George Michael’s ‘Careless Whisper’ celebrates 40th years with EP

The EP features a previously unreleased live version performed at Madison Square Garden

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the release of George Michael’s much-loved iconic masterpiece “Careless Whisper,” George Michael Entertainment, GME, and Sony Music release the Careless Whisper EP, available now digitally and on ruby marble vinyl on November 1st in North America.

The set features a previously unreleased live recording of the timeless hit performed at the illustrious Madison Square Garden in New York City during the pop star’s electrifying concert on July 23, 2008. The recording captures the historic performance marking his reunion with a New York audience after an astounding 17-year hiatus. It was part of his monumental 25Live Tour, a worldwide phenomenon that sold out arenas and stadiums and captivated millions of fans across the globe.

Topping the charts in 25 countries back in 1984, “Careless Whisper” has been certified seven times platinum in The United States and has sold over 1.5 million copies in the UK alone. It has also been certified multi-platinum and diamond in 20 countries.

The track was written with Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley when Michael was just 17 years old.

“Careless Whisper” holds a truly unparalleled legacy marking him as the youngest recipient of an Ivor Novello Award at just 21 years old, propelling him into global superstardom. It also made him the first artist to top the charts as both a soloist and as a member of a group/duo in the same calendar year.

Forty years after its release, “Careless Whisper” resonates even more with new generations of listeners, with TikTok currently surpassing 700 million views, while on YouTube the video averages close to half a million views every day. It is also a member of YouTube’s and Spotify’s exclusive Billions Club.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn