At 80 years old, Irene Michaels is doing something most artists half her age wouldn’t dare attempt — she’s evolving, releasing, and refusing to stand still. Her latest offering is proof of exactly that. “Younger”, written by acclaimed composer Michael A. Levine and now supercharged with a brand new remix by Chicago house music legend Joe Smooth, is the kind of release that makes a statement far beyond the music itself.
“Younger” is more than a song — it is a declaration. Written by Michael A. Levine, the track captures the essence of Irene Michaels’ extraordinary journey: a life defined not by age, but by evolution. In a culture that too often sidelines women of a certain age, Michaels steps directly into the spotlight and dares everyone watching to keep up.
The title alone is an act of defiance — joyful, unapologetic, and entirely her own.
Michael A. Levine is no stranger to Michaels’ world, having previously shaped her sound with his distinctive compositional touch. His work on Younger delivers a song built for longevity — lyrically rich, melodically strong, and perfectly suited to the artist performing it. It is a writer-artist match that understands exactly what it wants to say and says it without flinching.
Then Joe Smooth gets hold of it — and the track ascends to another level entirely.
Joe Smooth is credited as essential to the creation of house music as a genre. He gained international acclaim with “Promised Land,” considered one of the top house records of all time, a song that spoke of how humans, as brothers and sisters, should unite in love and thrive in paradise. That same spirit of uplift, warmth, and dancefloor transcendence is precisely what he brings to his remix of Younger. In Joe Smooth’s own words about his previous collaboration with Michaels, his approach was to take her classic voice and style and give it a Chicago House treatment — ramping up the dance vibe while honoring the power of what she brings to the microphone. He applies that same philosophy here to thrilling effect.
The pairing of these two Chicago-rooted forces — Michaels, the fashion icon, cabaret-turned-pop powerhouse, and Smooth, the underground house architect — creates something that feels both timeless and completely of the moment. Their collaboration brings a fresh perspective to Michaels’ sound, infusing her tracks with infectious energy and a contemporary edge.
At the remarkable age of 80, Irene Michaels continues to pursue her musical dreams with endless dedication — and her musical versatility remains one of her most valuable qualities. “Younger”, in its Joe Smooth remix, is the fullest expression yet of what makes her so extraordinary. This is not nostalgia. This is now.
Hit play. Hit the dancefloor. Feel younger.
Stream “Younger” by Irene Michaels on Spotify here: