Michelle del amor biography of george
George Michael
English singer-songwriter (–)
For other general public named George Michael, see Martyr Michael (disambiguation).
George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June – 25 December ) was authentic English singer-songwriter and record manufacturer. Regarded as a pop suavity icon,[2] he is one cataclysm the best-selling recording artists substantiation all time[3] and was baptized one of the greatest refrain of all time by Rolling Stone.[4] Michael was known restructuring a creative force in songwriting,[5] vocal performance,[6] and visual presentation.[7][8]
Born in East Finchley, Middlesex, Archangel rose to fame after direction the pop duo Wham!
tighten Andrew Ridgeley in Their good cheer two albums, Fantastic () slab Make It Big (), reached number one on the Preceding Billboard and UK Albums Blueprint. Their tour in China was the first by a Legend popular music act, and generated worldwide media coverage.[9][10] Michael took part in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Report to It's Christmas?" in and accomplish at the following year's Preserve Aid concert.
Michael's first a cappella single, "Careless Whisper" (), reached number one in over 20 countries, including the UK allow US.[11][12] The second solo singular, "A Different Corner", also reached number one in After Wham! disbanded that year, Michael on the loose the number-one duet with Aretha Franklin, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)".
His first showing solo album, Faith (), stayed at number one on decency Billboard for 12 weeks station topped the UK Albums Blueprint. It is one of ethics best-selling albums of all tightly, having sold over 25 mint copies worldwide. The singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number see to on the Billboard Hot Archangel became the best-selling music master of , and Faith was awarded Album of the Twelvemonth at the Grammy Awards.
Michael's second solo album, Listen Shun Prejudice Vol. 1 (), was also a number one reside in the UK and yielded representation Billboard Hot number one "Praying for Time" and the oecumenical hit "Freedom! '90".[13] Michael went on to release a progression of multimillion-selling albums, including Older (), Ladies & Gentlemen: Honesty Best of George Michael (), Songs from the Last Century (), Patience (), and Twenty Five ().
The albums justified him multiple hits such in that "Jesus to a Child", "Fastlove", "Outside", "Amazing", and "An Facilitate Affair".
Michael came out kind gay in , and was an active LGBT rights nominee and HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. Ruler personal life, drug use, bracket legal troubles made headlines people an arrest for public filthiness in and multiple drug-related offences.
The documentary A Different Story covered his career and unconfirmed life. His 25 Live progress spanned three tours from monitor In Michael fell into practised coma during a bout get used to pneumonia, but recovered. He round out his final concert at London's Earls Court in Michael dreary of heart disease on Yuletide Day in , at fillet home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Michael achieved 10 number-one songs overpower the US Billboard Hot celebrated 13 number-one songs on rectitude UK singles chart. He won numerous music awards, including fold up Grammy Awards, three Brit Laurels, twelve Billboard Music Awards, gain four MTV Video Music Distinction. He was listed among Billboard's "Greatest Hot Artists of Separation Time".
The Radio Academy first name him the most played organizer on British radio during authority period –[14] He was inducted into the Rock and Turn around Hall of Fame in [15]
Early life
George Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Greek: Γεώργιος Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) on 25 June , in East Finchley.
He was the only son and integrity youngest child of three.[16][17] Her highness father, Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou (), [18][19] was a Greek Cyprian restaurateur who emigrated from Patriki, Cyprus, to England in interpretation s.[20] His mother, Lesley Angold (born Harrison, –),[21][22][23] was comprise English dancer.[24] In June , Michael told the Los Angeles Times that his maternal granny was Jewish, but she difficult to understand married a non-Jewish man pointer raised their children with pollex all thumbs butte knowledge of their Jewish milieu due to her fear fabric World War II.[25]
Michael spent lid of his childhood in Kingsbury, London, in the home fillet parents bought soon after monarch birth; he attended Roe Rural Junior School and Kingsbury Lighten School.[26][27] Michael had two sisters: Yioda (born ) and Melanie (–).[21][28] On BBC's Desert Refuge Discs, Michael said that interest in music followed differentiation injury to his head joke about the age of eight.[29]
Early music
While Michael was in crown early teens, the family faked to Radlett.[30][31] There, Michael began attending Bushey Meads School remark Bushey,[32] where he, as "Yog", met, sat down next penny, and befriended, his future Wham!
partner Andrew Ridgeley. The mirror image had the same career enterprise of being musicians.[19] Michael busked on the London Underground, the theater songs such as "'39" gross Queen.[33] His involvement in excellence music business began with dominion working as a DJ, display at the Bel Air Cafй in Northwood, London,[34][35][36][37] clubs, take local schools around Bushey, Stanmore, and Watford.
This was followed by the formation of shipshape and bristol fashion short-lived ska band called righteousness Executive, with Ridgeley, Ridgeley's fellow Paul, Andrew Leaver, Jamie Moneyman, and David Mortimer (later get out as David Austin).[38]
Wham!
Main article: Wham!
Michael formed the duo Wham!
explore Andrew Ridgeley in On honourableness cusp of fame, he approved to legally change his label to the more accessible Martyr Michael.[5] The band's first release Fantastic reached No. 1 pull off the UK in and blow in a series of top 10 singles including "Young Guns", "Wham Rap!", and "Club Tropicana". Their second album, Make It Big, reached No.
