One More Try (George Michael song)

"One More Try" is a song recorded by the British singer George Michael from his debut solo studio album, Faith (1987). It was released on 11 April 1988 as the album's fourth single by Columbia Records. The song hit number one on all of the Billboard Hot 100, the Hot Black Singles and the Hot Adult Contemporary charts.

"One More Try"
Single by George Michael
from the album Faith
B-side	"Look at Your Hands"
Released	11 April 1988
Recorded	1987
Genre	Blue-eyed soul^[1]
Length	5:52
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	George Michael
Producer(s)	George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Father Figure" (1987) "One More Try" (1988) "Monkey" (1988)
Music video
"One More Try" on YouTube

Background

A ballad at almost six minutes in length, the song lyrically explores a young man's hesitancy to enter/revisit a new relationship because he had been emotionally hurt so many times previously. The song concludes with temptation taking over, and Michael ends by singing the title for the only time. In 1988, Michael told Countdown that the song was written, recorded and finished within 8 hours.^[2]

"One More Try" remained a live favourite at Michael's concerts in the years which followed including a live gospel version performed at Wembley Arena on 1 Dec 1993 as part of The Concert of Hope, although its radio airplay tends to be restricted to specific "Love Songs"–esque features because of both the tempo and the length.

Music video

Filmmaker Tony Scott directed the simple music video for the song, which features George singing alone in an empty room. The first shot of the video alone lasts a little over two minutes, ending at the beginning of the second verse. Throughout, a grey-blue light can be seen shining into his window, a metaphor for loneliness. In another scene, he attempts to draw a heart on his bathroom cabinet's glass door, but cannot finish the heart, as at this point, sadness and grief have taken over. His furniture can also be seen with drapes over each piece, as well as the curtains drawn, another lonely metaphor.

The video was filmed at The Carrington Hotel in New South Wales, Australia, which was empty and derelict at the time.

Chart performance

It reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart and became his sixth number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. Four of the six singles issued from Faith went to number one in America, while by comparison, none managed to do so in the UK.

"One More Try" was the third consecutive number one single from the Faith album. "One More Try" debuted at an impressive number 40 the week of 16 April 1988, and matching the speed of "Father Figure", reached number one by its seventh week, 28 May 1988, this time staying there for three consecutive weeks. "One More Try" was the second-longest running number one of 1988, tied with "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison, and behind the four-week run of Steve Winwood's "Roll with It". In total, "One More Try" spent seven weeks in the top 10 and 14 weeks in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, out of a total of 18 weeks. It was a triple-chart number one, also topping the then-Hot Black Singles chart and the Adult Contemporary charts, and becoming the last number-one single on the now-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart by a white male artist until Robin Thicke's "Lost Without U" (2007).

Track listing

"One More Try" maxi CD

1. "One More Try" (album version) – 5:50
2. "Look at Your Hands" – 4:36

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1988–89) Peak position Australia (Australian Music Report)^[3] 34 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[4] 19 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[5] 3 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[6] 1 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[7] 1 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[8] 12 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[9] 7 France (SNEP)^[10] 5 Germany (Official German Charts)^[11] 22 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 10)^[12] 7 Ireland (IRMA)^[13] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[14] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[15] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[16] 8 Norway (VG-lista)^[17] 7 Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[18] 20 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[19] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[20] 4 UK Singles (OCC)^[21] 8 US Billboard Hot 100^[22] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[23] 1 US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)^[24] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1988) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)^[25] 22 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[26] 35 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[27] 26 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[28] 38 US Billboard Hot 100^[29]^[30] 11 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[31] 20 US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)^[32] 37 All-time charts Chart (2018) Position US Billboard Hot 100^[33] 381 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales France (SNEP)^[34] Silver 250,000^* United States (RIAA)^[35] Gold 500,000^^ ^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Divine version

"One More Try"
Single by Divine
from the album Fairy Tales
Released	9 January 1999
Recorded	1998
Genre	R&B
Length	5:03
Label	Pendulum
Songwriter(s)	George Michael
Producer(s)	John Howcott Donald Parks
Divine singles chronology
"Lately" (1999) "One More Try" (1999)

In 1999, American teen trio Divine recorded the song as their second single off their debut album Fairy Tales.

