Five Live (George Michael and Queen EP)

Five Live is an EP released in 1993, featuring five (in some countries, where it is considered to be a reduced-length long-playing album, six) tracks, performed by George Michael, Queen, and Lisa Stansfield. "Somebody to Love" and "These Are the Days of Our Lives" (both also available on video) were recorded at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, held on 20 April 1992, at Wembley Stadium.

Five Live
EP by George Michael and Queen with Lisa Stansfield
Released	19 April 1993
Recorded	1974 22 March 1991 20 April 1992
Genre	Pop rock dance-pop
Length	28:46
Label	Hollywood (US and Canada) Parlophone (rest of world)
Producer	Queen George Michael Roy Thomas Baker
George Michael chronology
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990) Five Live (1993) Older (1996)
Queen chronology
The 12″ Collection (1992) Five Live (1993) Made in Heaven (1995)
Lisa Stansfield chronology
Real Love (1991) Five Live (1993) So Natural (1993)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Freaky Trigger	4/10^[2]
Los Angeles Times	^[3]
Music Week	^[4]

All proceeds from the sale of the EP benefited the Mercury Phoenix Trust. Sales of the record were very strong throughout Europe, where it debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, and several European countries, either considered as a single, or charting on album charts as an extended play or an LP. Chart success in the US was far less spectacular, but the EP still peaked at number 46 on the Billboard 200.

A shortened version of "Killer" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", a live medley performed by Michael at Wembley Arena, was released as a further independent single, in some territories only. The singer also shot a music video for it, but did not personally appear in full face (it was during the time Michael refused to exploit his outward look, which he thought would distract the audience from the music, his main concern). The video was directed by Marcus Nispel.

While "These Are the Days of Our Lives" is played by the remaining members of Queen, the vocal is a duet between George Michael and Lisa Stansfield.

The sixth track – only featured on some versions of the release – is represented by a short performance by Queen, entitled "Dear Friends", originally sung by Freddie Mercury. Recorded in 1974 and originally appearing on the band's Sheer Heart Attack album, this constitutes the one studio recording on the record. It was not included in the UK vinyl of the EP.

Usually, countries where the six-track work is distributed consider it to be a short LP, whereas those where the five-track (hence its title) work is available generally tend to see it as an EP or even (if "Killer" / "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" was not marketed independently in those same territories) as a particularly long or content-rich single.

Track listing

1. "Somebody to Love" (Freddie Mercury) – 5:17 (US #30)
   • Performed by Queen and George Michael
     • Recorded at Wembley Stadium on 20 April 1992
2. "Killer" (Adam Tinley, Seal-Henry Samuel) – 5:57 (US #69)
   • Performed by George Michael
     • Recorded at Wembley Arena on 22 March 1991
3. "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong) – 5:25 (US #69)
   • Performed by George Michael
     • Recorded at Wembley Arena on 22 March 1991
4. "These Are the Days of Our Lives" (Queen) – 4:43
   • Performed by Queen, George Michael and Lisa Stansfield
     • Recorded at Wembley Stadium on 20 April 1992
5. "Calling You" (Bob Telson) – 6:17
   • Performed by George Michael
     • Recorded at Wembley Arena on 22 March 1991
6. "Dear Friends" (Brian May) – 1:07 (some releases only)
   • Performed by Queen (1974 studio recording from Sheer Heart Attack)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1993) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)^[5] 17 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[6] 2 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[7] 32 Danish Singles (IFPI)^[8] 2 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[9] 2 European Albums (Top 100)^[10] 5 European Singles (Eurochart Hot 100)^[11] 7 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)^[12] 39 French Albums (SNEP)^[13] 12 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[14] 8 Greek Singles (AFP)^[15] 2 Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)^[16] 11 Ireland (IRMA)^[17] 1 Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[18] 35 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[19] 9 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[20] 19 Portuguese Albums (AFP)^[21] 1 Spanish Albums (AFYVE)^[22] 18 Spanish Singles (AFYVE)^[23] 1 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[24] 45 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[25] 6 UK Singles (OCC)^[26] 1 US Billboard 200^[27] 46

Year-end charts Chart (1993) Position Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[28] 19 Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)^[29] 19 European Singles (Eurochart Hot 100)^[30] 49 French Albums (SNEP)^[31] 30 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[32] 30 UK Singles (OCC)^[33] 11

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)^[34]	Gold	25,000^*
France (SNEP)^[35]	Gold	100,000^*
Germany (BVMI)^[36]	Gold	250,000^^
Netherlands (NVPI)^[37]	Gold	50,000^^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)^[38]	Gold	25,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)^[40]	Gold	410,150^[39]
United States	—	358,000^[41]
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country	Date	Label	Format	Catalogue	Ref.
United Kingdom	19 April 1993 (1993-04-19)	Parlophone	CD	CDRS 6340	^[42]
			7-inch vinyl	R 6340
			Cassette	TC-R 6340
Netherlands	1993	EMI	CD	0777 7 89418 2 8

References

1. AllMusic review
2. Ewing, Tom (9 March 2012). "George Michael And Queen – Five Live EP". Freaky Trigger. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
3. Hunt, Dennis (9 May 1993). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
4. Jones, Alan (17 April 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles — Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 6. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
5. "Australiancharts.com – George Michael and Queen with Lisa Stansfield – Five Live". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
6. "Austriancharts.at – George Michael and Queen with Lisa Stansfield – Five Live" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
7. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1761". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
8. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 21. 22 May 1993. p. 26. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
9. "Dutchcharts.nl – George Michael and Queen with Lisa Stansfield – Five Live" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
10. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 23 June 1993. p. 55. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
11. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 22 May 1993. p. 80. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
12. "Albumit 1993–05 toukokuu" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
13. "Les "Charts Runs" de chaque Album Classé" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
14. "Offiziellecharts.de – George Michael – Five Live" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
15. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 24. 12 June 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
16. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1993. 20. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Five Live (EP) - Somebody to Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
18. (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
19. "Charts.nz – George Michael and Queen with Lisa Stansfield – Five Live". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
20. "Norwegiancharts.com – George Michael and Queen with Lisa Stansfield – Five Live". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
21. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. 20 February 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
22. Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
23. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 17 July 1993. p. 43. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
24. "Swedishcharts.com – George Michael and Queen with Lisa Stansfield – Five Live". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
25. "Swisscharts.com – George Michael and Queen with Lisa Stansfield – Five Live". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
27. "George Michael Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
28. "Jahreshitparade Alben 1993" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
29. "Dutch charts jaaroverzichten 1993" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
30. "1993 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
31. (in French). InfoDisc. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
32. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
33. "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 24.
34. "Austrian album certifications – George Michael – Five Live" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
35. "French album certifications – George Michael & Queen with Lisa Stansfield – Five Live" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 16 October 2017. Select GEORGE MICHAEL & QUEEN WITH LISA STANSFIELD and click OK. 
36. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (George Michael; 'Five Live')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
37. "Dutch album certifications – George Michael – Five Live" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 16 October 2017. Enter Five Live in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1993 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
38. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Five Live')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
39. Alan Jones (11 January 2017). "George Michael on the charts". Music Week. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
40. "British single certifications – George Michael & Queen – Five Live". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
41. Keith Caulfield (27 October 2006). "Ask Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
42. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 17 April 1993. p. 29. Retrieved 22 June 2021.