If the music business understood the music business anywhere near as well as George Michael did (and did from the time of his early 20s) - they'd be an even bigger business than they already are and a far lot more interesting. He just seemed so insightful into not just this business but so many other life/world issues. We need people like him, we people to be critical thinkers again instead of swallowing whatever they are told or believing every idiotic thing they see on social media, etc.
I will never understand why he always talked about being 40 or in his 40s as if it was very old. It was obviously his personal perspective but I always felt a little sad about it and especially as he died at 53, such a young age in these days. But, I wondered if it was related to the reality that his looks were changing (as we all do) as he aged and so, somehow, considered him to be old even at this still relatively young age. So much about him brings so much joy but also so much sadness - he was complex, sensitive, intuitive to a fault and withstood so much media harassment - I do miss this man, almost as if I knew him.
He was so right about the music industry - with all streaming now for music, free and otherwise, it has so dramatically changed how music is produced, marketed, etc - Musicians are experiencing an entirely differently run industry than what GM and others did during his time. His self-awareness is incredibly acute and that is truly both a blessing and a curse. I wish we had his beautiful music and his beautiful thoughtful mind still with us....
Oh, gosh - if he thought we (Americans) had hit bottom with the horrid Bush administration, I shudder to think of what the poor man would think of us since trump slithered into office in early 2017 - and, here we are again with a convicted felon who let millions of people get sick/many who died from Covid because he underplayed it as he didn't want it interfering with his 2020 campaign for a second term, a convicted felon who tried to steal the 2020 election, who juiced up and supported an attempted resurrection. GM would - as most of us - likely feel some very deep despair as to where the world is heading now....yet again.
Interviewers like this (sorry to say, old white males who believe they are special and entitled simply because they are old white males) seemed to believe they were going to "get" George Michael in some way which, of course, then they were shocked to find how much GM understood, how much he knew, how articulate and passionate he was and that he himself was not the lapdog that Blair showed himself to be. The fact Sebastian opened by asking if GM wrote the song and against the war in Iraq because it was "fashionable" is the first shot out of the gate to try to immediately paint GM as frivolous - it was intentional. It is so satisfying when these guys get confronted with the reality of who GM truly was. The interviewer here came off as a would be bully and someone else other than GM might have taken the bait.
He spoke in later interviews about how his speaking out as he did here (and elsewhere) about wanting Blair to not go into Iraq did impact his career at the time - in a negative way. Such a shame that someone wanting peace would have their career negatively affected by doing so. He was such a humanitarian, in the true sense - not just donating money to causes but being articulate and thoughtful and speaking out - So admirable and appreciated even as certain career opportunities vanished when he did make his thoughts on Iraq known. And - not surprisingly - he was correct (as many of us were here in the states as well).
I'm a mother of a grown son, he's GM's age range now and I'm telling you dead and alive as I comment I'd be 💯 worried for his welfare on land or in the air because people & politicians can or could've been violently cruel to him. He was very brave to become quite political, not long after coming out in America, and I really hope his autopsy into his death was natural causes. Prayerfully, not a cover-up of something more sinister drawn from his outspoken attitude, which I've admired, laughed at in 2 months, and I enjoyed most of GM's interviews.
Noel Gallagher is not a intelligent man especially politically. Noel was gullible enough to believe Tony Blair and George after meeting him knew what a joke he was! Well most politicians
Such a beautiful rendition of a amazing song! It’s such a great performance and he seems do it with so much ease and confidence! As he said in this documentary he loves performing other peoples songs. You can hear his love for his favourite songs on his cover album! What a knockout talent miss you George
