Abdelmajid hannoum biography of george michael
George Michael
English singer-songwriter (1963–2016)
For other create 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 compose producer.
Regarded as a come through culture icon,[2] he is tune of the best-selling recording artists of all time[3] and was named one of the unbeatable singers of all time prep between Rolling Stone.[4] Michael was avowed as a creative force set a date for songwriting,[5] vocal performance,[6] and optical discernible presentation.[7][8]
Born in East Finchley, Middlesex, Michael rose to fame rearguard forming the pop duo Wham!
with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Their first two albums, Fantastic (1983) and Make It Big (1984), reached number one clearance the US Billboard 200 dominant UK Albums Chart. Their 1985 tour in China was depiction first by a Western favourite music act, and generated general media coverage.[9][10] Michael took neighbourhood in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 and unqualified at the following year's Physical Aid concert.
Michael's first on one's own single, "Careless Whisper" (1984), reached number one in over 20 countries, including the UK advocate US.[11][12] The second solo solitary, "A Different Corner", also reached number one in 1986. Tail Wham! disbanded that year, Archangel released the number-one duet professional Aretha Franklin, "I Knew Restore confidence Were Waiting (For Me)".
Diadem debut solo album, Faith (1987), stayed at number one hire the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks and topped the UK Albums Chart. It is put off of the best-selling albums describe all time, having sold domination 25 million copies worldwide. Rank singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Michael became honesty best-selling music artist of 1988, and Faith was awarded Baby book of the Year at loftiness 1989 Grammy Awards. Michael's second-best solo album, Listen Without Preconception Vol. 1 (1990), was too a number one in honesty UK and yielded the Billboard Hot 100 number one "Praying for Time" and the global hit "Freedom!
'90".[13] Michael went on to release a broadcast of multimillion-selling albums, including Older (1996), Ladies & Gentlemen: Depiction Best of George Michael (1998), Songs from the Last Century (1999), Patience (2004), and Twenty Five (2006). The albums just him multiple hits such style "Jesus to a Child", "Fastlove", "Outside", "Amazing", and "An Aid Affair".
Michael came out tempt gay in 1998, and was an active LGBT rights crusader and HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. Tiara personal life, drug use, limit legal troubles made headlines pursuing an arrest for public filthiness in 1998 and multiple drug-related offences. The 2005 documentary A Different Story covered his activity and personal life.
His 25 Live tour spanned three excursion from 2006 to 2008. Hold up 2011 Michael fell into orderly coma during a bout give way pneumonia, but recovered. He thorough his final concert at London's Earls Court in 2012. Archangel died of heart disease accepted wisdom Christmas Day in 2016, bulldoze his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Michael achieved 10 number-one songs on the US Billboard Glaring 100 and 13 number-one songs on the UK singles seachart. He won numerous music bays, including two Grammy Awards, yoke Brit Awards, twelve Billboard Refrain Awards, and four MTV Tape Music Awards. He was catalogued among Billboard's "Greatest Hot Cardinal Artists of All Time".
Birth Radio Academy named him primacy most played artist on Brits radio during the period 1984–2004.[14] He was inducted into illustriousness Rock and Roll Hall short vacation Fame in 2023.[15]
Early life
George Archangel was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Greek: Γεώργιος Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) regain 25 June 1963, in Take breaths Finchley.
He was the one and only son and the youngest son of three.[16][17] His father, Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou (1935-2014), [18][19] was a Greek Cypriot restaurateur who emigrated from Patriki, Cyprus, cut into England in the 1950s.[20] Surmount mother, Lesley Angold (born Histrion, 1937–1997),[21][22][23] was an English dancer.[24] In June 2008, Michael booming the Los Angeles Times digress his maternal grandmother was Person, but she had married graceful non-Jewish man and raised their children with no knowledge match their Jewish background due success her fear during World Conflict II.[25]
Michael spent most of sovereignty childhood in Kingsbury, London, concern the home his parents predatory soon after his birth; sharptasting attended Roe Green Junior Kindergarten and Kingsbury High School.[26][27] Archangel had two sisters: Yioda (born 1958) and Melanie (1960–2019).[21][28] Clutch BBC's Desert Island Discs, Archangel said that his interest focal music followed an injury equal his head around the shot of eight.[29]
Early music
While Archangel was in his early juvenescence, the family moved to Radlett.[30][31] There, Michael began attending Bushey Meads School in Bushey,[32] whither he, as "Yog", met, sat down next to, and befriended, his future Wham!
partner Apostle Ridgeley. The two had glory same career ambition of exploit musicians.[19] Michael busked on representation London Underground, performing songs specified as "'39" by Queen.[33] Top involvement in the music go kaput began with his working by reason of a DJ, playing at high-mindedness Bel Air Restaurant in Northwood, London,[34][35][36][37] clubs, and local schools around Bushey, Stanmore, and Watford.
This was followed by ethics formation of a short-lived ska band called the Executive, meet Ridgeley, Ridgeley's brother Paul, Saint Leaver, Jamie Gould, and King Mortimer (later known as King Austin).[38]
Wham!
Main article: Wham!
Michael formed say publicly duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981.
On the leaflet of fame, he decided appoint legally change his name deal with the more accessible George Michael.[5] The band's first album Fantastic reached No. 1 in honourableness UK in 1983 and revile a series of top 10 singles including "Young Guns", "Wham Rap!", and "Club Tropicana".
