A Different Corner

"A Different Corner"
Single by George Michael
from the album Music from the Edge of Heaven and The Final
B-side"A Different Corner" (instrumental)
Released24 March 1986 (1986-03-24)
RecordedAutumn 1985
GenrePop
Length
  • 4:32 (LP version)
  • 3:57 (single edit)
  • 4:13 (instrumental)
Label
SongwriterGeorge Michael
ProducerGeorge Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Careless Whisper"
(1984)		 "A Different Corner"
(1986)		 "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"
(1987)
Music video
"A Different Corner" on YouTube

"A Different Corner" is a song written and performed by English singer and songwriter George Michael, released on 24 March 1986 by Epic Records in the UK and Columbia Records in the US. It was Michael's second solo single release following "Careless Whisper" (1984), and reached number one on the UK singles chart.

Background and writing

"A Different Corner" was written by Michael while Wham! were at their peak as a duo, and during a low point in his life.

Michael said that "A Different Corner" was the "most honest" and personal song he had ever written. He elaborated further on the song's meaning:

That was about a very quick relationship, a here today gone tomorrow one. It's amazing how emotional you can get in a short period of time and how long it can last. Someone can really shake you up and it takes you a long time to get yourself back on your feet; that was what that was about.

According to Michael, the song took roughly 14 hours to write and record from beginning to end. The synthesizer textures were created with a Roland Juno-60 synthesizer.

Release

At the time of its release in March 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), although 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 to "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 success with Wham!. 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. It was the first song to reach number one in the UK charts to be written, performed and produced by the same person.

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.[citation needed]

Cover versions

In 2017, Chris Martin, lead singer of British rock band Coldplay, performed the song as a tribute to Michael at the year's Brit Awards ceremony.

In 2026, South African multimedia artist Nakhane released a version of the song.

Music video

The music video for "A Different Corner" was directed by Andy Morahan and filmed in Los Angeles. It is set in a sparse white room with a window. Michael is also dressed in white, and is shown sitting and walking around the room whilst singing the song.

The video features cinematography from David Watkin, who won the Best Lighting Director award for his involvement with the video at 1986's Billboard Top Video Honors.

Track listings

All tracks are written by George Michael.

7″: Epic / A 7033 (UK)
No.TitleLength
1."A Different Corner"3:57
2."A Different Corner" (instrumental)4:13
12″: Epic / GTA 7033 (UK)
No.TitleLength
1."A Different Corner"3:57
2."A Different Corner" (instrumental)4:13

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Netherlands (NVPI) Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) Gold 547,047

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 22 March 1986. p. 8. Retrieved 16 August 2024 – via World Radio History.
  2. ↑ "George Michael Interview on New Musical Express 1985: Idoling Away the Years". Gmforever.com. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  3. ↑ Michael, George; Parsons, Tony (1991). Bare. Penguin. p. 165. ISBN 9780140132359.
  4. ↑ "George Michael: Artist or Airhead? (Musician, 1988)". Gmforever.com.
  5. ↑ "George Michael: "Andrew Knew He Was There For A Purpose" (1986)". Gmforever.com. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "1987 Smash Hits Magazine Interview with George Michael". Gmforever.com. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "George Michael Interview on Countdown (1988)". Gmforever.com. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "George Michael Wham/solo songs comments & research". 12 January 2021. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021.
  9. ↑ Steele, Robert (2011). Careless Whispers: The Life & Career of George Michael. Omnibus Press. p. 87. ISBN 9781780380155.
  10. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (22 February 2017). "Watch Chris Martin's Poignant George Michael Tribute at BRIT Awards". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  11. ↑ Nakhane (11 March 2026). Nakhane – A Different Corner (George Michael interpretation) Visualiser. Retrieved 19 March 2026 – via YouTube.
  12. ↑ Willman, Chris (15 June 1986). "Video Views of the Stars' Homes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "Moody Blues Capture Top Video Honors". Billboard. 6 December 1986. p. 77. Retrieved 22 April 2026 – via Google Books.
  14. ↑ A Different Corner (UK 7-inch single). George Michael. Epic Records. 1986. A 7033.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ↑ A Different Corner (UK 12-inch single). George Michael. Epic Records. 1986. GTA 7033.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ↑ David Kent (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 199. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  17. ↑ "George Michael – A Different Corner" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  18. ↑ "George Michael – A Different Corner" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  19. ↑ "Top Singles. Volume 44, Issue 12 (1986-06-14)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  20. ↑ "Adult Contemporary. Volume 44, Issue 15 (1986-07-05)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  21. ↑ "Top 3 in Europe". Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 19. 17 May 1986. p. 14. OCLC 29800226.
  22. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 18. 10 May 1986. p. 14. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  23. ↑ "Singlet 1986-04 huhtikuu" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  24. ↑ "George Michael – A Different Corner" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  25. ↑ "George Michael Chart History". RÚV. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  26. ↑ "A Different Corner | IRMA". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  27. ↑ ジョージ・マイケルのランキング (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  28. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 20, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  29. ↑ "George Michael – A Different Corner" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  30. ↑ "George Michael – A Different Corner". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  31. ↑ "George Michael – A Different Corner". VG-lista. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  32. ↑ "Top 3 Portugal" (PDF). Music & Media. 2 August 1986. p. 8. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  33. ↑ "SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs C–D". rock.co.za. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  34. ↑ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  35. ↑ "George Michael – A Different Corner". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  36. ↑ "George Michael – A Different Corner – hitparade.ch". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  37. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 13/4/1986 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  38. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  39. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  40. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts (West Germany)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  41. ↑ Kimberley, Christopher. Zimbabwe Singles Chart Book: 1965–1996.
  42. ↑ "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. December 1986. Retrieved 24 January 2023 – via Imgur.
  43. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1986" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  44. ↑ "Top 100 Singles of '86". RPM. Retrieved 21 April 2025 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  45. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles: Hot 100 of the Year 1986". Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. 27 December 1986. p. 28.
  46. ↑ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  47. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  48. ↑ "Top Selling Singles of 1986". The Official NZ Music Charts. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  49. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1986". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  50. ↑ "Official Top 40 best-selling songs of 1986". Official Charts. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  51. ↑ "Number One Awards: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. 27 December 1986. p. Y-21.
  52. ↑ "Number One Awards: Top Adult Contemporary Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 52. 27 December 1986. p. Y-27.
  53. ↑ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1986" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  54. ↑ "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. Select 1986 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  55. ↑ "British single certifications – Wham! – A Different Corner". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Formats field. Type A Different Corner Wham! in the "Search:" field.
  56. ↑ "George Michael on the charts". Music Week. Intent Media. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2024.