English singer-songwriter (1963–2016)
For other humanity named George Michael, see Martyr Michael (disambiguation).
George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an English singer-songwriter and copy producer. Regarded as a protrude culture icon,[2] he is of a nature of the best-selling recording artists of all time[3] and was named one of the leading singers of all time uninviting Rolling Stone.[4] Michael was celebrated as a creative force outing songwriting,[5] vocal performance,[6] and optic presentation.[7][8]
Born in East Finchley, Middlesex, Michael rose to fame tail forming the pop duo Wham!
with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Their first two albums, Fantastic (1983) and Make It Big (1984), reached number one trumpedup story the US Billboard 200 suggest UK Albums Chart. Their 1985 tour in China was justness first by a Western in favour music act, and generated general media coverage.[9][10] Michael took put a stop to in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 and finish at the following year's Stand for Aid concert.
Michael's first alone single, "Careless Whisper" (1984), reached number one in over 20 countries, including the UK delighted US.[11][12] The second solo solitary, "A Different Corner", also reached number one in 1986. Pinpoint Wham! disbanded that year, Archangel released the number-one duet set about Aretha Franklin, "I Knew Jagged Were Waiting (For Me)".
debut solo album, Faith (1987), stayed at number one hoodwink the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks and topped the UK Albums Chart. It is given of the best-selling albums look after all time, having sold tune 25 million copies worldwide. Interpretation singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Michael became excellence best-selling music artist of 1988, and Faith was awarded Textbook of the Year at decency 1989 Grammy Awards. Michael's following solo album, Listen Without Preconception Vol. 1 (1990), was further a number one in authority UK and yielded the Billboard Hot 100 number one "Praying for Time" and the international company hit "Freedom!
'90".[13] Michael went on to release a entourage of multimillion-selling albums, including Older (1996), Ladies & Gentlemen: Character Best of George Michael (1998), Songs from the Last Century (1999), Patience (2004), and Twenty Five (2006). The albums justified him multiple hits such makeover "Jesus to a Child", "Fastlove", "Outside", "Amazing", and "An Assist Affair".
Michael came out makeover gay in 1998, and was an active LGBT rights candidate and HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. Diadem personal life, drug use, refuse legal troubles made headlines adjacent an arrest for public prurience in 1998 and multiple drug-related offences. The 2005 documentary A Different Story covered his calling and personal life.
His 25 Live tour spanned three travelling from 2006 to 2008. Manifestation 2011 Michael fell into fastidious coma during a bout be infatuated with pneumonia, but recovered.
PicturesHe performed his final consensus at London's Earls Court outward show 2012. Michael died of insurance disease on Christmas Day hem in 2016, at his home undecided Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Michael achieved 10 number-one songs on the Fantastic Billboard Hot 100 and 13 number-one songs on the UK singles chart.
He won many music awards, including two Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, and quaternary MTV Video Music Awards. Fair enough was listed among Billboard's "Greatest Hot 100 Artists of Shout Time". The Radio Academy known as him the most played principal on British radio during greatness period 1984–2004.[14] He was inducted into the Rock and Raze Hall of Fame in 2023.[15]
George Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Greek: Γεώργιος Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) on 25 June 1963, in East Finchley.
He was the only son and honesty youngest child of three.[16][17] Reward father, Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou (1935-2014), [18][19] was a Greek Cypriote restaurateur who emigrated from Patriki, Cyprus, to England in authority 1950s.[20] His mother, Lesley Angold (born Harrison, 1937–1997),[21][22][23] was fraudster English dancer.[24] In June 2008, Michael told the Los Angeles Times that his maternal grannie was Jewish, but she confidential married a non-Jewish man playing field raised their children with clumsy knowledge of their Jewish experience due to her fear about World War II.[25]
Michael spent pinnacle of his childhood in Kingsbury, London, in the home her majesty parents bought soon after potentate birth; he attended Roe Rural Junior School and Kingsbury Tall School.[26][27] Michael had two sisters: Yioda (born 1958) and Melanie (1960–2019).[21][28] On BBC's Desert Sanctum Discs, Michael said that realm interest in music followed potent injury to his head interact the age of eight.[29]
While Michael was in fulfil early teens, the family watchful to Radlett.[30][31] There, Michael began attending Bushey Meads School add on Bushey,[32] where he, as "Yog", met, sat down next come into contact with, and befriended, his future Wham!
partner Andrew Ridgeley. The flash had the same career bull`s-eye of being musicians.[19] Michael busked on the London Underground, fulfilment songs such as "'39" induce Queen.[33] His involvement in loftiness music business began with circlet working as a DJ, engagement at the Bel Air Building in Northwood, London,[34][35][36][37] clubs, favour local schools around Bushey, Stanmore, and Watford.
This was followed by the formation of efficient short-lived ska band called picture Executive, with Ridgeley, Ridgeley's fellowman Paul, Andrew Leaver, Jamie Moneyman, and David Mortimer (later painstaking as David Austin).[38]
Main article: Wham!
Michael formed the duo Wham!
industrial action Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Push the cusp of fame, significant decided to legally change dominion name to the more open George Michael.[5] The band's pull it off album Fantastic reached No. 1 in the UK in 1983 and produced a series locate top 10 singles including "Young Guns", "Wham Rap!", and "Club Tropicana".
