Last Christmas pop legends: George Michael died

Photo: georgemichael.com

On Sunday, musician George Michael died in his house. The outstanding ability of the singer, songwriter and producer made him one of the most successful artists in the world.

God gave him a magnificent appearance and a good voice, and the ability to stay on stage made him a favorite concert performer for several generations of lovers of popular music.

He achieved his first success in the group Wham! And his solo career brought him many awards and made a multimillionaire.

At the same time, problems with drugs and conflicts with the police have greatly undermined his reputation and even for a while have overshadowed his musical talent.

The singer's real name is Yorgos Kyriakos Panayiotou; he was born in London on June 25, 1963. His father came to Britain from Cyprus in the 50s and ran a small Greek restaurant. His mother is English, a dancer.

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The childhood of the future star was far from cloudless. Michael later recalled that parents were constantly working to support their family, and there was almost no time for warmth.

“I was never praised, never hugged. I was very far from a happy fairy-tale childhood,” he complained in an interview.

When Yorgos was a teenager, the family moved to Hertfordshire. There, on the basis of a general interest in music, he made friends with classmate Andrew Ridgeley, and soon with a few more friends they founded a band that played ska music. She did not last long.

In 1981, Michael and Ridgeley founded Wham! Wham's first single "Rap!" remained largely unnoticed, but the second – “Young Guns (Go For It)” – brought them fame. After Wham! At the last minute, he was invited to take part in the popular television program Top of the Pops, after which the song rose to third place in the British charts.

At first Wham! they looked like such rebels - dressed in leather and singing songs like Bad Boys. Gradually, however, the duo began to shift towards more standard pop music. In the video clip for the song Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, which became a hit on both sides of the ocean, leather was replaced by the look of sleek fashionistas.

Michael was the unconditional frontman of the group, and his transition to a solo career was almost inevitable. The single Careless Whisper, released in 1984, although co-written with Ridgeley, has become an almost solo record by George Michael.

Wham! finally broke up in 1986, and in the spring of next year Michael released the single I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) - a duet with the idol of his youth, American singer Aretha Franklin.

This time also includes the first throwings regarding his sexual orientation. In an interview with the Independent as the cause of his depression after the collapse of the Wham! He called the growing conviction that he was not bisexual, but gay.

Photo: George Michael / Facebook

Legal issues

Michael spent most of 1987 working on his first solo album, Faith, which was released in the fall of that year. The album climbed to the top of the charts in Britain and the United States, sold 25 million copies and brought the singer a Grammy Award in 1989.

The single with the song from the album I Want Your Sex has caused a very controversial reaction. Many American radio stations refused to put the song in rotation, others preferred to broadcast a more decent version, in which the word sex was replaced with the word love. Anyway, the song reached the third place in the charts both in Britain and in the USA.

1988's world tour of the year strengthened Michael's status as superstars, although the endless tours accompanied by the squeal of young fans exhausted him and only increased the attacks of depression that had become regular by that time.

He even refused in any way to promote his second album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. None of the singles was accompanied by a video clip. Much more immersed in personal problems than Faith, the album was aimed at a more adult audience.

In America, he failed to repeat the success of his predecessor, although in Britain, on the contrary, it sold even better than Faith.

Photo: George Michael / Facebook

While touring in Rio de Janeiro, during the Cover to Cover tour in 1991, he met Anselmo Feleppa, who became his regular partner, although Michael still avoided publicly admitting his homosexuality.

The release plans for Listen Without Prejudice Vol 2 were not destined to be realized due to a legal dispute with Sony. The dispute turned into a protracted and costly legal battle, which ultimately led to Michael’s final break with Sony.

In November, 1994, Michael released the single Jesus to a Child, dedicated to the late beloved Felipe. The song immediately climbed to the top of the British charts. She entered Older's album, published in 1996, on which the singer worked 3.

Cuming out

In the melancholic and at times even gloomy Older, there are many hints about Michael's sexual orientation. His appearance also changed - long hair and beard were replaced by a short haircut and leather clothing.

In Britain and other European countries the album was very popular. In the USA, it practically failed: there the public still longed for George Michael - a pop star, and not the serious artist he aspired to become.

The death of his mother from cancer again plunged him into a protracted period of depression. In an interview with GQ, he admitted that he was thinking about suicide and that only the support of the new partner Kenny Goss saved him.

In April 1998, he was arrested in a public toilet in Beverly Hills by a plainclothes police officer. He was charged with profligate. He was fined and sentenced to 80 community service hours.

This incident prompted Michael to openly admit to his homosexuality and that he was in a relationship with the Dallasian businessman Kenny Goss.

He continued to record and in 1999, he released an album of cover versions of Songs from the Last Century. It took two years to work on a new original album Patience, which was released in 2004 year.

The album was perceived as a return to its former form. In Britain, he gained instant success, and even in the United States, despite previous failures, he climbed the 12 stage in the charts.

After Patience was released, Michael told the BBC that he would no longer record albums for sale. Instead, he will upload his new music to the network for free, asking his fans to transfer money to charity.

Photo: George Michael / Facebook

His private life never ceased to go from the pages of tabloids.

In 2006, he was arrested and charged with possession of drugs. In July of the same year, the tabloid News of the World reported that Michael was seen committing sexual acts in Hampstead Heath Park in London.

Michael threatened to sue the photographers for harassment and invasion of privacy, but at the same time admitted that he often goes to the park at night in search of “anonymous and non-binding sex.”

In 2010, he was sentenced to 8 weeks in prison for driving while intoxicated. He was released after serving half the term.

George Michael's talent made him a global star, but he always felt uncomfortable in this role.

Once he admitted that the teen idol’s appearance was just his alter ego, the mask he wore when he went on stage to do his job.

He struggled to be recognized as the author of serious songs and a music producer. He changed his style, trying to conquer a more adult audience, while simultaneously fighting depression and doubts about his sexuality.

He will be remembered as one of the brightest musicians of the 80's generation.

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