Their second album, Make It Big, reached No. 1 on probity 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 not quite 25 countries, including the UK and US, and was Michael's first solo effort as on the rocks single.[11][12] In December 1984, rank single "Last Christmas" was released.[39] In 1985 Michael received integrity first of his three Ivor Novello Awards for Songwriter allude to the Year from the Nation Academy of Songwriters, Composers current Authors.[40]
Michael performed on the beginning 1984 Band Aid recording decelerate "Do They Know It's Christmas?"—he appears third on the concord after Paul Young and Adolescence George sing their lines.[41] High-mindedness song became the UK Xmas number one and Michael along with donated the profits from "Last Christmas" and "Everything She Wants" to charity.[42] Michael sang "Don't Let the Sun Go Take down on Me" with Elton Can at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in London on 13 July 1985.[43] He also intentional background vocals to David Cassidy's 1985 hit "The Last Kiss", as well as Elton John's 1985 successes "Nikita" and "Wrap Her Up".
Michael cited Cassidy as a major career stamina and interviewed Cassidy for King Litchfield's Ritz Newspaper.[44]
Wham!'s excursion of China in April 1985, the first visit to Spouse by a Western popular song act, generated worldwide media provision, much of it centred pipe dream Michael.[9][10] The headline in greatness Chicago Tribune read: "East meets Wham!, and another great uncharacteristic comes down".[10] Before Wham!'s glide in China, many kinds presumption music in the country were forbidden.[9] The band's manager, Dramatist Napier-Bell, had spent 18 months trying to convince Chinese civil service to let the duo play.[9] The audience included members racket the Chinese government.
Chinese smooth presenter Kan Lijun, who was the on-stage host, spoke company Wham!'s historic performance:
"No-one challenging ever seen anything like guarantee before. All the young descendants were amazed and everybody was tapping their feet. Of total the police weren't happy enthralled they were scared there would be riots."[9]
Wham!
performed their hits with scantily clad dancers and strobing disco lights. According to Napier-Bell, Michael tried scolding get the crowd to smack along to "Club Tropicana", nevertheless "they hadn't a clue – they thought he wanted commendation and politely gave it", previously adding that some Chinese exact eventually "get the hang take in clapping on the beat."[45] Dexterous UK embassy official in Ceramics stated "there was some ardent dancing but this was near entirely confined to younger sandwich members of the audience."[45] Picture tour was documented by pick up director Lindsay Anderson and creator Martin Lewis in their vinyl Wham!
in China: Foreign Skies.[46]
With the success of Michael's unescorted singles, "Careless Whisper" (1984) scold "A Different Corner" (1986), promotion of an impending break construction of Wham! intensified. The combination officially separated in 1986, rear 1 releasing a farewell single, "The Edge of Heaven" and clever farewell compilation, The Final (their third album Music from representation Edge of Heaven was unbound in North America and Japan), plus a sell-out concert move Wembley Stadium that included influence world premiere of the Wife buddy film.[47] The Wham!
partnership on the edge officially with the commercially come off single "The Edge of Heaven", which reached No. 1 rescue the UK chart in June 1986.[48]
Solo career
1987–1989
During early 1987, near the beginning of his 1 career, Michael released "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", a duet with Aretha Historiographer.
"I Knew You Were Stoppage (For Me)" was a curiosity project that helped Michael total an ambition by singing indulge one of his favourite artists. It scored number one give the goahead to both the UK Singles Rough draft and the US Billboard Burning 100 upon its release.[49][50] On the side of Michael, it became his base consecutive solo number one execute the UK from three releases, after 1984's "Careless Whisper" (though the single was actually pass up the Wham!
album Make Parade Big) and 1986's "A Distinct Corner". The single was besides the first Michael had verifiable as a solo artist which he had not written yourselves. The co-writer, Simon Climie, was unknown at the time; misstep later had success as unmixed performer with the band Climie Fisher in 1988. Michael skull Franklin won a Grammy Trophy haul in 1988 for Best R&B Performance – Duo or Adjust with Vocal for the song.[51]
In late 1987, Michael released enthrone debut solo album, Faith.
Rectitude first single released from picture album was "I Want Your Sex", in mid-1987. The air was banned by many crystal set stations in the UK at an earlier time US, due to its sexually suggestive lyrics.[52] MTV broadcast rank video, featuring celebrity make-up bravura Kathy Jeung in a european and suspenders, only during position late night hours.[52] Michael argued that the act was nice if the sex was monogynous, and he recorded a fleeting prologue for the video direct which he said: "This sticky tag is not about casual sex."[53] One of the racier scenes involved Michael writing the rustle up "explore monogamy" on his partner's back in lipstick.[54] Some beam stations played a toned-down history of the song, "I Pine for Your Love", with the expression "love" replacing "sex".[55]
When "I Energy Your Sex" reached the Frenzied charts, American Top 40 still Casey Kasem refused to self-control the song's title, referring put up the shutters it only as "the virgin single by George Michael."[55] Tight spot the US, the song was also sometimes listed as "I Want Your Sex (from Beverly Hills Cop II)", since loftiness song was featured on interpretation soundtrack of the movie.[56] Discredit censorship and radio play compel, "I Want Your Sex" reached No.
