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You Have Been Loved

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(Redirected from The Strangest Thing '97)

"You Have Been Loved"
Single by George Michael
from the album Older
A-side"The Strangest Thing '97"
Released8 September 1997 (1997-09-08)[1]
Genre
Length5:30
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Waltz Away Dreaming"
(1997) 		"You Have Been Loved" / "The Strangest Thing '97"
(1997) 		"Outside"
(1998)
Music video
"You Have Been Loved" on YouTube

"You Have Been Loved" is a song by English singer and songwriter George Michael, recorded for his third studio album, Older (1996). It was written by Michael and David Austin and produced by Michael. On 8 September 1997, "You Have Been Loved" was released as a double A-side single with "The Strangest Thing '97" and reached number two in the United Kingdom, behind Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" charity record.

Background

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Michael wrote "You Have Been Loved" about his lover, Anselmo Feleppa, who died of an AIDS-related illness in 1993.[2] It was released as the sixth single from Older. "The Strangest Thing", also from the album, was remixed and re-recorded for this release as a more up-tempo track, the original version more a Middle Eastern and bossa-nova song.[3]

Critical reception

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Matthew Hocter from Albumism said "You Have Been Loved" is "one of the album’s most heartbreaking and painfully personal love songs".[4] A reviewer from Music Week rated it four out of five, describing it as "a gorgeous but painfully sad ballad about the loss of a loved one. May be too downbeat to get his usual feverish radio support, but should go Top 10."[5] The magazine's Alan Jones felt it is "George at his most laidback." He added, "Beautifully sung mood music, it meanders mellifluously for more than five minutes and is like a breath of fresh air, though the fact that Older has sold so many copies already, and the track's lack of a commercial hook, will limit its chart potential."[6] An editor from Sunday Mirror wrote, "A beautiful ballad. Considering recent events, it strikes the perfect chord. Enough said."[7] Alan Jackson from The Times declared it as a "lush, achingly tasteful ballad on bereavement" from "pop's King of Sorrows."[8]

Track listings

[edit]
  • Asian, Australian, European, and UK CD EP
  1. "You Have Been Loved" – 5:29
  2. "The Strangest Thing '97" (radio mix) – 4:40
  3. "Father Figure" (live from MTV Unplugged) – 6:13
  4. "Praying for Time" (live from MTV Unplugged) – 5:22
  • European and UK CD II
  1. "The Strangest Thing '97" (Loop Ratz mix) – 8:46
  2. "The Strangest Thing '97" (radio mix) – 4:40
  3. "You Have Been Loved" – 5:29
  • European CD single
  1. "You Have Been Loved" – 5:29
  2. "The Strangest Thing '97" (radio mix) – 4:40

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 6 September 1997. p. 53. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  2. ^ Lucy Ellis; Bryony Sutherland (1998). The Complete Guide to the Music of George Michael & Wham!. Omnibus Press. p. 77. ISBN 978-0711968226.
  3. ^ "George Michael Comes Back, With A Whimper Б─⌠ Sun Sentinel". Sun-sentinel.com. 14 May 1996. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  4. ^ Hocter, Matthew (12 May 2021). "George Michael's 'Older' Turns 25 — Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 23 August 1997. p. 12. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  6. ^ Jones, Alan (30 August 1997). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 10. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  7. ^ Sunday Mirror. 7 September 1997. p. 37.
  8. ^ Jackson, Alan (6 September 1997). "The week's top pop releases; Records". The Times.
  9. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 187.
  10. ^ "George Michael – You Have Been Loved" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  11. ^ "Top National Sellers: Denmark" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 41. 27 September 1997. p. 15. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 27 September 1997. p. 13. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  13. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You Have Been Loved". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  14. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 40, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  15. ^ "George Michael – You Have Been Loved" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  16. ^ "Major Market Airplay: Poland" (PDF). Music & Media. 4 October 1997. p. 23. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  18. ^ "George Michael – You Have Been Loved". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  19. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  20. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 27.
  21. ^ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  22. ^ "British single certifications – George Michael – You Have Been Loved". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
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