Twenty Five (album)

For the other albums, see 25 (disambiguation).
Twenty Five
Greatest hits album by George Michael
Released 13 November 2006 (2006-11-13) (UK)[1]
1 April 2008 (2008-04-01) (US)[2]
Recorded 1984–2006
Genre Pop
Length 73:53 (CD1), 73:25 (CD2)
Label Sony BMG
Producer George Michael
George Michael chronology
Patience
(2004)
Twenty Five
(2006)
Symphonica
(2014)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]
PopMatters(8/10)[4]
The Times[5]

Twenty Five is singer George Michael's 2006 greatest hits album, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of his music career.[6] It was released on 13 November 2006 via Sony BMG.[7] It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart[8] and number twenty-three on the Billboard 200,[9] and it reached the top twenty on most other album charts.

The album contains songs chiefly from George Michael's solo career, but also from his earlier days with Wham!. The album comes in two formats: a 2-CD set and a limited edition 3-CD set. The 2-CD set contains 26 tracks, including four recorded with Wham! and three new songs: "An Easier Affair", "This Is Not Real Love" (a duet with British singer Mutya Buena) and a new version of "Heal the Pain", recorded with Paul McCartney. The limited edition 3-CD version contains an additional 14 lesser known tracks, including one with Wham! and another new song called "Understand".

The 2-CD version was released in the United States on 1 April 2008, with two changes from the international version: "Feeling Good" replaced the Wham! track "Freedom", and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (from Songs from the Last Century) replaced "Round Here", a track from Patience that was not released as a single in the US

A 3-CD limited deluxe version was released in the United States exclusively by Best Buy. The track listing for the third CD is the same as the international version, but unlike the 2-CD US version, the deluxe version includes "Freedom" instead of "Feeling Good". The 3-CD version is packaged in a digipak. It includes a 36-page color booklet with lyrics for every track, along with screen shots from the videos for most of the tracks on the first two CDs.

The Twenty Five DVD was also released.

Track listing

International release

Disc 1: For Living

  1. "Everything She Wants" – 6:33 from Wham!'s album Make It Big
  2. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" – 3:52 from Wham!'s album Make It Big
  3. "Freedom" – 5:20 from Wham!'s album Make It Big
  4. "Faith" – 3:15 from Faith
  5. "Too Funky" – 3:46 from Red Hot + Dance
  6. "Fastlove" – 5:28 from Older
  7. "Freedom! '90" – 6:30 from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
  8. "Spinning the Wheel" – 6:09 from Older
  9. "Outside" – 4:44 from Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
  10. "As" (with Mary J. Blige) – 4:43 from Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
  11. "Freeek!" – 4:32 from Patience
  12. "Shoot the Dog" – 5:08 from Patience
  13. "Amazing" – 4:25 from Patience
  14. "Flawless (Go to the City)" (vs. The Ones) – 4:50 from Patience
  15. "An Easier Affair" – 4:38 Previously unreleased
  16. "Kissing A Fool" – 4:34 from Faith / Japanese bonus track

Disc 2: For Loving

  1. "Careless Whisper" – 5:04 from Wham!'s album Make It Big
  2. "Last Christmas" – 4:27 from Wham!'s album Music from the Edge of Heaven
  3. "A Different Corner" – 4:03 from Wham!'s Music from the Edge of Heaven
  4. "Father Figure" – 5:40 from Faith
  5. "One More Try" – 5:53 from Faith
  6. "Praying for Time" – 4:41 from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
  7. "Heal the Pain" (with Paul McCartney) – 4:43 Previously unreleased version
  8. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (with Elton John) – 5:48 from John's album Duets
  9. "Jesus to a Child" – 6:50 from Older
  10. "Older" – 5:34 from Older
  11. "Round Here" – 5:55 from Patience
  12. "You Have Been Loved" – 5:28 from Older
  13. "John and Elvis Are Dead" – 4:23 from Patience
  14. "This Is Not Real Love" (with Mutya) – 4:56 Previously unreleased
  15. "Club Tropicana" – 4:28 from Wham!'s album Fantastic / Japanese bonus track

