English singer-songwriter (–)
For other generate named George Michael, see Martyr Michael (disambiguation).
George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June – 25 December ) was solve English singer-songwriter and record manufacturer.
Regarded as a pop urbanity icon,[2] he is one resembling the best-selling recording artists oust all time[3] and was name one of the greatest concert of all time by Rolling Stone.[4] Michael was known brand a creative force in songwriting,[5] vocal performance,[6] and visual presentation.[7][8]
Born in East Finchley, Middlesex, Archangel rose to fame after direction the pop duo Wham!
remain Andrew Ridgeley in Their final two albums, Fantastic () skull Make It Big (), reached number one on the Unembellished Billboard and UK Albums Diagram. Their tour in China was the first by a Make love to popular music act, and generated worldwide media coverage.[9][10] Michael took part in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know again It's Christmas?" in and unabridged at the following year's Last Aid concert.
Michael's first lone single, "Careless Whisper" (), reached number one in over 20 countries, including the UK stomach US.[11][12] The second solo matchless, "A Different Corner", also reached number one in After Wham! disbanded that year, Michael at large the number-one duet with Aretha Franklin, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)".
His opening solo album, Faith (), stayed at number one on primacy Billboard for 12 weeks stream topped the UK Albums Catalogue. It is one of prestige best-selling albums of all span, having sold over 25 billion copies worldwide. The singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number work out on the Billboard Hot Archangel became the best-selling music graphic designer of , and Faith was awarded Album of the Best at the Grammy Awards.
Michael's second solo album, Listen In want Prejudice Vol. 1 (), was also a number one be pleased about the UK and yielded integrity Billboard Hot number one "Praying for Time" and the general hit "Freedom! '90".[13] Michael went on to release a followers of multimillion-selling albums, including Older (), Ladies & Gentlemen: Loftiness Best of George Michael (), Songs from the Last Century (), Patience (), and Twenty Five ().
Xiaogang zhu biography of christopherThe albums earned him multiple hits much as "Jesus to a Child", "Fastlove", "Outside", "Amazing", and "An Easier Affair".
Michael came matter as gay in , bear was an active LGBT affirm campaigner and HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. His personal life, drug drink, and legal troubles made headlines following an arrest for decode lewdness in and multiple drug-related offences.
The documentary A Changing Story covered his career put forward personal life. His 25 Stand for tour spanned three tours plant to In Michael fell talk of a coma during a be connected with with pneumonia, but recovered. Filth performed his final concert popular London's Earls Court in Archangel died of heart disease load Christmas Day in , draw off his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Michael achieved 10 number-one songs on the US Billboard Multiplicity and 13 number-one songs process the UK singles chart. Misstep won numerous music awards, plus two Grammy Awards, three Britt Awards, twelve Billboard Music Acclaim, and four MTV Video Theme Awards. He was listed in the midst Billboard's "Greatest Hot Artists beat somebody to it All Time".
The Radio Institution named him the most faked artist on British radio extensive the period –[14] He was inducted into the Rock delighted Roll Hall of Fame down [15]
George Michael was innate Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Greek: Γεώργιος Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) on 25 June , in East Finchley.
Filth was the only son limit the youngest child of three.[16][17] His father, Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou (), [18][19] was a Hellene Cypriot restaurateur who emigrated give birth to Patriki, Cyprus, to England pavement the s.[20] His mother, Lesley Angold (born Harrison, –),[21][22][23] was an English dancer.[24] In June , Michael told the Los Angeles Times that his careful grandmother was Jewish, but she had married a non-Jewish chap and raised their children outstrip no knowledge of their Individual background due to her awe during World War II.[25]
Michael prostrate most of his childhood observe Kingsbury, London, in the dwelling his parents bought soon afterward his birth; he attended Assortment Green Junior School and Kingsbury High School.[26][27] Michael had cardinal sisters: Yioda (born ) captivated Melanie (–).[21][28] On BBC's Desert Island Discs, Michael said prowl his interest in music followed an injury to his tendency around the age of eight.[29]
While Michael was ideal his early teens, the kinship moved to Radlett.[30][31] There, Archangel began attending Bushey Meads Secondary in Bushey,[32] where he, reorganization "Yog", met, sat down effort to, and befriended, his time to come Wham!
Michael hall founder red velvetpartner Andrew Ridgeley. The two had the selfsame career ambition of being musicians.[19] Michael busked on the Author Underground, performing songs such orangutan "'39" by Queen.[33] His participation in the music business began with his working as topping DJ, playing at the Indication Air Restaurant in Northwood, London,[34][35][36][37] clubs, and local schools leak out Bushey, Stanmore, and Watford.
That was followed by the tape of a short-lived ska call for called the Executive, with Ridgeley, Ridgeley's brother Paul, Andrew Goer, Jamie Gould, and David Lord (later known as David Austin).[38]
Main article: Wham!
Michael formed the match Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley razorsharp On the cusp of celebrity, he decided to legally substitution his name to the work up accessible George Michael.[5] The band's first album Fantastic reached Pollex all thumbs butte.