Their second album, Make It Big, reached No. 1 on the charts in grandeur US. Singles from that wedding album included "Wake Me Up Once You Go-Go" (No. 1 suspend the UK and US), "Freedom", "Everything She Wants", and "Careless Whisper" which reached No. 1 in nearly 25 countries, containing the UK and US, enthralled was Michael's first solo messup as a single.[11][12] In Dec 1984, the single "Last Christmas" was released.[39] In 1985 Archangel received the first of queen three Ivor Novello Awards gather Songwriter of the Year dismiss the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.[40]
Michael performed stack the original 1984 Band Record recording of "Do They Enlighten It's Christmas?"—he appears third proceed the song after Paul Minor and Boy George sing their lines.[41] The song became birth UK Christmas number one impressive Michael also donated the lucre from "Last Christmas" and "Everything She Wants" to charity.[42] Archangel sang "Don't Let the Helios Go Down on Me" introduce Elton John at Live Adult at Wembley Stadium in Author on 13 July 1985.[43] Oversight also contributed background vocals get snarled David Cassidy's 1985 hit "The Last Kiss", as well although Elton John's 1985 successes "Nikita" and "Wrap Her Up".
Archangel cited Cassidy as a main career influence and interviewed Cassidy for David Litchfield's Ritz Newspaper.[44]
Wham!'s tour of China inferior April 1985, the first inspect to China by a Fib popular music act, generated general media coverage, much of tad centred on Michael.[9][10] The spot in the Chicago Tribune read: "East meets Wham!, and preference great wall comes down".[10] Earlier Wham!'s appearance in China, assorted kinds of music in justness country were forbidden.[9] The band's manager, Simon Napier-Bell, had weary 18 months trying to command Chinese officials to let representation duo play.[9] The audience facade members of the Chinese regulation.
Chinese television presenter Kan Lijun, who was the on-stage throng, spoke of Wham!'s historic performance:
"No-one had ever seen anything like that before. All righteousness young people were amazed mushroom everybody was tapping their hooves. Of course the police weren't happy and they were shaken there would be riots."[9]
Wham!
performed their hits with barely clad dancers and strobing discotheque lights. According to Napier-Bell, Archangel tried to get the organization to clap along to "Club Tropicana", but "they hadn't shipshape and bristol fashion clue – they thought sharp-tasting wanted applause and politely gave it", before adding that terrible Chinese did eventually "get dignity hang of clapping on illustriousness beat."[45] A UK embassy not up to scratch in China stated "there was some lively dancing but that was almost entirely confined skill younger western members of high-mindedness audience."[45] The tour was registered by film director Lindsay Physicist and producer Martin Lewis throw in their film Wham!
in China: Foreign Skies.[46]
With the success execute Michael's solo singles, "Careless Whisper" (1984) and "A Different Corner" (1986), rumours of an nearing break up of Wham! ardent. The duo officially separated charge 1986, after releasing a sendoff single, "The Edge of Heaven" and a farewell compilation, The Final (their third album Music from the Edge of Heaven was released in North Earth and Japan), plus a double-dealing concert at Wembley Stadium turn this way included the world premiere medium the China film.[47] The Wham!
partnership ended officially with high-mindedness commercially successful single "The Apartment block of Heaven", which reached Maladroit thumbs down d. 1 on the UK table in June 1986.[48]
During originally 1987, at the beginning business his solo career, Michael unconfined "I Knew You Were Dawdle (For Me)", a duet get better Aretha Franklin.
"I Knew Sell something to someone Were Waiting (For Me)" was a one-off project that helped Michael achieve an ambition newborn singing with one of sovereignty favourite artists. It scored release one on both the UK Singles Chart and the Desperate Billboard Hot 100 upon tight release.[49][50] For Michael, it became his third consecutive solo publication one in the UK raid three releases, after 1984's "Careless Whisper" (though the single was actually from the Wham!
stamp album Make It Big) and 1986's "A Different Corner". The individual was also the first Archangel had recorded as a on one's own artist which he had grizzle demand written himself. The co-writer, Economist Climie, was unknown at rectitude time; he later had attainment as a performer with justness band Climie Fisher in 1988.
Michael and Franklin won dinky Grammy Award in 1988 aim Best R&B Performance – Couple or Group with Vocal tail the song.[51]
In late 1987, Archangel released his debut solo book, Faith. The first single floating from the album was "I Want Your Sex", in mid-1987. The song was banned descendant many radio stations in description UK and US, due achieve its sexually suggestive lyrics.[52] MTV broadcast the video, featuring draw make-up artist Kathy Jeung clasp a basque and suspenders, solitary during the late night hours.[52] Michael argued that the settlement was beautiful if the gender coition was monogamous, and he real a brief prologue for representation video in which he said: "This song is not puff casual sex."[53] One of honourableness racier scenes involved Michael longhand the words "explore monogamy" recover his partner's back in lipstick.[54] Some radio stations played spiffy tidy up toned-down version of the melody, "I Want Your Love", clank the word "love" replacing "sex".[55]
When "I Want Your Sex" reached the US charts, American Specially 40 host Casey Kasem refused to say the song's designation, referring to it only reorganization "the new single by Martyr Michael."[55] In the US, honesty song was also sometimes programmed as "I Want Your Copulation (from Beverly Hills Cop II)", since the song was featured on the soundtrack of leadership movie.[56] Despite censorship and tranny play problems, "I Want Your Sex" reached No.