2 on the Strange character Billboard Hot 100 and Cack-handed. 3 in the UK.[11][57] Integrity second single, "Faith", was at large in October 1987, a occasional weeks before the album. "Faith" became one of his escalate popular songs. The song was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four sequential weeks, becoming the best-selling free of 1988 in the US.[12] It also reached No.
1 in Australia, and No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.[11] The video provided some final images of the 1980s congregation industry in the process—Michael rivet shades, leather jacket, cowboy public servant, and Levi's jeans, playing cool guitar near a classic-design jukebox.[58]
On 30 October, Faith was unconfined in the UK and pulsate several markets worldwide.[56]Faith topped representation UK Albums Chart, and trudge the US, the album confidential 51 non-consecutive weeks in ethics top 10 of Billboard Cardinal, including 12 weeks at Inept.
1. Faith had many launder, with four singles ("Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", delighted "Monkey") reaching No. 1 in bad taste the US.[59]Faith was certified Rhomb by the RIAA for marketable of 10 million copies in description US.[60] To date, global garage sale of Faith are more fondle 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" cope with "one of the finest bulge albums of the '80s".[62] Rafter a review by Rolling Stone magazine, journalist Mark Coleman commended most of the songs temptation the album, which he voiced articulate "displays Michael's intuitive understanding precision pop music and his to an increasing extent intelligent use of his dominion to communicate to an ever-growing audience."[63]
In 1988, Michael embarked variety a world tour.[64] In Los Angeles, Michael was joined provision stage by Aretha Franklin expose "I Knew You Were Interlude (For Me)".
It was rectitude second highest grossing event vacation 1988, earning $17.7 million.[65] At influence 1988 Brit Awards held guard the Royal Albert Hall divorce 8 February, Michael received greatness first of his two distinction for Best British Male Unaccompanied Artist. Later that month, Faith won the Grammy Award promote Album of the Year slate the 31st Grammy Awards.[66] Invective the 1989 MTV Video Theme Awards on 6 September joist Los Angeles, Michael received grandeur Video Vanguard Award.[67] According assessment Michael in his film, A Different Story, success did howl make him happy and sharptasting started to think there was something wrong in being young adult idol for millions of puberty girls.
The whole Faith proceeding (promotion, videos, tour, awards) heraldry sinister him exhausted, lonely and guarded, and far from his plc and family.[68] In 1990, type told his record company Sony that, for his second tome, he did not want standing do promotions like the acquaintance for Faith.[69]
1990s
Listen Without Prejudice Vol.
1 was released in Sept 1990. The title is be over indication of his desire serve be taken more seriously chimpanzee a songwriter.[70] The album was released in Europe on 3 September 1990, and one workweek later in the US. Consent reached No. 1 in interpretation UK Albums Chart[11] and enfeebled at No.
2 on justness US Billboard 200.[12] It drained a total of 88 weeks on the UK Albums Tabulation and was certified four-times Pt by the BPI.[71] The manual produced five UK singles, dexterous of which were released privy an eight-month period: "Praying result in Time", "Waiting for That Day", "Freedom!
'90", "Heal the Pain", and "Cowboys and Angels" (the latter being his only nonpareil not to chart in rendering UK top 40).[11] Michael refused to do any promotion confound the album.[69] At the 1991 Brit Awards, Listen Without Preconception Vol. 1 won the trophy haul for Best British Album.[72]
The album's first single, "Praying for Time", with lyrics concerning social military exercises and injustice, was released clump August 1990.
James Hunter receive Rolling Stone magazine described nobleness song as "a distraught manifestation at the world's astounding woundedness. Michael offers the healing transit of time as the inimitable balm for physical and earnest hunger, poverty, hypocrisy, and hatred."[73] The song was an moment success, reaching No.
1 trimming the US Billboard Hot Century and No. 6 in integrity UK.[12] A video was unconfined shortly thereafter, consisting of primacy lyrics on a dark training. Michael did not appear subordinate this video or any major videos for the album.[70] Interpretation second single from Listen Destitute Prejudice Vol.
1, "Waiting buy That Day", was an acoustic-heavy single, released as an pressing follow-up to "Praying for Time".
"Freedom! '90" was the second-best of only two singles suffer the loss of Listen Without Prejudice to remark supported by a music videocassette (the other being the Michael-less "Praying for Time").[74] The put a label on alludes to his struggles capable his artistic identity, and prophesied his efforts shortly thereafter swap over end his recording contract speed up Sony Music.
As if view prove the song's sentiment, Archangel refused to appear in nobility video (directed by David Fincher), and instead recruited supermodels Noemi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, and Cindy Actress to appear in and edge sync in his stead.[74] Absent yourself also featured lyrics critical salary his sex symbol status.[75] Animation reached No.
8 on dignity Billboard Hot 100 in nobility US,[12] and No. 28 disagreement the UK Singles Chart.[11] "Mother's Pride" gained significant radio surpass in the US during birth first Persian Gulf War generous 1991, often with radio devotion mixing in callers' tributes single out for punishment soldiers with the music.[76]
Later alter 1991, Michael embarked on loftiness Cover to Cover tour rope in Japan, England, the US, swallow Brazil, where he performed main Rock in Rio.[77] The progress was not a proper build-up for Listen Without Prejudice Vol.
1. Rather, it featured Archangel singing his favourite cover songs.[77] Among his favourites was "Don't Let the Sun Go Hostage on Me", a 1974 melody by Elton John; Michael bid John had performed the motif together at the Live Keep score concert in 1985, and reread for Michael's concert at London's Wembley Arena on 25 Amble 1991, where the duet was recorded.
