Singles
Older was particularly notable for the release of its six singles. All of them reached the UK Top 3, hitting a record for the most singles at the British Top 3 released from a single album. At the time of release of the fifth of them, "Star People '97", chart specialist James Masterson noted George Michael's success on the singles charts, writing: "Ironically enough denied by the very main who some say he is trying to emulate, George Michael nonetheless makes an impressive Top 3 entry with this single. The Older album has now proved itself to be far and away his most commercially successful recording ever. Five singles now lifted and every single one has been a Top 3 hit. Compare this with the two Top 3 hits produced by Faith and Listen Without Prejudice's scant total of one Top Tenner and one single which missed the Top 40 altogether. This sustained single success has, of course, been achieved with a little help from marketing tricks such as remixes – or in this case a new recording of the album track which gives it a much-needed transformation into a deserved commercial smash."
- "Jesus to a Child" The song first debuted at the MTV European Music Awards already in 1994, and was used to raise 50,000 pounds for the charity "Help a London Child" with George matching every listener's pledge on a pound for pound basis. It was first performed on "Top of the Pops" just four days before the release date of the single in the UK. After its official release, the song debuted at No.1 in the UK in January 1996 replacing Michael Jackson's "Earth Song" after six weeks at the top. "Jesus to a Child" was Michael's first No.1 single in the UK as a solo artist since "A Different Corner" reached the summit back in 1986. The single was certified Silver in the UK by the BPI, recognising over 200,000 copies sold. In the U.S. the song was a hit, reaching No.7 in the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming Michael's first Top 10 hit as a solo artist since 1991's "Freedom! '90". (The RIAA awarded the single with Gold status just as the follow-up, "Fastlove", was released.) Two formats of the single were released, both including an instrumental version of the track "Older" (the sung version wasn't revealed until the release of the album five months later). Also the music video for the song found Michael lip-synching lyrics in front of a camera for the first time since the video for "Kissing a Fool" from 1988.
- "Fastlove". It was released in the UK on 22 April 1996 and debuted straight at #1, where it stayed 3 weeks. It was certified gold for over 400,000 copies sold. This was the first time that a George Michael included two singles released before the album itself. The song includes a riff from the 1982 hit "Forget Me Nots" by Patrice Rushen (in this case sung by Jo Bryant). The track earned Michael the Ivor Norvello Award for most performed work in 1996. The single was also released in two formats in the United Kingdom, and both included a revised dance version of "I'm Your Man" (entitled "I'm Your Man 96"), that was produced by George and Jon Douglas. The single also premiered a "Fastlove Part II", linking the original song and the new version of "I'm Your Man" into one mix. The video for the song was also one of Michael's most memorable, and won the MTV Europe International Viewers Choice Award at the MTV Music Video Awards in September 1996. Michael also performed the track on "Top of the Tops", on 18 April 1996. The song reached No.8 in America, where it was certified Gold by the RIAA, and became his last single to appear on the Billboard charts to date.
- "Spinning the Wheel". It was released in the UK on 19 August 1996. It debuted at No.2; the single was kept off the top spot by Spice Girls's "Wannabe". It reached also silver status. Also released in two formats, it was particularly notable for including (and being promoted for) two brand-new studio recordings of previously unknown George Michael songs (namely "Safe" and "You Know That I Want To"), that were exclusive to the first CD. "Spinning the Wheel" was first performed on "Top of the Pops" on 16 August 1996.
- "Older" / "I Can't Make You Love Me". It was released in the UK on 20 January 1997. Due to its only-one-format release, it was the poorest-seller of all the Older singles, and also the one with the lowest chart position (#3) (this poor commercial performance was despite being released after the post-Christmas session and include new material). It stayed in the Top 10 for one week, and slipped out the UK Top 40 just three weeks later. The single was promoted as a double A-side with a previously unreleased recording of "I Can't Make You Love Me", and was counted that was in the UK singles charts. The song received airplay and was also available as a promo CD issued to British radios and clubs. The track was recorded live at Michael's MTV Unplugged performance at Three Mills Island Studios in London, in 11 October 1996 (the applause was edited out of the track, apparenting to be a studio recording). The single also included a live version of "The Strangest Thing", recorded live at the BBC Radio Theatre on 8 October 1996. The song, "Older", was performed on "Top of the Pops" on 31 January 1997.
- "Star People '97". It was released in the UK on 28 April 1997. It reached No.2 there, kept off the top spot by Gary Barlow's "Love Won't Wait". "Star People '97" was a re-recording and remixed version of the album version of "Star People". The vocals were recorded soon after George Michael lost his mother. The new recording incorporates extensive sampling from "Burn Rubber on Me" by The Gap Band. The single was released in two formats, including MTV Unplugged performances of Wham's "Everything She Wants" and "Star People". The single is noted for being the last official George Michael single to be released in the US, but it did not reach the charts there. "Star People '97" was performed on "Top of the Pops" on 9 May 1997.
- "You Have Been Loved" / "The Strangest Thing '97". It was released in the UK on 8 September 1997. The final single issued from Older, it reached No.2 in the UK, where it was kept off the summit by Elton John's blockbuster charity single "Candle in the Wind '97". It was also released as a Double-A sided single, with a remixed version of "The Strangest Thing". The song, "You Have Been Loved" was a tribute to Anselmo Feleppa, Michael's lover who died from AIDS. The song was first performed on "Top of the Pops" on 5 September 1997.
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