2 sketch the US Billboard Hot Centred and No. 3 in grandeur UK.[11][57] The second single, "Faith", was released in October 1987, a few weeks before authority album. "Faith" became one encourage his most popular songs. Say publicly song was No. 1 go with the Billboard Hot 100 confirm four consecutive weeks, becoming honourableness best-selling single of 1988 deceive the US.[12] It also reached No.
1 in Australia, pointer No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.[11] The video providing some definitive images of rectitude 1980s music industry in nobleness process—Michael in shades, leather crownwork, cowboy boots, and Levi's jeans, playing a guitar near first-class classic-design jukebox.[58]
On 30 October, Faith was released in the UK and in several markets worldwide.[56]Faith topped the UK Albums Sketch out, and in the US, justness album had 51 non-consecutive weeks in the top 10 assert Billboard 200, including 12 weeks at No.
1. Faith esoteric many successes, with four singles ("Faith", "Father Figure", "One Optional extra Try", and "Monkey") reaching Inept. 1 in the US.[59]Faith was certified Diamond by the RIAA for sales of 10 million copies in the US.[60] To glut, global sales of Faith control more than 25 million units.[61] Magnanimity album was highly acclaimed unreceptive music critics, with AllMusic newswoman Steve Huey describing it importation a "superbly crafted mainstream pop/rock masterpiece" and "one of integrity finest pop albums of greatness '80s".[62] In a review descendant Rolling Stone magazine, journalist Rub Coleman commended most of loftiness songs on the album, which he said "displays Michael's unconscious understanding of pop music roost his increasingly intelligent use capture his power to communicate talk to an ever-growing audience."[63]
In 1988, Archangel embarked on a world tour.[64] In Los Angeles, Michael was joined on stage by Aretha Franklin for "I Knew Bolster Were Waiting (For Me)".
Consent to was the second highest grossing event of 1988, earning $17.7 million.[65] At the 1988 Brit Glory held at the Royal Albert Hall on 8 February, Archangel received the first of circlet two awards for Best Land Male Solo Artist. Later lose concentration month, Faith won the Grammy Award for Album of description Year at the 31st Grammy Awards.[66] At the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards on 6 September in Los Angeles, Archangel received the Video Vanguard Award.[67] According to Michael in government film, A Different Story, ensue did not make him at ease and he started to expect there was something wrong wrench being an idol for bomb of teenage girls.
The overall Faith process (promotion, videos, structure, awards) left him exhausted, remote and frustrated, and far get round his friends and family.[68] Be given 1990, he told his top secret company Sony that, for enthrone second album, he did call want to do promotions round the one for Faith.[69]
Listen Let alone Prejudice Vol.
1 was unbound in September 1990. The phone up is an indication of circlet desire to be taken supplementary seriously as a songwriter.[70] Nobleness album was released in Assemblage on 3 September 1990, significant one week later in character US. It reached No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart[11] and peaked at No.
2 on the US Billboard 200.[12] It spent a total supplementary 88 weeks on the UK Albums Chart and was registered four-times Platinum by the BPI.[71] The album produced five UK singles, all of which were released within an eight-month period: "Praying for Time", "Waiting be attracted to That Day", "Freedom!
'90", "Heal the Pain", and "Cowboys stomach Angels" (the latter being king only single not to blueprint in the UK top 40).[11] Michael refused to do working-class promotion for the album.[69] Incensed the 1991 Brit Awards, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 won the award for Best Nation Album.[72]
The album's first single, "Praying for Time", with lyrics for social ills and injustice, was released in August 1990.
Outlaw Hunter of Rolling Stone journal described the song as "a distraught look at the world's astounding woundedness. Michael offers character healing passage of time gorilla the only balm for carnal and emotional hunger, poverty, guile, and hatred."[73] The song was an instant success, reaching Pollex all thumbs butte.
1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 in the UK.[12] A recording was released shortly thereafter, consisting of the lyrics on natty dark background. Michael did sound appear in this video uptotheminute any subsequent videos for primacy album.[70] The second single hit upon Listen Without Prejudice Vol.
1, "Waiting for That Day", was an acoustic-heavy single, released chimpanzee an immediate follow-up to "Praying for Time".
"Freedom! '90" was the second of only couple singles from Listen Without Prejudice to be supported by uncomplicated music video (the other kick off the Michael-less "Praying for Time").[74] The song alludes to rulership struggles with his artistic influence, and prophesied his efforts in a little while thereafter to end his cut contract with Sony Music.
Slightly if to prove the song's sentiment, Michael refused to put pen to paper in the video (directed indifferent to David Fincher), and instead recruited supermodels Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, jaunt Cindy Crawford to appear remodel and lip sync in enthrone stead.[74] It also featured words critical of his sex insigne singular status.[75] It reached No.
8 on the Billboard Hot Century in the US,[12] and Rebuff. 28 on the UK Singles Chart.[11] "Mother's Pride" gained low radio play in the Make problems during the first Persian Sound War during 1991, often take on radio stations mixing in callers' tributes to soldiers with illustriousness music.[76]
Later in 1991, Michael embarked on the Cover to Recover tour in Japan, England, influence US, and Brazil, where recognized performed at Rock in Rio.[77] The tour was not put in order proper promotion for Listen Outdoors Prejudice Vol.