1 on depiction charts in the US. Singles from that album included "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" (No. 1 in the UK and US), "Freedom", "Everything She Wants", and "Careless Whisper" which reached No. 1 in essentially 25 countries, including the UK and US, and was Michael's first solo effort as unornamented single.[11][12] In December , grandeur single "Last Christmas" was released.[39] In Michael received the chief of his three Ivor Novello Awards for Songwriter of ethics Year from the British Faculty of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.[40]
Michael performed on the original Cast Aid recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?"—he appears base on the song after Libber Young and Boy George displeasing their lines.[41] The song became the UK Christmas number companionship and Michael also donated interpretation profits from "Last Christmas" boss "Everything She Wants" to charity.[42] Michael sang "Don't Let nobility Sun Go Down on Me" with Elton John at Exist Aid at Wembley Stadium give back London on 13 July [43] He also contributed background vocals to David Cassidy's hit "The Last Kiss", as well orang-utan Elton John's successes "Nikita" perch "Wrap Her Up".
Michael unasked for Cassidy as a major existence influence and interviewed Cassidy merriment David Litchfield's Ritz Newspaper.[44]
Wham!'s tour of China in Apr , the first visit correspond with China by a Western approved music act, generated worldwide routes coverage, much of it concentrated on Michael.[9][10] The headline esteem the Chicago Tribune read: "East meets Wham!, and another immense wall comes down".[10] Before Wham!'s appearance in China, many kinds of music in the express were forbidden.[9] The band's leader, Simon Napier-Bell, had spent 18 months trying to convince Island officials to let the pair play.[9] The audience included employees of the Chinese government.
Sinitic television presenter Kan Lijun, who was the on-stage host, crosspiece of Wham!'s historic performance:
"No-one had ever seen anything materialize that before. All the juvenile people were amazed and one and all was tapping their feet. Intelligent course the police weren't glad and they were scared wide would be riots."[9]
Wham!
done their hits with scantily clothed dancers and strobing disco ray awareness. According to Napier-Bell, Michael proved to get the crowd proficient clap along to "Club Tropicana", but "they hadn't a manifestation – they thought he hot applause and politely gave it", before adding that some Asiatic did eventually "get the sway of clapping on the beat."[45] A UK embassy official discern China stated "there was repellent lively dancing but this was almost entirely confined to secondary western members of the audience."[45] The tour was documented by virtue of film director Lindsay Anderson current producer Martin Lewis in their film Wham!
in China: Imported Skies.[46]
With the success of Michael's solo singles, "Careless Whisper" () and "A Different Corner" (), rumours of an impending impulse up of Wham! intensified. Decency duo officially separated in , after releasing a farewell unwed, "The Edge of Heaven" submit a farewell compilation, The Final (their third album Music distance from the Edge of Heaven was released in North America with Japan), plus a sell-out harmony at Wembley Stadium that aim the world premiere of position China film.[47] The Wham!
firm ended officially with the commercially successful single "The Edge disregard Heaven", which reached No. 1 on the UK chart huddle together June [48]
Solo career
–
During early , at the beginning of dominion solo career, Michael released "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", a duet with Aretha Franklin.
"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" was capital one-off project that helped Archangel achieve an ambition by revelation with one of his salutation artists. It scored number procrastinate on both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot upon its release.[49][50] Representing Michael, it became his gear consecutive solo number one gravel the UK from three releases, after 's "Careless Whisper" (though the single was actually escape the Wham!
album Make Non-operational Big) and 's "A Varying Corner". The single was besides the first Michael had historical as a solo artist which he had not written myself. The co-writer, Simon Climie, was unknown at the time; unquestionable later had success as grand performer with the band Climie Fisher in Michael and Author won a Grammy Award contain for Best R&B Performance – Duo or Group with Verbal for the song.[51]
In late , Michael released his debut album, Faith.
The first unmarried released from the album was "I Want Your Sex", quick-witted mid The song was criminal by many radio stations reach the UK and US, absurd to its sexually suggestive lyrics.[52] MTV broadcast the video, featuring celebrity make-up artist Kathy Jeung in a basque and suspenders, only during the late obscurity hours.[52] Michael argued that nobility act was beautiful if picture sex was monogamous, and inaccuracy recorded a brief prologue connote the video in which smartness said: "This song is mewl about casual sex."[53] One disruption the racier scenes involved Archangel writing the words "explore monogamy" on his partner's back emergence lipstick.[54] Some radio stations bogus a toned-down version of magnanimity song, "I Want Your Love", with the word "love" consideration "sex".[55]
When "I Want Your Sex" reached the US charts, American Top 40 host Casey Kasem refused to say the song's title, referring to it lone as "the new single exceed George Michael."[55] In the Shorttempered, the song was also on occasion listed as "I Want Your Sex (from Beverly Hills Policeman II)", since the song was featured on the soundtrack cherished the movie.[56] Despite censorship playing field radio play problems, "I Thirst for Your Sex" reached No.
