Radio 2 wants your help to discover the nation’s favourite George Michael song

BBC Radio 2 is to mark 40 years of George Michael music with a series of special programmes and wants your help to find his ultimate song.

The station has launched a vote for listeners to discover the nation’s favourite George Michael song from his time in Wham!, as a solo artist, and when he sang with other stars as a part of a duet.

The vote – part of Radio 2 Celebrates Songwriting season – is now open and closes at the end of Claudia Winkleman’s Saturday show at 1pm on Saturday 11 December. To be eligible for inclusion on the voting list, the song must have charted in the UK Top 75 and have been composed by George Michael, either on his own or as a co-writer.

Claudia says: “As well as being an amazing performer, George’s songwriting was a thing of beauty. From love to heartbreak, joy to sadness, there’s a song from his extensive catalogue to suit every mood and emotional need.”

Scott Mills will count down the results of the chart with the Top 40 songs as voted for by listeners in a three-hour special, The George Michael Countdown on Radio 2 on New Year’s Day 1-4pm.

Radio 2 will also broadcast George Michael – Older At 25, a two part documentary narrated by Melanie C, Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 January 2022, 9-10pm.

Melanie C says: “George’s songwriting skills were second to none, as we can hear when we listen to Older, an incredible body of work. I was lucky enough to meet George a number of times and I’m thrilled to be able to tell the story of Older through the eyes of his fellow musicians, as well as friends.”

George Michael At The BBC will air on Radio 2 Sunday 2 January, 2022, 7-9pm, celebrating his life and career through his performances and interviews on the BBC, from his first Wham! Appearance on Saturday Superstore in 1982 and throughout his entire career. Also featured are George’s conversations from throughout his career with Michael Parkinson, Paul Gambaccini, Vicki Wickham and Steve Wright.

In the second hour, for the first time since its original broadcast in December 1996, listeners will hear the exclusive An Audience With George Michael concert which took place at the BBC’s Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House, London. Listeners will be able to hear tracks including Father Figure, You Have Been Loved and Freedom.

George Michael – Older At 25 and George Michael At The BBC will both be available on BBC Sounds from Saturday 1 January and all the programmes are available on BBC Sounds live and for 30 days after broadcast.

The song selection to vote for are as follows (* Please note, the artist is George Michael except where mentioned in brackets) – see the terms and conditions:

1. AMAZING – No.4, 2004

2. BAD BOYS – No. 2, 1983 (Wham!)

3. CARELESS WHISPER – No. 1, 1984

4. CLUB TROPICANA – No. 4, 1983 (Wham!)

5. COWBOYS AND ANGELS – No. 45, 1991

6. DECEMBER SONG (I DREAMED OF CHRISTMAS) – No. 14, 2009

7. A DIFFERENT CORNER – No. 1, 1986

8. AN EASIER AFFAIR – No.13, 2006

9. THE EDGE OF HEAVEN – No. 1, 1986 (Wham!)

10. EVERYTHING SHE WANTS – No.1, 1984 (Wham!)

11. FAITH – No. 2, 1987

12. FAST LOVE – No. 1, 1996

13. FATHER FIGURE – No. 11, 1988

14. FLAWLESS (GO TO THE CITY) – No.8, 2004

15. FREEDOM 90 – No. 28, 1990

16. FREEDOM – No. 1, 1984 (Wham!)

17. FREEEK! – No. 7, 2002

18. HEAL THE PAIN – No. 31, 1991

19. I WANT YOUR SEX – No. 3, 1987

20. I’M YOUR MAN – No. 1, 1985 (Wham!)

21. JESUS TO A CHILD – No. 1, 1996

22. KISSING A FOOL – No. 18, 1988

23. LAST CHRISTMAS – No. 2, 1984 & No.1, 2007 & 2020 (Wham!)

24. MONKEY – No. 13, 1988

25. OLDER – No.3, 1997

26. ONE MORE TRY – No. 8, 1988

27. OUTSIDE – No. 2, 1997

28. PRAYING FOR TIME – No.6, 1990

29. ROUND HERE – No. 32, 2004

30. SHOOT THE DOG – No.12, 2002

31. SPINNING THE WHEEL – No. 2, 1996

32. STAR PEOPLE 97 – No. 2, 1997

33. THE STRANGEST THING 97 – No.2, 1997

34. THIS IS NOT REAL LOVE (WITH MUTYA BUENA) – No. 15, 2006

35. TOO FUNKY – No. 4, 1992

36. WAITING FOR THAT DAY – No. 23, 1990

37. WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO GO – No. 1, 1984 (Wham!)

38. WALTZ AWAY DREAMING (WITH TOBY BURKE) – No. 10, 1997 (Toby Bourke/George Michael)

39. WHAM RAP! (ENJOY WHAT YOU DO) – No. 8, 1983 (Wham!)

40. WHITE LIGHT – No. 15, 2012

41. YOU HAVE BEEN LOVED – No.2, 1997

42. YOUNG GUNS (GO FOR IT) – No. 3, 1982 (Wham!)