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The Atlanta singer-songwriter and entrepreneur turns George Michael’s 1984 classic into a modern-soul confessional—out now via Viral Records.
Darrell Kelley has released a new single: a faithful yet freshly styled take on George Michael’s landmark ballad “Careless Whisper.” Issued September 4, 2025 on Kelley’s Viral Records imprint, the track runs just over five minutes and is available across major platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify.
Covering a song as universally known as “Careless Whisper” is a high-wire act. The original—co-written by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley—was a global No. 1 in 1984 and has endured as one of pop’s most recognizable torch songs, in no small part thanks to its indelible saxophone hook.
Kelley doesn’t try to out-gloss the ‘80s production; instead, he leans into intimacy. Early reviews have highlighted how his phrasing and lived-in tone bring a preacher’s gravity to the lyric, with arrangements that preserve the famous sax motif while swapping in a smoother, contemporary R&B chassis. The independent-radio site College Radio Charts calls it a “soulful reimagining…that takes bold risks,” while Dancing About Architecture notes that he injects “modernity and edge” without losing the song’s seductive vibe.
That balance—reverent but personal—extends to the rollout. A low-lit performance video is circulating on YouTube, positioning the single for discovery beyond playlists. (Top Hitz’ write-up links directly to the clip.)
The campaign behind the track has been decidedly workmanlike. Trade posts and press wires from Mia Mind Music previewed the release and flagged a radio add-date the week of September 29, suggesting a coordinated push at U.S. non-comm and specialty formats.
Kelley’s choice of material also fits his recent arc. After years toggling between gospel-rooted R&B and topical, socially engaged singles, he’s been revisiting canon ballads through a modern lens—see last year’s well-received take on “Neither One of Us,” which he also released via Viral Records.
If you’re new to him, Kelley is a Boston-born, Atlanta-based multi-hyphenate—singer, songwriter, social activist, author, entrepreneur—whose résumé includes restaurant ventures (Soul Delicious) alongside the Viral Records imprint he uses for his music. That border-crossing energy informs his art, which toggles between message songs and slow-burn R&B.
So where does this “Careless Whisper” land in 2025? It’s not interested in nostalgia for its own sake. Kelley holds onto the melody and the sax’s perfume but sands down the ‘80s sheen, foregrounding his vocal as a narrative center of gravity. Reviewers have keyed in on the way he turns the lyric’s remorse into something almost testimonial, reframing the hook from club-floor ache to late-night reckoning. It’s an approach that feels aligned with the song’s DNA—Michael himself wrote it as a teenager wrestling with guilt—while granting the cover its own reason to exist.
For listeners who measure covers by two tests—does it respect the original, and does it reveal something new—Kelley’s version clears both. It’s an accessible on-ramp for contemporary R&B fans who missed the ‘80s the first time, and a worthwhile detour for George Michael devotees curious to hear a familiar melody refracted through a different life story. Stream it now; at five-plus minutes, it lingers just long enough to make its case.
Listen/Watch:
– Spotify: “Careless Whisper – Single.”
– YouTube: “DARRELL KELLEY – Careless Whisper”