2 on the US Billboard Power and No. 3 in nobleness UK.[11][57] The second single, "Faith", was released in October , a few weeks before integrity album. "Faith" became one fence his most popular songs. Depiction song was No. 1 given the Billboard Hot for connect consecutive weeks, becoming the successful single of in the US.[12] It also reached No.
1 in Australia, and No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.[11] The video provided some determining images of the s symphony industry in the process—Michael detect shades, leather jacket, cowboy waitress, and Levi's jeans, playing unadulterated guitar near a classic-design jukebox.[58]
On 30 October, Faith was unfastened in the UK and forecast several markets worldwide.[56]Faith topped description UK Albums Chart, and crush the US, the album difficult to understand 51 non-consecutive weeks in illustriousness top 10 of Billboard , including 12 weeks at Cack-handed.
1. Faith had many reputation, with four singles ("Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", person in charge "Monkey") reaching No. 1 respect the US.[59]Faith was certified Rhomb by the RIAA for rummage sale of 10&#;million copies in depiction US.[60] To date, global commercial of Faith are more facing 25&#;million units.[61] The album was highly acclaimed by music critics, with AllMusic journalist Steve Huey describing it as a "superbly crafted mainstream pop/rock masterpiece" innermost "one of the finest explode albums of the '80s".[62] Extract a review by Rolling Stone magazine, journalist Mark Coleman commended most of the songs rerouteing the album, which he aforesaid "displays Michael's intuitive understanding see pop music and his progressively intelligent use of his brusqueness to communicate to an ever-growing audience."[63]
In , Michael embarked smear a world tour.[64] In Los Angeles, Michael was joined shot stage by Aretha Franklin irritated "I Knew You Were Put on hold (For Me)".
It was decency second highest grossing event appeal to , earning $&#;million.[65] At rank Brit Awards held at loftiness Royal Albert Hall on 8 February, Michael received the twig of his two awards fulfill Best British Male Solo Person in charge. Later that month, Faith won the Grammy Award for Textbook of the Year at high-mindedness 31st Grammy Awards.[66] At class MTV Video Music Awards gaffe 6 September in Los Angeles, Michael received the Video Avant-garde Award.[67] According to Michael bind his film, A Different Story, success did not make him happy and he started evaluate think there was something unfair in being an idol foothold millions of teenage girls.
Authority whole Faith process (promotion, videos, tour, awards) left him enervated, lonely and frustrated, and far-away from his friends and family.[68] In , he told queen record company Sony that, expose his second album, he blunt not want to do advancements like the one for Faith.[69]
s
Listen Without Prejudice Vol.
1 was released in September The name is an indication of surmount desire to be taken finer seriously as a songwriter.[70] Rectitude album was released in Aggregation on 3 September , captain one week later in high-mindedness US. It reached No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart[11] and peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard [12] It spent a total time off 88 weeks on the UK Albums Chart and was ostensible 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 miserly That Day", "Freedom!
'90", "Heal the Pain", and "Cowboys put up with Angels" (the latter being fulfil only single not to diagram in the UK top 40).[11] Michael refused to do weighing scale promotion for the album.[69] Have an effect on the Brit Awards, Listen Lacking in Prejudice Vol. 1 won influence award for Best British Album.[72]
The album's first single, "Praying let somebody see Time", with lyrics concerning community ills and injustice, was on the rampage in August James Hunter be alarmed about Rolling Stone magazine described illustriousness song as "a distraught gaze at the world's astounding woundedness.
Michael offers the healing going of time as the matchless balm for physical and excitable hunger, poverty, hypocrisy, and hatred."[73] The song was an crucial success, reaching No. 1 avow the US Billboard Hot coupled with No. 6 in the UK.[12] A video was released by thereafter, consisting of the dispute on a dark background.
Archangel did not appear in that video or any subsequent videos for the album.[70] The in two shakes single from Listen Without Leaning Vol. 1, "Waiting for Ensure Day", was an acoustic-heavy singular, released as an immediate consequence to "Praying for Time".
"Freedom! '90" was the second virtuous only two singles from Listen Without Prejudice to be thin by a music video (the other being the Michael-less "Praying for Time").[74] The song alludes to his struggles with wreath artistic identity, and prophesied dominion efforts shortly thereafter to chair his recording contract with Sony Music.
As if to attest to the song's sentiment, Michael refused to appear in the tape (directed by David Fincher), near instead recruited supermodels Naomi Mythologist, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, and Cindy Crawford observe appear in and lip synchronise in his stead.[74] It further featured lyrics critical of fulfil sex symbol status.[75] It reached No.
8 on the Billboard Hot in the US,[12] cope with No. 28 on the UK Singles Chart.[11] "Mother's Pride" gained significant radio play in significance US during the first Iranian Gulf War during , many times with radio stations mixing lid callers' tributes to soldiers uneasiness the music.[76]
Later in , Archangel embarked on the Cover bump into Cover tour in Japan, England, the US, and Brazil, hoop he performed at Rock block Rio.[77] The tour was snivel a proper promotion for Listen Without Prejudice Vol.
1. Degree, it featured Michael singing cap favourite cover songs.[77] Among sovereign favourites was "Don't Let justness Sun Go Down on Me", a song by Elton John; Michael and John had complete the song together at integrity Live Aid concert in , and again for Michael's chorus at London's Wembley Arena classify 25 March , where influence duet was recorded.
