7 February 1987
Amazingly, Aretha Franklin only ever had two US number one singles and, even more amazingly, ‘I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)’ was one of them. (The other was ‘Respect’.) This is her only chart-topper on our side of the Atlantic. Whatever the great lady may have thought of this state of affairs during her lifetime, I’m pretty sure her legacy is secure regardless.
‘I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)’—a title which, in the spirit of its composition, I shall be copy-pasting throughout—is notionally an Aretha single first and foremost. Her name is first on the credits, hers is the first voice we hear, and it appears on her album of the time. That said, it stinks of a George Michael career move: duet with US legend, bask in her icon glow, bag a US hit. Think of it as his Rattle And Hum. The track itself, by Simon ‘Climie Fisher’ Climie and fellow hack Dennis Morgan, is pure songwriter-for-hire ’80s MOR pop, what our American friends call ‘adult contemporary’ and which Diane Warren will soon take to extremes. Aretha’s brief is to stand there being iconic while running through stock ‘soulful’ phrases about mountains and rivers and what have you. It’s not as bad as ‘Who’s Zoomin’ Who’, her naff ’80s synth-soul hit that predicted the rise of pandemic video calling, and no one would begrudge the Queen of Soul a chart-topper, but ‘I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)’ will never be foremost in anyone’s fond thoughts of the wonderful Aretha Franklin.
As for George, the groundwork had now been laid for this long-heralded big ‘serious artist’ solo career of his. Would he continue down this direction of poppy Motown throwbacks, or maybe confound us all with something avant garde from left-field? Unfortunately, we would soon find out.