Track listing

1. "One More Try" – 6:00
2. "One More Try" (extended version) – 9:00
3. "One More Try" (a cappella version) – 4:50

Charts

Chart (1999)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100	29
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles	13

Beverley Knight version

"One More Try"
Single by Beverley Knight
from the album Soul UK
Released	23 October 2011
Recorded	2011
Genre	R&B soul
Length	5:43
Label	Hurricane
Songwriter(s)	George Michael
Producer(s)	Martin Terefe
Beverley Knight singles chronology
"Cuddly Toy" (2011) "One More Try" (2011) "Round and Around" (2012)

British singer and songwriter Beverley Knight covered "One More Try" and released it as the third single release from her seventh studio album, Soul UK, a tribute to UK soul artists. It was released in the UK on 23 October 2011. The B-sides are remixes of Freeez's single "Southern Freeez", the original of which also appears on Soul UK.

Background

In regards to her version of "One More Try", Knight said "Everyone knew who George Michael was, but this song is when he became the real thing in my mind. He channelled a gospel sound, black America, ate it up, Britain followed and then the whole world. I took that sound, and going back to my own church roots, I ran with it."^[36] George Michael endorsed Knight's version of "One More Try" stating, "I'm always flattered by cover versions of my songs – especially when they are sung as beautifully as this. Thank You Beverley".^[37]

Track listing

Digital download^[38]

1. "One More Try" (Album Version) – 5:43
2. "Southern Freeez" (Soulseekers Club Mix) – 7:17
3. "Southern Freeez" (Soulseekers Radio Edit) – 3:28
4. "Southern Freeez" (MCM Funky Freeez Radio Edit) – 3:18

iTunes digital download^[39]

1. "One More Try" (Album Version) – 5:43
2. "Southern Freeez" (Soulseekers Club Mix) – 7:17
3. "Southern Freeez" (Soulseekers Dub) – 7:17
4. "Southern Freeez" (MCM Funky Freeez Radio Edit) – 3:18

Other versions

1. "One More Try" (Radio Edit)

Release history

Region	Date	Format
United Kingdom	23 October 2011	Digital download

Other cover versions

• 1997: Joan Baez
• 2000: Divine
• 2003: Hazel O'Connor for her first-ever official best of compilation, A Singular Collection
• 2011: Iron & Wine (for The A.V. Club's "A.V. Undercover" series)
• 2011: Stacy Francis on first season of The X Factor USA
• 2011: Beverley Knight
• 2014: Mariah Carey recorded the song for her album Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse.
• 2014: Josh Kaufman
• 2022: Calum Scott
• 2022: Crosses

References

1. Spanos, Brittany (11 January 2017). "Readers' Poll: 5 Best Solo George Michael Songs". Rolling Stone.
2. "George Michael Interview on Countdown (1988)".
3. "Australian ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart – Week Ending 19th June, 1988". ARIA, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019. N.B. ARIA licensed the Australian Music Report chart between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988. Although this chart was published after that date, it is based on the chart survey conducted on 6 June 1988.
4. "George Michael – One More Try" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
5. "George Michael – One More Try" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
6. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8667." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
7. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8708." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
8. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. 6 August 1988. p. 65. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
9. "Singlet 1988-05 toukokuu" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
10. "George Michael – One More Try" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
11. "George Michael – Faith" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
12. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 10 (24. júní 1988)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved 26 July 2018. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
13. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – One More Try". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 21, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
15. "George Michael – One More Try" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
16. "George Michael – One More Try". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
17. "George Michael – One More Try". VG-lista. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
18. Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
19. "George Michael – One More Try". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
20. "George Michael – One More Try". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
22. "George Michael Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
23. "George Michael Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
24. "George Michael Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
25. "Jaaroverzichten 1988". Ultratop. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
26. "1988 Year End Eurocharts" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 January 1988. p. 30. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
27. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1988". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
28. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1988". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
29. "1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. 24 December 1988. p. Y-20.
30. "Billboard Top 100 – 1988". Retrieved 3 October 2016.
31. "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
32. "1988 The Year in Music & Video" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. 24 December 1988. p. Y-23. (PDF) from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
33. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
34. "French single certifications – George Michael – One More Try" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 15 August 2016. Select GEORGE MICHAEL and click OK. 
35. "American single certifications – George Michael – One More Try". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
36. BeverleyKnight.com (24 May 2011). . Hurricane Records. Archived from the original on 30 May 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
37. Absolute Marketing (28 September 2011). "Beverley Knight - One More Try". Absolute.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
38. Amazon.co.uk (23 October 2011). "One More Try: Beverley Knight: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
39. iTunes UK (23 August 2011). "One More Try - EP by Beverley Knight - EP on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 23 August 2011.

External links

• George Michael - official website