Symphonica (George Michael album)

Symphonica
Symphonica
Live album with studio tracks by George Michael
Released	17 March 2014
Venue	Royal Albert Hall (London)
Studio	AIR (London); Legacy (New York City);
Length	64:14
Label	Aegean; Virgin EMI;
Producer	Phil Ramone; George Michael; David Austin (exec.);
George Michael chronology
Singles from Symphonica
	"Let Her Down Easy"; Released: 17 March 2014; "Going to a Town"; Released: 7 April 2014; "Feeling Good"; Released: 11 August 2014;

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	60/100^[4]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[5]
The Daily Telegraph	^[6]
The Guardian	^[7]
PopMatters	(6/10)^[8]
Rolling Stone	^[9]

Symphonica is a live album by English singer-songwriter George Michael and his only live album released during his lifetime. Released on 17 March 2014 through Aegean and Virgin EMI Records, Symphonica was Michael's first album of new recordings since Patience (2004).^[10] Michael's vocals were recorded at the Royal Albert Hall during his Symphonica Tour (2011–12), while the string arrangements were recorded in a studio.^[11]

Background

The album contains mostly live versions of songs from his 2011–12 Symphonica Tour, including six of his own compositions (the rest being covers). The album was the final work by both American producer Phil Ramone, who died in March 2013,^[12] and by Michael himself, who died on Christmas Day (25 December) 2016. The lead single, a cover of the Terence Trent D'Arby song "Let Her Down Easy", debuted at number 53 on the UK Singles Chart in spite of little promotion.^[13] The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and sold 49,989 in its first week. "Patience", a further song from the tour which does not appear on the final album track listing, was available as a free download for one week only from Amazon.com in the UK to coincide with the album release.

Track listing

*Symphonica* – standard edition^[14]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Through"	George Michael	5:09
2.	"My Baby Just Cares for Me"	Walter Donaldson Gus Kahn	1:56
3.	"A Different Corner"	Michael	4:14
4.	"Praying for Time"	Michael	4:58
5.	"Let Her Down Easy"	Terence Trent D'Arby	3:50
6.	"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"	Ewan MacColl	5:24
7.	"Feeling Good"	Anthony Newley Leslie Bricusse	3:15
8.	"John and Elvis Are Dead"	Michael David Austin	4:31
9.	"One More Try"	Michael	5:14
10.	"Cowboys and Angels"	Michael	7:24
11.	"Idol"	Elton John Bernie Taupin	4:29
12.	"Brother Can You Spare a Dime"	Jay Gorney Yip Harburg	4:51
13.	"Wild Is the Wind"	Dimitri Tiomkin Ned Washington	4:15
14.	"You've Changed"	Bill Carey Carl T. Fischer	4:44
15.	"I Remember You" (digital bonus track)	Victor Schertzinger Johnny Mercer	4:38

*Symphonica* – deluxe edition^[15]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Through"	Michael	5:09
2.	"My Baby Just Cares for Me"	Donaldson Kahn	1:56
3.	"A Different Corner"	Michael	4:14
4.	"Praying for Time"	Michael	4:58
5.	"Let Her Down Easy"	D'Arby	3:50
6.	"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"	MacColl	5:24
7.	"Feeling Good"	Newley Bricusse	3:15
8.	"John and Elvis Are Dead"	Michael Austin	4:31
9.	"Roxanne"	Sting	4:20
10.	"One More Try"	Michael	5:14
11.	"Going to a Town"	Rufus Wainwright	4:45
12.	"Cowboys and Angels"	Michael	7:24
13.	"Idol"	John Taupin	4:29
14.	"Brother Can You Spare a Dime"	Gorney Harburg	4:52
15.	"You Have Been Loved"	Michael Austin	5:41
16.	"Wild Is the Wind"	Tiomkin Washington	4:15
17.	"You've Changed"	Carey Fischer	4:44
18.	"I Remember You" (digital bonus track)	Schertzinger Mercer	4:38

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.^[16]

Laurence Anslow – assistant engineer
David Austin – executive producer, mastering
Tom Bailey – assistant engineer
Chris Barrett – assistant engineer
Mike Brown – guitar
Ben Butler – guitar
Chris Cameron – arranger, keyboards, musical direction
Fiona Cruickshank – assistant engineer
Danny Cummings – percussion
Frank Filipetti – engineer
David Finck – bass, double bass
Olga Fitzroy – assistant engineer
Niall Flynn – engineer, mastering, Pro Tools
Geoff Foster – engineer
Gordon Goodwin – arranger
Laurence Greed – assistant engineer
Gavin Greenaway – conductor
Simon Halfon – design
Andy Hamilton – EWI, keyboards, tenor saxophone
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg – composer
Jay Henry – background vocals
Carlos Hercules – drums
Henry Hey – arranger, musical direction, piano
James Jackman – programming
Lincoln Jean-Marie – background vocals
Lucy Jules – background vocals
Graham Kearns – guitar
Shirley Lewis – background vocals
Mark McLean – drums
Rob Mathes – arranger, conductor
George Michael – design, lead vocals, producer
Adam Miller – assistant engineer, Pro Tools
Rob Mounsey – arranger
Lea Mullen – percussion
Phil Palmer – guitar
Lori Perry – background vocals
Sharon Perry – background vocals
John Prestage – assistant engineer
Phil Ramone – producer
Steve Sidwell – conductor
Luke Smith – keyboards
Ray Staff – mastering
Symphonica Air Orchestra – primary artist
Symphonica US Orchestra – primary artist
Caroline True – photography
Steve Walters – bass
Torrie Zito – arranger

