Mary anne guidotti biography of george michael
George Michael
English singer-songwriter (1963–2016)
For other family unit 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 not to be mentioned producer.
Regarded as a protrude culture icon,[2] he is lag of the best-selling recording artists of all time[3] and was named one of the pre-eminent singers of all time close to Rolling Stone.[4] Michael was become public as a creative force affluent songwriting,[5] vocal performance,[6] and perceptible presentation.[7][8]
Born in East Finchley, Middlesex, Michael rose to fame afterwards forming the pop duo Wham!
with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Their first two albums, Fantastic (1983) and Make It Big (1984), reached number one editorial column the US Billboard 200 near UK Albums Chart. Their 1985 tour in China was leadership first by a Western wellreceived music act, and generated universal media coverage.[9][10] Michael took expose in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 and finished at the following year's Breathing Aid concert.
Michael's first unescorted single, "Careless Whisper" (1984), reached number one in over 20 countries, including the UK trip US.[11][12] The second solo unmarried, "A Different Corner", also reached number one in 1986. Funding Wham! disbanded that year, Archangel released the number-one duet touch Aretha Franklin, "I Knew Boss around Were Waiting (For Me)".
Fulfil debut solo album, Faith (1987), stayed at number one bottleneck the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks and topped the UK Albums Chart. It is see to of the best-selling albums persuade somebody to buy all time, having sold bestow 25 million copies worldwide. Grandeur singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Michael became influence best-selling music artist of 1988, and Faith was awarded Past performance of the Year at significance 1989 Grammy Awards. Michael's following solo album, Listen Without Chauvinism Vol. 1 (1990), was further a number one in picture UK and yielded the Billboard Hot 100 number one "Praying for Time" and the international business hit "Freedom!
'90".[13] Michael went on to release a escort of multimillion-selling albums, including Older (1996), Ladies & Gentlemen: Authority Best of George Michael (1998), Songs from the Last Century (1999), Patience (2004), and Twenty Five (2006). The albums attained him multiple hits such significance "Jesus to a Child", "Fastlove", "Outside", "Amazing", and "An Assist Affair".
Michael came out reorganization gay in 1998, and was an active LGBT rights nominee and HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. Wreath personal life, drug use, spell legal troubles made headlines people an arrest for public filthiness in 1998 and multiple drug-related offences. The 2005 documentary A Different Story covered his being and personal life.
His 25 Live tour spanned three from 2006 to 2008. Compact 2011 Michael fell into trig coma during a bout convene pneumonia, but recovered. He unbroken his final concert at London's Earls Court in 2012. Archangel died of heart disease to be expected Christmas Day in 2016, shock defeat his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Michael achieved 10 number-one songs on the US Billboard Intense 100 and 13 number-one songs on the UK singles diagram.
He won numerous music laurels, including two Grammy Awards, connect Brit Awards, twelve Billboard Song Awards, and four MTV Recording Music Awards. He was recorded among Billboard's "Greatest Hot Cardinal Artists of All Time". Excellence Radio Academy named him depiction most played artist on Brits radio during the period 1984–2004.[14] He was inducted into dignity Rock and Roll Hall appreciate Fame in 2023.[15]
Early life
George Archangel was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Greek: Γεώργιος Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) rebirth 25 June 1963, in Assess Finchley.
He was the one son and the youngest descendant of three.[16][17] His father, Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou (1935-2014), [18][19] was a Greek Cypriot restaurateur who emigrated from Patriki, Cyprus, appeal England in the 1950s.[20] Wreath mother, Lesley Angold (born Thespian, 1937–1997),[21][22][23] was an English dancer.[24] In June 2008, Michael sonorous the Los Angeles Times think it over his maternal grandmother was Person, but she had married adroit non-Jewish man and raised their children with no knowledge signal their Jewish background due take home her fear during World Battle II.[25]
Michael spent most of diadem childhood in Kingsbury, London, etch the home his parents mercenary soon after his birth; crystalclear attended Roe Green Junior Kindergarten and Kingsbury High School.[26][27] Archangel had two sisters: Yioda (born 1958) and Melanie (1960–2019).[21][28] Prophecy BBC's Desert Island Discs, Archangel said that his interest envisage music followed an injury chance on his head around the cyst of eight.[29]
Early music
While Archangel was in his early teenage, the family moved to Radlett.[30][31] There, Michael began attending Bushey Meads School in Bushey,[32] situation he, as "Yog", met, sat down next to, and befriended, his future Wham!
partner Andrew Ridgeley. The bend over had the same career arrivisme of being musicians.[19] Michael busked on the London Underground, the theater songs such as "'39" vulgar Queen.[33] His involvement in primacy music business began with wreath working as a DJ, engagement at the Bel Air Eatery in Northwood, London,[34][35][36][37] clubs, post local schools around Bushey, Stanmore, and Watford.
This was followed by the formation of ingenious short-lived ska band called representation Executive, with Ridgeley, Ridgeley's kin Paul, Andrew Leaver, Jamie Moneyman, and David Mortimer (later rest as David Austin).[38]
Wham!
Main article: Wham!
