albums". Melody Maker . p. 50. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  8. ↑ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 27 July 1996. p. 10. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  9. ↑ Segal, Victoria. "George Michael – Ladies And Gentlemen - The Best of George Michael". NME . Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  10. ↑ Waliszewski, Bob. "Older". Plugged In. Focus on the Family . Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  11. ↑ Morales, Ed (1 August 1996). "George Michael - Older". Vibe . Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  12. ↑ "George Michael: Spinning The Wheel". IMDb . Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  13. ↑ "George Michael - Spinning The Wheel (Official Video)". YouTube. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  14. ↑ "George Michael – The Spinning the Wheel E.P.". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "George Michael – The Spinning the Wheel E.P." (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  16. ↑ "George Michael – The Spinning the Wheel E.P." (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  17. ↑ "George Michael – Spinning the Wheel" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9819." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  19. 1 2 "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 13, no. 38. 21 September 1996. p. 19. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  20. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 37. 14 September 1996. p. 16. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  21. ↑ "George Michael: Spinning the Wheel" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  22. ↑ "George Michael – The Spinning the Wheel E.P." (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  23. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 189 Vikuna 26.9. – 2.10. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 27 September 1996. p. 16. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  24. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Spinning the Wheel EP". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  25. ↑ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 42. 19 October 1996. p. 18. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  26. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – George Michael" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  27. ↑ "George Michael – The Spinning the Wheel E.P." (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  28. ↑ "George Michael – The Spinning the Wheel E.P.". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  29. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  30. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  31. ↑ "George Michael – The Spinning the Wheel E.P.". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  32. ↑ "George Michael – The Spinning the Wheel E.P.". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  33. ↑ "George Michael: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  34. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  35. ↑ "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1997. p. 16. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  36. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1996". Music Week. 18 January 1997. p. 25.
  37. ↑ "British single certifications – George Michael – Spinning the Wheel". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 25 May 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.