George Michael got some hate by blacks at the american music awards in 1988 when he beat Bobby Brown, Keith sweat etc to win soul album of the year? Should he of been in that catorgory in the first place?

Did u agree that George should not of even been nominated for soul album of the year? U reckon he won because whites saw a white guy in a black catorgory so deliberately voted for him just because of his skin colour?

Anyone remember this? Whats ur view on it now? I understand why some black people were pissed off, but "faith" was a soul album right?.....the backing vox, the rhythm of the tracks.....all black influence!
[Edited 1/28/05 11:14am]

I don't remember that happening - most have missed that one.
I do remember when he won the Soul Train award
& Dionne Warwick threw a hissy fit.

From my recollection the brothers were digging George Michael back then. Father Figure and One More Try were getting all kinds of airplay on R&B stations (still do on some of the 'oldie' R&B stations.)

It was impresive back then cause there really weren't any crossover artists coming from Top 40 pop to R&B as successfully as he did. I doubt many people if any voted for him just cause he was white. It probably didn't hurt that he stuck out like a sore thumb in that category, but his talent was undeniable.



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[Edited 1/28/05 9:52am]

Universaluv said:

Gladys Knight was pissed off.....

I can't remember blacks hating on George Michael, ever. One thing I do remember is when he performed acapella on some show. It was him and about 3 or 4 female back up singers and they were in a circle around a microphone. It was such a good performance but I can't remember the song(s) or the show it was on. Since then I've longed to see him do an unplugged set.

George just got criticized 4 it a bit, even though of course it was not his fault. It wasn't a major story, which is why I brought it up to get peoples views on it etc.....

U can understand how blacks could be a bit miffed at George winning. The soul album catorgory is one that blacks want the most.....they work hard 4 that and then a white guy comes along and takes it! U can see some anger surely?
[Edited 1/28/05 11:13am]

I remember that.

Couldn't understand it since almost every R&B radio station in America was rockin' Geo.

What did Dionne & Gladys say?

Harlepolis said:

If I'm remembering correctly (it's been a while) it wasn't Gladys Knight. Dionne Warwick made some negative comment about George Michael winning the AMA award for R&B album for Faith. I don't recall exactly what she said, but I don't really pay much attention to her unless she's singing Burt Bacharach songs anyway.

RipHer2Shreds said:

I do love me some Dionne and Burt B.

JackieBlue said:

I saw that too. I think it was "Freedom 90" that they did and it was at either the AMAs or Grammys. I loved his Mtv Unplugged performance. I wonder why no album was released for it!?!
The whole outrage about him being nominated and winning for 'FAITH' back in 1988 came down to only one thing; racism.

thedoorkeeper said:

@ Dionne throwing a hissy fit!!!!! CLASSIC!!!!!

JackieBlue said:

I hate that hypocrite match-lookin' heffa with passion

Always talking shit about somebody,,,,I still can't 4give her for the tacky shit she pulled on ALL of Hip-Hop/Rap Music over something she's already DOING.

thedoorkeeper said:

Speaking of Soul Train.

Remember when Whitney got booed th fuck out? OMG that dog

Dionne should keep her trap shut & go grow a vegetable garden or something..

Chico1 said:

aaaah, okay. That was a great thing. I questioned an unplug album too. Hope he does something in the U.S. for Patience or anything at this point.

JackieBlue said:

She's not excatly the brightest blub. I mean, she crossed over doing some very white music, yet George can get screwed? Also, her lashing out at rap music when she's a weed fiend was, as Harlepolis pointed out, very hypocritical.

i remember the second Motown special when basically a lot of White performers did a bunch of duets with Black Motown artists..George Michael sang "Love's in Need of Love" with Stevie Wonder and they brought the house down...Joe Cocker and Patti Labelle did You are So Beautiful to Me...Boy George did something i can't remember...anywhoo...it was a great show

that can't be right cuz Faith was the first album by a white artist to top the black album charts.
so somebody had to be buying it!
[Edited 1/28/05 21:06pm]

shhhhitt..



what a crock of shit...

Well, Dionne Warwick can peddle her psychic friends bullshit and duet with Elton John her way to the bank. George Michael has an INCREDIBLE voice, and no skin color is going to make me question whether he has 'soul'. IMO, Faith was not only THE pop album of 1988, it was also the soul, R&B,rock, dance album of 1988. He had the market cornered at that point.

But I wonder if the same people were bitchin' when Boz Scaggs' "Low Down" won a Grammy for Best R&B Song in 1976.

thesexofit said:

U can understand them getting a bit miffed? You've got to be kidding me? Its called the soul album category, not the black sould album category.

If someone felt he should not be eligble, simply because of his colour, then its racism, pure and simple.

I recall Freddie Jackson making a big fuss over the fact that 'Faith' was Number One on the R&B album charts.He said "Just wait until my new album comes out"


I never understood why there was such a fuss anyway.'Faith' is,for the most part,an R&B album.George was heavily influenced by black artists.Songs like "Hard Day","Monkey" and "One More Try" are incredibly soulful songs.The fact that he's White shouldn't matter.Black radio stations went nuts over these songs,and his previous hit "Careless Whisper" is an R&B staple.

DavidEye said:

that song is a classic and the whole cd is good.

heybaby said:

George Michael's Faith album is one of the best albums I've ever heard by anyone. I wore my cassette tape out in '88 and I bought the CD a few years ago. His voice is so soulful; dude is a phenomenal singer. Great album!!!

Universaluv said:

Well Keith Sweats "Make It Last Forever" and Bobby's "Dont Be Cruel" were much better than Faith in my opinion. I Want Your Sex, Monkey, Hard Day are not really soul records.

Faith was a good album, but there was more soul in Keith's and Bobby's records, plus they were more fun.

UptownDeb said:

na na nah das das sown was fonky

If I remember my history correctly it was Freddy Jackson (remember him?) who was personally offended by George's prominance on the R&B charts that year.