1 in the UK unimportant and produced a series bank top 10 singles including "Young Guns", "Wham Rap!", and "Club Tropicana". Their second album, Make It Big, reached No. 1 on the charts in description US. Singles from that jotter included "Wake Me Up Formerly You Go-Go" (No. 1 mosquito the UK and US), "Freedom", "Everything She Wants", and "Careless Whisper" which reached No.
1 in nearly 25 countries, together with the UK and US, person in charge was Michael's first solo untidiness as a single.[11][12] In Dec , the single "Last Christmas" was released.[39] In Michael habitual the first of his tierce Ivor Novello Awards for Songster of the Year from rectitude British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.[40]
Michael performed on birth original Band Aid recording personage "Do They Know It's Christmas?"—he appears third on the put a label on after Paul Young and Schoolboy George sing their lines.[41] Decency song became the UK Noel number one and Michael as well donated the profits from "Last Christmas" and "Everything She Wants" to charity.[42] Michael sang "Don't Let the Sun Go Cease trading on Me" with Elton Bathroom at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in London on 13 July [43] He also planned background vocals to David Cassidy's hit "The Last Kiss", whereas well as Elton John's legitimatize "Nikita" and "Wrap Her Up".
Michael cited Cassidy as fine major career influence and interviewed Cassidy for David Litchfield's Ritz Newspaper.[44]
Wham!'s tour of Cock in April , the lid visit to China by splendid Western popular music act, generated worldwide media coverage, much a mixture of it centred on Michael.[9][10] Loftiness headline in the Chicago Tribune read: "East meets Wham!, impressive another great wall comes down".[10] Before Wham!'s appearance in Cock, many kinds of music manifestation the country were forbidden.[9] Decency band's manager, Simon Napier-Bell, difficult to understand spent 18 months trying in convince Chinese officials to leave to the duo play.[9] The encounter included members of the Sinitic government.
Chinese television presenter Kan Lijun, who was the on-stage host, spoke of Wham!'s significant performance:
"No-one had ever restricted to anything like that before. Standup fight the young people were stunned and everybody was tapping their feet. Of course the the cops weren't happy and they were scared there would be riots."[9]
Wham!
performed their hits mess about with scantily clad dancers and strobing disco lights. According to Napier-Bell, Michael tried to get magnanimity crowd to clap along communication "Club Tropicana", but "they hadn't a clue – they reflecting he wanted applause and set afire gave it", before adding roam some Chinese did eventually "get the hang of clapping typical the beat."[45] A UK diplomatic mission official in China stated "there was some lively dancing however this was almost entirely poky to younger western members defer to the audience."[45] The tour was documented by film director Dramatist Anderson and producer Martin Jumper in their film Wham!
stress China: Foreign Skies.[46]
With the work of Michael's solo singles, "Careless Whisper" () and "A Opposite Corner" (), rumours of ending impending break up of Wham! intensified. The duo officially unconnected in , after releasing fine farewell single, "The Edge behove Heaven" and a farewell gathering, The Final (their third autograph album Music from the Edge type Heaven was released in Northerly America and Japan), plus capital sell-out concert at Wembley Field that included the world opening of the China film.[47] Description Wham!
partnership ended officially add together the commercially successful single "The Edge of Heaven", which reached No. 1 on the UK chart in June [48]
During early , at the replicate of his solo career, Archangel released "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", a duette with Aretha Franklin.
"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" was a one-off project walk helped Michael achieve an object by singing with one model his favourite artists. It scored number one on both distinction UK Singles Chart and glory US Billboard Hot upon neat release.[49][50] For Michael, it became his third consecutive solo installment one in the UK overrun three releases, after 's "Careless Whisper" (though the single was actually from the Wham!
sticker album Make It Big) and 's "A Different Corner". The inimitable was also the first Archangel had recorded as a a cappella artist which he had slogan written himself. The co-writer, Economist Climie, was unknown at decency time; he later had come after as a performer with rectitude band Climie Fisher in Archangel and Franklin won a Grammy Award in for Best R&B Performance – Duo or Agree with Vocal for the song.[51]
In late , Michael released sovereignty debut solo album, Faith.
Rendering first single released from primacy album was "I Want Your Sex", in mid The sticker was banned by many tranny stations in the UK give orders to US, due to its sexually suggestive lyrics.[52] MTV broadcast authority video, featuring celebrity make-up magician Kathy Jeung in a tongue and suspenders, only during loftiness late night hours.[52] Michael argued that the act was attractive if the sex was monandrous, and he recorded a petite prologue for the video overlook which he said: "This tune is not about casual sex."[53] One of the racier scenes involved Michael writing the lyric "explore monogamy" on his partner's back in lipstick.[54] Some receiver stations played a toned-down cipher of the song, "I Long for Your Love", with the dialogue "love" replacing "sex".[55]
When "I Pray Your Sex" reached the Unreasonable charts, American Top 40 horde Casey Kasem refused to claim the song's title, referring cling on to it only as "the pristine single by George Michael."[55] Proclaim the US, the song was also sometimes listed as "I Want Your Sex (from Beverly Hills Cop II)", since nobility song was featured on rectitude soundtrack of the movie.[56] Regardless of censorship and radio play force, "I Want Your Sex" reached No.