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2014)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[17]	11
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[18]	7
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[19]	3
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[20]	4
Croatian International Albums (HDU)^[21]	1
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)^[22]	5
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)^[23]	2
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[24]	2
French Albums (SNEP)^[25]	15
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[26]	6
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)^[27]	5
Irish Albums (IRMA)^[28]	1
Italian Albums (FIMI)^[29]	2
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[30]	14
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[31]	33
Polish Albums (ZPAV)^[32]	1
Portuguese Albums (AFP)^[33]	8
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[34]	2
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)^[35]	16
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[36]	6
UK Albums (OCC)^[37]	1
UK Album Downloads (OCC)^[38]	1
US Billboard 200^[39]	60

Year-end charts

Chart (2014)	Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[40]	57
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[41]	49
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)^[42]	28
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)^[43]	81
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)^[44]	86
Italian Albums (FIMI)^[45]	97
Polish Albums (ZPAV)^[46]	7
UK Albums (OCC)^[47]	35

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)^[48]	Gold	10,000^‡
Poland (ZPAV)^[49]	Platinum	20,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[51]	Gold	200,000^[50]
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "Symphonica [Deluxe]". GeorgeMichael.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
^ "George Michael 'Going To A Town' debuts today". Music-News.com. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
^ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (1 July 2014). "George Michael new single & vinyl release". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
^ "Symphonica Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Symphonica – George Michael". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
^ McCormick, Neil (13 March 2014). "Kyle Minogue and George Michael: does age matter in pop?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
^ Sullivan, Caroline (13 March 2014). "George Michael: Symphonica review – 'Glides through songs like a pop swan'". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
^ James, Matt (30 April 2014). "George Michael: Symphonica". PopMatters. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
^ Sheffield, Rob (18 March 2014). "Symphonica". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
^ "George Michael Releases Piano Ballad 'Let Her Down Easy': Listen". Billboard. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
^ Cragg, Michael (4 March 2014). "George Michael's Symphonica: five things we learned". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
^ "George Michael Returns With SYMPHONICA, First Album in Seven Years, Featuring Live... – NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/" (Press release). PR Newswire. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
^ "George Michael unveils new single 'Let Her Down Easy' music video – Music News". Digital Spy. 4 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
^ "iTunes Music – Symphonica by George Michael". iTunes Store. 25 June 1963. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
^ "iTunes Music – Symphonica (Deluxe Version) by George Michael". iTunes Store. 25 June 1963. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
^ "Symphonica – George Michael Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
^ "Australiancharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Austriancharts.at – George Michael – Symphonica" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Ultratop.be – George Michael – Symphonica" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Ultratop.be – George Michael – Symphonica" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Top Stranih [Top Foreign]" (in Croatian). Top Foreign Albums. Hrvatska diskografska udruga. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 12.Týden 2014 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
^ "Danishcharts.dk – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – George Michael – Symphonica" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Lescharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – George Michael – Symphonica" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2014. 12. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "irish-charts.com – Discography George Michael". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Italiancharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Charts.nz – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Portuguesecharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Spanishcharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Swisscharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
^ "George Michael Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Jaaroverzichten 2014" (in Dutch). Ultratop & Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
^ "Rapports Annuels 2014" (in French). Ultratop & Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
^ "Album Top-100 2014" (in Danish). Hitlisten.NU. IFPI Denmark. Archived from the original on 17 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2014" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
^ "Összesített album- és válogatáslemez-lista – chart-pozíció alapján – 2014" (in Hungarian). lightmedia. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
^ "FIMI – Classifiche Annuali 2014 "TOP OF THE MUSIC" FIMI-GfK: un anno di musica italiana" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
^ "Jakie płyty Polacy kupowali najchętniej w 2014 roku – roczne podsumowanie listy OLiS" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2014". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
^ "Danish album certifications – George Michael – Symphonica". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
^ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2016 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
^ "George Michael on the charts". Music Week. Intent Media. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
^ "British album certifications – George Michael – Symphonica". British Phonographic Industry.

[1] "Symphonica [Deluxe]". GeorgeMichael.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.

[2] "George Michael 'Going To A Town' debuts today". Music-News.com. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[3] Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (1 July 2014). "George Michael new single & vinyl release". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved 4 May 2024.

