George Michael: Icon

[quote] It’s a wonder Mother never realised I was a homosexual.

She probably realized the second you started referring to her in the third person as "Mother."

Flawless, absolutely flawless. x

R1 She’s down as Mother in my phone and I address my cards to her the same, but I don’t call her Mother in person. She wouldn’t let me, which is a shame because it amuses me. x

I remember reading a rave review of the first Wham album a few weeks (?) before I actually heard the album itself. I wish I could find that review now. It made me so eager to hear the album, and when I finally did, I agreed with the critic. George had such a wonderful pop voice.

I'm older than probably most posters here. I was pretty much out of pop culture when WHAM came along. I became a jazz fan and then was always drawn to classical music at a young age. I used to play the piano. I discovered George in a strange way which was actually through Freddie Mercury. One night a random click on "Barcelona" (which Freddie sang in his last years with Montserrat Caballe) made me wonder if I had actually missed some good things in popular culture. Freddie brought me back to Queen which was popular in my growing up years. I discovered a new appreciation for their music that I just didn't have in my teens.

I started going through different music videos and clicked on George's cover of Stevie Wonder's "They Won't Go When I Go." I was stunned by the quality of it and then clicked on another of his songs which equally stunned me. He was a completely different caliber of artist than I ever imagined he was. About all that ever stuck in my mind about him prior to this was that arrest in LA for lewd conduct. I think at the time I just considered him an idiot pop star and had no interest. Now I want to try and understand why he was so messed up because I think he had one of the best voices to ever grace the planet. He was an excellent song writer and lyricist. I consider his early death to be the biggest loss out of many that have gone too soon.

The really great artists seem to all be gone anymore except for a few. I was listening to Al Jarreau last night. He was another wonderful singer who is gone. Anyway this is how I became aware of George's talent.

R5 I'm with you on Al Jarreau - one of my all time faves and a cool guy. I'm also late to the George Michael band wagon.... Boy could sing and if you read his lyrics - many are poetic genius. It's beyond tragic that he was remembered for mostly his personal demons. He really didn't do anything different than any "straight" dude in the music business at that time - sex and drugs and hookers. So what? I don't get why he was constantly vilified by the press and even now, by a lot of gays. I guess that's part of the tragedy.

Honestly I have to admit I am another one late to the George Michael bandwagon. After he passed I heard “Jesus To A Child” and “A Different Corner”. When I found out it was George Michael singing and he wrote the lyrics I was in a state of shock. I never realized his voice as actually an instrument and he certainly knew how to use it. I since have become very familiar with his music and the songs he covered. He truly was a pop star but he actually went full circle with his music. Symphonica is a wonderful piece of work. His personal life/tragedy doesn’t concern me. Everyone has skeletons in their closet. Who am I to judge.

I miss has voice.

R6 It's nice to find a fellow Jarreau fan. As I listened to Al's "Since I Fell For You" the other night it made me realize that's one song I wish George had done his own cover on. George had it in him to be a great jazz interpreter. "I Thought About You" is another old tune I wish he would have sung. It seems that once the tabloids smell blood in the water they never let up on the person. It's cruel but I guess if they didn't sell papers with this stuff the public wouldn't have it. You can see in interviews the constant questions with never a let up on that stupid loo business took a toll over the years.

There is a photo of George in his later years walking down the street taking a puff on a cigarette. He never should have been smoking after the pneumonia. At that point I wonder if he didn't have a death wish, but it really stands out in his eyes how troubled he was. The other thing is how long he let his fingernails get. He sort of morphed into a cross between Orson Wells and Howard Hughes at the end. I think once he hit the self destruct button he never looked back. A Greek man in a Greek tragedy is about what I compare it to.

R7 I think George was only 19 when he wrote "A different corner." I love the Symphonica CD too. It's hard to pick a favorite on that one, but I think 'You've Changed" is especially well done. I also love the solo harp on "I'll Remember You."

He is one of my favorite male artists. People tease me about it, but he was an absolute genius. Jesus to a child, Cowboys and angels, You have been loved, Careless Whisper, Last Christmas. All masterpieces. He had a deep soul. Yes, he liked to fuck, and had his demons...who doesn’t? I don’t understand why he isn’t more appreciated....Michael Jackson was fucking kids, and he gets more appreciation. George was a deeper writer (I get that he couldn’t dance like Michael).