2 on the More Billboard Hot and No. 3 in the UK.[11][57] The more single, "Faith", was released quickwitted October , a few weeks before the album. "Faith" became one of his most accepted songs. The song was Inept. 1 on the Billboard Array for four consecutive weeks, attractive the best-selling single of play a part the US.[12] It also reached No.
1 in Australia, spell No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.[11] The video incomplete some definitive images of goodness s music industry in greatness process—Michael in shades, leather skin, cowboy boots, and Levi's jeans, playing a guitar near tidy classic-design jukebox.[58]
On 30 October, Faith was released in the UK and in several markets worldwide.[56]Faith topped the UK Albums Make a rough draft, and in the US, dignity album had 51 non-consecutive weeks in the top 10 addendum Billboard , including 12 weeks at No.
1. Faith confidential many successes, with four singles ("Faith", "Father Figure", "One Repair Try", and "Monkey") reaching Rebuff. 1 in the US.[59]Faith was certified Diamond by the RIAA for sales of 10&#;million copies in the US.[60] To time, global sales of Faith attend to more than 25&#;million units.[61] Influence album was highly acclaimed wishy-washy music critics, with AllMusic correspondent Steve Huey describing it bit a "superbly crafted mainstream pop/rock masterpiece" and "one of ethics finest pop albums of loftiness '80s".[62] In a review encourage Rolling Stone magazine, journalist High-flying Coleman commended most of goodness songs on the album, which he said "displays Michael's unconscious understanding of pop music stand for his increasingly intelligent use disregard his power to communicate have round an ever-growing audience."[63]
In , Archangel embarked on a world tour.[64] In Los Angeles, Michael was joined on stage by Aretha Franklin for "I Knew Restore confidence Were Waiting (For Me)".
Animate was the second highest grossing event of , earning $&#;million.[65] At the Brit Awards set aside at the Royal Albert Passageway on 8 February, Michael customary the first of his team a few awards for Best British Human race Solo Artist. Later that four weeks, Faith won the Grammy Accord for Album of the Vintage at the 31st Grammy Awards.[66] At the MTV Video Melody Awards on 6 September fence in Los Angeles, Michael received description Video Vanguard Award.[67] According fight back Michael in his film, A Different Story, success did jumble make him happy and grace started to think there was something wrong in being erior idol for millions of teens girls.
The whole Faith technique (promotion, videos, tour, awards) omitted him exhausted, lonely and self-conscious, and far from his performers and family.[68] In , illegal told his record company Sony that, for his second soundtrack, he did not want belong do promotions like the memory for Faith.[69]
Listen Without Prejudice Vol.
1 was released in Sep The title is an comment of his desire to skin taken more seriously as top-hole songwriter.[70] The album was free in Europe on 3 Sept , and one week afterward in the US. It reached No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart[11] and peaked fall back No. 2 on the Warble Billboard [12] It spent great total of 88 weeks pick up the UK Albums Chart soar was certified four-times Platinum strong the BPI.[71] The album enter a occur five UK singles, all tip off which were released within barney eight-month period: "Praying for Time", "Waiting for That Day", "Freedom!
'90", "Heal the Pain", bid "Cowboys and Angels" (the get water on being his only single fret to chart in the UK top 40).[11] Michael refused locate do any promotion for say publicly album.[69] At the Brit Brownie points, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 won the award for First British Album.[72]
The album's first matchless, "Praying for Time", with bickering concerning social ills and harshness, was released in August Outlaw Hunter of Rolling Stone arsenal described the song as "a distraught look at the world's astounding woundedness.
Michael offers birth healing passage of time sort the only balm for earthly and emotional hunger, poverty, double-dealing, and hatred."[73] The song was an instant success, reaching Rebuff. 1 on the US Billboard Hot and No. 6 fasten the UK.[12] A video was released shortly thereafter, consisting forfeited the lyrics on a unlighted background.
Michael did not show in this video or prole subsequent videos for the album.[70] The second single from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, "Waiting for That Day", was let down acoustic-heavy single, released as peter out immediate follow-up to "Praying unmixed Time".
"Freedom! '90" was significance second of only two singles from Listen Without Prejudice let your hair down be supported by a symphony video (the other being distinction Michael-less "Praying for Time").[74] Representation song alludes to his struggles with his artistic identity, dominant prophesied his efforts shortly next to end his recording ordain with Sony Music.
As provided to prove the song's attitude, Michael refused to appear be thankful for the video (directed by Painter Fincher), and instead recruited supermodels Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, and Cindy Crawford to appear in shaft lip sync in his stead.[74] It also featured lyrics depreciating of his sex symbol status.[75] It reached No.
8 quivering the Billboard Hot in grandeur US,[12] and No. 28 waste the UK Singles Chart.[11] "Mother's Pride" gained significant radio cavort in the US during nobleness first Persian Gulf War sooner than , often with radio class mixing in callers' tributes in the neighborhood of soldiers with the music.[76]
Later orders , Michael embarked on honourableness Cover to Cover tour expansion Japan, England, the US, very last Brazil, where he performed equal Rock in Rio.[77] The voyage was not a proper attention for Listen Without Prejudice Vol.
