A Different Corner

"A Different Corner"
Single by George Michael
from the album Music from the Edge of Heaven and The Final
Released 2 April 1986
Format
Recorded 1984–85
Genre
Length
  • 4:32 (LP version)
  • 3:57 (single edit)
Label
Songwriter(s) George Michael
Producer(s) George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Careless Whisper"
(1984) Careless Whisper1984		 "A Different Corner"
(1986) A Different Corner1986		 "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"
(1987) I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)1987
Music video
"A Different Corner" (Official) on YouTube

"A Different Corner" is a song written and performed by George Michael which was released on Epic Records (Columbia Records in the US) in 1986.

History

At the time of its release in April 1986, Michael was still a member of pop duo Wham! (the song is included on Wham!'s album Music from the Edge of Heaven only released in Japan and North America, as well as their compilation album The Final, released worldwide), though he and partner Andrew Ridgeley had announced that they would split in the summer after a farewell single, album and concert. Michael had already enjoyed a solo number one on the UK Singles Chart in 1984 with "Careless Whisper", which was credited as Wham! featuring George Michael in the US.

After radio DJ Simon Bates first aired "A Different Corner" on Radio 1, he rated the song so highly that he immediately played it again from the beginning. Michael went back to the top of the UK chart with "A Different Corner", becoming the first solo act in the history of the UK chart to reach number one with his first two releases, although he was hardly an unknown or new act on either occasion due to his previous hits with Wham!. The song was also credited with being the second number one (after "I Just Called to Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder) which was written, sung, played, arranged, and produced by the same person. The song reached number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100, thus becoming the first single credited solely to Michael to become an American top-ten hit which was enough to make American executives at Epic Records confident that Michael would be viable as a solo artist and helped get the gears in motion for his solo album debut Faith.

The song was also remixed for his compilation Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael. This version omitted the guitar and Michael's background vocals during the instrumental break.

The song was featured in a 1986 episode of the US daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives.

The song was performed by Chris Martin as part of a tribute to Michael during the 2017 BRIT Awards.

A note on the back of the sleeve proclaims, "This record is dedicated to a memory."

Music video

The music video is set in a sparse white room with a window. George Michael is also dressed in white, and is shown sitting and walking around the room whilst singing the song.

Track listing

7": Epic / A 7033 (UK)

  1. "A Different Corner" – 3:57
  2. "A Different Corner" (instrumental) – 4:13

12": Epic / GTA 7033 (UK)

  1. "A Different Corner" – 3:57
  2. "A Different Corner" (instrumental) – 4:13
  • released in gatefold sleeve

Charts

Chart (1986) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[1] 4
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[2] 6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3] 2
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[4] 1
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[5] 2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[6] 3
France (SNEP)[7] 16
Germany (Official German Charts)[8] 7
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 2
Italy (Hit Parade)[10] 3
Japan (Oricon)[11] 78
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 3
Norway (VG-lista)[15] 1
Spain (PROMUSICAE Top 40 Radio)[16] 28
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[17] 18
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 3
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[19] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 7
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[21] 6

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
Netherlands (NVPI)[22] Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ David Kent (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 199. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  2. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – George Michael – A Different Corner" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  3. ↑ "Ultratop.be – George Michael – A Different Corner" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  4. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0685." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  5. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8220." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  6. ↑ "Singlet 1986-04 huhtikuu" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  7. ↑ "Lescharts.com – George Michael – A Different Corner" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  8. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – George Michael – A Different Corner". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  9. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – A Different Corner". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  10. ↑ "Indice per Interprete: M: Michael, George" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  11. ↑ ジョージ・マイケルのランキング (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  12. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 20, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  13. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – George Michael – A Different Corner" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  14. ↑ "Charts.nz – George Michael – A Different Corner". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  15. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – George Michael – A Different Corner". VG-lista. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  16. ↑ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  17. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – George Michael – A Different Corner". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  18. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – George Michael – A Different Corner". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  19. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  20. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  21. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  22. ↑ "Dutch single certifications – Wham! – A Different Corner" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter A Different Corner in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  23. ↑ "British single certifications – Wham! – A Different Corner". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Enter A Different Corner in the search field and then press Enter.
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