George Michael RIP

The Talking Bread

Etc wrote: »

There are very few pop singers who sustain a career. George Michael knew how to write a lyric and to back it up with amazing melodies. "Listen without Prejudice" is a sublime album.

He was a troubled man and I'm so glad his troubles are now over.

Ah, come on. Apart from a few issues in his life I would imagine GM wasn't as troubled as people are speculating. It's not as if this sad occurrence has "put him out of his misery"

fryup

He never took himself too seriously and was always game for a laugh..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38UMhmOkQWU

* he did a free concert for NHS nurses, a few years back as a thank you for looking after his mother

RIP

French_Girl

Devastated.
As others already wrote, I might not have known him personally but his music touched me in so many ways.

Been crying my eyes out since half 9 this morning when I first heard the news.

RIP George Michael.

Sir Oxman

RIP
A superstar.

fin12

I can't make you love me is such a beautiful song, so sad thinking of George now.

dark crystal

This has really knocked the stuffing out of me. I was a huge George Michael fan. He was a seriously talented human being and a kind one.

His loss will be felt within the music industry, even if he hadn't had a 'hit' record in a while, because his legacy is huge. He wrote some truly great pop tunes, both as part of Wham and as a solo artist and he wrote some hauntingly beautiful tunes on albums like Faith, Listen Without Prejudice and Older. I'm gutted I never got to see him live.

Rest well, George. You have been loved.

BrianD3

I'm also shocked an saddened by this. I'd say many will be surprised that he was only 53 as he seems to have been around "forever" due to becoming very successful at a young age. By the time Wham! finished they had had several number 1 singles yet George was still only 23.

Great success at a young age and now, a very premature death

Also I find the story of Wham! and how George and Andrew Ridgeley went their separate ways with very divergent careers/lives afterwards yet still remaining friends to be an interesting story.

seenitall

mansize wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBmZ0qNhIq0

I love this clip, with Bowie looking approvingly on hopefully the two of them are cooking up a brand new collaboration now, somewhere ... I wish !

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

So strange in that eastenders referenced him on Xmas eve. Wasn't a fan of his music but 53 is too young to die.

Yourself isit

mansize wrote: »

His altruism coming out now is breathtaking- as well as THT and AIDS charities he quietly donated millions to child line and paid £15K for IVF for a woman who went on Deal OND to unsuccessfully attempt to win it

He's seemed to be the very opposite of a virtue signaller.

Boggy Turf

Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes.

RIP George, thanks for the memories.

Ursus Horribilis

ebbsy wrote: »

People actually had to be able to sing back then.

At least back then they were unique. These days there seems to be one sort of pop voice and one style of singing.

We'll also probably never know what exactly it was Andrew Ridgely did in Wham!

Yourself isit

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

At least back then they were unique. These days there seems to be one sort of pop voice and one style of singing.

We'll also probably never know what exactly it was Andrew Ridgely did in Wham!

If you listen closely to some Wham! tracks you can hear Andrew making the tea in the background.

Ferrari3600

learn_more

dark crystal wrote: »

This has really knocked the stuffing out of me.

Not yesterdays stuffing I hope.

Richard Hillman

A great human being and these stories of his philanthropy are remarkable. Not just for his generosity but his humbleness.

Careless whisper was one of the greatest songs of all time.

Stonedpilot

Decades of drug abuse catches up with them all. Can't be good for the old ticker.
Rip

Ferrari3600

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

We'll also probably never know what exactly it was Andrew Ridgely did in Wham!

True, but, also, so what? They remained lifelong friends long after Wham split up, so presumably Ridgely brought something to the table, even if 'only' moral support/validation.

mansize

Richard Hillman wrote: »

A great human being and these stories of his philanthropy are remarkable. Not just for his generosity but his humbleness.

Careless whisper was one of the greatest songs of all time.

17 when he wrote it- 17!!!

Ferrari3600

A clever and knowing critique of Thatcherism here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf_Lwe6p-Cg

PressRun

Ferrari3600 wrote: »

True, but, also, so what? They remained lifelong friends long after Wham split up, so presumably Ridgely brought something to the table, even if 'only' moral support/validation.

An interview George Michael did for Desert Island Discs touched on this. He said that Ridgely was responsible for the visuals for the group, which appealed to the kids they were making music for.

Ursus Horribilis

Ferrari3600 wrote: »

True, but, also, so what? They remained lifelong friends long after Wham split up, so presumably Ridgely brought something to the table, even if 'only' moral support/validation.

Ooh. Defensive!

Old Bill

It looks like he died of HIV/AIDS.


http://www.smobserved.com/story/2016/12/25/news/singer-george-michael-succumbs-to-hivaids-at-53-in-london/2421.html

Felix Jones is God

Old Bill wrote: »

It looks like he died of HIV/AIDS.


http://www.smobserved.com/story/2016/12/25/news/singer-george-michael-succumbs-to-hivaids-at-53-in-london/2421.html

Died of heart failure, already reported

Snake Plisken

Old Bill wrote: »

It looks like he died of HIV/AIDS.


http://www.smobserved.com/story/2016/12/25/news/singer-george-michael-succumbs-to-hivaids-at-53-in-london/2421.html

Really? Santa Monica Observer not really a valid source or publication!

petrolcan

Old Bill wrote: »

It looks like he died of HIV/AIDS.


http://www.smobserved.com/story/2016/12/25/news/singer-george-michael-succumbs-to-hivaids-at-53-in-london/2421.html

In London too.