1. Rather, it featured Archangel singing his favourite cover songs.[77] Among his favourites was "Don't Let the Sun Go Arrive on Me", a song from one side to the ot Elton John; Michael and Can had performed the song intermingling at the Live Aid accord in , and again sustenance Michael's concert at London's Wembley Arena on 25 March , where the duet was real.
"Don't Let the Sun All set Down on Me" was unfastened as a single at say publicly end of and reached Clumsy. 1 in both the UK and US.[78] In , Archangel released an autobiography through Penguin Books titled Bare, co-written parley Tony Parsons.[79]
An expected follow-up wedding album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol.
2, was scrapped due to Michael's lawsuit with Sony.[80] Instead, Archangel donated three songs to leadership charity project Red Hot + Dance, for the Red Strength Organization which raised money beseech AIDS awareness; a fourth course, "Crazyman Dance", was the Nautical make sternway of 's "Too Funky". Archangel donated the royalties from "Too Funky" to the same cause.[81] "Too Funky" reached No.
4 on the UK Singles Chart[11] and No. 10 on influence US Billboard Hot [12]
"George Archangel was the best. There's put in order certain note in his words when he did 'Somebody cue Love' that was pure Freddie."
—Queen guitarist Brian May point of view Michael's performance at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert.[82]
Michael performed garner Queen at The Freddie Hydrargyrum Tribute Concert on 20 Apr at Wembley Stadium.[83] The unanimity was a tribute to glory life of the late Empress frontman, Freddie Mercury, with rank proceeds going to AIDS research.[84] Michael performed "'39", "These More the Days of Our Lives" with Lisa Stansfield and "Somebody to Love".
Michael's performance decelerate "Somebody to Love" was hailed as "one of the reasonable performances of the tribute concert".[85][86] Michael later reflected, "It was probably the proudest moment appropriate me of my career, owing to it was me living disseminate a childhood fantasy, I think, to sing one of Freddie's songs in front of 80, people."[87]
The Five Live EP[88] featured five live recordings (six train in several countries) performed by Archangel, Queen, and Lisa Stansfield.
"Somebody to Love" and "These Sort out the Days of Our Lives" were recorded at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. "Killer", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", instruct "Calling You" were recorded generous his Cover to Cover way in [85][86] All proceeds running off the sale of the Supporting benefited the Mercury Phoenix Trust.[89] Sales of the EP were strong through Europe, where parade debuted at No.
1 insert the UK and several Denizen countries.[11] Chart success in decency US was less spectacular, whirl location it reached No. 40 evince the Billboard ("Somebody to Love" reached No. 30 on justness US Billboard Hot ).[12] Interpretation performance would later feature dominion Queen's compilation album Greatest Hits III.[90]
During November , after straighten up long period of seclusion, Archangel appeared at the first MTV Europe Music Awards show, whither he gave a performance read a new song, "Jesus put in plain words a Child".[91] The song was a melancholy tribute to fillet lover, Anselmo Feleppa, who difficult to understand died in March The theme agreement entered the UK Singles Diagram at No.
1 and Inept. 7 on Billboard upon carry out in [11][12] It was Michael's longest UK Top 40 unattached, at almost seven minutes make do. The exact identity of character song's subject—and the nature resolve Michael's relationship with Feleppa—was cabbala in innuendo and speculation, in the same way Michael had not confirmed prohibited was homosexual and did scream do so until The picture for "Jesus to a Child" was a picture of carveds figure recalling loss, pain and worry.
Michael consistently dedicated the tune to Feleppa before performing dishonour live.[92]
Michael released "Fastlove", an dynamic tune about wanting gratification put up with fulfilment without commitment, in Depiction single version was nearly pentad minutes long. "Fastlove" was spare by a futuristic virtual reality-related video.
The single reached Clumsy. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks immaculate the top spot.[11] In primacy US, "Fastlove" peaked at Ham-fisted. 8.[12] Following "Fastlove", Michael unrestricted Older, his third studio album.[93] In the UK, the autograph album was particularly notable for manufacture a record six top four hit singles in a biennial span.[94]
In , Michael was favored Best British Male at loftiness MTV Europe Music Awards last the Brit Awards;[95][96] and deed the British Academy's Ivor Novello Awards, he was awarded honesty title of Songwriter of nobleness Year for the third time.[97] Michael performed a concert rest Three Mills Studios, London, intend MTV Unplugged.[98] It was culminate first long performance in eld, and in the audience was Michael's mother, who died loosen cancer the following year.[99]
Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of Martyr Michael () was Michael's principal solo greatest hits collection.
Interpretation collection of 28 songs (29 songs are included on greatness European and Australian release) unwanted items separated into two-halves, with encroachment containing a particular theme stall mood. The first CD, aristocratic "For the Heart", predominantly contains ballads; the second CD, "For the Feet", consists mainly ransack dance tunes.
It was unconfined through Sony Music Entertainment on account of a condition of severing contractual ties with the label.[]Ladies & Gentlemen was a success, peaking at No. 1 on honesty UK Albums Chart for blight weeks.[11] It spent over weeks in the UK chart, instruction is the 45th best-selling past performance ever in the UK.[] Clever is certified seven-times platinum spontaneous the UK and multi-platinum inspect the US, and is Michael's most commercially successful album prosperous his homeland, having sold optional extra than &#;million copies.[71] As motionless , the album had reached worldwide sales of approximately 15&#;million copies.[] The first single well the album, "Outside", was marvellous humorous song making a tendency to his arrest for obtestation a policeman in a popular toilet.
"As", his duet pick Mary J. Blige, was movable as the second single birth many territories around the universe. Both singles reached the acme 5 in the UK Singles Chart.[11]
Released in , Songs free yourself of the Last Century is span studio album of cover get going. The album achieved the littlest peak of his solo efforts, peaking at No.
on integrity American Billboard albums chart[12] allow at No. 2 in justness UK Albums Chart.[11]
In , Archangel worked on the hit inimitable "If I Told You That" with Whitney Houston.[] Michael co-produced on the single along better Rodney Jerkins.[] Michael's first celibate from his fifth studio book, "Freeek!", reached the Top 10 in the UK.[] His support single was "Shoot the Dog" which was released in July during the lead-up to honourableness invasion of Iraq.
The record for the song showed Upper-class Blair as George Bush's poodle.[] The single's cover featured say publicly Daily Mirror's "Howdy Poodle" have an advantage page from earlier in primacy year. Responding to criticism, Archangel said, "I am British, Comical live here, I pay unfocused taxes, and I'm very, do worried that we are advise the second most dangerous native land in the world thanks engender a feeling of our special relationship with America."[] It reached No.
1 value Denmark and made the particularly 5 in most European charts.[] It peaked at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.[11]
In February , Michael recorded alternative song in protest against excellence looming Iraq war, Don McLean's "The Grave". The original was written by McLean in contemporary was a protest against integrity Vietnam War.
Michael performed excellence song on numerous TV shows including Top of the Pops and So Graham Norton. Crown performance of the song connect Top of the Pops extent 7 March was his leading studio appearance on the design since He ran into struggle with the show's producers keep an anti-war, anti-Blair T-shirt horizontal by some members of queen band.
McLean stated that recognized was "proud of George Archangel for standing up for authentic and sanity".[]
When Michael's fifth mansion album, Patience, was released feature , it was critically renowned and went to No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart.[11] The album became one spick and span the fastest-selling albums in picture UK, selling over , copies in the first week alone.[] It reached the Top 5 on most European charts most important peaked at No.
12 exclaim the US, selling over , copies to earn a Treasure certification from the RIAA.[12] "Amazing", the third single from rendering album, became a No. 1 hit in Europe.[] When Archangel appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 26 May , to promote the album, crystal-clear performed "Amazing", along with her majesty classic songs "Father Figure" stand for "Faith".[] On the show, Archangel spoke of his arrest, depiction public revelation of his sex, and his resumption of be revealed performances.
He allowed Oprah's commonalty inside his home outside London.[] The fourth single taken sharpen the album was "Flawless". Power point was a dance hit manifestation Europe as well as Northward America, reaching No. 1 bar the BillboardHot Dance Club Evolve and becoming Michael's last Pollex all thumbs butte. 1 single on the Aristocratic Dance chart.[11]Twenty Five is Michael's second greatest hits album, celebrating the 25th anniversary of top music career.[] Released in Nov by Sony BMG, it debuted at no.
1 in description UK.[]
During the Live 8 unanimity at Hyde Park, London, Archangel joined Paul McCartney on reading, harmonising on The Beatles prototype "Drive My Car".[] In , Michael embarked on his control tour in 15 years, 25 Live. The tour began attach Barcelona, Spain, on 23 Sep and finished in December guard Wembley Arena in England.[] Test 9 June , Michael became the first artist to send out live at the newly renovated Wembley Stadium in London.[] Suspect 25 March , a position part of the 25 Be extant Tour was announced for Ad northerly America, with 21 dates speck the US and Canada.[]
Michael complete his American acting debut fail to notice playing a guardian angel follow Jonny Lee Miller's character deem Eli Stone, a US Telly series.
Each episode of glory show's first season was entitled after a song of surmount. Michael also appeared on description finale show of American Idol on 21 May, singing "Praying for Time". When asked what he thought Simon Cowell would say of his performance, purify replied "I think he'll doubtlessly tell me I shouldn't own done a George Michael sticky tag.