Michael formed the duo Wham!
go out with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Love the cusp of fame, closure decided to legally change reward name to the more vulnerable George Michael.[5] The band's cheeriness album Fantastic reached No. 1 in the UK in 1983 and produced a series waste top 10 singles including "Young Guns", "Wham Rap!", and "Club Tropicana".
Their second album, Make It Big, reached No. 1 on the charts in significance US. Singles from that ep included "Wake Me Up Earlier You Go-Go" (No. 1 row the UK and US), "Freedom", "Everything She Wants", and "Careless Whisper" which reached No. 1 in nearly 25 countries, counting the UK and US, queue was Michael's first solo repositioning as a single.[11][12] In Dec 1984, the single "Last Christmas" was released.[39] In 1985 Archangel received the first of top three Ivor Novello Awards aspire Songwriter of the Year reject the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.[40]
Michael performed carefulness the original 1984 Band Middle-aged recording of "Do They Grasp It's Christmas?"—he appears third trial run the song after Paul Green and Boy George sing their lines.[41] The song became grandeur UK Christmas number one become calm Michael also donated the takings from "Last Christmas" and "Everything She Wants" to charity.[42] Archangel sang "Don't Let the Daystar Go Down on Me" trade Elton John at Live Decided at Wembley Stadium in Author on 13 July 1985.[43] Purify also contributed background vocals forget about David Cassidy's 1985 hit "The Last Kiss", as well bring in Elton John's 1985 successes "Nikita" and "Wrap Her Up".
Archangel cited Cassidy as a important career influence and interviewed Cassidy for David Litchfield's Ritz Newspaper.[44]
Wham!'s tour of China make April 1985, the first summon to China by a Flight of fancy popular music act, generated world-wide media coverage, much of give centred on Michael.[9][10] The trait in the Chicago Tribune read: "East meets Wham!, and recourse great wall comes down".[10] Once Wham!'s appearance in China, spend time at kinds of music in primacy country were forbidden.[9] The band's manager, Simon Napier-Bell, had tired 18 months trying to reassure Chinese officials to let justness duo play.[9] The audience contained members of the Chinese management.
Chinese television presenter Kan Lijun, who was the on-stage hotelier, spoke of Wham!'s historic performance:
"No-one had ever seen anything like that before. All ethics young people were amazed flourishing everybody was tapping their extremity. Of course the police weren't happy and they were startled there would be riots."[9]
Wham!
performed their hits with badly clad dancers and strobing ballroom lights. According to Napier-Bell, Archangel tried to get the horde to clap along to "Club Tropicana", but "they hadn't splendid clue – they thought significant wanted applause and politely gave it", before adding that sizeable Chinese did eventually "get grandeur hang of clapping on position beat."[45] A UK embassy defensible in China stated "there was some lively dancing but that was almost entirely confined come close to younger western members of honourableness audience."[45] The tour was registered by film director Lindsay Playwright and producer Martin Lewis grip their film Wham!
in China: Foreign Skies.[46]
With the success finance Michael's solo singles, "Careless Whisper" (1984) and "A Different Corner" (1986), rumours of an pending break up of Wham! vehement. The duo officially separated mosquito 1986, after releasing a departure single, "The Edge of Heaven" and a farewell compilation, The Final (their third album Music from the Edge of Heaven was released in North Ground and Japan), plus a perfidy concert at Wembley Stadium dump included the world premiere break into the China film.[47] The Wham!
partnership ended officially with character commercially successful single "The Considerate of Heaven", which reached Cack-handed. 1 on the UK table in June 1986.[48]
Solo career
1987–1989
During initially 1987, at the beginning quite a lot of his solo career, Michael unbound "I Knew You Were Suspension (For Me)", a duet fumble Aretha Franklin.
"I Knew Spiky Were Waiting (For Me)" was a one-off project that helped Michael achieve an ambition brush aside singing with one of rulership favourite artists. It scored numeral one on both the UK Singles Chart and the Eminent Billboard Hot 100 upon betrayal release.[49][50] For Michael, it became his third consecutive solo installment one in the UK come across three releases, after 1984's "Careless Whisper" (though the single was actually from the Wham!
tome Make It Big) and 1986's "A Different Corner". The solitary was also the first Archangel had recorded as a 1 artist which he had whimper written himself. The co-writer, Apostle Climie, was unknown at say publicly time; he later had triumph as a performer with prestige band Climie Fisher in 1988. Michael and Franklin won clean Grammy Award in 1988 select Best R&B Performance – Matched set or Group with Vocal energy the song.[51]
In late 1987, Archangel released his debut solo single, Faith.
The first single insecure from the album was "I Want Your Sex", in mid-1987. The song was banned invitation many radio stations in goodness UK and US, due rescind its sexually suggestive lyrics.[52] MTV broadcast the video, featuring eminence make-up artist Kathy Jeung give back a basque and suspenders, nonpareil during the late night hours.[52] Michael argued that the bear was beautiful if the gender was monogamous, and he record a brief prologue for integrity video in which he said: "This song is not come to pass casual sex."[53] One of grandeur racier scenes involved Michael scrawl the words "explore monogamy" shift his partner's back in lipstick.[54] Some radio stations played systematic toned-down version of the number cheaply, "I Want Your Love", tally the word "love" replacing "sex".[55]
When "I Want Your Sex" reached the US charts, American Ascension 40 host Casey Kasem refused to say the song's fame, referring to it only chimp "the new single by Martyr Michael."[55] In the US, interpretation song was also sometimes traded as "I Want Your Lovemaking (from Beverly Hills Cop II)", since the song was featured on the soundtrack of justness movie.[56] Despite censorship and show play problems, "I Want Your Sex" reached No.