Quality reporting there.

<rolls eyes>

Passtheremote

I really liked his music over the years and will continue to listen to it.

He died young and I'm sorry for those that knew and loved him.

Advbrd

Advbrd wrote: »

Well, along with Jesus To A Child, you also have Star people, Spinning The Wheel and the sublime You have Been Loved, all from Older. Outside and As weren't bad. Patience brought us Flawless and Amazing. This Is Not Real Love is an amazing song. The album Songs From The Last Century while not his work was quite a good album and Symphonica while not the "new" album I wanted is excellent...

Have to say for me Flawless highlighted his fall from the heyday of Listen Without Prejudice, he took a great Hi NRG tune and removed the most distinctive part, the driving bassline - see link below. It was as if he didn't bother to think about it and thought, nice tune, let's just change the lyrics. But while I didn't like the last 2 decades, for all that, I liked him and I liked enough of his earlier career to make me think I'll miss him being around as an artist.

http://youtu.be/O_e5oYqNRSM

twill

Reading this thread has made me remember so much of his music that I had forgotten from the Listen Without Prejudice era because what came afterwards paled in comparison. Also childhood memories of dancing to 'Faith'. We got such a kick out of that album. Eurythmics, Queen and Duran Duran too.

RabbleRouser2k

He seems like, despite all the headlines, he was a very private man. The charity he did to help people, the gestures of kindness.

Reminds me of the similar privateness of Bowie, who passed at the beginning of the year. Other artists should take note.

Sunflower 27

twill wrote: »

Reading this thread has made me remember so much of his music that I had forgotten from the Listen Without Prejudice era because what came afterwards paled in comparison. Also childhood memories of dancing to 'Faith'. We got such a kick out of that album. Eurythmics, Queen and Duran Duran too.

Those first few beats of Faith..... I remember being in nightclubs and hearing it and heading straight for the dancefloor. Love it still. Great memories and an awesome talent

Old Bill

RabbleRouser2k wrote: »

He seems like, despite all the headlines, he was a very private man. The charity he did to help people, the gestures of kindness.

Reminds me of the similar privateness of Bowie, who passed at the beginning of the year. Other artists should take note.

I don't see how someone who went around having sex with random people in public toilets can be considered a "private man" if anything he was the extract opposite of a private man.

The Talking Bread

Old Bill wrote: »

I don't see how someone who went around having sex with random people in public toilets can be considered a "private man" if anything he was the extract opposite of a private man.

George Michael was extremely private, regardless of that incident.

aidan24326

I was fortunate enough to see him on the 25 Live Tour and it surpassed my expectations, quite simply the best concert I've ever been to, and I've seen some good ones.

He was such a gifted artist, the sublime voice needs no introduction but he was a highly talented musician and producer aswell and accomplished on several instruments.

He had a talent that most of today's so-called popstars can only dream of. Thanks for the memories George.

ebbsy

Yourself isit wrote: »

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

At least back then they were unique. These days there seems to be one sort of pop voice and one style of singing.

We'll also probably never know what exactly it was Andrew Ridgely did in Wham!

If you listen closely to some Wham! tracks you can hear Andrew making the tea in the background.

To be fair it probably was good tea though.

myshirt

53 or so is such a young age.

Was never a big fan of his music, but know he meant a lot to a lot of people, which is always positive. What a bummer. 53. Reminds you of the fragility of life.

Patty O Furniture

Bizarrely the premiere of Deadpool was on today & his fave LP was afaik Wham - Big High

& end credits finished with Wham!

Cortina_MK_IV

As a tribute, "George Michael At Palais Garnier, Paris" on BBC1 Tuesday at 10pm.

CobraClan

Dame you 2016! Why could you not take Elton John instead ???

TiGeR KiNgS

RIP Britney .... oops wrong thread sorry.

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

Losty Dublin

Old Bill wrote: »

I don't see how someone who went around having sex with random people in public toilets can be considered a "private man" if anything he was the extract opposite of a private man.

I think he meant that he actually was a privates man.

Brinimartini

RIP poor Michael

Old Bill

FizzleSticks wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Having sex in public is illegal.

With the money he had he could of easily have afforded a hotel room.

There was no need for him to go around exposing himself in public.

Patty O Furniture

I see here, he was the 1st Carpool Karaoke

PTH2009

Wake me up before you go go

There's a joke there but out of respect I can't say

DEFTLEFTHAND

Was still young really. 53 come on? That's not an age you go at.

And so sad to pass on Christmas Day.

BeerWolf

2016 has proven to be a God awful year for the Entertainment industry, with so many big names...


RIP Michaels

mansize

Some of the jokes here belong in the "carry on" films! Oh matron!

He had shagged everything he wanted, he needed bigger thrills, and cottaging is a de facto part of gay culture.

Its a bit of an adrenalin rush too, you should try it sometime!

Old Bill

mansize wrote: »

Some of the jokes here belong in the "carry on" films! Oh matron!

He had shagged everything he wanted, he needed bigger thrills, and cottaging is a de facto part of gay culture.

Its a bit of an adrenalin rush too, you should try it sometime!

If you did what George Michael did it wouldn't be long before you would end up on the sex beast register.

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