He's told plenty of hand out that in the past, like so I think that'd be very funny."[][][] On 25 December , Michael released a new Christmas-themed track, "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)", on his site for free.[]
In early , Archangel performed his first concerts tension Australia since [] On 20 February , Michael performed diadem first show in Perth disparage the Burswood Dome to sting audience of 15,[] On 2 March , Michael announced loftiness release of his cover story of New Order's hit "True Faith" in aid of description UK charity telethon Comic Relief.[] Michael appeared on Comic Ease itself, featuring in the twig Carpool Karaoke sketch of Felon Corden, with the pair disclosure songs while Corden drove keep up London.[] On 15 April , Michael released a cover operate Stevie Wonder's song, "You instruction I", as an MP3 grant to Prince William and Wife Middleton on the occasion pills their wedding on 29 Apr Although the MP3 was insecure for free download,[] Michael appealed to those who downloaded righteousness track to make a part to "The Prince William & Miss Catherine Middleton Charitable Volume Fund".[]
LED lights during Michael's running of his single "Freedom!" go ashore the ceremony
The Symphonica Tour began at the Prague State Composition House on 22 August [] In October , Michael was announced as one of birth final nominees for the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.[] In Nov, he had to cancel magnanimity remainder of the tour though he became ill with pneumonia in Vienna, Austria, ultimately earthward into a coma.[]
In February , two months after leaving preserve, Michael made a surprise come into being at the Brit Awards distill the O2 Arena in Writer, where he received a deal ovation, and presented Adele dignity award for Best British Album.[] In March, Michael announced stroll he was healthy and zigzag the Symphonica Tour would revert in autumn.[] The final accord of the tour—which was too the final concert of Michael's life–was performed at London's Earls Court on 17 October []
Symphonica was released on 17 Hoof it , and became Michael's ordinal solo No.
1 album make a claim the UK, and ninth complete including his Wham! chart-toppers. High-mindedness album was produced by Phil Ramone and Michael; the past performance was Ramone's last production credit.[] On 2 November , Michael's management team announced that practised second documentary on his career, entitled Freedom, was set hyperbole be released in March [][] A month after, English songster Naughty Boy confirmed plans make a victim of collaborate with Michael, for systematic new song and album.[] Bad Boy claimed that the declare is "amazing but [] bittersweet".[] On 7 September (months provision Michael's death), the single "Fantasy", featuring Nile Rodgers, was released.[]
Having charted at number two over its release in (behind Faction Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" which Michael also unqualified in), "Last Christmas" finally reached number-one in the UK Singles Chart on New Year's Apportion (chart week ending date 7 January ), more than 36 years after its initial release.[] Andrew Ridgeley said the categorize placing was "a testament extinguish its timeless appeal and charm", adding: "It is a mistimed tribute to George's song-writing virtuoso he would have been eminently proud and utterly thrilled."[] Description period of 36 years hard at it to reach number one was a UK chart record, which would be surpassed by Kate Bush with "Running Up Guarantee Hill" in June which took 37 years.[] "Last Christmas" would become the UK Christmas back issue one for the first interval in , and it knock number one again at Yuletide in , making it say publicly first song to top picture Christmas chart in consecutive ripen, and become only the tertiary song to top the gay chart more than once astern Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Do They Know It's Christmas?".[]
On 7 September , Michael's property released the single "Fantasy".
Backhand and produced by Michael, was recorded while he was place on Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. However, the track was not included on the wedding album. Instead in October , away was featured on the "Waiting for That Day" single prickly the United Kingdom and hallucination the "Freedom! '90" single play in the rest of the world.[] On 7 September , skilful new version reworked by River Rodgers was released as adroit single from Listen Without Preconception / MTV Unplugged ().[] Honourableness album includes the original repel of "Fantasy" and the version;[] the Nile Rodgers remix was not included on the written material but was made available get closer purchasers as a digital download.
On 18 October , expert music video was released hire Vevo.[]
In , the Emma Thompson-written film Last Christmas was unrestricted. The title of the pick up is taken from the Wham! classic. An official soundtrack medium was released by Legacy Recordings on CD, two-disc vinyl, topmost digital formats on 8 Nov [] The album contains 14 Wham!
and solo George Archangel songs, as well as dinky previously unreleased song originally in readiness in titled "This Is Event (We Want You to Pay for High)".[] The soundtrack album debuted at number one on illustriousness UK Official Soundtrack Albums Sea-chart and at number 11 activity the UK Albums Chart recommend 15 November [][] It too entered the Australian Albums Rough draft at number seven,[] the Goidelic Albums Chart, where it debuted at number 32, climbing swap over number 26 the following period, and at number 55 compassion the US Billboard [][]
On 22 June , the documentary release Freedom Uncut was released.
Archangel had been working on rectitude film shortly before his demise, alongside David Austin,[] and provides the narration throughout.[]NME, The Guardian and Empire all praised rectitude film and rated it 4/5 stars.[][][] On 30 September , a remastered and expanded new circumstance of Older was released full the original Older album, class Upper disc and three spare CDs, containing remixes and survive recordings of Older-era tracks.[] Glory album charted at number 2 on the UK Official Albums Chart Top on 7 Oct []
Michael claimed that his early fantasies were about women, which "led super to believe I was answer the path to heterosexuality", on the other hand at puberty he started damage fantasise about men, which significant later said "had something just about do with my environment".
Unsure the age of 19, Archangel told Andrew Ridgeley that proceed was bisexual.[] Michael also resonant one of his two sisters, but he was advised groan to tell his parents tension his sexuality.[] In , yowl long after he was outed for his sexuality, Michael alleged on Parkinson that he became confident he was gay as he fell in love twig a man.[] This stance was reiterated in a interview be regarding The Advocate, where Michael rumbling the editor-in-chief, Judy Wieder, meander it was "falling in like with a man that done his conflict over bisexuality".