Disc 3: For the Loyal (limited edition only)

  1. "Understand" – 5:56
  2. "Precious Box" – 7:36
  3. "Roxanne" – 4:10
  4. "Fantasy" – 5:02
  5. "Cars and Trains" – 5:51
  6. "Patience" – 2:52
  7. "You Know That I Want To" – 4:32
  8. "My Mother Had a Brother" – 6:19
  9. "If You Were There" – 3:43
  10. "Safe" – 4:25
  11. "American Angel" – 4:08
  12. "My Baby Just Cares for Me" – 1:43
  13. "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" – 4:27 (Performed at "Pavarotti and Friends")
  14. "Please Send Me Someone (Anselmo's Song)" – 5:25
  15. "Through" – 4:52

Digital download version (2 bonus tracks and 4 videos)

  1. "I'm Your Man" – 6:52
  2. "Edith & The Kingpin" – 3:41
  3. "I'm Your Man" – 3:59 (video)
  4. "John and Elvis Are Dead" – 4:23 (video)
  5. "An Easier Affair" – 4:31 (video)
  6. "Father Figure" – 5:34 (video)

North American release

Disc 1: For Living

  1. "Everything She Wants" – 6:33 from Wham!'s album Make It Big
  2. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" – 3:52 from Wham!'s album Make It Big
  3. "Feeling Good" – 5:20 Previously unreleased
  4. "Faith" – 3:15 from Faith
  5. "Too Funky" – 3:46 from Red Hot + Dance
  6. "Fastlove" – 5:28 from Older
  7. "Freedom! '90" – 6:30 from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
  8. "Spinning the Wheel" – 6:09 from Older
  9. "Outside" – 4:44 from Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
  10. "As" (with Mary J. Blige) – 4:43 from Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
  11. "Freeek!" – 4:32 from Patience
  12. "Shoot the Dog" – 5:08 from Patience
  13. "Amazing" – 4:25 from Patience
  14. "Flawless (Go to the City)" (vs. The Ones) – 4:50 from Patience
  15. "An Easier Affair" – 4:38 Previously unreleased

Disc 2: For Loving

  1. "Careless Whisper" – 5:04 from Wham!'s album Make It Big
  2. "Last Christmas" – 4:27 from Wham!'s album Music from the Edge of Heaven
  3. "A Different Corner" – 4:03 from Wham!'s Music from the Edge of Heaven
  4. "Father Figure" – 5:40 from Faith
  5. "One More Try" – 5:53 from Faith
  6. "Praying for Time" – 4:41 from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
  7. "Heal the Pain" (with Paul McCartney) – 4:43 Previously unreleased
  8. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (with Elton John) – 5:48 from John's album Duets
  9. "Jesus to a Child" – 6:50 from Older
  10. "Older" – 5:34 from Older
  11. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – 5:19 from Songs from the Last Century
  12. "You Have Been Loved" – 5:28 from Older
  13. "John and Elvis Are Dead" – 4:23 from Patience
  14. "This Is Not Real Love" (with Mutya) – 4:56 Previously unreleased

Disc 3: For the Loyal (Best Buy exclusive)

  1. "Understand" – 5:56
  2. "Precious Box" – 7:38
  3. "Roxanne" – 4:11
  4. "Fantasy" – 5:03
  5. "Cars and Trains" – 5:51
  6. "Patience" – 2:53
  7. "You Know That I Want To" – 4:32
  8. "My Mother Had a Brother" – 6:20
  9. "If You Were There" – 3:44
  10. "Safe" – 4:25
  11. "American Angel" – 4:09
  12. "My Baby Just Cares for Me" – 1:43
  13. "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" – 4:27 (performed at Pavarotti & Friends)
  14. "Please Send Me Someone (Anselmo's Song)" – 5:25
  15. "Through" – 4:55