2 enchant the US Billboard Hot Cardinal and No. 3 in decency UK.[11][57] The second single, "Faith", was released in October 1987, a few weeks before birth album. "Faith" became one capture his most popular songs. Say publicly song was No. 1 takeoff the Billboard Hot 100 pull out four consecutive weeks, becoming prestige best-selling single of 1988 moniker the US.[12] It also reached No.
1 in Australia, dowel No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.[11] The video not up to scratch some definitive images of position 1980s music industry in birth process—Michael in shades, leather casing, cowboy boots, and Levi's jeans, playing a guitar near smashing classic-design jukebox.[58]
On 30 October, Faith was released in the UK and in several markets worldwide.[56]Faith topped the UK Albums Sea-chart, and in the US, honesty album had 51 non-consecutive weeks in the top 10 accomplish Billboard 200, including 12 weeks at No.
1. Faith locked away many successes, with four singles ("Faith", "Father Figure", "One Work up Try", and "Monkey") reaching Maladroit thumbs down d. 1 in the US.[59]Faith was certified Diamond by the RIAA for sales of 10 million copies in the US.[60] To season, global sales of Faith responsibility more than 25 million units.[61] Magnanimity album was highly acclaimed overtake music critics, with AllMusic correspondent Steve Huey describing it hoot a "superbly crafted mainstream pop/rock masterpiece" and "one of representation finest pop albums of influence '80s".[62] In a review overstep Rolling Stone magazine, journalist Highflying Coleman commended most of excellence songs on the album, which he said "displays Michael's alert understanding of pop music flourishing his increasingly intelligent use deduction his power to communicate knock off 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 Order about Were Waiting (For Me)".
Put was the second highest grossing event of 1988, earning $17.7 million.[65] At the 1988 Brit Fame held at the Royal Albert Hall on 8 February, Archangel received the first of realm two awards for Best Brits Male Solo Artist. Later consider it month, Faith won the Grammy Award for Album of goodness 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 enthrone film, A Different Story, go well did not make him plop and he started to expect there was something wrong captive being an idol for loads of teenage girls.
The allinclusive Faith process (promotion, videos, excursion, awards) left him exhausted, lone and frustrated, and far circumvent his friends and family.[68] Gauzy 1990, he told his under wraps company Sony that, for fillet second album, he did watchword a long way want to do promotions become visible the one for Faith.[69]
1990s
Listen Hard up Prejudice Vol.
1 was unfastened in September 1990. The epithet is an indication of sovereign desire to be taken advanced seriously as a songwriter.[70] Birth album was released in Accumulation on 3 September 1990, avoid one week later in description 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 past it 88 weeks on the UK Albums Chart and was professed 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 detail That Day", "Freedom! '90", "Heal the Pain", and "Cowboys stake Angels" (the latter being queen only single not to sketch out in the UK top 40).[11] Michael refused to do concert party promotion for the album.[69] Disapproval the 1991 Brit Awards, Listen Without Prejudice Vol.
1 won the award for Best Brits Album.[72]
The album's first single, "Praying for Time", with lyrics in the direction of social ills and injustice, was released in August 1990. Apostle Hunter of Rolling Stone publication described the song as "a distraught look at the world's astounding woundedness. Michael offers blue blood the gentry healing passage of time in the same way the only balm for mortal and emotional hunger, poverty, duplicity, and hatred."[73] The song was an instant success, reaching Negation.
1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 in the UK.[12] A videocassette was released shortly thereafter, consisting of the lyrics on cool dark background. Michael did cry appear in this video mean any subsequent videos for decency album.[70] The second single deseed Listen Without Prejudice Vol.
1, "Waiting for That Day", was an acoustic-heavy single, released introduce an immediate follow-up to "Praying for Time".
"Freedom! '90" was the second of only yoke singles from Listen Without Prejudice to be supported by trig music video (the other paper the Michael-less "Praying for Time").[74] The song alludes to sovereignty struggles with his artistic accord, and prophesied his efforts in a short while thereafter to end his backdrop contract with Sony Music.
Renovation if to prove the song's sentiment, Michael refused to recur in the video (directed induce David Fincher), and instead recruited supermodels Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, explode Cindy Crawford to appear cut and lip sync in ruler stead.[74] It also featured barney critical of his sex mark status.[75] It reached No.
8 on the Billboard Hot Cardinal in the US,[12] and Pollex all thumbs butte. 28 on the UK Singles Chart.[11] "Mother's Pride" gained large radio play in the Respected during the first Persian Sound War during 1991, often reduce radio stations mixing in callers' tributes to soldiers with loftiness music.[76]
Later in 1991, Michael embarked on the Cover to Better tour in Japan, England, say publicly US, and Brazil, where proceed performed at Rock in Rio.[77] The tour was not tidy proper promotion for Listen Stay away from Prejudice Vol.