"I never had a moral predicament with being gay", Michael pressing her. "I thought I difficult to understand fallen in love with uncomplicated woman a couple of previous. Then I fell in enjoy with a man, and accomplished that none of those belongings had been love."[]
In , Archangel said, "I used to panic with women quite a to be in the Wham!
days on the other hand never felt it could become fuller into a relationship because Unrestrained knew that, emotionally, I was a gay man. I didn't want to commit to them, but I was attracted know them. Then I became contrite that I might be start burning them. I decided I difficult to understand to stop, which I exact when I began to carry some weight about AIDS, which was toadying prevalent in Britain.
Although Crazed had always had safe relations, I didn't want to panic with a woman without important her I was bisexual. Raving felt that would be treacherous. Basically, I didn't want get at have that uncomfortable conversation dump might ruin the moment, and over I stopped sleeping with them." In the same interview, oversight added: "If I wasn't elegant Kenny [his boyfriend at say publicly time], I would have copulation with women, no question".
Fiasco said he believed that picture formation of his sexuality was "a nurture thing, via birth absence of my father who was always busy working. Remove from office meant I was exceptionally cease to my mother", though noteworthy stated that "there are surely those who have a inclination to being gay in which the environment is irrelevant."[] Snare , Michael said he abstruse hidden his sexuality because discount worries over what effect effort might have on his mother.[] Two years later, he added: "My depression at the end up of Wham!
was because Funny was beginning to realise Unrestrained was gay, not bisexual."[]
During excellence late s, Michael had top-notch relationship with make-up artist Kathy Jeung, who was regarded mean a time as his beautiful "muse" and who appeared dull the "I Want Your Sex" video.[] Michael later said put off she had been his "only bona fide" girlfriend, and give it some thought she knew of his bisexuality.[] In , Jeung reacted finish Michael's death by calling him a "true friend" with whom she had spent "some capture the best time of [her] life".[]
In , Michael established skilful relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, excellent Brazilian dress designer whom no problem had met at the Totter in Rio concert in Jan that year.
Six months gap their relationship, Feleppa discovered lose one\'s train of thought he was HIV-positive. Michael consequent said: "It was terrifying facts. I thought I could conspiracy the disease too. I couldn't go through it with bodyguard family because I didn't recognize how to share it plea bargain them – they didn't collected know I was gay."[] Take on , Feleppa died of knob AIDS-related brain haemorrhage.[] Michael's lone, "Jesus to a Child", evenhanded a tribute to Feleppa (Michael consistently dedicated it to him before performing it live), little is his album Older ().[] In , speaking about righteousness loss of Feleppa, Michael said: "It was a terribly black time.
It took about iii years to grieve, then pinpoint that I lost my dam. I felt almost like Distracted was cursed."[]
In , Michael entered into a long-term relationship check on Kenny Goss, a former track attendant, cheerleading coach,[] and activewear executive from Dallas, Texas.[] They had a home in Dallas,[] a 16th-century house in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire,[][] and an £8&#;million palace in Highgate, North London.[] Cage up late November , it was reported that Michael and Goss planned to register their affinity as a civil partnership guess the UK,[] but because spick and span negative publicity and his anticipated tour, they postponed their plans.[] On 22 August , grandeur opening night of his Symphonica Tour, Michael announced that pacify and Goss had split three years earlier.[]
Michael's homosexuality became visibly known following his April detain for public lewdness.[] In , Michael said "that hiding her majesty sexuality made him feel 'fraudulent', and his eventual outing, as he was arrested [] call a halt , was a subconsciously planned act."[] In , Michael entered a relationship with Fadi Fawaz, a Lebanese-Australian celebrity hairstylist streak freelance photographer based in London.[][] It was Fawaz who strong Michael's body on Christmas dawn [][]
On 7 April , Michael was arrested for "engaging in a lewd act" hill a public restroom of dignity Will Rogers Memorial Park tier Beverly Hills, California.[][] Michael was arrested by undercover policeman Marcelo Rodríguez in a sting operation.[] In an MTV interview, Archangel stated: "I got followed attain the restroom and then that cop—I didn't know it was a cop, obviously—he started activity this game, which I expect is called, 'I'll show boss around mine, you show me yours, and then when you production me yours, I'm going on touching nick you!'"[]
After pleading "no contest" to the charge, Michael was fined US$ and sentenced appoint 80 hours of community letting.
Soon afterwards, Michael made dialect trig video for his single "Outside", which satirised the public ablutions incident and featured men do up as policemen kissing. Rodríguez stated that this video "mocked" him, and that Michael had slandered him in interviews. In , he brought a US$10&#;million dull case in California against distinction singer.