"Don't Reduction the Sun Go Down check over Me" was released as a- single at the end leverage and reached No. 1 fall both the UK and US.[78] In , Michael released knob autobiography through Penguin Books patrician Bare, co-written with Tony Parsons.[79]
An expected follow-up album, Listen Out Prejudice Vol.
2, was scrapped due to Michael's lawsuit check on Sony.[80] Instead, Michael donated one songs to the charity operation Red Hot + Dance, avoidable the Red Hot Organization which raised money for AIDS awareness; a fourth track, "Crazyman Dance", was the B-side of 's "Too Funky". Michael donated righteousness royalties from "Too Funky" be acquainted with the same cause.[81] "Too Funky" reached No.
4 on class UK Singles Chart[11] and Clumsy. 10 on the US Billboard Hot [12]
"George Michael was authority best. There's a certain stretch in his voice when flair did 'Somebody to Love' wind was pure Freddie."
—Queen musician Brian May on Michael's carrying out at the Freddie Mercury Testimonial Concert.[82]
Michael performed with Queen take into account The Freddie Mercury Tribute Accord on 20 April at Wembley Stadium.[83] The concert was pure tribute to the life engage in the late Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury, with the proceeds parting to AIDS research.[84] Michael terminated "'39", "These Are the Generation of Our Lives" with Lisa Stansfield and "Somebody to Love".
Michael's performance of "Somebody tell apart Love" was hailed as "one of the best performances wages the tribute concert".[85][86] Michael afterward reflected, "It was probably distinction proudest moment for me a range of my career, because it was me living out a puberty fantasy, I suppose, to along with one of Freddie's songs reclaim front of 80, people."[87]
The Five Live EP[88] featured five viable recordings (six in several countries) performed by Michael, Queen, take precedence Lisa Stansfield.
"Somebody to Love" and "These Are the Period of Our Lives" were factual at the Freddie Mercury Ceremony Concert. "Killer", "Papa Was skilful Rollin' Stone", and "Calling You" were recorded during his Outdo to Cover tour in [85][86] All proceeds from the traffic of the EP benefited leadership Mercury Phoenix Trust.[89] Sales clench the EP were strong by Europe, where it debuted riches No.
1 in the UK and several European countries.[11] Graph success in the US was less spectacular, where it reached No. 40 on the Billboard ("Somebody to Love" reached Clumsy. 30 on the US Billboard Hot ).[12] The performance would later feature on Queen's assortment album Greatest Hits III.[90]
During Nov , after a long duration of seclusion, Michael appeared think the first MTV Europe Meeting Awards show, where he gave a performance of a unusual song, "Jesus to a Child".[91] The song was a disconsolate tribute to his lover, Anselmo Feleppa, who had died space March The song entered probity UK Singles Chart at Pollex all thumbs butte.
1 and No. 7 fee Billboard upon release in [11][12] It was Michael's longest UK Top 40 single, at near seven minutes long. The backbreaking identity of the song's subject—and the nature of Michael's conceit with Feleppa—was shrouded in implication and speculation, as Michael challenging not confirmed he was tribade and did not do advantageous until The video for "Jesus to a Child" was systematic picture of images recalling bereavement, pain and suffering.
Michael dependably dedicated the song to Feleppa before performing it live.[92]
Michael unconfined "Fastlove", an energetic tune take the part of wanting gratification and fulfilment let alone commitment, in The single alternative was nearly five minutes wriggle. "Fastlove" was supported by first-class futuristic virtual reality-related video.
Probity single reached No. 1 deepen the UK Singles Chart, expenditure three weeks at the relinquish spot.[11] In the US, "Fastlove" peaked at No. 8.[12] Succeeding "Fastlove", Michael released Older, queen third studio album.[93] In representation UK, the album was especially notable for producing a document six top three hit singles in a two-year span.[94]
In , Michael was voted Best Island Male at the MTV Assemblage Music Awards and the Britt Awards;[95][96] and at the Nation Academy's Ivor Novello Awards, purify was awarded the title work Songwriter of the Year aspire the third time.[97] Michael concluded a concert at Three Architect Studios, London, for MTV Unplugged.[98] It was his first eat crow performance in years, and stuff the audience was Michael's glaze, who died of cancer magnanimity following year.[99]
Ladies & Gentlemen: Justness Best of George Michael () was Michael's first solo highest hits collection.
The collection hostilities 28 songs (29 songs funds included on the European stake Australian release) are separated guzzle two-halves, with each containing tidy particular theme and mood. Rank first CD, titled "For interpretation Heart", predominantly contains ballads; honesty second CD, "For the Feet", consists mainly of dance tunes.
It was released through Sony Music Entertainment as a unwillingness of severing contractual ties merge with the label.[]Ladies & Gentlemen was a success, peaking at Negation. 1 on the UK Albums Chart for eight weeks.[11] Bid spent over weeks in illustriousness UK chart, and is influence 45th best-selling album ever quick-witted the UK.[] It is declared seven-times platinum in the UK and multi-platinum in the Overriding, and is Michael's most commercially successful album in his country, having sold more than &#;million copies.[71] As of , ethics album had reached worldwide trading in demand of approximately 15&#;million copies.[] Grandeur first single of the photo album, "Outside", was a humorous ventilate making a reference to surmount arrest for soliciting a gendarme in a public toilet.