[4] "Symphonica Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 18 March 2014.

[5] Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Symphonica – George Michael". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 October 2014.

[6] McCormick, Neil (13 March 2014). "Kyle Minogue and George Michael: does age matter in pop?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 March 2014.

[7] Sullivan, Caroline (13 March 2014). "George Michael: Symphonica review – 'Glides through songs like a pop swan'". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 October 2014.

[8] James, Matt (30 April 2014). "George Michael: Symphonica". PopMatters. Retrieved 20 October 2014.

[9] Sheffield, Rob (18 March 2014). "Symphonica". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 October 2014.

[10] "George Michael Releases Piano Ballad 'Let Her Down Easy': Listen". Billboard. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.

[Cragg-11] Cragg, Michael (4 March 2014). "George Michael's Symphonica: five things we learned". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 December 2016.

[12] "George Michael Returns With SYMPHONICA, First Album in Seven Years, Featuring Live... – NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/" (Press release). PR Newswire. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.

[13] "George Michael unveils new single 'Let Her Down Easy' music video – Music News". Digital Spy. 4 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.

[14] "iTunes Music – Symphonica by George Michael". iTunes Store. 25 June 1963. Retrieved 17 March 2014.

[15] "iTunes Music – Symphonica (Deluxe Version) by George Michael". iTunes Store. 25 June 1963. Retrieved 17 March 2014.

[16] "Symphonica – George Michael Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 October 2014.

[ac_Australia_George_Michael-17] "Australiancharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_Austria_George_Michael-18] "Austriancharts.at – George Michael – Symphonica" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_Flanders_George_Michael-19] "Ultratop.be – George Michael – Symphonica" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_Wallonia_George_Michael-20] "Ultratop.be – George Michael – Symphonica" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_Croatia_-21] "Top Stranih [Top Foreign]" (in Croatian). Top Foreign Albums. Hrvatska diskografska udruga. Retrieved 11 May 2014.

[ac_Czech_-22] "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 12.Týden 2014 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 5 January 2017.

[ac_Denmark_George_Michael-23] "Danishcharts.dk – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_Netherlands_George_Michael-24] "Dutchcharts.nl – George Michael – Symphonica" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_France_George_Michael-25] "Lescharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_Germany_George_Michael-26] "Offiziellecharts.de – George Michael – Symphonica" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_Hungary_George_Michael-27] "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2014. 12. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[28] "irish-charts.com – Discography George Michael". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_Italy_George_Michael-29] "Italiancharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_New_Zealand_George_Michael-30] "Charts.nz – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_Norway_George_Michael-31] "Norwegiancharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_Poland_George_Michael-32] "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_Portugal_George_Michael-33] "Portuguesecharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_Scotland_-34] "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_Spain_George_Michael-35] "Spanishcharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_Switzerland_George_Michael-36] "Swisscharts.com – George Michael – Symphonica". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_UK2_-37] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[ac_UKDigital_-38] "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 July 2025.

[ac_Billboard200_George_Michael-39] "George Michael Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[40] "Jaaroverzichten 2014" (in Dutch). Ultratop & Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 May 2016.

[41] "Rapports Annuels 2014" (in French). Ultratop & Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 May 2016.

[42] "Album Top-100 2014" (in Danish). Hitlisten.NU. IFPI Denmark. Archived from the original on 17 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.

[43] "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2014" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 May 2016.

[44] "Összesített album- és válogatáslemez-lista – chart-pozíció alapján – 2014" (in Hungarian). lightmedia. Retrieved 6 May 2016.

[45] "FIMI – Classifiche Annuali 2014 "TOP OF THE MUSIC" FIMI-GfK: un anno di musica italiana" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.

[46] "Jakie płyty Polacy kupowali najchętniej w 2014 roku – roczne podsumowanie listy OLiS" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2015.

[47] "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2014". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 May 2015.

[DenmarkGeorge_MichaelSymphonicaalbumCertRef-48] "Danish album certifications – George Michael – Symphonica". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 13 September 2022.

[PolandGeorge_MichaelSymphonicaalbumCertRef-49] "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2016 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2016.

[UK_sales-50] "George Michael on the charts". Music Week. Intent Media. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2024.

[United_KingdomGeorge_MichaelSymphonicaalbumCertRef-51] "British album certifications – George Michael – Symphonica". British Phonographic Industry.

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v t e George Michael
Discography Awards Live performances
Studio albums	Faith Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 Older Songs from the Last Century Patience
Live albums	Five Live MTV Unplugged Symphonica
Compilations	Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael Twenty Five
Video releases	Faith Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael Twenty Five Live in London
Concert tours	The Faith Tour Cover to Cover 25 Live Live in Australia Symphonica Tour
Documentaries	George Michael: A Different Story George Michael: Portrait of an Artist
Related	Wham! Boogie Box High Panayiotou v Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd. Aegean Records Eli Stone Imagine Piano Peace Project Last Christmas soundtrack
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