Spinning the Wheel


"Spinning the Wheel" is a song by George Michael. The song was co-written by Michael and Jon Douglas. It was performed by George Michael and released on Virgin Records in 1996. The song was the third single taken from Older and depicts the worry of a lover whose partner is sexually promiscuous during the period when AIDS was newly discovered and rampant in the West. It peaked at number 2 in the UK, kept off the top by the Spice Girls' "Wannabe". The single also peaked within the Top 10 in Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Scotland and Spain.
"Spinning the Wheel" subsequently appeared on both of George Michael's compilations and Twenty Five.

Critical reception

from Billboard complimented the Forthright-remix of "Spinning the Wheel" as a "hard-driving dance record". He said that the "sleek and jazzy interlude" from the Older album had been reconstructed "with a textured house music sound." He also complimented that Michael "breaks interesting new ground" and that the "sophistication of the original recording remains fully intact, though Forthright darkens the groove to complimentary effect". Sarah Davis from Dotmusic said the song as the album's "upbeat highlight", adding that it finds Michael "sending out warning signs to an errant partner: "Five o'clock in the morning, you ain't home... I will not accept this as part of my life... I would rather be alone than watch you spinning the wheel for me."" Göteborgs-Tidningen stated that it is "at least as good as" "Jesus to a Child" and "Fastlove". Elysa Gardner from Los Angeles Times said that Michael "achieves a light jazz feel that also makes for good background music". Bob Waliszewski of Plugged In said that the singer "demonstrates 'tough love' on 'Spinning the Wheel' as he walks out on an adulterous woman." Ed Morales for Vibe wrote that "the singular swing of the trip-hoppy" song "is compelling".

Track listing

;UK CD
  1. "Spinning the Wheel" – 4:57
  2. "You Know That I Want To" – 4:35
  3. "Safe" – 4:25
  4. "Spinning the Wheel" – 4:41
;EU CD The Dance Remixes
  1. "Spinning the Wheel" – 8:11
  2. "Fastlove" – 4:23
  3. "Spinning the Wheel" – 6:40

    Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications