George Michael's iconic track Careless Whisper has been named the UK's favourite song for an unprecedented eighth consecutive year, according to Smooth Radio's All Time Top 500 poll. The 1984 classic, co-written with Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley, secured the top spot in the annual ranking of Britain's most cherished songs.
The late singer dominated the chart with 20 entries, including six tracks recorded with Wham!. His 1986 hit A Different Corner took second place, pushing Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody down to third. The poll, compiled from nearly 20,000 public votes, was revealed on Monday evening.
Smooth Radio presenter Kate Garraway said: "It's fantastic that George Michael's music and legacy shine as brightly as ever, with Careless Whisper voted the number one song and George Michael named the most popular artist. It's a fitting tribute to one of the greatest artists of all time."
Joint second place in the most popular artist category went to Michael Jackson and Sir Elton John, each with 14 entries. Whitney Houston was the leading female artist with 12 spots, while Queen and ABBA tied as the most popular groups with 11 entries each. Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill achieved its highest-ever ranking at number 10, following its resurgence in the Netflix series Stranger Things.