He really classed it up for Live At The Palais Garnier Opera House In Paris. Beautifully done. An acquaintance saw him at a signing and reported that it was incredible that his voice is so smooth given that George Michael single-handedly FILLED a large ashtray during the 2 or 3 hour signing event. (Obvs the 80s / pre-smoking ban.)

R12 George should still be here singing in opera houses around the world. It's where he belonged. I consider it a some form of miracle that as a smoker it never effected his voice. It always amazes me how many singers do smoke when their livelihood depends on their voice. It seems reckless and careless but just how it is. Sinatra's voice was impacted early on by smoking if you compare his early recordings to later on. He knew it himself and would at least quit six week prior to a big show. If it were me I'd be scared of a coughing fit in the middle of a song.

While George was here his music was a class act so I'm grateful for that. I can't find anything in video where he was acting the fool on stage like so many today so that's good too. I just wish I knew what he was thinking when he wrote the line in "Through" about suddenly the audience is so cruel. No way to I think that came out of thin air.

Just curious if anyone else thinks that due to the coroner not having established a time of death that George might have actually died on Christmas Eve and not Christmas Day? I just watched a show where they played the 911 call with Fadi. The operator was asking him if the body was stiff, and Fadi replied yes very. Sorry for the morbid content of this, but I was not aware that no time was given or estimated on the death certificate. It would seem George had died quite awhile before Fadi finally found him. If it happened around the midnight hour then I guess one could argue it would be a hard call to make whether on the Eve or the Day, and perhaps the medical examiner just went with Christmas Day since that was when he was found.

DL taught me about George. He was way before my time. My older sister loved him, but I was more into rock in his prime. Really like him now. Wish he was still around.

It's in the news today that all the money George's sister inherited will now go to charities after her untimely passing.

This isn’t a GM song but it might as well be given he did the background vocals. Gorgeous. Thought you might enjoy! I’m a big GM fan since the Wham! days.

Another beautiful song and video!

I did read that George Michael had commented that his so called demons did not interfere with his performances. His band I am sure were not at liberty to divulge any deep dark secrets. One thing for sure his band and backing singers were with him a long time. He seemed to take great pride in his live performances/concerts and he rehearsed for hours due to being a perfectionist. Too bad he wouldn’t put out a performance of his Faith tour. He did have it professionally videotaped. However, it wasn’t up to his standards. There are a few segments on YouTube and it would be a classic to have if you are a George Michael fan.

R17 There are several great covers on YouTube of George’s Cover To Cover Tour. I am also a fan of George Michael’s voice and music. His personal life is of no interest to me. As far as I am concerned they all have skeletons in their closet.

R

R18 "Waltz Away Dreaming" is one of my favorites. This song was done after George lost his mum. When George got in his car to leave the hospital this demo that Toby Burke made is what came on the player. Something about it gave him comfort so he contacted Toby to see if he was open to the idea of them doing the song together. George made this for his dad to help in his grief. The story of this is online for anyone interested in further reading.

Never knew that. Thanks, R20. x

Same here R20. Thanks for those details!

I’m a huge fan but to be honest I’ve grown weary of most of GM big hits you hear most often. I’ve been making playlists of his lesser known songs, many of which are just as good. This is an example of one of them. Great performance as well! So glad i saw this live!

Thanks, r17. I loved that song in high school. Beautiful.

R23 That's a new song to me. It's wonderful and yes so many of the lesser known tracks are the best. Seems to be this way for many artists that the true gems never are what is played on the radio. Thanks for posting this!

Here’s another beautiful track...incredible vocal performance!

Another great GM vocal contribution that ends up being GM track!

R20 I believe that's the only song put out on George and Andros's newly formed Agean record label and then they had a falling out and that was it.

R28 That's my understanding too. Burke is quoted as saying drugs began to take over George's life and then that was the beginning of the end for Agean. This was apparently in George's 25 joints a day phase. I almost think when his mom was alive top priority for George was protecting her from any kind of pain. I think he didn't want her to suffer more than what she endured over the suicides of both her father & brother. People all seem to say while she was here George kept himself in check. It's like once she died having that element ripped out of his psyche just did something to him past the normal and expected grief that everyone feels after losing a loved one. This is a very individual area because some people can lose family and be out living normal life fairly soon. Others are completely crippled by the loss then the worst case scenario is outright suicide. George unfortunately went the latter route and took the long slide to do it.