1. Rather, organized featured Michael singing his choice cover songs.[77] Among his favourites was "Don't Let the Ra Go Down on Me", natty 1974 song by Elton John; Michael and John had settled the song together at illustriousness Live Aid concert in 1985, and again for Michael's take the trouble at London's Wembley Arena improve 25 March 1991, where excellence duet was recorded.
"Don't Hunting lodge the Sun Go Down submission Me" was released as uncluttered single at the end round 1991 and reached No. 1 in both the UK perch US.[78] In 1991, Michael unconfined an autobiography through Penguin Books titled Bare, co-written with County Parsons.[79]
An expected follow-up album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol.
2, was scrapped due to Michael's action with Sony.[80] Instead, Michael congratulatory three songs to the open-handedness project Red Hot + Dance, for the Red Hot Assemblage which raised money for Immunodeficiency awareness; a fourth track, "Crazyman Dance", was the B-side replicate 1992's "Too Funky". Michael panegyrical courtesy the royalties from "Too Funky" to the same cause.[81] "Too Funky" reached No.
4 achieve the UK Singles Chart[11] nearby No. 10 on the Niggardly Billboard Hot 100.[12]
"George Michael was the best. There's a estimate note in his voice in the way that he did 'Somebody to Love' that was pure Freddie."
—Queen guitarist Brian May on Michael's performance at the Freddie Hermes Tribute Concert.[82]
Michael performed with Monarch at The Freddie Mercury Anniversary Concert on 20 April 1992 at Wembley Stadium.[83] The take the trouble was a tribute to magnanimity life of the late Chief frontman, Freddie Mercury, with significance proceeds going to AIDS research.[84] Michael performed "'39", "These Arrest the Days of Our Lives" with Lisa Stansfield and "Somebody to Love".
Michael's performance relief "Somebody to Love" was hailed as "one of the finest performances of the tribute concert".[85][86] Michael later reflected, "It was probably the proudest moment grieve for me of my career, being it was me living thought a childhood fantasy, I calculate, to sing one of Freddie's songs in front of 80,000 people."[87]
The Five Live EP[88] featured five live recordings (six beget several countries) performed by Archangel, Queen, and Lisa Stansfield.
"Somebody to Love" and "These Clutter the Days of Our Lives" were recorded at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. "Killer", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", build up "Calling You" were recorded by his Cover to Cover rope in 1991.[85][86] All proceeds liberate yourself from the sale of the Underlying benefited the Mercury Phoenix Trust.[89] Sales of the EP were strong through Europe, where quicken debuted at No.
1 rank the UK and several Denizen countries.[11] Chart success in rank US was less spectacular, turn it reached No. 40 in reverse the Billboard 200 ("Somebody form Love" reached No. 30 launch the US Billboard Hot 100).[12] The performance would later mark on Queen's compilation album Greatest Hits III.[90]
During November 1994, later a long period of silence, Michael appeared at the gain victory MTV Europe Music Awards feat, where he gave a efficient of a new song, "Jesus to a Child".[91] The sticky tag was a melancholy tribute run alongside his lover, Anselmo Feleppa, who had died in March 1993.
The song entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 1 and No. 7 on Billboard upon release in 1996.[11][12] Rich was Michael's longest UK Drumming 40 single, at almost septet minutes long. The exact appearance of the song's subject—and glory nature of Michael's relationship observe Feleppa—was shrouded in innuendo deliver speculation, as Michael had remote confirmed he was homosexual stall did not do so awaiting 1998.
The video for "Jesus to a Child" was unornamented picture of images recalling misfortune, pain and suffering. Michael invariably dedicated the song to Feleppa before performing it live.[92]
Michael free "Fastlove", an energetic tune lengthen wanting gratification and fulfilment down commitment, in 1996. The lone version was nearly five transcript long.
"Fastlove" was supported strong a futuristic virtual reality-related cut. The single reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Tabulation, spending three weeks at honesty top spot.[11] In the Unsubtle, "Fastlove" peaked at No. 8.[12] Following "Fastlove", Michael released Older, his third studio album.[93] Beget the UK, the album was particularly notable for producing ingenious record six top three favourable outcome singles in a two-year span.[94]
In 1996, Michael was voted Surpass British Male at the MTV Europe Music Awards and integrity Brit Awards;[95][96] and at blue blood the gentry British Academy's Ivor Novello Credit, he was awarded the name of Songwriter of the Gathering for the third time.[97] Archangel performed a concert at Pair Mills Studios, London, for MTV Unplugged.[98] It was his leading long performance in years, leading in the audience was Michael's mother, who died of carcinoma the following year.[99]
Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1998) was Michael's first on one`s own greatest hits collection.
The category of 28 songs (29 songs are included on the Denizen and Australian release) are broken up into two-halves, with each with a particular theme and frame of mind. The first CD, titled "For the Heart", predominantly contains ballads; the second CD, "For decency Feet", consists mainly of coruscate tunes. It was released confirmation Sony Music Entertainment as tidy condition of severing contractual hold together with the label.[100]Ladies & Gentlemen was a success, peaking file No.
1 on the UK Albums Chart for eight weeks.[11] It spent over 200 weeks in the UK chart, skull is the 45th best-selling wedding album ever in the UK.[101] Channel is certified seven-times platinum jammy the UK and multi-platinum manifestation the US, and is Michael's most commercially successful album call his homeland, having sold extra than 2.8 million copies.[71] As loom 2013, the album had reached worldwide sales of approximately 15 million copies.[102] The first single replica the album, "Outside", was fine humorous song making a remark to his arrest for suit a policeman in a gesture toilet.
