Based on another thread comparing artists, this is about Boy George and George Michael. In their prime, both had brilliant, shining careers. At their worst, both have had deep "valleys" of personal lows that have virtually ruined their careers. Both have had recurring problems with the law, involving sex, drugs, and booze. Just when you think they've cleaned-up, trouble rears its ugly head! Both have had brief returns of success based on their "older" works. Will either be successful with anything new? Now whom would you say is worthy of a better comeback?

The good:


The bad:

They should do a duet! Call it "You're a fat old bitch". I'd buy that!

I think Boy George needs a hit more. Still Boy George has that underground cult thing.

George Michael can easily score a top 10 single in Europe.

George Michael. Because he's actually got it in him to do it. Time hasn't passed him by too much. And it seems like his ego really needs it.

Boy George doesn't really seem to need it. Or desire it. And he probably couldn't do it, even if he tried. But that hardly matters to anyone, including him.

I'd like to say both although George can get an easy hit in Europe he still can't get one in America. Boy George on the other hand flat out needs a hit even though he is a famous DJ...

Boy George

Guess it's a matter of examining their careers. While both their careers are pretty much stale in the states, George Michael at least can score a nice hit single in Europe. Hell, even in the states, he can rake up some moderate album sales if given the proper promotion(remember how "Patience" shot up the charts after he appeared on Oprah?).

Boy George, on the other hand, hasn't had much of a music career in either side of the ocean. He was smart to go into DJing however, which because it continued to make him quite the fat check, he didn't exactly "need" a hit. Still, outside of DJing, he's pretty much relegated to being an 80s icon as a musician. And even then, alot of people not familiar with his DJing career and his B-Rude fashion line simply view him as some hasbeen drug addict thanks to the trouble he got into in NYC. I still find it funny that he can grab headlines like that to this day despite the fact that he's not "relevant".

newskin69 said:

I think that the 1980s was the last decade to produce real global megastars.

From 1990 onwards, pop stars seemed to concentrate their marketing inside territories in which they were already successful...

Kylie Minogue still isn't a household name across the U.S.A like she is in Europe and Australasia. Conversely, you'll get American acts like Fun Lovin' Criminals and Scissor Sisters who were taken to the U.K.'s heart, but fail to register at home.

It's very odd.

I blame MTV and its divisive territorial programming around the world during the nineties.

George Michael has hit albums in the UK, but not 'big' hit singles.

He has also just completed a sell-out tour, one date of which, he played the new Wembley Stadium for the first time and sold it out. He's also been selling out big venues like Earls Court.

All in all, I don't think George Michael 'needs' a hit. At least not in Europe.

Also I think George's lack of chart action in the US has more to do with expressing his political opinions on 'Shoot the Dog' than his musical ability. Amazingly and rather tragically, it seems many in the USA actually believe and support a murderer like George W Bush.

Boy George arguably needs to write and perform one decent song, more than he needs a 'hit'. Boy George's last genuine moment of glory was 'Culture Club' in the '80's.

The Culture club are now an 80's nostalgia act and as Boy George hasn't written anything remotely good or successful that is contemporary (in fact, it's arguable that he isn't a contemporary artist at all) it is Boy George who is most in need of a hit.

OperatingThetan said:

Considering your screen name, you find it hard to believe that many believe and support any kind of crazy shit?

boy

OperatingThetan said:

That's arguable. Crying Game IMHO was every bit as magic as Culture Club's biggest hits.

sosgemini said:

Agreed. Aside from the solo suscess of that single, George has been doing DJing.

Raze said:

Oooooh.

I like both, but george michael would be more successful in europe and canada though I'm not sure about the US.

Raze said:

Wham!

alphastreet said:

ironically, his first 2 solo albums (and their singles) were much more successful in the US. he didn't become a solo hits juggernaut in the UK (and moved toward obscurity in the US) until Older.

I say Boy George but he never seemed like he was trying to go for music big time. George Michael, on the other hand, has been working hard at having a long career in music so it would seem like he would want one. Besides George O'Dowd's (Boy's real name) near 50 now so I think he's alright with where he's at.

Raze said:

Nice reply!

My screen name is a joke, but I take your point!!!