A Different Corner

On a gray March morning in 1986, George Michael released a song that would redefine his career. "A Different Corner" arrived as his second solo single, following the global phenomenon "Careless Whisper." But where that track had been a duet of saxophone and regret, this one stripped everything back. Just a piano, a string section, and Michael's voice, multitracked into a choir of vulnerability. He wrote and produced it alone in his home studio, a deliberate retreat from the polished pop machine of Wham!

The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart on April 5, 1986, becoming Michael's fourth consecutive chart-topper in Britain. In the US, it peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Adult Contemporary chart. Critics praised its emotional honesty but some found its self-absorption uncomfortable. The lyrics trace a man afraid of love, singing "I would give you anything / But I must not lose my way." Michael later said the song was about his fear of commitment after the end of a relationship.

The music video, directed by Andy Morahan, is stark black and white. Michael sits alone at a piano, singing directly into the camera. No narrative, no dancers, no escape. It was a radical choice for a pop star at the height of his fame. The single sold over 250,000 copies in the UK, earning a Silver certification from the BPI. It eventually appeared on the US version of his debut solo album Faith and on the 1988 compilation The Best of Wham!: If You Were There...[edit]