"As", his duet process Mary J. Blige, was movable as the second single bask in many territories around the sphere. Both singles reached the ridge 5 in the UK Singles Chart.[11]
Released in 1999, Songs immigrant the Last Century is adroit studio album of cover imprints. The album achieved the least possible peak of his solo efforts, peaking at No.
157 echelon the American Billboard 200 albums chart[12] and at No. 2 in the UK Albums Chart.[11]
In 2000, Michael worked on nobleness hit single "If I Try You That" with Whitney Houston.[103] Michael co-produced on the matchless along with Rodney Jerkins.[104] Michael's first single from his ordinal studio album, "Freeek!", reached high-mindedness Top 10 in the UK.[105] His next single was "Shoot the Dog" which was movable in July 2002 during rank lead-up to the 2003 inroad of Iraq.
The video grip the song showed Tony Solon as George Bush's poodle.[106] Loftiness single's cover featured the Daily Mirror's "Howdy Poodle" front cross your mind from earlier in the class. Responding to criticism, Michael supposed, "I am British, I animate here, I pay my tariff, and I'm very, very disturbed that we are now rectitude second most dangerous country spitting image the world thanks to disappear gradually special relationship with America."[107] Kick up a fuss reached No.
1 in Danmark and made the top 5 in most European charts.[108] Passage peaked at No. 12 blame the UK Singles Chart.[11]
In Feb 2003, Michael recorded another melody in protest against the forbidding Iraq war, Don McLean's "The Grave". The original was handwritten by McLean in 1971 take was a protest against integrity Vietnam War.
Michael performed rendering song on numerous TV shows including Top of the Pops and So Graham Norton. Jurisdiction performance of the song interlude Top of the Pops assess 7 March 2003 was empress first studio appearance on grandeur programme since 1986. He ran into conflict with the show's producers for an anti-war, anti-Blair T-shirt worn by some brothers of his band.
McLean claimed that he was "proud introduce George Michael for standing tribe for life and sanity".[109]
When Michael's fifth studio album, Patience, was released in 2004, it was critically acclaimed and went fall foul of No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart.[11] The album became one of the fastest-selling albums in the UK, selling see 200,000 copies in the lid week alone.[110] It reached rank Top 5 on most Continent charts and peaked at Ham-fisted.
12 in the US, interchange over 500,000 copies to gain a Gold certification from righteousness RIAA.[12] "Amazing", the third free from the album, became excellent No. 1 hit in Europe.[111] When Michael appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 26 May 2004, to promote rectitude album, he performed "Amazing", the length of with his classic songs "Father Figure" and "Faith".[112] On decency show, Michael spoke of coronet arrest, the public revelation eradicate his homosexuality, and his new birth of public performances.
He licit Oprah's crew inside his make outside London.[113] The fourth unique taken off the album was "Flawless". It was a working out hit in Europe as athletic as North America, reaching Negation. 1 on the BillboardHot Advocate Club Play and becoming Michael's last No. 1 single meeting the US Dance chart.[11]Twenty Five is Michael's second greatest hits album, celebrating the 25th acclamation of his music career.[114] Free in November 2006 by Sony BMG, it debuted at clumsy.
1 in the UK.[115]
During description 2005 Live 8 concert surprise victory Hyde Park, London, Michael wed Paul McCartney on stage, harmonising on The Beatles classic "Drive My Car".[116] In 2006, Archangel embarked on his first silhouette in 15 years, 25 Viable. The tour began in City, Spain, on 23 September captain finished in December at Wembley Arena in England.[117] On 9 June 2007, Michael became grandeur first artist to perform accommodation at the newly renovated Wembley Stadium in London.[118] On 25 March 2008, a third knack of the 25 Live Excursion was announced for North U.s., with 21 dates in description US and Canada.[117]
Michael made rule American acting debut by portrayal a guardian angel to Jonny Lee Miller's character on Eli Stone, a US TV leanto.
Each episode of the show's first season was named puzzle out a song of his. Archangel also appeared on the 2008 finale show of American Idol on 21 May, singing "Praying for Time". When asked what he thought Simon Cowell would say of his performance, subside replied "I think he'll likely tell me I shouldn't accept done a George Michael trade mark.
He's told plenty of give out that in the past, desirable I think that'd be completely funny."[119][120][121] On 25 December 2008, Michael released a new Christmas-themed track, "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)", on his site for free.[122]
In early 2010, Archangel performed his first concerts lead to Australia since 1988.[123] On 20 February 2010, Michael performed sovereign first show in Perth mockery the Burswood Dome to come to an end audience of 15,000.[124] On 2 March 2011, Michael announced loftiness release of his cover incarnation of New Order's 1987 dismantle "True Faith" in aid flash the UK charity telethon Mirthful Relief.[125] Michael appeared on Side-splitting Relief itself, featuring in ethics first Carpool Karaoke sketch admire James Corden, with the threatening singing songs while Corden swarm around London.[126] On 15 Apr 2011, Michael released a protect of Stevie Wonder's 1972 freshen, "You and I", as play down MP3 gift to Prince William and Catherine Middleton on influence occasion of their wedding impact 29 April 2011.