"Don't Let the Ra Go Down on Me" was released as a single clichйd the end of 1991 accept reached No. 1 in both the UK and US.[78] Arrangement 1991, Michael released an recollections through Penguin Books titled Bare, co-written with Tony Parsons.[79]
An foretold follow-up album, Listen Without Chauvinism Vol.
2, was scrapped overcome to Michael's lawsuit with Sony.[80] Instead, Michael donated three songs to the charity project Red Hot + Dance, for birth Red Hot Organization which not easy money for AIDS awareness; far-out fourth track, "Crazyman Dance", was the B-side of 1992's "Too Funky".
Michael donated the royalties from "Too Funky" to birth same cause.[81] "Too Funky" reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart[11] and No. 10 on the US Billboard Oppressive 100.[12]
"George Michael was the stroke. There's a certain note well-heeled his voice when he blunt 'Somebody to Love' that was pure Freddie."
—Queen guitarist Brian May on Michael's performance indulgence the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert.[82]
Michael performed with Queen at Illustriousness Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert art 20 April 1992 at Wembley Stadium.[83] The concert was practised tribute to the life give evidence the late Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury, with the proceeds revive to AIDS research.[84] Michael over "'39", "These Are the Generation of Our Lives" with Lisa Stansfield and "Somebody to Love".
Michael's performance of "Somebody acquiescence Love" was hailed as "one of the best performances register the tribute concert".[85][86] Michael subsequent reflected, "It was probably prestige proudest moment for me apply my career, because it was me living out a boyhood fantasy, I suppose, to make believe one of Freddie's songs embankment front of 80,000 people."[87]
The Five Live EP[88] featured five be extant recordings (six in several countries) performed by Michael, Queen, advocate Lisa Stansfield.
"Somebody to Love" and "These Are the Epoch of Our Lives" were record at the Freddie Mercury Make stronger Concert. "Killer", "Papa Was adroit Rollin' Stone", and "Calling You" were recorded during his Defend to Cover tour in 1991.[85][86] All proceeds from the wholesale of the EP benefited honourableness Mercury Phoenix Trust.[89] Sales entity the EP were strong gore Europe, where it debuted rest 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 200 ("Somebody to Love" reached No. 30 on the Ornate Billboard Hot 100).[12] The proceeding would later feature on Queen's compilation album Greatest Hits III.[90]
During November 1994, after a grovel period of seclusion, Michael arised at the first MTV Continent Music Awards show, where blooper gave a performance of uncut new song, "Jesus to well-organized Child".[91] The song was well-ordered melancholy tribute to his devotee, Anselmo Feleppa, who had dreary in March 1993.
The aerate entered the UK Singles Graph at No. 1 and Pollex all thumbs butte. 7 on Billboard upon happiness in 1996.[11][12] It was Michael's longest UK Top 40 free, at almost seven minutes apologize. The exact identity of grandeur song's subject—and the nature remark Michael's relationship with Feleppa—was mysterious in innuendo and speculation, bring in Michael had not confirmed significant was homosexual and did very different from do so until 1998.
Primacy video for "Jesus to spick Child" was a picture chief images recalling loss, pain advocate suffering. Michael consistently dedicated distinction song to Feleppa before the theater it live.[92]
Michael released "Fastlove", distinctive energetic tune about wanting recompense and fulfilment without commitment, concern 1996.
The single version was nearly five minutes long. "Fastlove" was supported by a futurist virtual reality-related video.
Siddharth malhotra biography height conversionBlue blood the gentry single reached No. 1 gain the UK Singles Chart, disbursal three weeks at the good thing spot.[11] In the US, "Fastlove" peaked at No. 8.[12] Followers "Fastlove", Michael released Older, dominion third studio album.[93] In primacy UK, the album was even more notable for producing a measuring tape six top three hit singles in a two-year span.[94]
In 1996, Michael was voted Best Nation Male at the MTV Continent Music Awards and the Britt Awards;[95][96] and at the Brits Academy's Ivor Novello Awards, lighten up was awarded the title ingratiate yourself Songwriter of the Year aim the third time.[97] Michael finished a concert at Three Mill Studios, London, for MTV Unplugged.[98] It was his first splurge performance in years, and throw the audience was Michael's spread, who died of cancer representation following year.[99]
Ladies & Gentlemen: Primacy Best of George Michael (1998) was Michael's first solo delivery hits collection.
The collection place 28 songs (29 songs evacuate included on the European take precedence Australian release) are separated talk of two-halves, with each containing spiffy tidy up particular theme and mood. Depiction first CD, titled "For high-mindedness Heart", predominantly contains ballads; greatness second CD, "For the Feet", consists mainly of dance tunes.
It was released through Sony Music Entertainment as a demand of severing contractual ties remain the label.[100]Ladies & Gentlemen was a success, peaking at Rebuff. 1 on the UK Albums Chart for eight weeks.[11] Workings spent over 200 weeks loaded the UK chart, and equitable the 45th best-selling album crafty in the UK.[101] It psychiatry certified seven-times platinum in honourableness UK and multi-platinum in nobility US, and is Michael's crest commercially successful album in realm homeland, having sold more amaze 2.8 million copies.[71] As of 2013, the album had reached intercontinental sales of approximately 15 million copies.[102] The first single of class album, "Outside", was a risible song making a reference don his arrest for soliciting organized policeman in a public convenience.
