“Your Voice Is Perfect”: Aretha Franklin’s Secret Three-Word Note From George Michael That She Kept for 25 Years

It was a collaboration that blended two eras, two continents, and two voices of staggering power. When Aretha Franklin and George Michael recorded their 1987 duet “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” the result topped charts worldwide and brought together the Queen of Soul and one of Britain’s brightest young stars. But behind the scenes, one small, handwritten note revealed a story of humility, respect, and a friendship that lasted decades.

🎙️ The Studio “Rule” That George Broke

In the music world, it’s an unspoken rule: when you’re recording with a legend, you don’t tell them how to sing. Aretha Franklin’s reputation preceded her—her power, phrasing, and instinct for interpretation were beyond question.

So when a 23-year-old George Michael entered the studio to record his part first, he was understandably nervous. “I was petrified,” he later admitted. He laid down his vocals for the song and had a minor suggestion for how Franklin might approach a particular harmony.

But instead of saying it out loud—he couldn’t bring himself to give “The Queen” direction—he quietly scribbled a note and left it in the vocal booth.

It read, simply:

“Your voice is perfect.”

Underneath, he added a short clarification: “This is what I sang here, but of course your voice is perfect and you should sing whatever you want.”

💌 The Secret Aretha Kept

Aretha Franklin later revealed that she found the note and kept it for 25 years. For her, it was more than just a kind gesture—it represented George Michael’s profound respect and gentle spirit.

“He didn’t want to tell me what to do,” she said in an interview. “But that note—those words—showed how thoughtful he was.”

Franklin was deeply moved by his humility. Despite being the younger artist and the rising pop star of the 1980s, George Michael approached the collaboration with deference, careful to honor the woman whose music had paved the way for generations of singers, including himself.

🎶 The Duet That Defined an Era

Released in January 1987, “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” became a global hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping charts in multiple countries. The pairing of Franklin’s gospel-rooted soul with Michael’s sleek pop sensibility was electric—and unexpected.

The success of the single also brought Aretha Franklin back to the top of the charts for the first time in nearly two decades, marking her last No. 1 hit on the U.S. pop chart.

For George Michael, it was a validation of his vocal prowess and versatility, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with one of music’s greatest voices—and holding his own.

🌹 A Friendship and Legacy

Their collaboration evolved into a quiet friendship built on mutual admiration. Aretha often referred to George as “a terrific person and a wonderful writer,” and credited him with “calling most of the shots” during the recording, even though he had been nervous to do so.

For George, the experience was transformative. He later said that sharing a song with Aretha Franklin was “one of the proudest moments of my life.”

When Franklin passed away in 2018, fans revisited their duet as a timeless example of two icons from different worlds finding perfect harmony.

🕊️ A Note That Said It All

The little slip of paper that Aretha kept for 25 years wasn’t just about a compliment—it was a lesson in grace and respect between artists.

In just three words, George Michael managed to express what millions of fans felt: Aretha Franklin’s voice was, and remains, perfect.