Amazing (George Michael song)

"Amazing"
Single by George Michael
from the album Patience
B-side	"Freeek! '04"
Released	1 March 2004 (2004-03-01)
Length	4:25
Label	Aegean Sony Music UK Epic
Songwriter(s)	Jon Douglas George Michael
Producer(s)	George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Shoot the Dog" (2002) "Amazing" (2004) "Flawless (Go to the City)" (2004)
Music video
"Amazing" on YouTube

"Amazing" is a song co-written, produced, and performed by English singer-songwriter George Michael, released by Aegean and Sony Music on 1 March 2004. It was included on Michael's fifth studio album, Patience. The song is about and dedicated to Michael's then-partner, Kenny Goss. The song reached No. 1 in Hungary, Italy, Poland and Spain, and it also topped three US Billboard dance charts.

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic chose the track as one of the album's track picks.[1] BBC News Online's Michael Osborn said the song "sends us hurtling back to the late 80s."[2] Sal Cinquemani called the song "catchy yet un-amazing."[3]

On 26 December 2016, a day after Michael's death, Rolling Stone compiled a list of "20 Essential Songs" by Michael, and described "Amazing" as "a dancey soft-rock number."[4]

Chart performance

On 1 March 2004, "Amazing" was released in the United Kingdom. The song debuted at number four on the UK Singles Chart, selling 41,000 copies in its first week.[5] Outside of the UK, the song was also successful. It reached number one in Spain, Italy, Poland, and Hungary.

When Michael appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 26 May 2004 to promote the album, he performed the song on the show. "Amazing" was released in the United States. Michael had previously found success in the dance clubs with "Monkey" (1988) and "Star People" (1997), and "Amazing" became his third release to reach the top on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart. It also performed well on the Hot Dance Airplay chart, where it reached the top spot and stayed there for four weeks.

Music video

The song's music video (directed by Matthew Rolston) was filmed in London, in late 2003. It shows a modern club-like setting where a holographic performance by Michael is projected in front of a long lounge. He is also shown amongst the crowd, and in small intervals singing in front of a black background.

Track listing

UK CD1[6]

1. "Amazing" – 4:25
2. "Freeek! '04" – 4:28

UK CD2[7]

1. "Amazing" (album version) – 4:25
2. "Amazing" (Jack 'n' Rory 7-inch vocal mix) – 5:56
3. "Amazing" (Full Intention club mix) – 8:05

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2004) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[8] 6 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] 23 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 23 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[11] 34 Belgium Dance (Ultratop Flanders)[12] 4 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[13] 3 Canada AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)[14] 2 Canada Hot AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)[15] 5 Croatia (HRT)[16] 7 Czech Republic (IFPI)[17] 5 Denmark (Tracklisten)[18] 2 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[19] 4 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] 13 France (SNEP)[21] 37 Germany (GfK)[22] 19 Greece (IFPI Greece)[23] 5 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[24] 1 Hungary (Single Top 40)[25] 2 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[26] 12 Ireland (IRMA)[27] 4 Italy (FIMI)[28] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[29] 15 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[30] 9 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[31] 30 Norway (VG-lista)[32] 11 Poland (Polish Airplay Charts)[33] 1 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[34] 32 Scotland (OCC)[35] 5 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[36] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[37] 16 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[38] 10 UK Singles (OCC)[39] 4 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[40] 35 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[41] Full Intention and Jack 'n' Rory mixes 1 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[42] Full Intention and Jack 'n' Rory mixes 1 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[43] 1 US Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)[44] 8 Chart (2023) Peak position UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[45] 56

Year-end charts Chart (2004) Position Australia (ARIA)[46] 79 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[47] 14 Italy (FIMI)[48] 21 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[49] 161 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[50] 100 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[51] 12 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[52] 81 UK Singles (OCC)[53] 45 US Dance Radio Airplay (Billboard)[54] 18 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[54] 4

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[55]	Gold	35,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[56]	Silver	200,000^‡
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Australia	1 March 2004	CD	Aegean Sony Music UK	[57]
Denmark				[58]
United Kingdom		12-inch vinyl CD		[59]
United States	5 April 2004	Contemporary hit radio	Epic	[60]
	8 June 2004	Hot adult contemporary radio		[61]

See also

• List of number-one dance airplay hits of 2004 (U.S.)
• List of number-one dance singles of 2004 (U.S.)
• List of number-one hits of 2004 (Italy)
• List of number-one singles of 2004 (Spain)

References

1. AllMusic review
2. "Review: George Michael's Patience". 17 March 2004 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
3. Cinquemani, Sal (15 March 2004). "Review: George Michael, Patience". Slant Magazine.
4. "George Michael: 20 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone. 26 December 2016.
5. Sexton, Paul (27 March 2004). "Strong Interest Precedes New Michael Album". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 13. Nielsen Business Media. p. 9. ISSN 0006-2510.
6. Amazing (UK CD1 disc notes). George Michael. Aegean Records, Sony Music UK. 2004. 674726 2.
7. Amazing (UK CD2 liner notes). George Michael. Aegean Records, Sony Music UK. 2004. 674726 5.
8. "George Michael – Amazing". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
9. "George Michael – Amazing" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
10. "George Michael – Amazing" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
11. "George Michael – Amazing" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
12. "George Michael – Amazing" (in Dutch). Ultratop Dance. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
13. "Canadian Singles Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
14. "Canada AC Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. 17 September 2004. p. 60.
15. "Canada Hot AC Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. 13 August 2004. p. 57.
16. "Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on 5 April 2004. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
17. "Oficiální Česká Hitparáda – Pro týden 14/2004" (in Czech). IFPI ČR. Archived from the original on 5 April 2004. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
18. "George Michael – Amazing". Tracklisten. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
19. "Hits of the World: Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 12. 20 March 2004. p. 71. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
20. "George Michael: Amazing" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
21. "George Michael – Amazing" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
22. "George Michael – Amazing" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
23. "IFPI Greece Top 50 Singles archive". Archived from the original on 5 June 2004. Retrieved 5 June 2004.
24. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
25. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
26. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
27. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Amazing". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
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31. "George Michael – Amazing". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
32. "George Michael – Amazing". VG-lista. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
33. "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on 21 October 2007.
34. "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 14, saptamina 5.04 – 11.04, 2004" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 21 February 2005. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
35. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
36. "George Michael – Amazing" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
37. "George Michael – Amazing". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
38. "George Michael – Amazing". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
39. "George Michael: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
40. "George Michael Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
41. "George Michael Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
42. "George Michael Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
43. "George Michael Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
44. "Hot Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
45. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
46. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2004". ARIA. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
47. "Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2004" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
48. "Mix e singoli" (PDF) (in Italian). FIMI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2006. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
49. "Jaarlijsten 2004" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
50. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2004" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
51. Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
52. "Swiss Year-end Charts 2004". Retrieved 28 December 2016.
53. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2004" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
54. "Year in Music & Touring" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 52. 25 December 2004. pp. 60–61. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
55. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2004 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
56. "British single certifications – George Michael – Amazing". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
57. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 1st March 2004" (PDF). ARIA. 1 March 2004. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2004. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
58. "Uge 10+11" [Week 10+11] (PDF) (in Danish). Sony Music Denmark. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 June 2004. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
59. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 28 February 2004. p. 29.
60. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1549. 2 April 2004. p. 22. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
61. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1558. 4 June 2004. p. 27. Retrieved 15 June 2021.