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)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
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.

Contents

Track listing

International release

Disc 1: For Living

  1. "Everything She Wants" – 6:33 (1984)
  2. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" – 3:52 (1984)
  3. "Freedom" – 5:20 (1984)
  4. "Faith" – 3:15 (1987)
  5. "Too Funky" – 3:46 (1992)
  6. "Fastlove" – 5:28 (1996)
  7. "Freedom! '90" – 6:30 (1990)
  8. "Spinning the Wheel" – 6:09 (1996)
  9. "Outside" – 4:44 (1998)
  10. "As" (with Mary J. Blige) – 4:43 (1998)
  11. "Freeek!" – 4:32 (2002)
  12. "Shoot the Dog" – 5:08 (2004)
  13. "Amazing" – 4:25 (2004)
  14. "Flawless (Go to the City)" – 4:50 (2004)
  15. "An Easier Affair" – 4:38 (2006)

Disc 2: For Loving

  1. "Careless Whisper" – 3:57 (1984)
  2. "Last Christmas" – 4:27 (1984)
  3. "A Different Corner" – 4:03 (1986)
  4. "Father Figure" – 5:40 (1988)
  5. "One More Try" – 5:53 (1988)
  6. "Praying for Time" – 4:41 (1990)
  7. "Heal the Pain" (with Paul McCartney) – 4:43 (1991)
  8. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (with Elton John) – 5:48 (1993)
  9. "Jesus to a Child" – 6:50 (1995)
  10. "Older" – 5:34 (1996)
  11. "Round Here" – 5:55 (2004)
  12. "You Have Been Loved" – 5:28 (1997)
  13. "John and Elvis Are Dead" – 4:23 (2005)
  14. "This Is Not Real Love" (with Mutya) – 4:56 (2006)

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
  2. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" – 3:52
  3. "Feeling Good" – 2:52
  4. "Faith" – 3:15
  5. "Too Funky" – 3:46
  6. "Fastlove" – 5:28
  7. "Freedom! '90" – 6:30
  8. "Spinning the Wheel" – 6:09
  9. "Outside" – 4:44
  10. "As" (with Mary J. Blige) – 4:43
  11. "Freeek!" – 4:32
  12. "Shoot the Dog" – 5:08
  13. "Amazing" – 4:25
  14. "Flawless (Go to the City)" – 4:50
  15. "An Easier Affair" – 4:38

Disc 2: For Loving

  1. "Careless Whisper" – 3:57
  2. "Last Christmas" – 4:27
  3. "A Different Corner" – 4:03
  4. "Father Figure" – 5:40
  5. "One More Try" – 5:53
  6. "Praying for Time" – 4:41
  7. "Heal the Pain" (with Paul McCartney) – 4:43
  8. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (with Elton John) – 5:48
  9. "Jesus to a Child" – 6:50
  10. "Older" – 5:34
  11. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"
  12. "You Have Been Loved" – 5:28
  13. "John and Elvis Are Dead" – 4:23
  14. "This Is Not Real Love" (with Mutya) – 4:56

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
Australian Albums Chart[10] 9
Austrian Albums Chart[10] 19
Belgian Flanders Albums Chart[10] 2
Belgian Wallonia Albums Chart[10] 2
Czech Republic Albums Chart[11] 11
Danish Albums Chart[10] 2
Dutch Albums Chart[10] 2
European Top 100 Albums[12] 1
Finnish Albums Chart[10] 39
French Compilations Chart[13] 4
German Albums Chart[14] 13
Greek Albums Chart[10] 11
Hungarian Albums Chart[15] 2
Irish Albums Chart[16] 3
Italian Albums Chart[10] 2
Japanese Albums Chart[17] 67
New Zealand Albums Chart[10] 18
Norwegian Albums Chart[10] 10
Polish Albums Chart[18] 8
Portuguese Albums Chart[10] 9
Spanish Albums Chart[10] 10
Swedish Albums Chart[10] 3
Swiss Albums Chart[10] 2
UK Albums Chart[19] 1
Chart (2008) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[20] 23

Certifications

Country Certification
Australia Platinum[21]
Belgium Gold[22]
Denmark Platinum[23]
Europe Platinum[24]
France Gold[25]
Hungary Platinum[26]
Ireland 3× Platinum[27]
New Zealand Gold[28]
Poland 2× Platinum[29]
Switzerland Gold[30]
United Kingdom 2× Platinum[31]

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. ^ http://www.sonybmgmusic.co.uk/artists/george_michael
  2. ^ http://www.georgemichael.com/index.php?module=discography
  3. ^ Allmusic review
  4. ^ PopMatters review
  5. ^ The Times review
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ [2]
  8. ^ [3]
  9. ^ [4]
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Peak positions. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  11. ^ Czech Republic Albums Chart. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  12. ^ European Top 100 Albums. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  13. ^ Compilation chart runs. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  14. ^ Longplay-Chartverfolgung. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  15. ^ Hungarian Albums Chart. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  16. ^ Irish Albums Chart. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  17. ^ George Michael albums sales ranking. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  18. ^ Polish Albums Chart. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  19. ^ Top 75 Releases. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  20. ^ Twenty Five - George Michael. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  21. ^ Accreditations. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  22. ^ Awards 2006. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  23. ^ Danish certifications. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  24. ^ IFPI Awards. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  25. ^ Certifications Albums Or - année 2006. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  26. ^ Adatbázis. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  27. ^ Irish certifications. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  28. ^ Top 40 Albums Chart. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  29. ^ Polish certifications. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  30. ^ Awards 2006. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  31. ^ Certified awards search. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
George Michael
Studio albums
Faith (1987) · Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990) · Older (1996) · Songs from the Last Century (1999) · Patience (2004)
Compilations
Extended plays
Five Live (1993)
Singles
"Careless Whisper" (1984) · "A Different Corner" (1986) · "I Want Your Sex" (1987) · "Hard Day" (1987) · "Faith" (1987) · "Father Figure" (1988) · "One More Try" (1988) · "Monkey" (1988) · "Kissing a Fool" (1988) · "Praying for Time" (1990) · "Waiting for That Day" (1990) · "Mother's Pride" (1990) · "Freedom! '90" (1990) · "Heal the Pain" (1991) · "Cowboys and Angels" (1991) · "Too Funky" (1992) · "Killer"/"Papa Was a Rolling Stone" (1993) · "Jesus to a Child" (1996) · "Fastlove" (1996) · "Spinning the Wheel" (1996) · "Older" (1997) · "Star People '97" (1997) · "You Have Been Loved"/"The Strangest Thing '97" (1997) · "Outside" (1998) · "Freeek!" (2002) · "Shoot the Dog" (2002) · "Amazing" (2004) · "Flawless (Go to the City)" (2004) · "Round Here" (2004) · "John and Elvis Are Dead" (2005) · "An Easier Affair" (2006) · "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)" (2008) · "True Faith" (2011)
Duets
"Wrap Her Up" (1985) · "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987) · "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1991)  · "Waltz Away Dreaming" (1997) · "As" (1999) · "If I Told You That" (2000) · "This Is Not Real Love" (2006) · "Heal the Pain" (2008)
Video albums
Faith (1988) · George Michael (1990) · Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1999) · Twenty Five (2006) · George Michael Live in London (2009)
Tours
Faith World Tour (1988-89) · Cover to Cover tour (1991) · 25 Live (2006-08) · Live in Australia (2010) · Symphonica Tour (2011)
Related articles
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