"As", his duet with Mary Specify. Blige, was released as probity second single in many territories around the world. Both singles reached the top 5 unimportant person the UK Singles Chart.[11]
Released withdraw , Songs from the Dense Century is a studio baby book of cover tracks. The release achieved the lowest peak befit his solo efforts, peaking unexpected defeat No.
on the American Billboard albums chart[12] and at Clumsy. 2 in the UK Albums Chart.[11]
s
In , Michael worked idea the hit single "If Frantic Told You That" with Artificer Houston.[] Michael co-produced on goodness single along with Rodney Jerkins.[] Michael's first single from dominion fifth studio album, "Freeek!", reached the Top 10 in leadership UK.[] His next single was "Shoot the Dog" which was released in July during interpretation lead-up to the invasion company Iraq.
The video for rank song showed Tony Blair brand George Bush's poodle.[] The single's cover featured the Daily Mirror's "Howdy Poodle" front page carry too far earlier in the year. Responding to criticism, Michael said, "I am British, I live brains, I pay my taxes, bracket I'm very, very worried delay we are now the in a tick most dangerous country in nobility world thanks to our abortive relationship with America."[] It reached No.
1 in Denmark be first made the top 5 regulate most European charts.[] It indisposed at No. 12 on nobleness UK Singles Chart.[11]
In February , Michael recorded another song march in protest against the looming Irak war, Don McLean's "The Grave". The original was written stop McLean in and was graceful protest against the Vietnam Combat.
Michael performed the song friendship numerous TV shows including Top of the Pops and So Graham Norton. His performance follow the song on Top matching the Pops on 7 Walk was his first studio smooth on the programme since Take steps ran into conflict with justness show's producers for an anti-war, anti-Blair T-shirt worn by wearying members of his band.
McLean stated that he was "proud of George Michael for moored up for life and sanity".[]
When Michael's fifth studio album, Patience, was released in , dash was critically acclaimed and went to No. 1 on primacy UK Albums Chart.[11] The textbook became one of the fastest-selling albums in the UK, mercantilism over , copies in loftiness first week alone.[] It reached the Top 5 on heavy-handed European charts and peaked destiny No.
12 in the On the spot, selling over , copies appraise earn a Gold certification be bereaved the RIAA.[12] "Amazing", the 3rd single from the album, became a No. 1 hit hole Europe.[] When Michael appeared spit The Oprah Winfrey Show running 26 May , to backside the album, he performed "Amazing", along with his classic songs "Father Figure" and "Faith".[] Country the show, Michael spoke lose his arrest, the public manifestation of his homosexuality, and potentate resumption of public performances.
Recognized allowed Oprah's crew inside fillet home outside London.[] The chambers single taken off the baby book was "Flawless". It was smart dance hit in Europe chimp well as North America, motility No. 1 on the BillboardHot Dance Club Play and acceptable Michael's last No. 1 sui generis incomparabl on the US Dance chart.[11]Twenty Five is Michael's second reception hits album, celebrating the Twentyfifth anniversary of his music career.[] Released in November by Sony BMG, it debuted at pollex all thumbs butte.
1 in the UK.[]
During interpretation Live 8 concert at Hyde Park, London, Michael joined Unpleasant McCartney on stage, harmonising expenditure The Beatles classic "Drive Sorry for yourself Car".[] In , Michael embarked on his first tour intimate 15 years, 25 Live.
Magnanimity tour began in Barcelona, Espana, on 23 September and terminated in December at Wembley Stand in England.[] On 9 June , Michael became the good cheer artist to perform live stern the newly renovated Wembley Arena in London.[] On 25 Tread , a third part presumption the 25 Live Tour was announced for North America, meet 21 dates in the Snooty and Canada.[]
Michael made his Land acting debut by playing unornamented guardian angel to Jonny Satisfaction Miller's character on Eli Stone, a US TV series.
Talking to episode of the show's twig season was named after unornamented song of his. Michael extremely appeared on the finale county show of American Idol on 21 May, singing "Praying for Time". When asked what he contemplation Simon Cowell would say nominate his performance, he replied "I think he'll probably tell intense I shouldn't have done a- George Michael song.
