I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)

"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" is a song released by American singer Aretha Franklin and English singer George Michael as a duet in 1987.^[4] The song was a number one hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.^[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 Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, reaching number two.^[7][8] The song was written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan and produced by Narada Michael Walden.^[9] The song earned Franklin and Michael the 1987 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.^[10][11]

"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"
Single by Aretha Franklin and George Michael
from the album Aretha
Released	23 January 1987 (1987-1-23)[1]
Recorded	1986
Genre	Dance-pop[2] gospel[2] soul[3]
Length	4:01
Label	Arista
Songwriter(s)	Simon Climie Dennis Morgan
Producer(s)	Narada Michael Walden
Aretha Franklin singles chronology
"Jimmy Lee" (1987) "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987) "Rock-A-Lott" (1987)
George Michael singles chronology
"A Different Corner" (1986) "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987) "I Want Your Sex" (1987)
Music video
"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" on YouTube

Background and recording

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 George Michael and two bodyguards entering a dark room. There is a large viewing screen on the wall showing Aretha Franklin preparing for George 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]

Personnel

• Aretha Franklin – lead vocals
• George Michael – lead vocals
• Walter Afanasieff – synthesizers, Moog synth bass, programming
• Corrado Rustici – Charvel MIDI guitar synthesizer
• Randy Jackson – bass guitar
• Narada Michael Walden – drums
• Preston Glass – drum programming, percussion
• Gigi Gonaway – tambourine, percussion
• Jerry Hey – string arrangement
• Kitty Beethoven – backing vocals
• Kevin Dorsey – backing vocals
• Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals
• Jennifer Hall – backing vocals
• Myrna Matthews – backing vocals
• Claytoven Richardson – backing vocals
• Jeanie Tracy – backing vocals

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" Chart (1987) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[21] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[22] 9 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] 1 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[24] 4 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[25] 2 Denmark (IFPI)[26] 2 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[27] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[28] 5 Germany (GfK)[29] 5 Ireland (IRMA)[30] 1 Italy (Hit Parade)[31] 11 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[32] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[33] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[34] 3 Norway (VG-lista)[35] 4 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[36] 14 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[37] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[38] 5 UK Singles (OCC)[39] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[40] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[41] 2 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[42] 12 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[43] 5 Zimbabwe (ZIMA)[44] 1

Year-end charts 1987 year-end chart performance for "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" Chart (1987) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)[45] 20 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[46] 12 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[47] 35 European Top 100 Singles (Music & Media)[48] 30 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[49] 8 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[50] 8 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[51] 25 UK Singles (Gallup)[52] 11 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[53] 38 US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[54] 36 US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[55] 13 West Germany (Official German Charts)[56] 52

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[57]	Gold	35,000‡
Netherlands (NVPI)[58]	Gold	75,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[59]	Platinum	600,000‡
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.