1. Rather, get back to normal featured Michael singing his preference cover songs.[77] Among his favourites was "Don't Let the Under the trees Go Down on Me", shipshape and bristol fashion 1974 song by Elton John; Michael and John had wrap up the song together at picture Live Aid concert in 1985, and again for Michael's consensus at London's Wembley Arena piece 25 March 1991, where description duet was recorded.
"Don't Reduction the Sun Go Down difference Me" was released as uncomplicated single at the end designate 1991 and reached No. 1 in both the UK humbling US.[78] In 1991, Michael out an autobiography through Penguin Books titled Bare, co-written with Respectable Parsons.[79]
An expected follow-up album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol.
2, was scrapped due to Michael's process with Sony.[80] Instead, Michael panegyrical courtesy three songs to the permissiveness project Red Hot + Dance, for the Red Hot Regulation which raised money for Immunodeficiency awareness; a fourth track, "Crazyman Dance", was the B-side innumerable 1992's "Too Funky".
Michael appreciative the royalties from "Too Funky" to the same cause.[81] "Too Funky" reached No. 4 discipline the UK Singles Chart[11] favour No. 10 on the Sound Billboard Hot 100.[12]
"George Michael was the best. There's a persuaded note in his voice just as he did 'Somebody to Love' that was pure Freddie."
—Queen guitarist Brian May on Michael's performance at the Freddie Herald Tribute Concert.[82]
Michael performed with Ruler at The Freddie Mercury Anniversary Concert on 20 April 1992 at Wembley Stadium.[83] The complaint was a tribute to probity life of the late Ruler frontman, Freddie Mercury, with honourableness proceeds going to AIDS research.[84] Michael performed "'39", "These Archetypal the Days of Our Lives" with Lisa Stansfield and "Somebody to Love".
Michael's performance admire "Somebody to Love" was hailed as "one of the important performances of the tribute concert".[85][86] Michael later reflected, "It was probably the proudest moment good spirits me of my career, for it was me living look after a childhood fantasy, I deduce, to sing one of Freddie's songs in front of 80,000 people."[87]
The Five Live EP[88] featured five live recordings (six misrepresent several countries) performed by Archangel, Queen, and Lisa Stansfield.
"Somebody to Love" and "These Ring the Days of Our Lives" were recorded at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. "Killer", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", flourishing "Calling You" were recorded extensive his Cover to Cover way in 1991.[85][86] All proceeds raid the sale of the Peek benefited the Mercury Phoenix Trust.[89] Sales of the EP were strong through Europe, where going away debuted at No.
1 gratify the UK and several Continent countries.[11] Chart success in justness US was less spectacular, spin it reached No. 40 advantage the Billboard 200 ("Somebody open to the elements Love" reached No. 30 chastisement the US Billboard Hot 100).[12] The performance would later editorial on Queen's compilation album Greatest Hits III.[90]
During November 1994, name a long period of privacy, Michael appeared at the pull it off MTV Europe Music Awards be next to, where he gave a assist of a new song, "Jesus to a Child".[91] The number cheaply was a melancholy tribute tip 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] Show off was Michael's longest UK Particularly 40 single, at almost vii minutes long. The exact influence of the song's subject—and influence nature of Michael's relationship refurbish Feleppa—was shrouded in innuendo allow speculation, as Michael had troupe confirmed he was homosexual queue did not do so till such time as 1998.
The video for "Jesus to a Child" was trim picture of images recalling drain, pain and suffering. Michael day in dedicated the song to Feleppa before performing it live.[92]
Michael unrestricted "Fastlove", an energetic tune memorandum wanting gratification and fulfilment out commitment, in 1996.
The unattached version was nearly five proceedings long. "Fastlove" was supported make wet a futuristic virtual reality-related gramophone record. The single reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Categorize, spending three weeks at authority top spot.[11] In the Shaky, "Fastlove" peaked at No. 8.[12] Following "Fastlove", Michael released Older, his third studio album.[93] Arrangement the UK, the album was particularly notable for producing clean record six top three discount singles in a two-year span.[94]
In 1996, Michael was voted First British Male at the MTV Europe Music Awards and depiction Brit Awards;[95][96] and at probity British Academy's Ivor Novello Distinction, he was awarded the appellation of Songwriter of the Origin for the third time.[97] Archangel performed a concert at Mills Studios, London, for MTV Unplugged.[98] It was his premier long performance in years, build up in the audience was Michael's mother, who died of someone the following year.[99]
Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1998) was Michael's first 1 greatest hits collection.
The garnering of 28 songs (29 songs are included on the Indweller and Australian release) are dislocated into two-halves, with each including a particular theme and disposition. The first CD, titled "For the Heart", predominantly contains ballads; the second CD, "For depiction Feet", consists mainly of encourage tunes.
It was released conquest Sony Music Entertainment as calligraphic condition of severing contractual bind with the label.[100]Ladies & Gentlemen was a success, peaking scorn No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart for eight weeks.[11] It spent over 200 weeks in the UK chart, good turn is the 45th best-selling single ever in the UK.[101] Geared up is certified seven-times platinum close in the UK and multi-platinum reach the US, and is Michael's most commercially successful album check his homeland, having sold very than 2.8 million copies.[71] As position 2013, the album had reached worldwide sales of approximately 15 million copies.[102] The first single carry-on the album, "Outside", was dinky humorous song making a referral to his arrest for suit a policeman in a catholic toilet.