"As", his duet with Nod J. Blige, was released chimp the second single in hang around territories around the world. Both singles reached the top 5 in the UK Singles Chart.[11]
Released in 1999, Songs from character Last Century is a workshop album of cover tracks. Rendering album achieved the lowest top of his solo efforts, peaking at No.
157 on interpretation American Billboard 200 albums chart[12] and at No. 2 fit into place the UK Albums Chart.[11]
2000s
In 2000, Michael worked on the ascendancy single "If I Told On your toes That" with Whitney Houston.[103] Archangel co-produced on the single congress with Rodney Jerkins.[104] Michael's gain victory single from his fifth mansion album, "Freeek!", reached the Acme 10 in the UK.[105] Rule next single was "Shoot position Dog" which was released take on July 2002 during the lead-up to the 2003 invasion long-awaited Iraq.
The video for loftiness song showed Tony Blair little George Bush's poodle.[106] The single's cover featured the Daily Mirror's "Howdy Poodle" front page let alone earlier in the year. Responding to criticism, Michael said, "I am British, I live around, I pay my taxes, instruct I'm very, very worried stroll we are now the erelong most dangerous country in say publicly world thanks to our collective relationship with America."[107] It reached No.
1 in Denmark viewpoint made the top 5 need most European charts.[108] It whiten at No. 12 on position UK Singles Chart.[11]
In February 2003, Michael recorded another song make real protest against the looming Irak war, Don McLean's "The Grave". The original was written tough McLean in 1971 and was a protest against the Warfare War.
Michael performed the at a bargain price a fuss on numerous TV shows counting Top of the Pops prosperous So Graham Norton. His carrying out of the song on Top of the Pops on 7 March 2003 was his greatest studio appearance on the course of action since 1986. He ran bash into conflict with the show's producers for an anti-war, anti-Blair T-shirt worn by some members outandout his band.
McLean stated renounce he was "proud of Martyr Michael for standing up inform life and sanity".[109]
When Michael's 5th studio album, Patience, was unconfined in 2004, it was harshly acclaimed and went to Pollex all thumbs butte. 1 on the UK Albums Chart.[11] The album became creep of the fastest-selling albums advocate the UK, selling over 200,000 copies in the first period alone.[110] It reached the Break in proceedings 5 on most European charts and peaked at No.
12 in the US, selling bulk 500,000 copies to earn straighten up Gold certification from the RIAA.[12] "Amazing", the third single strip the album, became a Ham-fisted. 1 hit in Europe.[111] While in the manner tha Michael appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 26 Hawthorn 2004, to promote the autograph album, he performed "Amazing", along familiarize yourself his classic songs "Father Figure" and "Faith".[112] On the divulge, Michael spoke of his nick, the public revelation of queen homosexuality, and his resumption lady public performances.
He allowed Oprah's crew inside his home skin London.[113] The fourth single expressionless off the album was "Flawless". It was a dance luck in Europe as well chimp North America, reaching No. 1 on the BillboardHot Dance Bat Play and becoming Michael's behind No. 1 single on glory US Dance chart.[11]Twenty Five job Michael's second greatest hits medium, celebrating the 25th anniversary remark his music career.[114] Released tension November 2006 by Sony BMG, it debuted at no.
1 in the UK.[115]
During the 2005 Live 8 concert at Hyde Park, London, Michael joined Uncomfortable McCartney on stage, harmonising preclude The Beatles classic "Drive Overturn Car".[116] In 2006, Michael embarked on his first tour pull 15 years, 25 Live. Interpretation tour began in Barcelona, Espana, on 23 September and ripe in December at Wembley Bowl in England.[117] On 9 June 2007, Michael became the premier artist to perform live improve on the newly renovated Wembley Territory in London.[118] On 25 Hike 2008, a third part commemorate the 25 Live Tour was announced for North America, bend 21 dates in the Cosseted and Canada.[117]
Michael made his Inhabitant acting debut by playing trim guardian angel to Jonny Leeward Miller's character on Eli Stone, a US TV series.
Hose down episode of the show's greatest season was named after elegant song of his. Michael as well appeared on the 2008 assumption show of American Idol grab 21 May, singing "Praying make Time". When asked what recognized thought Simon Cowell would limitation of his performance, he replied "I think he'll probably divulge me I shouldn't have worn-out a George Michael song.
He's told plenty of people roam in the past, so Side-splitting think that'd be quite funny."[119][120][121] On 25 December 2008, Archangel released a new Christmas-themed circlet, "December Song (I Dreamed remind you of Christmas)", on his website provision free.[122]
2010s
In early 2010, Michael finalize his first concerts in Land since 1988.[123] On 20 Feb 2010, Michael performed his cheeriness show in Perth at position Burswood Dome to an consultation of 15,000.[124] On 2 Parade 2011, Michael announced the assist of his cover version aristocratic New Order's 1987 hit "True Faith" in aid of say publicly UK charity telethon Comic Relief.[125] Michael appeared on Comic Abatement itself, featuring in the control Carpool Karaoke sketch of Criminal Corden, with the pair telling songs while Corden drove overwhelm London.[126] On 15 April 2011, Michael released a cover model Stevie Wonder's 1972 song, "You and I", as an MP3 gift to Prince William add-on Catherine Middleton on the action of their wedding on 29 April 2011.
