More than 30 years since it was released, George Michael’s first solo single ‘Careless Whisper’ has been voted the number one song of all time by Smooth listeners.
‘Careless Whisper’ has pushed John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ from the number one spot for the first time in three years. Lennon’s track now sits at number 16 in Smooth’s All Time Top 500.
Michael has taken both the number one and two positions in this year’s chart, with his 1986 smash hit ‘A Different Corner’ in second place. More than 28,000 votes were cast in the countdown of 500 songs which were broadcast on Smooth over the Bank Holiday weekend.
With 19 songs featuring George Michael – the highest number for him in the chart’s four-year history – he has become the nation’s most popular artist alongside Elton John, who has the same number of entries. Their duet ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’ has jumped from number 159 to number 9. Altogether, Michael’s songs have climbed more than 1,800 places in the past year. ‘Father Figure’ has jumped 378 places to number 42, while ‘Jesus to a Child’ has climbed 354 places to number 19, in addition to 11 new entries for the singer.
It’s also been a big year for the multi-award winning Adele. Currently on her world tour, she has featured nine times in Smooth’s All Time Top 500, including four songs in the top 10 alone, with ‘Someone Like You’ and ‘Hello’ at number three and four respectively. ‘When We Were Young’, from her album 25 which became the biggest selling release of 2016, is the highest new entry in the chart at number 28.
The results have revealed that it’s been another major year for UK talent. In total, 186 songs featuring British artists have appeared in the countdown – just three fewer than last year – while in the top 10, it’s seven out of the ten songs. Alongside George Michael, Elton John and Adele, Phil Collins and Rod Stewart have also proved hugely popular with British music lovers.
Elsewhere in Smooth’s All Time Top 500, ‘What's Love Got to Do With It’, sung by Tina Turner, has become the chart’s highest climber, moving up 384 places to number 40. For the time since the poll was launched in 2014, Elvis Presley has dropped out of the top ten, with his highest entry – ‘Always on My Mind’ – now at number 12, although he is the fourth most popular artist with ABBA, both with 15 songs each.
Richard Park, group executive director and director of broadcasting at Global, said: “George Michael was one of the biggest talents the world has ever seen and the results of Smooth’s All Time Top 500 confirm that he remains in the nation’s heart now more than ever. Together with Smooth’s 5.4 million listeners across the UK, our countdown over the Bank Holiday weekend has been the perfect way to celebrate the life and music of this great man.”
All the songs from Smooth’s All Time Top 500 were played on-air over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Smooth’s All Time Top 500 - top 20:
1. Careless Whisper George Michael
2. A Different Corner George Michael
3. Someone Like You Adele
4. Hello Adele
5. Dancing Queen ABBA
6. I Will Always Love You Whitney Houston
7. Make You Feel My Love Adele
8. You’re the First, the Last, My Everything Barry White
9. Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me George Michael and Elton John
10. Rolling in the Deep Adele
11. No Woman No Cry Bob Marley
12. Always on My Mind Elvis Presley
13. In the Air Tonight Phil Collins
14. Suspicious Minds Elvis Presley
15. How Deep is Your Love Bee Gees
16. Imagine John Lennon
17. Man in the Mirror Michael Jackson
18. Chasing Pavements Adele
19. Jesus to a Child George Michael
20. Three Little Birds Bob Marley
Smooth’s All Time Top 500 – most popular artists (by number of songs in the chart)
1. George Michael 19
= Elton John 19
3. Michael Jackson 17
4. ABBA 15
= Elvis Presley 15
6. Stevie Wonder 14
7. The Carpenters 11
= Rod Stewart 11
Votes were cast online via SmoothRadio.com
www.global.com
@global
‘Careless Whisper’ has pushed John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ from the number one spot for the first time in three years. Lennon’s track now sits at number 16 in Smooth’s All Time Top 500.
Michael has taken both the number one and two positions in this year’s chart, with his 1986 smash hit ‘A Different Corner’ in second place. More than 28,000 votes were cast in the countdown of 500 songs which were broadcast on Smooth over the Bank Holiday weekend.
With 19 songs featuring George Michael – the highest number for him in the chart’s four-year history – he has become the nation’s most popular artist alongside Elton John, who has the same number of entries. Their duet ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’ has jumped from number 159 to number 9. Altogether, Michael’s songs have climbed more than 1,800 places in the past year. ‘Father Figure’ has jumped 378 places to number 42, while ‘Jesus to a Child’ has climbed 354 places to number 19, in addition to 11 new entries for the singer.
It’s also been a big year for the multi-award winning Adele. Currently on her world tour, she has featured nine times in Smooth’s All Time Top 500, including four songs in the top 10 alone, with ‘Someone Like You’ and ‘Hello’ at number three and four respectively. ‘When We Were Young’, from her album 25 which became the biggest selling release of 2016, is the highest new entry in the chart at number 28.
The results have revealed that it’s been another major year for UK talent. In total, 186 songs featuring British artists have appeared in the countdown – just three fewer than last year – while in the top 10, it’s seven out of the ten songs. Alongside George Michael, Elton John and Adele, Phil Collins and Rod Stewart have also proved hugely popular with British music lovers.
Elsewhere in Smooth’s All Time Top 500, ‘What's Love Got to Do With It’, sung by Tina Turner, has become the chart’s highest climber, moving up 384 places to number 40. For the time since the poll was launched in 2014, Elvis Presley has dropped out of the top ten, with his highest entry – ‘Always on My Mind’ – now at number 12, although he is the fourth most popular artist with ABBA, both with 15 songs each.
Richard Park, group executive director and director of broadcasting at Global, said: “George Michael was one of the biggest talents the world has ever seen and the results of Smooth’s All Time Top 500 confirm that he remains in the nation’s heart now more than ever. Together with Smooth’s 5.4 million listeners across the UK, our countdown over the Bank Holiday weekend has been the perfect way to celebrate the life and music of this great man.”
All the songs from Smooth’s All Time Top 500 were played on-air over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Smooth’s All Time Top 500 - top 20:
1. Careless Whisper George Michael
2. A Different Corner George Michael
3. Someone Like You Adele
4. Hello Adele
5. Dancing Queen ABBA
6. I Will Always Love You Whitney Houston
7. Make You Feel My Love Adele
8. You’re the First, the Last, My Everything Barry White
9. Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me George Michael and Elton John
10. Rolling in the Deep Adele
11. No Woman No Cry Bob Marley
12. Always on My Mind Elvis Presley
13. In the Air Tonight Phil Collins
14. Suspicious Minds Elvis Presley
15. How Deep is Your Love Bee Gees
16. Imagine John Lennon
17. Man in the Mirror Michael Jackson
18. Chasing Pavements Adele
19. Jesus to a Child George Michael
20. Three Little Birds Bob Marley
Smooth’s All Time Top 500 – most popular artists (by number of songs in the chart)
1. George Michael 19
= Elton John 19
3. Michael Jackson 17
4. ABBA 15
= Elvis Presley 15
6. Stevie Wonder 14
7. The Carpenters 11
= Rod Stewart 11
Votes were cast online via SmoothRadio.com
www.global.com
@global