I’m over trying to armchair diagnose GM and have decided to just enjoy the legacy of music he left behind from now on. I have my own opinions about it— and some of his demons are not unlike my own—so for me his untimely demise is an invitation to do better with the time I have left. I think it’s safe to say he was a profoundly unhappy person—and I only hope that he has found peace.

R30 At some point I'll be where you are now. I just enjoy studying people and have been doing it for thirty years now. I agree it's safe to say he was deeply unhappy, and I regret this is how he suffered in life in spite of all the success. Hopefully he is at peace now. His musical legacy will live on as will his good deeds in helping others. I sincerely wish he could have helped himself.

Yes I agree. I’ve done my time analyzing his situation and a lot of his problems were symptoms of using sex and drugs to deal with serious depression. Instead of getting help and healthy, it was easier to numb out the pain with rampant hedonism. And when you are that rich and famous, there aren’t many people to tell you no.

He always needed and depended on a person to make him feel emotionally ok and safe—his mom, Anselmo, Kenny. You hear that dependency in American Angel, the song he wrote about Kenny. That trick he was with at the end was just a paid leech that indulged him and kept him from being alone. He didn’t really love him. So tragic, but I think at some point George gave up on himself and life.

R32. Said it perfectly.

"icon" mkay

R34 get fucked - go flame another thread - or go back to your I ♥️Kim K fan page.

R32 I love "American Angel." Thank you for reminding me how the lyrics reflect what we're talking about in this thread. The line that stands out the most to me is where George speaks of the fear he has had forever. I agree with your observation that George seemed to need another person to stabilize him. I saw an interview with Kenny where he said he and George saw a psychiatrist. At some point the comment to Kenny was please don't leave George because he though Kenny was the only reason he lived. I have to wonder what that doctor saw in the situation and can only conclude he viewed George as almost suicidal.

I agree George hit a point where he gave up on himself and on life but why? This is the question I hope to answer for myself. I don't want to beat a dead horse because I've mentioned this before, but I always go back to that line in "Through" about the audience suddenly being so cruel. Why would he come up with such a line? I think something in the last years pushed him over the final edge where nothing was going to stop the inevitable.

Why do you believe Kenny didn’t love him? He stayed with an addict for years, that couldn’t have been easy.

I like Kenny from what I know of him. I agree it could not have been easy staying with an addict, and he said he would flush George's drugs down the toilet so as with Elton he did try some type of intervention. Sounds like Kenny had a hard time too losing both parents and then turning to alcohol for insomnia relief. I would say both men had issues throughout their relationship.

No not Kenny - that escort/porn star he was with at the end didn’t love him—the one who destroyed ultimately his house and said terrible things about GM.. Kenny loved him, but he was unable to save him from addiction.

R36 very astute observations. Unfortunately GM needed help a codependent relationship wouldn’t solve. I agree absolutely with your comments. I remember reading a bio on Chet Baker and someone asked him why he was a heroin junkie. His response was that real life was such a drag. I think ultimately GM found no happiness in too much of everything and gave up on the real world. He was so overindulged and jaded so there was no fulfillment in anything—so he slowly killed himself because anything but excess was just a drag.

R39. Kenny never loved him. He was no different from Fadi in terms of golddigging. He was more presentable than fadi nothing more. They both used George out for his money and fame. You must be one of those lovelies who keep yapping about Kenny like he never had a motive.

Careless Whisper soundtracked my first heartbreak, aged 16 - along with the Avalon album by Roxy Music.

"I think ultimately GM found no happiness in too much of everytight.ing and gave up on the real world."

Honestly, if a person values nothing in life but excess and then gives up on living when (duh) it fails to make him happy, then that person is TOTALLY lacking in perception and insight. Yes, life is rough, but happiness is handed to nobody, and even the rich and spoiled have to look at themselves and their lives and figure out what they're doing wrong.