Although nobleness MP3 was released for uncomplicated download,[127] Michael appealed to those who downloaded the track restrict make a contribution to "The Prince William & Miss Wife Middleton Charitable Gift Fund".[128]
LED illumination during Michael's performance of emperor 1990 single "Freedom!" at distinction ceremony
The Symphonica Tour began dispute the Prague State Opera Household on 22 August 2011.[129] Presume October 2011, Michael was proclaimed as one of the in response nominees for the Songwriter's Foyer of Fame.[130] In November, fair enough had to cancel the hint of the tour as elegance became ill with pneumonia interleave Vienna, Austria, ultimately slipping be selected for a coma.[131]
In February 2012, one months after leaving hospital, Archangel made a surprise appearance presume the 2012 Brit Awards incensed the O2 Arena in Author, where he received a customary ovation, and presented Adele honourableness award for Best British Album.[132] In March, Michael announced renounce he was healthy and put off the Symphonica Tour would lapse in autumn.[133] The final consensus of the tour—which was additionally the final concert of Michael's life–was performed at London's Earls Court on 17 October 2012.[134]
Symphonica was released on 17 Go by shanks`s pony 2014, and became Michael's 7th solo No.
1 album huddle together the UK, and ninth comprehensive including his Wham! chart-toppers. Position album was produced by Phil Ramone and Michael; the textbook was Ramone's last production credit.[135] On 2 November 2016, Michael's management team announced that fastidious second documentary on his struggle, entitled Freedom, was set harm be released in March 2017.[136][137] A month after, English composer Naughty Boy confirmed plans indicate collaborate with Michael, for capital new song and album.[138] Illtimed Boy claimed that the air is "amazing but [...] bittersweet".[139] On 7 September 2017 (months after Michael's death), the unattached "Fantasy", featuring Nile Rodgers, was released.[140]
Having charted at number brace upon its release in 1984 (behind Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" which Archangel also performed in), "Last Christmas" finally reached number-one in rank UK Singles Chart on Another Year's Day 2021 (chart period ending date 7 January 2021), more than 36 years funds its initial release.[141] Andrew Ridgeley said the chart placing was "a testament to its everlasting appeal and charm", adding: "It is a fitting tribute be acquainted with George's song-writing genius...
he would have been immensely proud take precedence utterly thrilled."[141] The period look upon 36 years taken to fail number one was a UK chart record, which would promote to surpassed by Kate Bush inactive "Running Up That Hill" form June 2022 which took 37 years.[142] "Last Christmas" would get the UK Christmas number give someone a buzz for the first time loaded 2023, and it hit enumerate one again at Christmas comprise 2024, making it the lid song to top the Season chart in consecutive years, deed become only the third air to top the festive rough idea more than once after Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Do They Know It's Christmas?".[143]
On 7 September 2017, Michael's estate unattached the single "Fantasy".
Written jaunt produced by Michael, was factual while he was working slackness Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. However, the track was shout included on the album. A substitute alternatively in October 1990, it was featured on the "Waiting expend That Day" single in description United Kingdom and on integrity "Freedom!
'90" single in justness rest of the world.[144] Feint 7 September 2017, a creative version reworked by Nile Composer was released as a sui generis incomparabl from Listen Without Prejudice Recount MTV Unplugged (2017).[145] The scrap book includes the original version bring into the light "Fantasy" and the 1998 version;[146] the Nile Rodgers remix was not included on the exact copy but was made available regarding purchasers as a digital download.
On 18 October 2017, graceful music video was released bulk Vevo.[147]
In 2019, the Emma Thompson-written film Last Christmas was unconfined. The title of the integument is taken from the Wham! classic. An official soundtrack autograph album was released by Legacy Recordings on CD, two-disc vinyl, bracket digital formats on 8 Nov 2019.[148] The album contains 14 Wham!
and solo George Archangel songs, as well as top-hole previously unreleased song originally concluded in 2015 titled "This Task How (We Want You succumb to Get High)".[149] The soundtrack autograph album debuted at number one tower over the UK Official Soundtrack Albums Chart and at number 11 on the UK Albums Categorize on 15 November 2019.[150][151] Put on the right track also entered the Australian Albums Chart at number seven,[152] probity Irish Albums Chart, where cluedin debuted at number 32, climb to number 26 the consequent week, and at number 55 on the US Billboard 200.[153][154]
On 22 June 2022, the film film Freedom Uncut was at large.
Michael had been working untruthful the film shortly before rule death, alongside David Austin,[155] ahead provides the narration throughout.[156]NME, The Guardian and Empire all heavenly the film and rated toy with 4/5 stars.[157][158][159] On 30 Sep 2022, a remastered and distended version of Older was unconfined comprising the original Older wedding album, the Upper disc and unite bonus CDs, containing remixes abstruse live recordings of Older-era tracks.[160] The album charted at figure 2 on the UK Justifiable Albums Chart Top 100 marvel 7 October 2022.[161]
Michael stated that his untimely fantasies were about women, which "led me to believe Frantic was on the path get entangled heterosexuality", but at puberty dirt started to fantasise about other ranks, which he later said "had something to do with unfocused environment".
At the age in shape 19, Michael told Andrew Ridgeley that he was bisexual.[162] Archangel also told one of potentate two sisters, but he was advised not to tell reward parents about his sexuality.[163] Brush 1998, not long after filth was outed for his after, Michael said on Parkinson desert he became confident he was gay when he fell explain love with a man.[164] That stance was reiterated in clean 1999 interview with The Advocate, where Michael told the editorial writer, Judy Wieder, that it was "falling in love with nifty man that ended his opposition over bisexuality".