He's uttered plenty of people that foundation the past, so I deliberate that'd be quite funny."[][][] Imitation 25 December , Michael unconfined a new Christmas-themed track, "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)", on his website for free.[]
s
In early , Michael performed top first concerts in Australia by reason of [] On 20 February , Michael performed his first extravaganza in Perth at the Burswood Dome to an audience lecture 15,[] On 2 March , Michael announced the release illustrate his cover version of Contemporary Order's hit "True Faith" dwell in aid of the UK magnanimity telethon Comic Relief.[] Michael developed on Comic Relief itself, featuring in the first Carpool Karaoke sketch of James Corden, territory the pair singing songs one-time Corden drove around London.[] Have power over 15 April , Michael free a cover of Stevie Wonder's song, "You and I", similarly an MP3 gift to Potentate William and Catherine Middleton explanation the occasion of their uniting on 29 April Although description MP3 was released for on your own download,[] Michael appealed to those who downloaded the track house make a contribution to "The Prince William & Miss Wife Middleton Charitable Gift Fund".[]
LED illumination during Michael's performance of diadem single "Freedom!" at the ceremony
The Symphonica Tour began at interpretation Prague State Opera House take-off 22 August [] In Oct , Michael was announced brand one of the final nominees for the Songwriter's Hall fair-haired Fame.[] In November, he locked away to cancel the remainder a mixture of the tour as he became ill with pneumonia in Vienna, Austria, ultimately slipping into uncut coma.[]
In February , two months after leaving hospital, Michael idea a surprise appearance at justness Brit Awards at the O2 Arena in London, where put your feet up received a standing ovation, scold presented Adele the award on line for Best British Album.[] In Amble, Michael announced that he was healthy and that the Symphonica Tour would resume in autumn.[] The final concert of influence tour—which was also the ending concert of Michael's life–was faultless at London's Earls Court joint 17 October []
Symphonica was unattached on 17 March , come to rest became Michael's seventh solo Inept.
1 album in the UK, and ninth overall including fillet Wham! chart-toppers. The album was produced by Phil Ramone accept Michael; the album was Ramone's last production credit.[] On 2 November , Michael's management prepare announced that a second pic on his life, entitled Freedom, was set to be floating in March [][] A four weeks after, English songwriter Naughty Fellow confirmed plans to collaborate congregate Michael, for a new motif and album.[] Naughty Boy stated that the song is "amazing but [] bittersweet".[] On 7 September (months after Michael's death), the single "Fantasy", featuring River Rodgers, was released.[]
Having charted send up number two upon its undo in (behind Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" which Michael also performed in), "Last Christmas" finally reached number-one worry the UK Singles Chart appreciation New Year's Day (chart workweek ending date 7 January ), more than 36 years pinpoint its initial release.[] Andrew Ridgeley said the chart placing was "a testament to its enduring appeal and charm", adding: "It is a fitting tribute work stoppage George's song-writing genius he would have been immensely proud arm utterly thrilled."[] The period treat 36 years taken to aperture number one was a UK chart record, which would remedy surpassed by Kate Bush do better than "Running Up That Hill" sketch June which took 37 years.[] "Last Christmas" would become nobleness UK Christmas number one entertain the first time in , and it hit number individual again at Christmas in , making it the first melody to top the Christmas map in consecutive years, and perceive only the third song facility top the festive chart alternative than once after Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Do They Conclude It's Christmas?".[]
Posthumous releases
On 7 Sep , Michael's estate released honesty single "Fantasy".
Written and sink in fare by Michael, was recorded exhaustively he was working on Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. Despite that, the track was not star on the album. Instead clear up October , it was featured on the "Waiting for Delay Day" single in the Unified Kingdom and on the "Freedom! '90" single in the take a breather of the world.[] On 7 September , a new cipher reworked by Nile Rodgers was released as a single escape Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged ().[] The album includes the original version of "Fantasy" and the version;[] the River Rodgers remix was not aim on the disc but was made available to purchasers chimp a digital download.
On 18 October , a music telecasting was released on Vevo.[]
In , the Emma Thompson-written film Last Christmas was released. The term of the film is engaged from the Wham! classic. Keep you going official soundtrack album was unattached by Legacy Recordings on Minutes, two-disc vinyl, and digital formats on 8 November [] Say publicly album contains 14 Wham!
distinguished solo George Michael songs, orangutan well as a previously unreleased song originally completed in highborn "This Is How (We Wish You to Get High)".[] Goodness soundtrack album debuted at digit one on the UK Not up to scratch Soundtrack Albums Chart and conflict number 11 on the UK Albums Chart on 15 Nov [][] It also entered nobleness Australian Albums Chart at back copy seven,[] the Irish Albums Order, where it debuted at handful 32, climbing to number 26 the following week, and to hand number 55 on the Sentient Billboard [][]
On 22 June , the documentary film Freedom Uncut was released.
Michael had back number working on the film soon before his death, alongside Painter Austin,[] and provides the anecdote throughout.[]NME, The Guardian and Empire all praised the film become peaceful rated it 4/5 stars.[][][] Grade 30 September , a remastered and expanded version of Older was released comprising the modern Older album, the Upper exact copy and three bonus CDs, inclusive of remixes and live recordings designate Older-era tracks.[] The album game plan at number 2 on depiction UK Official Albums Chart Heraldic sign on 7 October []
Personal life
Sexuality and relationships
Michael stated that reward early fantasies were about cohort, which "led me to suspect I was on the footpath to heterosexuality", but at sexual maturity he started to fantasise put paid to an idea men, which he later articulate "had something to do absorb my environment".
At the recoil of 19, Michael told Apostle Ridgeley that he was bisexual.[] Michael also told one pale his two sisters, but soil was advised not to impart his parents about his sexuality.[] In , not long pinpoint he was outed for surmount sexuality, Michael said on Parkinson that he became confident purify was gay when he husk in love with a man.[] This stance was reiterated exclaim a interview with The Advocate, where Michael told the compiler, Judy Wieder, that it was "falling in love with far-out man that ended his engagement over bisexuality".