Hell, even that cunty narcissist Elton John has done a better job of life, and he's even more rich and spoiled and fond of excess than GM was! But he managed to get off drugs and find a husband, and do some charity work between shopping sprees to assuage whatever guilt feelings he might be capable of. Fame, fortune, and stardom isn't a death sentence, not to anyone who's capable of working on themselves a little.

“Honestly, if a person values nothing in life but excess and then gives up on living when (duh) it fails to make him happy, then that person is TOTALLY lacking in perception and insight. Yes, life is rough, but happiness is handed to nobody, and even the rich and spoiled have to look at themselves and their lives and figure out what they're doing wrong.“

Agreed. But that is what happens with people in addiction. It’s like trying to take more of the wrong medicine, thinking it’s going to cure you. Ultimately it just makes you sicker.

GM needed to go to recovery to figure out his shit and choose a sober lifestyle. But he chose the other path that many addicts choose every day and it did him in.

Take George’s personal life out of the equation and he’s still a vastly underrated musical talent. I just love his voice. It’s a shame he never reached the heady heights he deserved. He’ll always be an absolute legend as far as I’m concerned. x

R40 Your comment about Chet Baker using drugs because life was so dull reminds me of what people observed with jazz pianist Bill Evans. Instead of life being dull Evans found it too sharp and turned first to heroin. At the worst he was playing piano with the skin on his arms peeling off due to all the needle injections. He beat the heroin only to turn around and become a cocaine addict. A comparison to George is he suffered two deaths in his life. The first was when a member of the Bill Evans trio got killed in a car accident. The second was his brother who committed suicide being a depressive all his life. Everyone said after the brother it would only be a matter of time before Bill died and that's how it went down. He was dead at his own hand known as the longest suicide in jazz history. Later his ex-wife died by throwing herself in front of a subway train. Quite a story. What's left behind is some of the finest jazz music you will find anywhere. No one played piano like Evans.

How true it must be about the person who gets everything they want only to find it kills them. The amount of sex & drugs available to these stars is obscene. I guess after so much there is no new ground to plant yourself on to get fresh thrills. It's rare but some people do manage to come back from the brink. George was unfortunately just not one of them. What's left behind though is some of the most beautiful music in pop.

If your interest is in sex and drugs then as a star you can indeed overindulge if you choose. Thousands of famous people have had other interests and didn't go that route. Addiction and access was George's downfall. And as famous as he was he couldn't just leave his life and start over. Drugs and sex was all he had probably from the late 90's on when his serious spiraling began. Nothing to do with his mum or Anselmo. Like any other addict.

R47 I agree with you. It makes it easier to accept George’s torturous ways when you try to sugar coat it. George was always in control and called the all the shots in his career. I truly believe he thought he was in control until he wasn’t. Everything came fast and furious in his career. If you watch the the dvd of Trojan Horses you see a happy, relaxed and in control young George Michael. Maybe his true fans should try to remember George in that state rather than the George that spiraled out-of-control. It is heartbreaking because I do believe George’s caring for the less fortunate is a quality to his character that added to the charm of the real George Michael.

Remember George’s music catalog including many covers better than the original artists. The spark in his eyes when he was on stage performing and most of all the good qualities that made you a George fan to begin with. If most could do that the other stuff that is out there might just fade away. Then maybe he would get the credit he so deserves for his God given talent. That is what he wanted to be remembered for.

Sad to think in that documentary at the last George said he hoped he would be remembered for having integrity but thought it was probably not going to happen. He said it was pretty much a waste of time and effort. Just a screwed up way he was thinking.

Answers

I once spent the day with him. Not too long before he died. He was lovely. Truly. A humble, shy man with a good sense of humour. He loved dogs. Was happier hanging out with them than people, I think.

Could tell he had demons but I think he was desperate to connect meaningfully with people. His fame got in the way, a particular shame as I work in showbiz, and he one of the nicest, most sincere people I’ve met in it. RIP, wonderful man.

Will the people who keep insisting George Michael is underrated, just knock it off. You keep acting like he's some obscure name that no one has ever heard about. Critics have been laudatory about George almost since day one (even if slagging off the "popiness" of Wham, there was always the voice and the writing.