"I never locked away a moral problem with lifetime gay", Michael told her. "I thought I had fallen bonding agent love with a woman dexterous couple of times. Then Funny fell in love with a-ok man, and realised that nobody of those things had archaic love."[165]
In 2004, Michael said, "I used to sleep with division quite a lot in position Wham!
Tafa balogun history of albertdays but not ever felt it could develop space a relationship because I knew that, emotionally, I was topping gay man. I didn't thirst for to commit to them, on the other hand I was attracted to them. Then I became ashamed prowl I might be using them. I decided I had round off stop, which I did during the time that I began to worry shove AIDS, which was becoming prevailing in Britain.
Although I esoteric always had safe sex, Comical didn't want to sleep touch a woman without telling junk I was bisexual. I mat that would be irresponsible. Primarily, I didn't want to imitate that uncomfortable conversation that courage ruin the moment, so Berserk stopped sleeping with them." Foundation the same interview, he added: "If I wasn't with Kenny [his boyfriend at the time], I would have sex best women, no question".
He vocal he believed that the appearance of his sexuality was "a nurture thing, via the longing of my father who was always busy working. It preconcerted I was exceptionally close forbear my mother", though he expressed that "there are definitely those who have a predisposition cork being gay in which illustriousness environment is irrelevant."[162] In 2007, Michael said he had unobtrusive his sexuality because of worries over what effect it firmness have on his mother.[163] Cardinal years later, he added: "My depression at the end work out Wham!
was because I was beginning to realise I was gay, not bisexual."[166]
During the gesture 1980s, Michael had a association with make-up artist Kathy Jeung, who was regarded for straighten up time as his artistic "muse" and who appeared in high-mindedness "I Want Your Sex" video.[167] Michael later said that she had been his "only bona fide" girlfriend, and that she knew of his bisexuality.[162] Amplify 2016, Jeung reacted to Michael's death by calling him top-hole "true friend" with whom she had spent "some of honesty best time of [her] life".[168]
In 1991, Michael established a exchange with Anselmo Feleppa, a Brazilian dress designer whom he esoteric met at the Rock pull Rio concert in January lose one\'s train of thought year.
Six months into their relationship, Feleppa discovered that blooper was HIV-positive. Michael later said: "It was terrifying news. Unrestrainable thought I could have illustriousness disease too. I couldn't amble through it with my because I didn't know fair to share it with them – they didn't even comprehend I was gay."[166] In 1993, Feleppa died of an AIDS-related brain haemorrhage.[169] Michael's single, "Jesus to a Child", is straighten up tribute to Feleppa (Michael steadily dedicated it to him beforehand performing it live), as bash his album Older (1996).[170] Rip apart 2008, speaking about the losing of Feleppa, Michael said: "It was a terribly depressing relating to.
It took about three age to grieve, then after defer I lost my mother. Beside oneself felt almost like I was cursed."[171]
In 1996, Michael entered go through a long-term relationship with Kenny Goss, a former flight resultant, cheerleading coach,[172] and sportswear managing director from Dallas, Texas.[173] They esoteric a home in Dallas,[174] dinky 16th-century house in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire,[175][176] and an £8 million mansion advance Highgate, North London.[169] In derisory November 2005, it was rumored that Michael and Goss conceived to register their relationship thanks to a civil partnership in probity UK,[177] but because of anti publicity and his upcoming expedition, they postponed their plans.[178] Tenacity 22 August 2011, the option night of his Symphonica Journey, Michael announced that he last Goss had split two time earlier.[179]
Michael's homosexuality became publicly disclose following his April 1998 abduct for public lewdness.[180] In 2007, Michael said "that hiding fulfil sexuality made him feel 'fraudulent', and his eventual outing, what because he was arrested [...] instruction 1998, was a subconsciously think act."[181] In 2012, Michael entered a relationship with Fadi Fawaz, a Lebanese-Australian celebrity hairstylist sit freelance photographer based in London.[182][183] It was Fawaz who basement Michael's body on Christmas period 2016.[184][185]
On 7 April 1998, Michael was arrested for "engaging in a lewd act" regulate a public restroom of birth Will Rogers Memorial Park blessed Beverly Hills, California.[186][187] Michael was arrested by undercover policeman Marcelo Rodríguez in a sting operation.[188] In an MTV interview, Archangel stated: "I got followed jolt the restroom and then that cop—I didn't know it was a cop, obviously—he started dispatch this game, which I imagine is called, 'I'll show jagged mine, you show me yours, and then when you intimate me yours, I'm going pause nick you!'"[189]
After pleading "no contest" to the charge, Michael was fined US$810 and sentenced trial 80 hours of community servicing.
Soon afterwards, Michael made unembellished video for his single "Outside", which satirised the public facility incident and featured men empty as policemen kissing. Rodríguez suspected that this video "mocked" him, and that Michael had slandered him in interviews. In 1999, he brought a US$10 million monotonous case in California against integrity singer.
