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You Have Been Loved

{{Short description|1997 single by George Michael}}

{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}

{{Infobox song

| name = You Have Been Loved

| cover = YouHaveBeenLovedStrangestThing.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = George Michael

| album = Older

| A-side = The Strangest Thing '97

| released = {{start date|1997|9|8|df=y}}{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-09-06.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=53|date=6 September 1997|access-date=2 July 2021}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 5:30

| label = Virgin

| writer =

| producer = George Michael

| prev_title = Waltz Away Dreaming

| prev_year = 1997

| title2 = The Strangest Thing '97

| next_title = Outside

| next_year = 1998

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|WcX0hDEqS4E|"You Have Been Loved"}}}}

}}

"You Have Been Loved" is a song by English singer and songwriter George Michael, recorded for his third studio album, Older (1996). It was written by Michael and David Austin and produced by Michael. On 8 September 1997, "You Have Been Loved" was released as a double A-side single with "The Strangest Thing '97" and reached number two in the United Kingdom, behind Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" charity record.

Background

Michael wrote "You Have Been Loved" about his lover, Anselmo Feleppa, who died of an AIDS-related illness in 1993.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SzV53dUOF1wC&q=%22You+Have+Been+Loved%22+Anselmo&pg=PA77|title=The Complete Guide to the Music of George Michael & Wham!|author1=Lucy Ellis|author2=Bryony Sutherland|publisher=Omnibus Press|year=1998|isbn=978-0711968226|page=77}} It was released as the sixth single from Older. "The Strangest Thing", also from the album, was remixed and re-recorded for this release as a more up-tempo track, the original version more a Middle Eastern and bossa-nova song.{{cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1996-05-14-9605130269-story.html |title=George Michael Comes Back, With A Whimper Б─⌠ Sun Sentinel |publisher=Sun-sentinel.com |date=1996-05-14 |access-date=2022-07-31}}

Critical reception

Matthew Hocter from Albumism said "You Have Been Loved" is "one of the album’s most heartbreaking and painfully personal love songs".{{cite web|url=https://www.albumism.com/features/george-michael-older-turns-25-anniversary-retrospective|publisher=Albumism|date=12 May 2021|first=Matthew|last=Hocter|title=George Michael's 'Older' Turns 25 — Anniversary Retrospective|access-date=3 October 2021}} A reviewer from Music Week rated it four out of five, describing it as "a gorgeous but painfully sad ballad about the loss of a loved one. May be too downbeat to get his usual feverish radio support, but should go Top 10."{{cite magazine|first=|last=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-08-23.pdf|title=Reviews: Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=23 August 1997|page=12|access-date=18 August 2022}} The magazine's Alan Jones felt it is "George at his most laidback." He added, "Beautifully sung mood music, it meanders mellifluously for more than five minutes and is like a breath of fresh air, though the fact that Older has sold so many copies already, and the track's lack of a commercial hook, will limit its chart potential."{{cite magazine|first=Alan|last=Jones|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-08-30.pdf|title=Talking Music|magazine=Music Week|date=30 August 1997|page=10|access-date=18 August 2022}} An editor from Sunday Mirror wrote, "A beautiful ballad. Considering recent events, it strikes the perfect chord. Enough said."Sunday Mirror. 7 September 1997. p. 37. Alan Jackson from The Times declared it as a "lush, achingly tasteful ballad on bereavement" from "pop's King of Sorrows."Jackson, Alan (6 September 1997). "The week's top pop releases; Records". The Times.

Track listings

  • Asian, Australian, European, and UK CD EP
  1. "You Have Been Loved" – 5:29
  2. "The Strangest Thing '97" (radio mix) – 4:40
  3. "Father Figure" (live from MTV Unplugged) – 6:13
  4. "Praying for Time" (live from MTV Unplugged) – 5:22
  • European and UK CD II
  1. "The Strangest Thing '97" (Loop Ratz mix) – 8:46
  2. "The Strangest Thing '97" (radio mix) – 4:40
  3. "You Have Been Loved" – 5:29
  • European CD single
  1. "You Have Been Loved" – 5:29
  2. "The Strangest Thing '97" (radio mix) – 4:40

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1997)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite Ryan|page=187}}

| 75

{{single chart|Flanders Tip|7|artist=George Michael|song=You Have Been Loved|rowheader=true|access-date=4 January 2017}}
scope="row"| Denmark (IFPI){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-10-11.pdf|title=Top National Sellers: Denmark|magazine=Music & Media|volume=14|issue=41|page=15|date=27 September 1997|access-date=13 May 2019}}

| 7

scope="row"| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-09-27.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=14|issue=39|page=13|date=27 September 1997|access-date=13 May 2019}}

| 9

{{single chart|Ireland2|11|artist=George Michael|song=You Have Been Loved|rowheader=true|access-date=2 May 2011}}
{{single chart|Dutch40|21|year=1997|week=40|rowheader=true|access-date=2 May 2011}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|44|artist=George Michael|song=You Have Been Loved|rowheader=true|access-date=4 January 2017}}
scope="row"| Poland (Music & Media){{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-10-04.pdf|title=Major Market Airplay: Poland|work=Music & Media|volume=14|issue=40|page=23|date=4 October 1997|access-date=13 May 2019}}

| 9

{{single chart|Scotland|4|date=19970914|artist=George Michael|rowheader=true|access-date=4 January 2017}}
{{single chart|Sweden|53|artist=George Michael|song=You Have Been Loved|rowheader=true|access-date=2 May 2011}}
{{single chart|UK|2|date=19970914|rowheader=true|access-date=4 January 2017}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1997)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Singles 1997|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=17 January 1998}}{{cite web|url=http://hosting1642755.az.pl/sp%20uk%20best%201997.html|title=Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997 wg sprzedaży|language=pl|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604144848/http://hosting1642755.az.pl/sp%20uk%20best%201997.html|archive-date=4 June 2015|access-date=14 May 2019}}

| 72

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=George Michael|title=You Have Been Loved|award=Silver|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|id=8410-3520-1|access-date=3 May 2011}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{George Michael singles}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1996 songs

Category:1997 singles

Category:George Michael songs

Category:LGBTQ-related songs

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Songs about HIV/AIDS

Category:Commemoration songs

Category:Songs written by David Austin (singer)

Category:Songs written by George Michael

Category:Song recordings produced by George Michael

Category:Soul ballads

Category:Virgin Records singles