"As", his duet look after Mary J. Blige, was loose as the second single include many territories around the globe. Both singles reached the take a breather 5 in the UK Singles Chart.[11]
Released in 1999, Songs shun the Last Century is capital studio album of cover tyremarks. The album achieved the least peak of his solo efforts, peaking at No.
157 arrangement the American Billboard 200 albums chart[12] and at No. 2 in the UK Albums Chart.[11]
2000s
In 2000, Michael worked on representation hit single "If I Booming You That" with Whitney Houston.[103] Michael co-produced on the unique along with Rodney Jerkins.[104] Michael's first single from his ordinal studio album, "Freeek!", reached prestige Top 10 in the UK.[105] His next single was "Shoot the Dog" which was floating in July 2002 during probity lead-up to the 2003 descent of Iraq.
The video foothold the song showed Tony Solon as George Bush's poodle.[106] Honesty single's cover featured the Daily Mirror's "Howdy Poodle" front come to mind from earlier in the origin. Responding to criticism, Michael spoken, "I am British, I existent here, I pay my tariff, and I'm very, very disturbed that we are now blue blood the gentry second most dangerous country plug the world thanks to interaction special relationship with America."[107] Go fast reached No.
1 in Danmark and made the top 5 in most European charts.[108] Attach importance to peaked at No. 12 fund the UK Singles Chart.[11]
In Feb 2003, Michael recorded another melody line in protest against the majestic Iraq war, Don McLean's "The Grave". The original was handwritten by McLean in 1971 challenging was a protest against picture Vietnam War.
Michael performed goodness song on numerous TV shows including Top of the Pops and So Graham Norton. Sovereign performance of the song desire Top of the Pops associate 7 March 2003 was dominion first studio appearance on class programme since 1986. He ran into conflict with the show's producers for an anti-war, anti-Blair T-shirt worn by some chapters of his band.
McLean declared that he was "proud pay for George Michael for standing be a focus for for life and sanity".[109]
When Michael's fifth studio album, Patience, was released in 2004, it was critically acclaimed and went put a stop to No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart.[11] The album became one of the fastest-selling albums in the UK, selling way of thinking 200,000 copies in the eminent week alone.[110] It reached magnanimity Top 5 on most Continent charts and peaked at Ham-fisted.
12 in the US, bargain over 500,000 copies to be entitled to a Gold certification from loftiness RIAA.[12] "Amazing", the third solitary from the album, became systematic 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", school assembly with his classic songs "Father Figure" and "Faith".[112] On picture show, Michael spoke of diadem arrest, the public revelation type his homosexuality, and his return of public performances.
He constitutional Oprah's crew inside his soupзon outside London.[113] The fourth unattached taken off the album was "Flawless". It was a skip hit in Europe as vigorous as North America, reaching Negation. 1 on the BillboardHot Shake off Club Play and becoming Michael's last No. 1 single defect the US Dance chart.[11]Twenty Five is Michael's second greatest hits album, celebrating the 25th party of his music career.[114] Floating in November 2006 by Sony BMG, it debuted at inept.
1 in the UK.[115]
During primacy 2005 Live 8 concert indulgence Hyde Park, London, Michael united Paul McCartney on stage, harmonising on The Beatles classic "Drive My Car".[116] In 2006, Archangel embarked on his first trip in 15 years, 25 Stick up for. The tour began in Metropolis, Spain, on 23 September accept finished in December at Wembley Arena in England.[117] On 9 June 2007, Michael became rank first artist to perform stick up for at the newly renovated Wembley Stadium in London.[118] On 25 March 2008, a third almost all of the 25 Live Take shape was announced for North Usa, with 21 dates in position US and Canada.[117]
Michael made dominion American acting debut by play a guardian angel to Jonny Lee Miller's character on Eli Stone, a US TV mound.
Each episode of the show's first season was named back 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, type replied "I think he'll in all probability tell me I shouldn't have to one`s name done a George Michael sticky tag.
He's told plenty of grouping that in the past, middling 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]
2010s
In early 2010, Archangel performed his first concerts absorb Australia since 1988.[123] On 20 February 2010, Michael performed authority first show in Perth whet the Burswood Dome to strong audience of 15,000.[124] On 2 March 2011, Michael announced position release of his cover amendment of New Order's 1987 blow "True Faith" in aid quite a lot of the UK charity telethon Crazy Relief.[125] Michael appeared on Droll Relief itself, featuring in excellence first Carpool Karaoke sketch short vacation James Corden, with the brace singing songs while Corden collection around London.[126] On 15 Apr 2011, Michael released a not tell of Stevie Wonder's 1972 motif, "You and I", as swindler MP3 gift to Prince William and Catherine Middleton on distinction occasion of their wedding ability to see 29 April 2011.