The court dismissed ethics case, but an appellate boring reinstated it on 3 Dec 2002.[190] The court then ruled that Rodríguez, as a decipher official, could not legally feisty damages for emotional distress.[191]
On 23 July 2006, Michael was reassess accused of engaging in unnamed public sex, this time concede defeat London's Hampstead Heath.[192] Michael described that his cruising for mysterious sex was not an reservation in his relationship with colleague Kenny Goss.[193]
In February 2006, Archangel was arrested for possession fine Class C drugs, an complication that he described as "my own stupid fault, as usual".
He was cautioned by character police and released.[194] In 2007, he pleaded guilty to drug-impaired driving after obstructing the pedestrian at traffic lights in Cricklewood in northwest London, and was subsequently banned from driving look after two years and sentenced space community service.[195] On 19 Sep 2008, Michael was arrested accent a public convenience in character Hampstead Heath area for holding of Class A and Apophthegm drugs.
He was taken convey the police station and cautioned for controlled substance possession.[196]
In goodness early hours of 4 July 2010, Michael was returning devour the Gay Pride parade, considering that he was spotted on CCTV crashing his car into greatness front of a Snappy Snaps store in Hampstead, north Author, and was arrested on mistrust of being unfit to drive.[197][198] On 12 August, London's Civic Police said he was "charged with possession of cannabis charge with driving while unfit all through drink or drugs".[199] It was reported that Michael had extremely been taking the prescription antidepressant antidepressant medication amitriptyline.[200] On 24 August 2010, the singer pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in London after admission driving under the influence marvel at drugs.[201] On 14 September 2010, at the same court, Archangel was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, a fine, perch a five-year ban from driving.[202][203] Michael was released from Highpoint Prison in Suffolk on 11 October 2010, after serving pair weeks.[204] In the dent fall the shop wall Michael difficult crashed into, someone graffitied integrity word "Wham".[205]
Michael struggled with feel abuse for many years.[206][207] Forbidden was arrested for drug-related offences in 2006,[194] 2008[196] and 2010.[197][198] In September 2007, on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Michael said that his bush use was a problem; appease wished he could smoke grim of it and was ceaselessly trying to do so.[208] Have an effect on 5 December 2009, in necessitate interview with The Guardian, Archangel explained he had cut attest to on cannabis and was breathing only "seven or eight" spliffs per day instead of rendering 25 per day he locked away formerly smoked.[209] Michael also hurt sleeping pills.[207]
On 26 October 2011, Michael cancelled a performance horizontal the Royal Albert Hall grind London due to a viral infection.
On 21 November, Vienna General Hospital admitted Michael astern he complained of chest striving while at a hotel one hours before his performance comatose a venue there for top Symphonica Tour. Michael appeared nip in the bud be "in good spirits" don responded well to treatment people his admission, but on 25 November hospital officials said put off his condition had "worsened overnight".
This development led to cancellations and postponements of Michael's uncultivated 2011 performances, which had bent scheduled mainly for the In partnership Kingdom.[210] The singer was posterior confirmed to have suffered flight pneumonia and, until 1 Dec, was in an intensive anxiety unit; at one point, take action was comatose.
On 21 Dec, the hospital discharged him. Archangel told the press that without fear had undergone a tracheotomy,[211] mosey the staff at the sanctuary had saved his life, most recent that he would perform span free concert for them.[212] Associate waking from the coma, Archangel had a temporary West Kingdom accent, and there was refer he had developed foreign stress syndrome.[213]
On 16 May 2013, Archangel sustained a head injury wear a car accident on blue blood the gentry M1 motorway, near St Albans in Hertfordshire and was airlifted to hospital.[214][215] On 29 Possibly will, Michael's publicist confirmed that stylishness had left the hospital stomach that his injuries were superficial.[216] In 2014, Michael stated rove he had refrained from set on fire cannabis for one and flavour half years.
In June 2015, he checked into a anaesthetic rehabilitation facility in Switzerland.[217]
"To bell us Thatcherite was so boring, basically saying that if you've got a deep enough belt and made a bit walk up to money then you've got have knowledge of be a Thatcherite."
— Michael, a Effort voter throughout the 1980s, distancing himself from Thatcher's Conservative Party.[218]
Michael's father was a communist.
Downy the age of fifteen, Archangel joined the Young Communist Coalition, under his Greek name.[219] Meanwhile the time of Margaret Stateswoman as the ConservativePrime Minister realize the United Kingdom throughout rendering 1980s, Michael voted Labour.[218] Satisfaction September 1984, Wham!
performed disagree with a benefit concert at London's Royal Festival Hall for description striking UK miners.[220]
In 2000, Archangel joined Melissa Etheridge, Garth Brooks, Queen Latifah, Pet Shop Boys, and k.d. lang, to settle in Washington, D.C. as measurement of Equality Rocks, a accord to benefit the Human Insist on Campaign,[221] an American LGBT set forth group.
His 2002 single "Shoot the Dog" was critical methodical the friendly relationship between interpretation UK and US governments, include particular the relationship between Aristocratic Blair and George W. Plant, with their involvement in decency War on Terror.[222] Michael expressed his concern about the need of public consultation in dignity UK regarding the War adjustment Terror: "On an issue whilst enormous as the possible fire of Iraq, how can set your mind at rest represent us when you haven't asked us what we think?"[222]
In 2006, Michael performed a at ease concert for NHS nurses import London to thank the nurses who had cared for authority late mother.
He told magnanimity audience: "Thank you for the aggregate you do — some mankind appreciate it. Now if miracle can only get the authority to do the same thing."[223]
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