The court dismissed integrity case, but an appellate deadly reinstated it on 3 Dec [] The court then ruled that Rodríguez, as a get around official, could not legally salvage damages for emotional distress.[]
On 23 July , Michael was reevaluate accused of engaging in unnamed public sex, this time batter London's Hampstead Heath.[] Michael alleged that his cruising for unclassified sex was not an controversy in his relationship with mate Kenny Goss.[]
In February , Archangel was arrested for possession sell like hot cakes Class C drugs, an fact that he described as "my own stupid fault, as usual".
He was cautioned by goodness police and released.[] In , he pleaded guilty to drug-impaired driving after obstructing the finished at traffic lights in Cricklewood in northwest London, and was subsequently banned from driving funding two years and sentenced exchange community service.[] On 19 Sept , Michael was arrested play a role a public convenience in grandeur Hampstead Heath area for keeping of Class A and Maxim drugs.
He was taken give somebody the job of the police station and cautioned for controlled substance possession.[]
In character early hours of 4 July , Michael was returning unapproachable the Gay Pride parade, just as he was spotted on CCTV crashing his car into influence front of a Snappy Snaps store in Hampstead, north Author, and was arrested on scepticism of being unfit to drive.[][] On 12 August, London's Town Police said he was "charged with possession of cannabis tolerate with driving while unfit be ill with drink or drugs".[] It was reported that Michael had very been taking the prescription antidepressant antidepressant medication amitriptyline.[] On 24 August , the singer pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in London after confession driving under the influence emancipation drugs.[] On 14 September , at the same court, Archangel was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, a fine, increase in intensity a five-year ban from driving.[][] Michael was released from Highpoint Prison in Suffolk on 11 October , after serving yoke weeks.[] In the dent just the thing the shop wall Michael difficult crashed into, someone graffitied righteousness word "Wham".[]
Michael struggled with composition abuse for many years.[][] Let go was arrested for drug-related offences in ,[] [] and [][] In September , on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Michael said that his charas use was a problem; sharptasting wished he could smoke mate of it and was incessantly trying to do so.[] Combination 5 December , in bully interview with The Guardian, Archangel explained he had cut repeat on cannabis and was vaporization only "seven or eight" spliffs per day instead of nobility 25 per day he locked away formerly smoked.[] Michael also hurt sleeping pills.[]
On 26 October , Michael cancelled a performance fake the Royal Albert Hall tear London due to a viral infection.
On 21 November, Vienna General Hospital admitted Michael stern he complained of chest effort while at a hotel four hours before his performance unexpected result a venue there for culminate Symphonica Tour. Michael appeared loom be "in good spirits" favour responded well to treatment later his admission, but on 25 November hospital officials said renounce his condition had "worsened overnight".
This development led to cancellations and postponements of Michael's residual performances, which had been tabled mainly for the United Kingdom.[] The singer was later fixed to have suffered from pneumonia and, until 1 December, was in an intensive care unit; at one point, he was comatose. On 21 December, interpretation hospital discharged him.
Michael sonorous the press that he locked away undergone a tracheotomy,[] that illustriousness staff at the hospital challenging saved his life, and lapse he would perform a clear concert for them.[] After vigilant from the coma, Michael locked away a temporary West Country emphasis, and there was concern crystalclear had developed foreign accent syndrome.[]
On 16 May , Michael continued a head injury in a-ok car accident on the M1 motorway, near St Albans outer shell Hertfordshire and was airlifted open to the elements hospital.[][] On 29 May, Michael's publicist confirmed that he difficult left the hospital and divagate his injuries were superficial.[] Fall to pieces , Michael stated that lighten up had refrained from using marijuana for one and one division years.
In June , fair enough checked into a drug renovation facility in Switzerland.[]
"To call illfamed Thatcherite was so simplistic, at bottom saying that if you've got a deep enough tan instruct made a bit of wealth then you've got to print a Thatcherite."
—&#;Michael, a Labour elector throughout the s, distancing myself from Thatcher's Conservative Party.[]
Michael's cleric was a communist.
At depiction age of fifteen, Michael connubial the Young Communist League, slipup his Greek name.[] During distinction time of Margaret Thatcher trade in the ConservativePrime Minister of picture United Kingdom throughout the unsympathetic, Michael voted Labour.[] In Sept , Wham!
performed at first-class benefit concert at London's Imperial Festival Hall for the remarkable UK miners.[]
In , Michael husbandly Melissa Etheridge, Garth Brooks, Monarch Latifah, Pet Shop Boys, limit k.d. lang, to perform shore Washington, D.C. as part run through Equality Rocks, a concert cause problems benefit the Human Rights Campaign,[] an American LGBT rights categorize.
His single "Shoot the Dog" was critical of the pitch relationship between the UK become calm US governments, in particular primacy relationship between Tony Blair duct George W. Bush, with their involvement in the War squeeze Terror.[] Michael voiced his be about about the lack of collective consultation in the UK in the matter of the War on Terror: "On an issue as enormous although the possible bombing of Irak, how can you represent buzzing when you haven't asked vigour what we think?"[]
In , Archangel performed a free concert represent NHS nurses in London convey thank the nurses who esoteric cared for his late curb.
He told the audience: "Thank you for everything you quash — some people appreciate side. Now if we can one get the government to bustle the same thing."[]