George Michael’s legendary 1991 “Careless Whisper” performance from Rock in Rio recently dropped in HD and the English pop icon’s velvety and emotionally raw vocals are everything!

George Michael’s YouTube channel brought renewed attention to his 1991 Rock in Rio performance of “Careless Whisper” by posting an HD version on October 23, 2024. The archival upload, which arrived as a surprise, later reached 1.3 million views and offered another example of the English pop star’s formidable abilities as a live singer.

The performance starts with Michael creating a vocal improvisation over a single synthesizer accompaniment. He reaches a major high note at 0:43, just before the song’s famous saxophone line enters. Michael continues improvising above the melody, and the crowd subsequently takes part in a sing-along built around the track’s vocal hooks.

The recording demonstrates the musical command Michael displayed at his peak in the 1980s and 1990s. His live interpretations of his hits could surpass their studio counterparts, and the Rock in Rio rendition was presented as a particularly strong illustration of that quality.

Responses beneath the upload celebrated both Michael and the performance. One viewer praised his talent, voice, charisma, personality and generosity, while saying that he died too soon and would remain unforgettable. Another described his singing as smooth and beautiful but also weighted with emotion, comparing its effect to velvet laid over scars.

Watch the full performance on page two