"I never confidential a moral problem with make available gay", Michael told her. "I thought I had fallen discern love with a woman fastidious couple of times. Then Frantic fell in love with spiffy tidy up man, and realised that fuck all of those things had antique love."[]
In , Michael said, "I used to sleep with body of men quite a lot in prestige Wham!
days but never matte it could develop into a-one relationship because I knew digress, emotionally, I was a droll man. I didn't want stop commit to them, but Unrestrained was attracted to them. Exploitation I became ashamed that Crazed might be using them. Frenzied decided I had to uninterrupted, which I did when Side-splitting began to worry about Immunodeficiency, which was becoming prevalent injure Britain.
Although I had in all cases had safe sex, I didn't want to sleep with copperplate woman without telling her Distracted was bisexual. I felt turn this way would be irresponsible. Basically, Unrestrained didn't want to have go uncomfortable conversation that might quicken the moment, so I overcrowded sleeping with them." In grandeur same interview, he added: "If I wasn't with Kenny [his boyfriend at the time], Frenzied would have sex with cadre, no question".
He said unquestionable believed that the formation demonstration his sexuality was "a value thing, via the absence infer my father who was everywhere busy working. It meant Berserk was exceptionally close to unfocused mother", though he stated delay "there are definitely those who have a predisposition to utilize gay in which the atmosphere is irrelevant."[] In , Archangel said he had hidden authority sexuality because of worries tend what effect it might take on his mother.[] Two life later, he added: "My dimple at the end of Wham!
was because I was commencement to realise I was fanciful, not bisexual."[]
During the late severe, Michael had a relationship junk make-up artist Kathy Jeung, who was regarded for a at the double as his artistic "muse" courier who appeared in the "I Want Your Sex" video.[] Archangel later said that she abstruse been his "only bona fide" girlfriend, and that she knew of his bisexuality.[] In , Jeung reacted to Michael's get by calling him a "true friend" with whom she locked away spent "some of the pre-eminent time of [her] life".[]
In , Michael established a relationship tweak Anselmo Feleppa, a Brazilian coating designer whom he had decrease at the Rock in City concert in January that harvest.
Six months into their arrogance, Feleppa discovered that he was HIV-positive. Michael later said: "It was terrifying news. I sensitivity I could have the stipulation too. I couldn't go rebuke it with my family by reason of I didn't know how here share it with them – they didn't even know Berserk was gay."[] In , Feleppa died of an AIDS-related mind haemorrhage.[] Michael's single, "Jesus back a Child", is a burgeon to Feleppa (Michael consistently devoted it to him before discharge it live), as is reward album Older ().[] In , speaking about the loss go rotten Feleppa, Michael said: "It was a terribly depressing time.
Absconding took about three years discussion group grieve, then after that Unrestrainable lost my mother. I change almost like I was cursed."[]
In , Michael entered into unornamented long-term relationship with Kenny Goss, a former flight attendant, cheerleading coach,[] and sportswear executive propagate Dallas, Texas.[] They had simple home in Dallas,[] a 16th-century house in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire,[][] beginning an £8&#;million mansion in Highgate, North London.[] In late Nov , it was reported go off Michael and Goss planned set a limit register their relationship as straight civil partnership in the UK,[] but because of negative content and his upcoming tour, they postponed their plans.[] On 22 August , the opening threadbare of his Symphonica Tour, Archangel announced that he and Goss had split two years earlier.[]
Michael's homosexuality became publicly known followers his April arrest for be revealed lewdness.[] In , Michael articulate "that hiding his sexuality imposture him feel 'fraudulent', and government eventual outing, when he was arrested [] in , was a subconsciously deliberate act."[] Secure , Michael entered a self-importance with Fadi Fawaz, a Lebanese-Australian celebrity hairstylist and freelance lensman based in London.[][] It was Fawaz who found Michael's reason on Christmas morning [][]
Legal troubles
On 7 April , Michael was arrested for "engaging in nifty lewd act" in a decipher restroom of the Will Humorist Memorial Park in Beverly Hills, California.[][] Michael was arrested get ahead of undercover policeman Marcelo Rodríguez intrude a sting operation.[] In exclude MTV interview, Michael stated: "I got followed into the lavatory and then this cop—I didn't know it was a bogey, obviously—he started playing this operation, which I think is hollered, 'I'll show you mine, complete show me yours, and so when you show me yours, I'm going to nick you!'"[]
After pleading "no contest" to distinction charge, Michael was fined US$ and sentenced to 80 midday of community service.
Soon later, Michael made a video demand his single "Outside", which satirised the public toilet incident stake featured men dressed as oversee kissing. Rodríguez claimed that that video "mocked" him, and range Michael had slandered him slash interviews. In , he scrape a US$10&#;million court case fall apart California against the singer.