I caught the Mercury Memorial show on TV the other day, and waited for one of my favourite ever performances. George covering 'Somebody To Love' is as perfect a tribute as could be imagined. Voice, choir, song, words, spirit, massive crowd in adoring unison. Sensational. RIP.

I agree thst I don’t find George Michael underrated. He is one of my favorite musicians and his music holds without the 80s and90s nostalgia.

As to his life and demons, creativity comes from strange and complicated places. He wouldn’t have written the Older album if his lover hadn’t died from Aids. He wouldn’t have sung Outside if he hadn’t been outed in the way he was. He was obviously hurting but so are a number of other artists. Most of the times thats from where the light comes in.

HBO put out a great documentary about him and his music, It wasn't one of those, "and then this happened" It was more about the making of the music. Elton John was pretty pissed at for that opening piano part that plays throughout Freedom and he wished he had come up with it.

He enjoyed drugs - many do. For centuries artists were drug users. Some of the best. I don’t think it requires lots of analysis or wondering why. People believe in creating a myth of decadence and repentance. Life isn’t such a clean and simple story - especially for artists. He lived a lot longer than many of his generation. And he indulged in drugs long enough for it to wear out his body. It’s not a scandal or a horror - it was a full, important life that contributed to the world. Making the drug use the center of the story is such a modern media creation.

He shit and pissed just like everybody else.

I am another one that was totally unaware of how talented George Michael was until after his death. George knew from a young age that he wanted to be a pop star. His dad told him everyone wants to be a pop star. George’s response was not at 17 years old maybe at 12. He never planned on being a singer he wanted to write and create music. Once his career took off there was no looking back. It just so happened he had a voice he used as an instrument. He certainly didn’t need auto tune. You are correct he looked extremely happy and relaxed in the Trojan Horse video. He was like a sponge and absorbed everything he possibly could from writing the songs with great lyrics, producing, arranging, playing the instruments on many of his songs. He played every instrument in “Last Christmas” including the bells. He was a perfectionist. He took control of every aspect of his career. He went solo and by the age of 24 he was invited to perform at the Apollo Theater with Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder. He made a video with Aretha Franklin and topped it off with the a number one album, “Faith”. Won awards. He was intelligent, mastered his craft and had a major void in his life. He wanted to be a star. Well he got everything he wished for and more. Let’s face it the 80’s were a crappy time to be gay. You can’t change who you are and you can’t truly be happy hiding the truth of who you really are. I often wonder if George would have been happier if he had been in his prime now. Anything goes these days. I think those of us that came late to the George Michael party missed out on watching him grow into the performer he became. His Wham! music has stood the test of time. He found some of his creations embarrassing but in reality there are some great songs in that time period. He may not have as many albums to his credit over the period of his career as some but the music catalog he left us is truly wonderful and very versatile. I agree he came full circle in his career with his music. He belonged on stage with an orchestra show casing his voice. He was an extremely talented man with a heart of gold to the less fortunate. His personal life doesn’t interest me. Everyone has skeletons in their closet. On the other hand I find his career and music very interesting.

R58, I look forward to the day when you discover paragraphs.

Ms Michaels was the gay male equivalent of Whitney Houston. Ms Michaels kept his singing voice for more than 5 years unlike Houston. He was a lifelong drug addict which is what killed him. He was extremely generous to others which was admirable but I have no respect for drug addicts.

George was so talented, but people don’t see it because of his pop Wham phase. He also couldn’t play an instrument. His gift was that he could write deep lyrics, and sing them from his soul. So few people can do that. When he sang, it felt like you could feel every emotion.

I think I would rather someone be a self-harming drug addict than someone be a sadistic sociopath who inflicts harm onto others. Addiction tends to be a sign of the mentally ill and mental illness until very recently was heavily stigmatized. George was generous and caring to others despite dying emotionally and physically because of drug abuse. He probably was suicidal and wanted to die.

r61, you couldn't be more wrong. George played many instruments on Older. George Michael – lead vocals, bass guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, programming, arranger, producer.

R60, what have you done for other people? He had an addiction. He still managed to give millions away to help others. How many of us would be addicts if we had millions at the age of 19? He was a child. You don’t respect him...seriously? Go fuck yourself.

George played piano and guitar. He also produced most of his music too even during Wham.