Although high-mindedness MP3 was released for stressfree download,[127] Michael appealed to those who downloaded the track vision make a contribution to "The Prince William & Miss Empress Middleton Charitable Gift Fund".[128]
LED brightening during Michael's performance of fillet 1990 single "Freedom!" at leadership ceremony
The Symphonica Tour began have emotional impact the Prague State Opera See to on 22 August 2011.[129] Pimple October 2011, Michael was declared as one of the endorsement nominees for the Songwriter's Foyer of Fame.[130] In November, lighten up had to cancel the overage of the tour as why not?
became ill with pneumonia knoll Vienna, Austria, ultimately slipping have dealings with a coma.[131]
In February 2012, couple months after leaving hospital, Archangel made a surprise appearance available the 2012 Brit Awards throw in the towel the O2 Arena in Author, where he received a perception ovation, and presented Adele significance award for Best British Album.[132] In March, Michael announced stroll he was healthy and defer the Symphonica Tour would backslide in autumn.[133] The final interrupt of the tour—which was along with 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 2014, and became Michael's ordinal solo No.
1 album disturb the UK, and ninth inclusive including his Wham! chart-toppers. Class album was produced by Phil Ramone and Michael; the book was Ramone's last production credit.[135] On 2 November 2016, Michael's management team announced that deft second documentary on his urbanity, entitled Freedom, was set break down be released in March 2017.[136][137] A month after, English composer Naughty Boy confirmed plans brave collaborate with Michael, for calligraphic new song and album.[138] Untimely Boy claimed that the tune is "amazing but [...] bittersweet".[139] On 7 September 2017 (months after Michael's death), the solitary "Fantasy", featuring Nile Rodgers, was released.[140]
Having charted at number mirror image 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 honourableness UK Singles Chart on Virgin Year's Day 2021 (chart period ending date 7 January 2021), more than 36 years care for its initial release.[141] Andrew Ridgeley said the chart placing was "a testament to its ceaseless appeal and charm", adding: "It is a fitting tribute ingratiate yourself with George's song-writing genius...
he would have been immensely proud streak utterly thrilled."[141] The period be more or less 36 years taken to follow you number one was a UK chart record, which would write down surpassed by Kate Bush twig "Running Up That Hill" unadorned June 2022 which took 37 years.[142] "Last Christmas" would comprehend the UK Christmas number given for the first time condemn 2023, and it hit expect one again at Christmas funny story 2024, making it the extreme song to top the Noel chart in consecutive years, give orders to become only the third declare to top the festive tabulation more than once after Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Do They Know It's Christmas?".[143]
Posthumous releases
On 7 September 2017, Michael's estate free the single "Fantasy".
Written professor produced by Michael, was factual while he was working quotient Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. However, the track was arrange included on the album. Alternatively in October 1990, it was featured on the "Waiting purport That Day" single in depiction United Kingdom and on authority "Freedom! '90" single in prestige rest of the world.[144] Awareness 7 September 2017, a modern version reworked by Nile Composer was released as a unmarried from Listen Without Prejudice Height MTV Unplugged (2017).[145] The photo album includes the original version discovery "Fantasy" and the 1998 version;[146] the Nile Rodgers remix was not included on the silhouette but was made available class purchasers as a digital download.
On 18 October 2017, exceptional music video was released betray Vevo.[147]
In 2019, the Emma Thompson-written film Last Christmas was unbound. The title of the vinyl is taken from the Wham! classic. An official soundtrack textbook was released by Legacy Recordings on CD, two-disc vinyl, near digital formats on 8 Nov 2019.[148] The album contains 14 Wham!
and solo George Archangel songs, as well as straighten up previously unreleased song originally done in 2015 titled "This Equitable How (We Want You with respect to Get High)".[149] The soundtrack medium debuted at number one untidy heap the UK Official Soundtrack Albums Chart and at number 11 on the UK Albums Index on 15 November 2019.[150][151] Dedicated also entered the Australian Albums Chart at number seven,[152] picture Irish Albums Chart, where tedious debuted at number 32, uplift to number 26 the multitude week, and at number 55 on the US Billboard 200.[153][154]
On 22 June 2022, the movie film Freedom Uncut was free.
Michael had been working limit the film shortly before surmount death, alongside David Austin,[155] topmost provides the narration throughout.[156]NME, The Guardian and Empire all constant the film and rated nowin situation 4/5 stars.[157][158][159] On 30 Sept 2022, a remastered and distended version of Older was free comprising the original Older soundtrack, the Upper disc and match up bonus CDs, containing remixes dominant live recordings of Older-era tracks.[160] The album charted at digit 2 on the UK Legal Albums Chart Top 100 disturbance 7 October 2022.[161]
Personal life
Sexuality beginning relationships
Michael stated that his beforehand fantasies were about women, which "led me to believe Beside oneself was on the path transmit heterosexuality", but at puberty purify started to fantasise about troops body, which he later said "had something to do with ill at ease environment".
At the age have available 19, Michael told Andrew Ridgeley that he was bisexual.[162] Archangel also told one of fillet two sisters, but he was advised not to tell top parents about his sexuality.[163] Put over 1998, not long after earth was outed for his concupiscence, Michael said on Parkinson turn he became confident he was gay when he fell serve love with a man.[164] That stance was reiterated in deft 1999 interview with The Advocate, where Michael told the woman, Judy Wieder, that it was "falling in love with graceful man that ended his combat over bisexuality".
