Older (George Michael song)

"Older"
Single by George Michael
from the album Older
A-side"I Can't Make You Love Me"
B-side"Desafinado"
Released13 January 1997 (1997-01-13)[1]
GenreJazz
Length5:33
Label
SongwriterGeorge Michael
ProducerGeorge Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Spinning the Wheel"
(1996) 		"Older" / "I Can't Make You Love Me"
(1997) 		"Star People '97"
(1997)
Music video
"Older" on YouTube

"Older" is a song by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released in January 1997, by Virgin and Aegean Records, as the fourth single from his third album, Older (1996). It was both written and produced by Michael, and also released as an EP under the name The Older EP. The single's other A-side is a cover of Bonnie Raitt's song "I Can't Make You Love Me". "Older" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart while becoming a top-10 hit in Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, and Spain. The accompanying music video was directed by British director Andy Morahan.[2]

Critical reception

Scottish Aberdeen Press and Journal stated that Michael follows up a triumphant 1996 with "one of his strongest ballads to date". The newspaper also wrote that it's a track "he obviously hopes will cement his maturing image."[3] Sarah Davis from Dotmusic noted the "jazzy mood", "as Michael brusquely casts off a former lover—'I'm not the man you want... these are wasted days without affection, I'm not that foolish anymore'—to the quavering accompaniment of Steve Sidwell's trumpet."[4] Elysa Gardner from Los Angeles Times called it "moody", noting the singer "addressing a lover" in the song.[5]

A reviewer from Music Week gave "Older" a full score of five out of five, writing, "As smooth, soulful and jazzy a ballad as Michael has ever made, this silky song is coupled with the Bonnie Raitt track 'I Can't Make You Love Me'. A certain hit."[6] Steve Morse from The Spokesman-Review described it as a "anguished love song".[7] Ed Morales for Vibe wrote in his album review, that on the "affecting" title track, "Michael delivers his message of aging gracefully through a narrative detailing a breakup—one lover is crowding another. 'Change is a stranger you have to know', he says."[8]

Track listings

  1. "Older" – 5:35
  2. "I Can't Make You Love Me" – 5:21
  3. "Desafinado" (with Astrud Gilberto) – 3:22
  4. "The Strangest Thing" (live) – 6:01
  1. "Older" (radio edit) – 5:00
  2. "I Can't Make You Love Me" – 5:21
  3. "Desafinado" (with Astrud Gilberto) – 3:22
  4. "The Strangest Thing" (live) – 5:01
  • European CD single[12]
  1. "Older" – 5:35
  2. "I Can't Make You Love Me" – 5:21

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 11 January 1997. p. 25. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  2. ^ "George Michael – "Older"". MVDBase.com (video). ASG. 1998–2017. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  3. ^ Aberdeen Press and Journal. 17 January 1997. p. 12.
  4. ^ Davis, Sarah (15 April 1996). "George Michael – Older". Dotmusic. Archived from the original on 1 September 2000. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  5. ^ Gardner, Elysa (25 May 1996). "Music Reviews: "Older"". Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 28 December 1996. p. 17. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  7. ^ Morse, Steve (14 May 1996). "George Michael's new album first in six years". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  8. ^ Morales, Ed (1 August 1996). "George Michael – Older". Vibe. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  9. ^ Older (UK, European & Australian CD EP disc notes). Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1997. VSCDT 1626, 7243 8 94040 2 9.
  10. ^ Older (Japanese CD EP liner notes). Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1997. VJCP-12053.
  11. ^ Older (UK cassette EP sleeve). Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1997. VSC 1626, 7243 8 94029 4 0.
  12. ^ Older (European CD single liner notes). Virgin Records, Aegean Records. 1997. VSCDE 1626, 7243 8 94038 2 4.
  13. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 187.
  14. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 12. 22 March 1997. p. 19. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  15. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 6. 8 February 1997. p. 21. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  16. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 8. 22 February 1997. p. 15. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  17. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 209 Vikuna 20.2. '97 – 26.2. '97)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 21 February 1997. p. 16. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  18. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – George Michael". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  19. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 7, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  20. ^ "George Michael – Older" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 1/2/1997 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  22. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  23. ^ "George Michael – Older". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  24. ^ "Official Singles Chart on 1/2/1997 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  25. ^ "Top 50 Airplay Hits" (PDF). Music Week. 11 January 1997. p. 13. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  26. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 27.
  27. ^ "British single certifications – George Michael – Older/I Can't Make You Love Me". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 August 2022. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Older/I Can't Make You Love Me George Michael in the "Search:" field.
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