Sugababes Mutya Buena reveals real story behind George Michael duet saying ‘I thought it was a prank’
Sugababes Mutya Buena has revealed the real story behind her iconic George Michael duet.
Mutya, 38, made history with the Wham! star when they collaborated on the 2006 pop track This Is Not Real.
Mutya, who shot to fame as an original member of the Sugababes in 1998, is one of a select few women that has duetted with the pop icon – others include Aretha Franklin, Mary J Blige, and Whitney Houston.
The popstar built a close friendship with George before he passed away in 2016 at the age of 53.
On air at Virgin Radio UK, Mutya shared her story of how she came to collaborate with George Michael, saying: “I was introduced to George Michael – basically he contacted my management when I was in the Sugababes, before I had left.
“At that time we were really really busy so I couldn’t work with him at that moment.
“I thought I would never hear from him again, but as soon as I left the group he had contacted [my management] and asked if I still wanted to work with him.”
The singer went on to reveal: “I thought it was a joke to be honest.”
“I said yes obviously, I walked into the studio thinking I was being set up, it was a prank or something. But when I walked into the studio, he was sitting on the chair swivelling around on it and I could not believe my eyes.
“I spent most of my day with him in a studio, I watched him sing, I let him tell me how to sing it and what to sing and he was just so cool. He wanted me to be free in the studio.
“I still can’t believe I sang with George Michael.”
Mutya, who also sang on stage with George on his 25 Tour in 2006, shared some touching words about the Wham! icon during the interview.
She said: “God, what can I say about him? He’s most probably one of the most loveliest men I’ve ever met in my life and we all miss him very much.”
You can listen to Mutya Buena’s International Women’s Day playlist on Virgin Radio UK, Friday at 7pm.
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