When George Michael took to the stage with Queen in 1992 to pay tribute to the band’s late lead singer Freddie Mercury, he delivered a performance that millions of fans have said Freddie himself would have loved. Looking sharp in a bright red blazer and sunglasses, from the moment George walked out in front of the 72,000-strong crowd, it was clear he was ready to deliver a performance of a lifetime.

From his impassioned delivery to his inimitable stage presence, George didn’t disappoint either. Singing the band’s 1976 hit ‘Somebody To Love’, his effortlessly powerful vocals rang out across the crowd to cheers and screams from every corner, while his ability to get the crowd themselves involved with the performance (singing along and clapping in time) meant that his rendition perhaps wasn’t too dissimilar from one that Freddie himself might have given of the song.

And whilst Freddie Mercury’s shoes are difficult ones to fill, particularly when playing alongside the other members of Queen, George seemed to be welcomed by the audience with open arms. Comments on the YouTube video of the performance also reflect this, with many commenting that George was the only singer who could have done justice to Freddie’s incredible voice and style of performance.

George also played another song with the band that night, the gentler, folkier track ‘39’, the video of which you can watch below. Although the song has an undoubtedly different tone to that of ‘Somebody to Love’, George brings just as much confidence and finesse to his performance, looking happy and relaxed as he delivers a surprisingly intimate rendition alongside Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon.

Of course, as most readers will no doubt know, George Michael himself has now passed away; like Freddie, who sadly died at the age of just 45, George left us far too soon and died when he was only 53. Consequently, the videos from the Freddie Mercury tribute concert now serve as not only a beautiful memory of Freddie’s talent, but also of George’s, who clearly put his heart and soul into the performances he gave with Queen that night.