Photo of George Michael
Photo: Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries · Public Domain

Solo Artist

George Michael

Active1987-2016
DiedDecember 25, 2016
OriginLondon, England
Albums5
Tracks54

Most frequent collaborator: Phil Ramone  ·  10 tracks

PopDance-popR&BSoulPost-disco
80%
Authorship
Songwriter

Holds writing credit on 43 of 54 tracks

Did George Michael write his own songs?

Yes. George Michael wrote or co-wrote about 80% of his solo catalogue and produced most of it. He was the sole writer on nearly every track of Faith and Older, including 'Faith,' 'Father Figure,' and 'Fastlove.' The main exception is Songs from the Last Century (1999), an all-covers album on which he has no writing credits.

By the Numbers

5
Studio Albums
54
Tracks Credited
80%
Self-Written
29
Years Active
37
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 43 / 54 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 54 tracks: how many George Michael wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

George Michael has a writing credit80%
59%
20%
20%
Sole author32tracks59%
Co-written11tracks20%
Outside writers11tracks20%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
George Michael's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 54 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)80%
Composer (music)80%
Producer100%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

George Michael's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 80%
100%
90%
100%
0%
100%
1987Faith
1990Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
1996Older
1999Songs from the Last Century
2004Patience
Early · 97% written
Late · 58% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
1980s
Faith
65%
1990s
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, Older +1 more
100%
2000s
Patience

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where George Michael sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

George Michael
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Whitney Houston5%
Backstreet Boys25%
NSYNC41%
Michael Jackson51%
Stevie Wonder64%
Gwen Stefani88%
Black Eyed Peas100%
80%George Michael
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Faith
Faith
Written by George Michael
Wrote it
Father Figure
Faith
Written by George Michael
Wrote it
One More Try
Faith
Written by George Michael
Wrote it
Monkey
Faith
Written by George Michael
Wrote it
Kissing a Fool
Faith
Written by George Michael
Wrote it
Praying for Time
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
Written by George Michael
Wrote it
Freedom! '90
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
Written by George Michael
Wrote it
Waiting for That Day
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
Written by George Michael, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
Co-wrote
Jesus to a Child
Older
Written by George Michael
Wrote it
Fastlove
Older
Written by George Michael, Patrice Rushen, Freddie Washington, Terri McFaddin
Co-wrote

Discography 5 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

George Michael54 tracks
PR10 JD5 DA3 NF2 JJ2 RC2

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. PR Phil Ramone · JD Jon Douglas · DA David Austin · NF Niall Flynn · JJ James Jackman · RC Ruadhri Cushnan

The Writers & Producers Behind George Michael 6 key collaborators

PR
Phil Ramone
Producer
Songs from the Last Century10 tracks
JD
Jon Douglas
Songwriter & Producer
Older / Patience5 tracks
DA
David Austin
Songwriter
Faith / Older / Patience3 tracks
NF
Niall Flynn
Songwriter
Patience2 tracks
JJ
James Jackman
Songwriter
Patience2 tracks
RC
Ruadhri Cushnan
Songwriter
Patience2 tracks

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Michael co-wrote or solely authored nearly every song in his solo catalog. The notable exception is Songs from the Last Century (1999), an all-covers album on which he carries no writing credits. On Faith and Older he is the sole credited writer on almost every track. 'Fastlove' (Older) quotes Patrice Rushen's 'Forget Me Nots,' requiring shared credits with Rushen, Freddie Washington, and Terri McFaddin. 'Waiting for That Day' (Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1) interpolates the Rolling Stones, adding Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to the credits.

Quick Facts

  • FaithHis 1987 solo debut won the Grammy for Album of the Year and sold over 25 million copies
  • GrammysWon Grammy Awards including Album of the Year and a duet award with Aretha Franklin
  • Four number onesFaith produced four US number-one singles: 'Faith,' 'Father Figure,' 'One More Try,' and 'Monkey'
  • Wham! rootsRose to fame in the duo Wham! before his solo breakthrough
  • Self-producedWrote and produced the bulk of his own material across his career

Creative Fingerprint

A self-writing pop auteur: George Michael wrote or co-wrote about 80% of his solo catalogue and produced most of it, with the gap coming almost entirely from his all-covers album Songs from the Last Century.

The Story

Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (June 25, 1963 - December 25, 2016), known professionally as George Michael, was an English singer-songwriter and record producer from East Finchley, London. After rising to global fame through the duo Wham! in the early 1980s, Michael launched a critically acclaimed solo career with Faith (1987), which spawned four US number-one singles and became one of the best-selling albums of all time. Widely regarded as one of the most gifted songwriters of his generation, Michael wrote or co-wrote the vast majority of his solo material and self-produced most of his catalog, with his later albums reflecting deeply personal themes.

Awards & Recognition

Faith (1987) won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year (1989)
Won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance for 'I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)' with Aretha Franklin (1988)
Faith produced four US number-one singles and sold over 25 million copies
One of the best-selling recording artists of all time, with Wham! and as a solo artist

Frequently Asked Questions George Michael

Did George Michael write his own songs?
Yes. George Michael wrote or co-wrote about 80% of his solo catalogue and produced most of it. He was the sole writer on nearly every track of Faith and Older, including 'Faith,' 'Father Figure,' and 'Fastlove.' The main exception is Songs from the Last Century (1999), an all-covers album on which he has no writing credits.
Who wrote 'Faith'?
'Faith,' the title track of his 1987 solo debut, was written and produced entirely by George Michael. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 and helped the album win Album of the Year at the Grammys.
Who wrote 'Freedom! '90'?
'Freedom! '90,' from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990), was written and produced by George Michael. A statement about fame and identity, it became one of his most acclaimed songs, with a famous supermodel-led video he did not appear in.
Did George Michael win a Grammy?
Yes. Faith won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1989, and he won Best R&B Performance in 1988 for his duet with Aretha Franklin, 'I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me).'
Was George Michael in Wham!?
Yes. He first found fame in the duo Wham! in the early 1980s before launching his solo career with Faith in 1987. He wrote much of Wham!'s material as well, including 'Careless Whisper.'
How many albums did George Michael release?
This catalogue covers his solo studio albums, from Faith (1987) through Patience (2004), including Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, Older, and the covers album Songs from the Last Century.
When did George Michael die?
George Michael died on December 25, 2016, at age 53, from heart disease at his home in Oxfordshire. His death came decades into a career as one of Britain's most successful songwriters.
What genre is George Michael?
George Michael made pop, dance-pop, soul, and R&B, moving from the upbeat pop of Faith to the introspective, jazz-tinged songs of Older.

Sources

Wikipedia: George Michael