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01/04/2017
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George Michael Songs Storm LyricFind Charts

"Careless Whisper" leads both the LyricFind U.S. and LyricFind Global charts.

After George Michael passed away at his home on Christmas Day, the pop legend posthumously tops the LyricFind U.S. and Global charts (dated Jan. 14, encompassing data in the week ending Jan. 1), while sweeping the entire top five of the Global list, both solo and as a member of Wham!.

The LyricFind Global and LyricFind U.S. charts rank the fastest momentum-gaining tracks in lyric-search queries globally and in the U.S., respectively, provided by LyricFind. The Global chart includes queries from all countries except the U.S. The company is the world's leader in licensed lyrics, with data provided by more than 4,000 publishers and utilized by more than 100 services, including Amazon, Pandora, Deezer, Shazam, Microsoft, Yahoo, SoundHound and iHeartRadio.

Wham!'s 1985 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 "Careless Whisper" (billed as featuring Michael) graces the No. 1 spot on both LyricFind rankings. Specifically on Dec. 26, the day following Michael's death, the song drew a 690 percent increase in searches. Michael also debuts at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, on each list with his 1990 Hot 100 No. 1 "Praying for Time" and his 1996 No. 7-peaking "Jesus to a Child."

Even though "Whisper" ranks at No. 1 on both LyricFind charts, Michael's 1990 single "Freedom" garnered the most-searched-for lyrics the day after Michael's death. The song debuts at Nos. 4 and 5 on the Global and U.S. charts, respectively, with an 868 percent increase in search queries on Dec. 26 specifically. Michael rounds out his top five monopoly on LyricFind Global as his 1988 No. 1 "One More Try" enters at No. 5. "Try" tallied the highest percentage increase in lyric searches among Michael songs on Dec. 26, up 984 percent.

Additionally, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" debuts at No. 4 on LyricFind U.S., surely owed to the live cover that Michael and Elton John recorded in 1991 and took to the top of the Hot 100 in 1992.

Michael also makes a big impact on the Spotify Viral 50 chart, as 15 songs from his catalog debut on the ranking dated Jan. 14. "Freedom" is the highest, at No. 2, followed by "Father Figure" (No. 5) and "Faith" (No. 6).