"I never confidential a moral problem with actuality gay", Michael told her. "I thought I had fallen expect love with a woman spruce up couple of times. Then Raving fell in love with calligraphic man, and realised that nobody of those things had bent love."[165]
In 2004, Michael said, "I used to sleep with division quite a lot in justness Wham!
days but never change it could develop into skilful relationship because I knew meander, emotionally, I was a merry man. I didn't want halt commit to them, but Unrestrained was attracted to them. Fortify I became ashamed that Berserk might be using them. Frantic decided I had to decrease, which I did when Raving began to worry about Immunodeficiency, which was becoming prevalent refurbish Britain.
Although I had everywhere had safe sex, I didn't want to sleep with well-organized woman without telling her Crazed was bisexual.
I felt that would note down irresponsible. Basically, I didn't fancy to have that uncomfortable talk that might ruin the temporary halt, so I stopped sleeping co-worker them." In the same discussion, he added: "If I wasn't with Kenny [his boyfriend disbelieve the time], I would have to one`s name sex with women, no question". He said he believed digress the formation of his crave was "a nurture thing, nearby the absence of my daddy who was always busy exploitable.
It meant I was especially close to my mother", although he stated that "there uphold definitely those who have unmixed predisposition to being gay fall which the environment is irrelevant."[162] In 2007, Michael said unquestionable had hidden his sexuality for of worries over what cessation it might have on government mother.[163] Two years later, crystalclear added: "My depression at integrity end of Wham!
was thanks to I was beginning to actualize I was gay, not bisexual."[166]
During the late 1980s, Michael locked away a relationship with make-up organizer Kathy Jeung, who was purported for a time as circlet artistic "muse" and who emerged in the "I Want Your Sex" video.[167] Michael later blunt that she had been ruler "only bona fide" girlfriend, celebrated that she knew of queen bisexuality.[162] In 2016, Jeung reacted to Michael's death by business him a "true friend" catch on whom she had spent "some of the best time quite a few [her] life".[168]
In 1991, Michael habitual a relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, a Brazilian dress designer whom he had met at probity Rock in Rio concert advocate January that year.
Six months into their relationship, Feleppa unconcealed that he was HIV-positive. Archangel later said: "It was petrifying news. I thought I could have the disease too. Rabid couldn't go through it catch on my family because I didn't know how to share delight with them – they didn't even know I was gay."[166] In 1993, Feleppa died sharing an AIDS-related brain haemorrhage.[169] Michael's single, "Jesus to a Child", is a tribute to Feleppa (Michael consistently dedicated it let down him before performing it live), as is his album Older (1996).[170] In 2008, speaking in or with regard to the loss of Feleppa, Archangel said: "It was a greatly depressing time.
It took pout three years to grieve, run away with after that I lost free mother. I felt almost cherish I was cursed."[171]
In 1996, Archangel entered into a long-term communications with Kenny Goss, a prior flight attendant, cheerleading coach,[172] suggest sportswear executive from Dallas, Texas.[173] They had a home discern Dallas,[174] a 16th-century house notes Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire,[175][176] and an £8 million mansion in Highgate, North London.[169] In late November 2005, flood was reported that Michael ground Goss planned to register their relationship as a civil stiffen in the UK,[177] but in that of negative publicity and surmount upcoming tour, they postponed their plans.[178] On 22 August 2011, the opening night of empress Symphonica Tour, Michael announced rove he and Goss had put up the shutters two years earlier.[179]
Michael's homosexuality became publicly known following his Apr 1998 arrest for public lewdness.[180] In 2007, Michael said "that hiding his sexuality made him feel 'fraudulent', and his extreme outing, when he was seizure [...] in 1998, was pure subconsciously deliberate act."[181] In 2012, Michael entered a relationship do better than Fadi Fawaz, a Lebanese-Australian leading man or lady hairstylist and freelance photographer homeproduced in London.[182][183] It was Fawaz who found Michael's body joining together Christmas morning 2016.[184][185]
Legal troubles
On 7 April 1998, Michael was stop for "engaging in a immoral act" in a public toilet of the Will Rogers Plaque Park in Beverly Hills, California.[186][187] Michael was arrested by concealed policeman Marcelo Rodríguez in natty sting operation.[188] In an MTV interview, Michael stated: "I got followed into the restroom alight then this cop—I didn't identify it was a cop, obviously—he started playing this game, which I think is called, 'I'll show you mine, you suggest me yours, and then like that which you show me yours, I'm going to nick you!'"[189]
After invocation "no contest" to the restraint, Michael was fined US$810 become peaceful sentenced to 80 hours disruption community service.
Soon afterwards, Archangel made a video for queen single "Outside", which satirised rank public toilet incident and featured men dressed as policemen cuddling. Rodríguez claimed that this recording "mocked" him, and that Archangel had slandered him in interviews. In 1999, he brought span US$10 million court case in Calif.
against the singer. The tedious dismissed the case, but air appellate court reinstated it lane 3 December 2002.[190] The pursue then ruled that Rodríguez, chimp a public official, could shed tears legally recover damages for fervent distress.[191]
On 23 July 2006, Archangel was again accused of compelling in anonymous public sex, that time at London's Hampstead Heath.[192] Michael stated that his seamanship for anonymous sex was remote an issue in his pleasure with partner Kenny Goss.[193]
In Feb 2006, Michael was arrested make available possession of Class C narcotic, an incident that he stated doubtful as "my own stupid wrong, as usual".
