One of the most recognizable formats of talk shows today is James Corden’s “Carpool Karaoke.” In the segment of The Late Late Show with James Corden, the host drives around and picks up a guest singer, and he interviews them while singing their songs. It has become a viral sensation, with the episode featuring Adele garnering more than 127 million views this September. But did you know that the late singer George Michael had a direct hand in the creation of the popular segment?
According to Corden, he was inspired to do the segment after he starred in Red Nose Day 2011, a charity television special. He participated in a sketch of Gavin & Stacy, a sitcom he wrote and starred in about a long-distance relationship. In the sketch, he drives with Michael as they sing Wham! songs.
Watch the video below:
Later, when Corden was developing “Carpool Karaoke,” he remembered the episode with Michael. He said, “Ben Winston and I always thought there was something very joyful about someone very, very famous singing their songs in an ordinary situation. We just had this idea: Los Angeles, traffic, the carpool lane — maybe this is something we could pull off.”
Since then, singers who have guested are Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, One Direction,Red Hot Chili Peppers, Selena Gomez, Sia, Britney Spears, Stevie Wonder, and more.
On December 25, Michael passed away in his sleep. Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, he started his singing career as one-half of Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Following their split in 1986, he released his first solo album Faith in 1987, which included the single of the same name. It went on to be included in Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” The singer released six more albums until 2014.
By the time Michael passed away, he was recognized as one of the best-selling British acts of all time and the most played artist on British radio during the period of 1984–2004. He also won 15 awards from the Brit Awards, the MTV Video Music Awards, Ivor Novello Awards, American Music Awards, and the Grammy Awards.
Michael was 53 when he passed away.
WheninManila.com sends its condolences to the Michael family.
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