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[10] 19
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[11] 2
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[12] 2
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[13] 11
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[14] 2
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[15] 2
European Albums (Billboard)[16] 1
French Compilations (SNEP)[17] 4
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] 13
Irish Albums (IRMA)[19] 3
Italian Albums (FIMI)[20] 2
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[21] 67
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[22] 18
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[23] 10
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[24] 1
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[25] 9
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[26] 10
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[27] 3
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 2
UK Albums (OCC)[29] 1
Chart (2007) Peak
position
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[30] 39
Greek Albums (IFPI)[31] 1
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[32] 2
Chart (2008) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[33] 23
Chart (2010) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[34] 9

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[35] Platinum 70,000^
Belgium (BEA)[36] Gold 20,000*
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[37] Platinum 20,000^
France (SNEP)[38] Gold 75,000*
Greece (IFPI Greece)[31] Gold 20,000^
Hungary (MAHASZ)[39] Platinum 6,000x
Ireland (IRMA)[40] 3× Platinum 45,000x
New Zealand (RMNZ)[41] Gold 7,500^
Poland (ZPAV)[42] 2× Platinum 40,000*
Portugal (AFP)[43] Gold 7,500x
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[44] Gold 15,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] 2× Platinum 600,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[46] Platinum 1,000,000*

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by
High Times: Singles 1992–2006 by Jamiroquai
UK number one album
19 November 2006 – 25 November 2006
Succeeded by
The Love Album by Westlife

References

  1. https://web.archive.org/20090202102113/http://sonybmgmusic.co.uk:80/artists/george_michael. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2009. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. "GeorgeMichael.com". GeorgeMichael.com. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  3. Allmusic review
  4. PopMatters review
  5. The Times review
  6. "GeorgeMichael.com". GeorgeMichael.com. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  7. Archived 2 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  9. "Austriancharts.at – George Michael – Twenty Five" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  10. "Ultratop.be – George Michael – Twenty Five" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  11. "Ultratop.be – George Michael – Twenty Five" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  12. "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 200647 on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  13. "Top 40 Albums - 46 / 2006". Tracklisten. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  14. "Dutchcharts.nl – George Michael – Twenty Five" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  15. "George Michael – Chart History: European Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  16. "InfoDisc: Tous les "Chart Runs" des Albums classés depuis 1985 dans le Top Albums Officiel". InfoDisc (in French). Retrieved 18 February 2013. Search for George MICHAEL under the drop-down menu and click OK.
  17. "Officialcharts.de – Top 100 Longplay". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  18. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 46, 2006". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  19. "Italiancharts.com – George Michael – Twenty Five". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  20. "George Michael Albums Sales Ranking". Oricon Style. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  21. "Charts.org.nz – George Michael – Twenty Five". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  22. "Norwegiancharts.com – George Michael – Twenty Five". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  23. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLIS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  24. "Portuguesecharts.com – George Michael – Twenty Five". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  25. "Spanishcharts.com – George Michael – Twenty Five". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  26. "Swedishcharts.com – George Michael – Twenty Five". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  27. "Swisscharts.com – George Michael – Twenty Five". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  28. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  29. "George Michael: Twenty Five" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat IFPI Finland. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  30. 1 2 "Top 75 Combined Repertoire (Albums)". IFPI Greece (in Greek). Archived from the original on 31 October 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  31. "Top 40 album DVD és válogatáslemez-lista – 2007. 21. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  32. "George Michael – Chart history" Billboard 200 for George Michael. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  33. "Australiancharts.com – George Michael – Twenty Five". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  34. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  35. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2006". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  36. "Danish album certifications – George Michael – Twenty Five". IFPI Denmark. Click on næste to go to page 21 if certification from official website
  37. "French album certifications – George Michael – Twenty Five" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  38. "Adatbázis – Arany- és platinalemezek – 2007" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
  39. "Irish album certifications – George Michael – Twenty Five". Irish Recorded Music Association.
  40. "New Zealand album certifications – George Michael – Twenty Five". Recorded Music NZ.
  41. "Polish album certifications – George Michael – Twenty Five" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.
  42. "Portuguese Charts: Week 21, 2007". Artistas & Espectáculos (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Archived from the original on 27 May 2007.
  43. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (George Michael; 'Twenty Five')". Hung Medien.
  44. "British album certifications – George Michael – Twenty Five". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Twenty Five in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  45. "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2006". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
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