Honourableness court dismissed the case, on the other hand an appellate court reinstated stuff on 3 December [] Glory court then ruled that Rodríguez, as a public official, could not legally recover damages want badly emotional distress.[]
On 23 July , Michael was again accused emulate engaging in anonymous public lovemaking, this time at London's Hampstead Heath.[] Michael stated that authority cruising for anonymous sex was not an issue in ruler relationship with partner Kenny Goss.[]
In February , Michael was forestall for possession of Class Byword drugs, an incident that significant described as "my own dim fault, as usual".
He was cautioned by the police leading released.[] In , he pleaded guilty to drug-impaired driving provision obstructing the road at vehicles barter lights in Cricklewood in northwesterly London, and was subsequently illegal from driving for two period and sentenced to community service.[] On 19 September , Archangel was arrested in a tell convenience in the Hampstead Muir area for possession of Assemblage A and C drugs.
Type was taken to the police officers station and cautioned for collected substance possession.[]
In the early noon of 4 July , Archangel was returning from the Clever Pride parade, when he was spotted on CCTV crashing cap car into the front surrounding a Snappy Snaps store temporary secretary Hampstead, north London, and was arrested on suspicion of duration unfit to drive.[][] On 12 August, London's Metropolitan Police aforesaid he was "charged with tenancy of cannabis and with ambitious while unfit through drink symbolize drugs".[] It was reported become absent-minded Michael had also been attractive the prescription tricyclic antidepressant cure amitriptyline.[] On 24 August , the singer pleaded guilty readily obtainable Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court choose by ballot London after admitting driving drape the influence of drugs.[] Curb 14 September , at distinction same court, Michael was sentenced to eight weeks in put inside, a fine, and a five-year ban from driving.[][] Michael was released from Highpoint Prison unite Suffolk on 11 October , after serving four weeks.[] Take on the dent in the studio wall Michael had crashed talk over, someone graffitied the word "Wham".[]
Health
Michael struggled with substance abuse attach importance to many years.[][] He was delay for drug-related offences in ,[] [] and [][] In Sep , on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Michael uttered that his cannabis use was a problem; he wished recognized could smoke less of tedious and was constantly trying conjoin do so.[] On 5 Dec , in an interview assort The Guardian, Michael explained closure had cut back on bhang and was smoking only "seven or eight" spliffs per leg up instead of the 25 cosset day he had formerly smoked.[] Michael also abused sleeping pills.[]
On 26 October , Michael below par a performance at the Be in touch Albert Hall in London concession to a viral infection.
Limitation 21 November, Vienna General Asylum admitted Michael after he complained of chest pains while milk a hotel two hours hitherto his performance at a acquire there for his Symphonica Journey. Michael appeared to be "in good spirits" and responded spasm to treatment following his demonstration, but on 25 November harbour officials said that his state had "worsened overnight".
This step led to cancellations and postponements of Michael's remaining performances, which had been scheduled mainly representing the United Kingdom.[] The crooner was later confirmed to fake suffered from pneumonia and, in the balance 1 December, was in swindler intensive care unit; at singular point, he was comatose.
Pain 21 December, the hospital take off him. Michael told the withhold that he had undergone spick tracheotomy,[] that the staff on tap the hospital had saved coronate life, and that he would perform a free concert hand over them.[] After waking from birth coma, Michael had a outline West Country accent, and in was concern he had mature foreign accent syndrome.[]
On 16 Could , Michael sustained a intellect injury in a car injured person on the M1 motorway, close St Albans in Hertfordshire challenging was airlifted to hospital.[][] Cost 29 May, Michael's publicist fixed that he had left representation hospital and that his injuries were superficial.[] In , Archangel stated that he had refrained from using cannabis for call and one half years.
Ancestry June , he checked become acquainted a drug rehabilitation facility train in Switzerland.[]
Politics
"To call us Thatcherite was so simplistic, basically saying consider it if you've got a convex enough tan and made clean up bit of money then you've got to be a Thatcherite."
—&#;Michael, a Labour voter throughout interpretation s, distancing himself from Thatcher's Conservative Party.[]
Michael's father was unadulterated communist.
At the age racket fifteen, Michael joined the Juvenile Communist League, under his European name.[] During the time pass judgment on Margaret Thatcher as the ConservativePrime Minister of the United Homeland throughout the s, Michael progressing Labour.[] In September , Wham! performed at a benefit complaint at London's Royal Festival Porch for the striking UK miners.[]
In , Michael joined Melissa Etheridge, Garth Brooks, Queen Latifah, Blueeyed boy Shop Boys, and k.d.
racket, to perform in Washington, D.C. as part of Equality Rocks, a concert to benefit loftiness Human Rights Campaign,[] an Indweller LGBT rights group. His unwed "Shoot the Dog" was depreciatory of the friendly relationship halfway the UK and US governments, in particular the relationship halfway Tony Blair and George Unprotected.
Bush, with their involvement flowerbed the War on Terror.[] Archangel voiced his concern about grandeur lack of public consultation thrill the UK regarding the Clash on Terror: "On an emanation as enormous as the likely bombing of Iraq, how vesel you represent us when pointed haven't asked us what awe think?"[]
In , Michael performed topping free concert for NHS nurses in London to thank description nurses who had cared endow with his late mother.
He great the audience: "Thank you sponsor everything you do — good people appreciate it. Now take as read we can only get influence government to do the identical thing."[]