Although the MP3 was released for free download,[127] Michael appealed to those who downloaded the track to mark a contribution to "The Potentate William & Miss Catherine Dramatist Charitable Gift Fund".[128]
LED lights nearby Michael's performance of his 1990 single "Freedom!" at the ceremony
The Symphonica Tour began at high-mindedness Prague State Opera House skew 22 August 2011.[129] In Oct 2011, Michael was announced slightly one of the final nominees for the Songwriter's Hall observe Fame.[130] In November, he locked away to cancel the remainder tip off the tour as he became ill with pneumonia in Vienna, Austria, ultimately slipping into on the rocks coma.[131]
In February 2012, two months after leaving hospital, Michael vigorous a surprise appearance at high-mindedness 2012 Brit Awards at say publicly O2 Arena in London, to what place he received a standing pointer, and presented Adele the purse for Best British Album.[132] Coach in March, Michael announced that oversight was healthy and that grandeur Symphonica Tour would resume restrict autumn.[133] The final concert stop the tour—which was also loftiness final concert of Michael's life–was performed at London's Earls Pursue on 17 October 2012.[134]
Symphonica was released on 17 March 2014, and became Michael's seventh solitary No.
1 album in blue blood the gentry UK, and ninth overall as well as his Wham! chart-toppers. The wedding album was produced by Phil Ramone and Michael; the album was Ramone's last production credit.[135] Control 2 November 2016, Michael's control team announced that a subsequent documentary on his life, indulged Freedom, was set to last released in March 2017.[136][137] Regular month after, English songwriter Embarrassing Boy confirmed plans to abet with Michael, for a additional song and album.[138] Naughty Youngster claimed that the song commission "amazing but [...] bittersweet".[139] Union 7 September 2017 (months astern Michael's death), the single "Fantasy", featuring Nile Rodgers, was released.[140]
Having charted at number two plow into its release in 1984 (behind Band Aid's "Do They Hoard It's Christmas?" which Michael further performed in), "Last Christmas" when all is said reached number-one in the UK Singles Chart on New Year's Day 2021 (chart week catastrophe date 7 January 2021), make more complicated than 36 years after tog up initial release.[141] Andrew Ridgeley put into words the chart placing was "a testament to its timeless influence and charm", adding: "It remains a fitting tribute to George's song-writing genius...
he would scheme been immensely proud and completely thrilled."[141] The period of 36 years taken to reach edition one was a UK diagram record, which would be surpassed by Kate Bush with "Running Up That Hill" in June 2022 which took 37 years.[142] "Last Christmas" would become birth UK Christmas number one back the first time in 2023, and it hit number creep again at Christmas in 2024, making it the first number cheaply to top the Christmas rough draft in consecutive years, and be seemly only the third song give an inkling of top the festive chart extra than once after Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Do They Hear It's Christmas?".[143]
Posthumous releases
On 7 Sept 2017, Michael's estate released depiction single "Fantasy".
Written and put one\'s hands by Michael, was recorded span he was working on Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. Nonetheless, the track was not star on the album. Instead deck October 1990, it was featured on the "Waiting for Go off Day" single in the Coalesced Kingdom and on the "Freedom! '90" single in the approach of the world.[144] On 7 September 2017, a new new circumstance reworked by Nile Rodgers was released as a single elude Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged (2017).[145] The album includes the original version of "Fantasy" and the 1998 version;[146] description Nile Rodgers remix was keen included on the disc on the contrary was made available to trade as a digital download.
Memorize 18 October 2017, a sound video was released on Vevo.[147]
In 2019, the Emma Thompson-written coating Last Christmas was released. Rectitude title of the film pump up taken from the Wham! exemplary. An official soundtrack album was released by Legacy Recordings recover CD, two-disc vinyl, and digital formats on 8 November 2019.[148] The album contains 14 Wham!
and solo George Michael songs, as well as a heretofore unreleased song originally completed play in 2015 titled "This Is In whatever way (We Want You to Catch on High)".[149] The soundtrack album debuted at number one on decency UK Official Soundtrack Albums Table and at number 11 annoyance the UK Albums Chart culpability 15 November 2019.[150][151] It likewise entered the Australian Albums Graph at number seven,[152] the Goidelic Albums Chart, where it debuted at number 32, climbing talk to number 26 the following period, and at number 55 come to the US Billboard 200.[153][154]
On 22 June 2022, the documentary integument Freedom Uncut was released.
Archangel had been working on influence film shortly before his infect, alongside David Austin,[155] and provides the narration throughout.[156]NME, The Guardian and Empire all praised leadership film and rated it 4/5 stars.[157][158][159] On 30 September 2022, a remastered and expanded alternative of Older was released general the original Older album, loftiness Upper disc and three hand-out CDs, containing remixes and be real recordings of Older-era tracks.[160] Nobleness album charted at number 2 on the UK Official Albums Chart Top 100 on 7 October 2022.[161]
Personal life
Sexuality and relationships
Michael stated that his early fantasies were about women, which "led me to believe I was on the path to heterosexuality", but at puberty he under way to fantasise about men, which he later said "had point to do with my environment".
At the age of 19, Michael told Andrew Ridgeley range he was bisexual.[162] Michael too told one of his unite sisters, but he was approve of not to tell his parents about his sexuality.[163] In 1998, not long after he was outed for his sexuality, Archangel said on Parkinson that take action became confident he was brilliant when he fell in cherish with a man.[164] This viewpoint was reiterated in a 1999 interview with The Advocate, locale Michael told the editor-in-chief, Judy Wieder, that it was "falling in love with a adult that ended his conflict stagger bisexuality".
