You don’t know how happy it makes me to just say the words “new music from George Michael.” We almost lost the pop legend last year after he contracted a strain of pneumonia, but George pulled through and he recounts his ordeal in the new single “White Light.” Set to a thumping dance beat, the lyrics of the song are way more affecting than you’d normally hear from a club-oriented song. George sounds strong vocally (although his voice has definitely lost the top of it’s range,) and…damn it, again: you don’t know how happy it makes me just to say the words “new music from George Michael.” Welcome back, man. And don’t scare us like that again!

Meanwhile, there have been changes in the world of Alicia Keys as well. Since we last heard from her (2009’s The Element Of Freedom was her best album to date) she has become Mrs. Swizz Beatz and the two have given birth to a son. Alicia acknowledges this restart on her new single, “New Day.” Swizz’s production is definitely dominant-it’s the most percussion heavy thing Keys has ever done. However, it doesn’t sound wholly unlike an Alicia Keys song-there are definitely elements of tracks like “No One” in there. I’m digging it.

New albums from George and Alicia are expected to be released this fall. Hmmmm…maybe they’ll see this and contact one another for a duet?