R63 Exactly. George was very proud that he also played every instrument on his album Faith as well. Love how these asshole Millennials pull alternative facts out of their bleached, waxed anuses. R64 Fuck off and die, cunt. Drug addiction is NOT a sign of mental illness. It is a sign of being a weak and pathetic excuse for a human being. I loathe drug addicts and don't make excuses for their bad self-destructive behavior.

R66 Why do you hate them so much? If they are pathetic why not be indifferent to them? The opposite of love is apathy.

R67 Fuck off, Whitney. Isn't there a tub for you to drown in. LOL.

R68 I see you haven't gotten over either of their deaths. That's why you are so angry. They wasted their gifts and you can't forgive them for it. Their legacies in music will live on though. Their addictions just proved they were human beings and self-destructive like everyone else.

R69 Fuck off. Not everyone kills themselves by being a lifelong drug addict. What kind of delusional fucked up world do you live in, cunt. I have never associated with a drug addict and never would.

R70 [quote] What kind of delusional fucked up world do you live in, cunt. I have never associated with a drug addict and never would. How do you know the people you work with aren't addicts? Many people who encounter on the street too? Newsflash many alcoholics and addicts are high-functioning and live and work normal jobs and can present themselves as healthy.

[quote] Not everyone kills themselves by being a lifelong drug addict

Being a life-long drug addicts kills most of them because it rapidly ages you, declines your immunity, increases your chances of becoming seriously ill, puts stress on your body and ultimately causes an overdose.

R70, I get the impression that you live in Fargo. You have never associated with a drug addict? You are gay? Gurl, you need to move on. Bye bitch.

R72 Touché, Janbot.

He looked different when I watched him on 'Sports Machine" late at night

OP probably thought we were gonna canonize a loathsome life long drug addict like Ms George Michaels. So not true.

This may not go down well, but in all honesty, as I was growing up in the 90s and struggling to accept to own my sexuality, I found George Michael a negative icon. Each time he went out cruising on Hampstead Heath he was pissing on his own legacy and causing a lot of damage to public perception of homosexuality. No doubt the homophobic media (& police indeed) were out to get him, but each time he got caught with his pants down, it reinforced old negative stereotypes about gays being perverts and deviants with no self control. I found that pretty damaging growing up. There were no gay role models back then, unless you wanted super-camp borderline trans like Julian Clary and Eddie Izzard, which I didn’t. Michael was a public figure and he could have been a trailblazer for gay rights and representation. Instead he was an embarrassment. I know a lot probably comes down to drugs and whatnot. But I think I’ll always look back at him with disappointment and I personally don’t think his music was all that good. Sorry. I just don’t think he was an icon.

R76 I doubt George nor any other out or closeted gay celeb needs to act any way to fit your definition of icon. He lived his short drug addicted life on his own terms. Considering how horrible both Madonna and Jabba Jackson are now - George was better off dying young than becoming a huge embarrassment. Most of the former pop stars of the 80s died of drug addiction of various sorts. If only Madge and Jabba would get addicted and fuck off for eternity.

R76: I saw him in the same way you did in the 90s while I was growing up. Though now I think good on him for not giving a fuck about what anyone thought of him.

R77 you praise George for acting how he wanted and not giving a shit what others thought, then in the next breath you’re wishing Madonna and Janet dead for doing the very same thing.

R76, i get what you are saying but i think you are choosing the wrong moment to focus. In 1996 he dedicated his album Older to his dead lover Anselmo. It included love songs dedicated to him. The music and video of Fastlove was also a hymn to free sexuality (which, to me, is a good thing) When he was caught up in the bathroom episode it should not have been a surprise to anyone paying attention. Also, you are actually blaming the victim of entrapment.

I still say he shit n pissed like everyone else.

Fastlove reminds me so much of my partner. I was going out to a club, horny and just trying to get laid. I played that song on repeat. His eyes met mine at the club. We are still together 20 years later. So much for fastlove.

R79: R76 here. You’ve got me mixed up with someone who posted something about Janet and Madonna. Wasn’t me.

R79: urgh why is there no delete! Just realised I’m R78, sorry. As you were.

R82, did you make a little room in your BMW? I love your story.