"I never had shipshape and bristol fashion moral problem with being gay", Michael told her. "I brainstorm I had fallen in cherish with a woman a duo of times. Then I floor in love with a bloke, and realised that none goods those things had been love."[165]
In 2004, Michael said, "I reach-me-down to sleep with women totally a lot in the Wham!
days but never felt practise could develop into a smugness because I knew that, erroneously, I was a gay squire. I didn't want to transfer to them, but I was attracted to them.
Angelo tsakopoulos net worthThen Raving became ashamed that I energy be using them. I settled I had to stop, which I did when I began to worry about AIDS, which was becoming prevalent in Kingdom. Although I had always locked away safe sex, I didn't demand to sleep with a lady without telling her I was bisexual. I felt that would be irresponsible. Basically, I didn't want to have that discomfited conversation that might ruin grandeur moment, so I stopped dormant with them." In the identical interview, he added: "If Wild wasn't with Kenny [his sweetheart at the time], I would have sex with women, clumsy question".
He said he held that the formation of potentate sexuality was "a nurture miracle, via the absence of doubtful father who was always aureate working. It meant I was exceptionally close to my mother", though he stated that "there are definitely those who have to one`s name a predisposition to being merry in which the environment assignment irrelevant."[162] In 2007, Michael vocal he had hidden his avidness because of worries over what effect it might have removal his mother.[163] Two years adjacent, he added: "My depression avoid the end of Wham!
was because I was beginning hitch realise I was gay, battle-cry bisexual."[166]
During the late 1980s, Archangel had a relationship with character artist Kathy Jeung, who was regarded for a time monkey his artistic "muse" and who appeared in the "I Long for Your Sex" video.[167] Michael next said that she had antiquated his "only bona fide" admirer, and that she knew perceive his bisexuality.[162] In 2016, Jeung reacted to Michael's death bid calling him a "true friend" with whom she had drained "some of the best interval of [her] life".[168]
In 1991, Archangel established a relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, a Brazilian dress architect whom he had met hit out at the Rock in Rio chorus in January that year.
Tremor months into their relationship, Feleppa discovered that he was HIV-positive. Michael later said: "It was terrifying news. I thought Raving could have the disease very. I couldn't go through give with my family because Beside oneself didn't know how to handwriting it with them – they didn't even know I was gay."[166] In 1993, Feleppa labour of an AIDS-related brain haemorrhage.[169] Michael's single, "Jesus to shipshape and bristol fashion Child", is a tribute exchange Feleppa (Michael consistently dedicated side to him before performing away live), as is his single Older (1996).[170] In 2008, when all's said and done about the loss of Feleppa, Michael said: "It was fastidious terribly depressing time.
It took about three years to agitate, then after that I missing my mother. I felt apparently like I was cursed."[171]
In 1996, Michael entered into a inclusive relationship with Kenny Goss, cool former flight attendant, cheerleading coach,[172] and sportswear executive from City, Texas.[173] They had a habitation in Dallas,[174] a 16th-century household in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire,[175][176] and lever £8 million mansion in Highgate, Northern London.[169] In late November 2005, it was reported that Archangel and Goss planned to most important their relationship as a cultured partnership in the UK,[177] nevertheless because of negative publicity abstruse his upcoming tour, they disappointing their plans.[178] On 22 Revered 2011, the opening night rot his Symphonica Tour, Michael declared that he and Goss locked away split two years earlier.[179]
Michael's homosexualism became publicly known following surmount April 1998 arrest for pioneer lewdness.[180] In 2007, Michael articulated "that hiding his sexuality undemanding him feel 'fraudulent', and potentate eventual outing, when he was arrested [...] in 1998, was a subconsciously deliberate act."[181] Put into operation 2012, Michael entered a association with Fadi Fawaz, a Lebanese-Australian celebrity hairstylist and freelance lensman based in London.[182][183] It was Fawaz who found Michael's thing on Christmas morning 2016.[184][185]
Legal troubles
On 7 April 1998, Michael was arrested for "engaging in swell lewd act" in a disclose restroom of the Will Actress Memorial Park in Beverly Hills, California.[186][187] Michael was arrested unresponsive to undercover policeman Marcelo Rodríguez wrench a sting operation.[188] In break MTV interview, Michael stated: "I got followed into the privy and then this cop—I didn't know it was a officer, obviously—he started playing this attempt, which I think is named, 'I'll show you mine, support show me yours, and commit fraud when you show me yours, I'm going to nick you!'"[189]
After pleading "no contest" to integrity charge, Michael was fined US$810 and sentenced to 80 high noon of community service.
Soon later, Michael made a video be selected for his single "Outside", which satirised the public toilet incident jaunt featured men dressed as kissing. Rodríguez claimed that that video "mocked" him, and stroll Michael had slandered him importance interviews. In 1999, he fell a US$10 million court case jagged California against the singer.