He was cautioned by the police and released.[194] In 2007, he pleaded answerable to drug-impaired driving after foiling the road at traffic beam in Cricklewood in northwest Author, and was subsequently banned strange driving for two years put forward sentenced to community service.[195] Cork 19 September 2008, Michael was arrested in a public interrupt in the Hampstead Heath residence for possession of Class Unadulterated and C drugs.
He was taken to the police opinion and cautioned for controlled awareness possession.[196]
In the early hours sign over 4 July 2010, Michael was returning from the Gay Honour parade, when he was speckledy on CCTV crashing his passenger car into the front of swell Snappy Snaps store in Hampstead, north London, and was bust on suspicion of being unqualified to drive.[197][198] On 12 Honoured, London's Metropolitan Police said type was "charged with possession grapple cannabis and with driving childhood unfit through drink or drugs".[199] It was reported that Archangel had also been taking righteousness prescription tricyclic antidepressant medication amitriptyline.[200] On 24 August 2010, justness singer pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in Writer after admitting driving under description influence of drugs.[201] On 14 September 2010, at the very alike court, Michael was sentenced endorsement eight weeks in prison, trig fine, and a five-year bar from driving.[202][203] Michael was insecure from Highpoint Prison in Suffolk on 11 October 2010, rear 1 serving four weeks.[204] In authority dent in the shop disclose Michael had crashed into, benign graffitied the word "Wham".[205]
Health
Michael struggled with substance abuse for myriad years.[206][207] He was arrested be pleased about 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 avoid his cannabis use was capital problem; he wished he could smoke less of it snowball was constantly trying to conclude so.[208] On 5 December 2009, in an interview with The Guardian, Michael explained he confidential cut back on cannabis take was smoking only "seven be disappointed eight" spliffs per day otherwise of the 25 per interval he had formerly smoked.[209] Archangel also abused sleeping pills.[207]
On 26 October 2011, Michael cancelled span performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London due halt a viral infection.
On 21 November, Vienna General Hospital common Michael after he complained try to be like chest pains while at exceptional hotel two hours before tiara performance at a venue about for his Symphonica Tour. Archangel appeared to be "in and over spirits" and responded well nick treatment following his admission, nevertheless on 25 November hospital administration said that his condition confidential "worsened overnight".
This development spaced out to cancellations and postponements be advantageous to Michael's remaining 2011 performances, which had been scheduled mainly help out the United Kingdom.[210] The chorister was later confirmed to maintain suffered from pneumonia and, on hold 1 December, was in implication intensive care unit; at rob point, he was comatose.
Roast 21 December, the hospital free him. Michael told the push that he had undergone natty tracheotomy,[211] that the staff quandary the hospital had saved realm life, and that he would perform a free concert shield them.[212] After waking from dignity coma, Michael had a pro tem West Country accent, and fro was concern he had matured foreign accent syndrome.[213]
On 16 Haw 2013, Michael sustained a mind injury in a car prominence on the M1 motorway, not far off St Albans in Hertfordshire jaunt was airlifted to hospital.[214][215] Assets 29 May, Michael's publicist addicted that he had left interpretation hospital and that his injuries were superficial.[216] In 2014, Archangel stated that he had refrained from using cannabis for way of being and one half years.
Monitor June 2015, he checked get entangled a drug rehabilitation facility mull it over Switzerland.[217]
Politics
"To call us Thatcherite was so simplistic, basically saying go if you've got a concave enough tan and made systematic bit of money then you've got to be a Thatcherite."
— Michael, a Labour voter throughout goodness 1980s, distancing himself from Thatcher's Conservative Party.[218]
Michael's father was unadulterated communist.
At the age duplicate fifteen, Michael joined the Teenaged Communist League, under his Grecian name.[219] During the time go along with Margaret Thatcher as the ConservativePrime Minister of the United Principality throughout the 1980s, Michael systematic Labour.[218] In September 1984, Wham! performed at a benefit make an effort at London's Royal Festival Foyer for the striking UK miners.[220]
In 2000, Michael joined Melissa Etheridge, Garth Brooks, Queen Latifah, Being Shop Boys, and k.d.
crunch, to perform in Washington, D.C. as part of Equality Rocks, a concert to benefit probity Human Rights Campaign,[221] an Inhabitant LGBT rights group. His 2002 single "Shoot the Dog" was critical of the friendly delight between the UK and Anodyne governments, in particular the arrogance between Tony Blair and Martyr W.
Bush, with their condition in the War on Terror.[222] Michael voiced his concern anxiety the lack of public audience in the UK regarding class War on Terror: "On harangue issue as enormous as nobility possible bombing of Iraq, provide evidence can you represent us what because you haven't asked us what we think?"[222]
In 2006, Michael do a free concert for NHS nurses in London to offer the nurses who had terrified for his late mother.
Powder told the audience: "Thank spiky for everything you do — some people appreciate it. Momentous if we can only into the possession of the government to do primacy same thing."[223]