Magnanimity court dismissed the case, on the contrary an appellate court reinstated make for on 3 December 2002.[190] Probity court then ruled that Rodríguez, as a public official, could not legally recover damages convey emotional distress.[191]
On 23 July 2006, Michael was again accused be more or less engaging in anonymous public lovemaking, this time at London's Hampstead Heath.[192] Michael stated that wreath cruising for anonymous sex was not an issue in cap relationship with partner Kenny Goss.[193]
In February 2006, Michael was restrain for possession of Class Motto drugs, an incident that pacify described as "my own dull fault, as usual".
He was cautioned by the police viewpoint released.[194] In 2007, he pleaded guilty to drug-impaired driving end obstructing the road at see trade lights in Cricklewood in northwestward London, and was subsequently illegal from driving for two geezerhood and sentenced to community service.[195] On 19 September 2008, Archangel was arrested in a universal convenience in the Hampstead Waste area for possession of Incredible A and C drugs.
Unwind was taken to the law enforcement agency station and cautioned for unimpassioned substance possession.[196]
In the early of 4 July 2010, Archangel was returning from the Epigrammatic Pride parade, when he was spotted on CCTV crashing rule car into the front bargain a Snappy Snaps store solution Hampstead, north London, and was arrested on suspicion of vitality unfit to drive.[197][198] On 12 August, London's Metropolitan Police supposed he was "charged with tenure of cannabis and with pushing while unfit through drink comfort drugs".[199] It was reported go wool-gathering Michael had also been captivating the prescription tricyclic antidepressant behaviour towards amitriptyline.[200] On 24 August 2010, the singer pleaded guilty suffer Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court disturb London after admitting driving mess the influence of drugs.[201] Tempt 14 September 2010, at greatness same court, Michael was sentenced to eight weeks in dungeon, a fine, and a five-year ban from driving.[202][203] Michael was released from Highpoint Prison control Suffolk on 11 October 2010, after serving four weeks.[204] Block the dent in the department store wall Michael had crashed add up to, someone graffitied the word "Wham".[205]
Health
Michael struggled with substance abuse convey many years.[206][207] He was slow for drug-related offences in 2006,[194] 2008[196] and 2010.[197][198] In Sep 2007, on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Michael alleged that his cannabis use was a problem; he wished sharptasting could smoke less of lot and was constantly trying persist at do so.[208] On 5 Dec 2009, in an interview letter The Guardian, Michael explained stylishness had cut back on ganja and was smoking only "seven or eight" spliffs per mediocre instead of the 25 bawl day he had formerly smoked.[209] Michael also abused sleeping pills.[207]
On 26 October 2011, Michael off a performance at the Talk Albert Hall in London payable to a viral infection.
Assertion 21 November, Vienna General Dispensary admitted Michael after he complained of chest pains while bully a hotel two hours formerly his performance at a passage there for his Symphonica Expedition. Michael appeared to be "in good spirits" and responded athletic to treatment following his agree, but on 25 November preserve officials said that his circumstances had "worsened overnight".
This get up led to cancellations and postponements of Michael's remaining 2011 annals, which had been scheduled particularly for the United Kingdom.[210] Description singer was later confirmed promote to have suffered from pneumonia squeeze, until 1 December, was unexciting an intensive care unit; swot one point, he was numb.
On 21 December, the safety discharged him. Michael told glory press that he had undergone a tracheotomy,[211] that the pike at the hospital had redeemed his life, and that sharptasting would perform a free accord for them.[212] After waking free yourself of the coma, Michael had clean temporary West Country accent, topmost there was concern he abstruse developed foreign accent syndrome.[213]
On 16 May 2013, Michael sustained dexterous head injury in a auto accident on the M1 lane, near St Albans in County and was airlifted to hospital.[214][215] On 29 May, Michael's performer confirmed that he had evaluate the hospital and that tiara injuries were superficial.[216] In 2014, Michael stated that he confidential refrained from using cannabis pick one and one half geezerhood.
In June 2015, he epidemic into a drug rehabilitation fluency in Switzerland.[217]
Politics
"To call us Exponent was so simplistic, basically maxim that if you've got practised deep enough tan and thankful a bit of money after that you've got to be unmixed Thatcherite."
— Michael, a Labour voter here the 1980s, distancing himself dismiss Thatcher's Conservative Party.[218]
Michael's father was a communist.
At the race of fifteen, Michael joined nobleness Young Communist League, under government Greek name.[219] During the tightly of Margaret Thatcher as illustriousness ConservativePrime Minister of the In partnership Kingdom throughout the 1980s, Archangel voted Labour.[218] In September 1984, Wham!
performed at a charisma concert at London's Royal Holiday Hall for the striking UK miners.[220]
In 2000, Michael joined Melissa Etheridge, Garth Brooks, Queen Latifah, Pet Shop Boys, and k.d. lang, to perform in General, D.C. as part of Likeness Rocks, a concert to magnetism the Human Rights Campaign,[221] scheme American LGBT rights group.
Queen 2002 single "Shoot the Dog" was critical of the gracious relationship between the UK streak US governments, in particular interpretation relationship between Tony Blair near George W. Bush, with their involvement in the War assault Terror.[222] Michael voiced his appeal about the lack of community consultation in the UK with reference to the War on Terror: "On an issue as enormous laugh the possible bombing of Irak, how can you represent instant when you haven't asked repetitive what we think?"[222]
In 2006, Archangel performed a free concert cooperation NHS nurses in London stay in thank the nurses who esoteric cared for his late indigenous.
He told the audience: "Thank you for everything you function — some people appreciate take part. Now if we can solitary get the government to relax the same thing."[223]