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PrintableJackieBlue said:[quote]One of the things I've liked about George and I think it's been mentioned here once before is his overall image.
Yeah love Georges image in this video....classic.... http://www.youtube.com/wa...Oo1HHawN3s Ricky Gervais & George Michael in bed He's class...  Da, Da, Da....Emancipation....Free..don't think I ain't..! London 21 Nights...Clap your hands...you know the rest..
James Brown & Michael Jackson RIP, your music still lives with us! | |
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daPrettyman said: graecophilos said: I agree. I even think he's a better singer and songwriter than... well, let's not start THAT discussion again. I don't know how much airplay he has in the US. But his active career was finished with the court case, not his outing. In 1998 nobody cared about George anymore. What I think is, that it was a mistake that he stopped promoting his music properly. I guess most of his American fans felt heavily let down after the FAITH period, and than the non-video/interviews period of LWP. But unfortunately this proved to me that most of his US fans just bought his record because they were in love with him. I can't believe those 8 mio FAITH buyers did not know that he has another album out. But soon they rfealized there are no pretty pictures or sexy videos... And his female fans certainly weren't impressed with those top models!!! Now he's seen as a 80s star. Most people don't know his 90s and 00s stuff. I still imagien how it could have been... if he had promoted LWP 1 properly and would have released LWP2 with the fast songs... You know, GM sold well in the states with LWP. Praying for Time and Freedom were big hits. They didn't perform as well as the prior material, but still did good. The US is so fickle about gay stars. They don't want to market a gay icon to the masses. When George was busted in the restroom, many didn't even know he was gay. When he did come out, his career DIED. Before all of that took place, George still managed to have hits. The Queen tribute project did well, as did "Jesus To A Child". They managed to chart well in the States. They tried to revive his career with songs like "As" and "Shoot the Dog", but America wasn't having it. I remember "As" getting lots of airplay when it first came out, but MCA stopped it claiming that Mary didn't get permission to record it. That song could have been his BIG comeback song if MCA hadn't blocked it. Maybe it was a combination of events. Not only did he come out, he was arrested for lascivious behavior but to be fair, the public has turned a blind eye to worse. The public, at least the American public is lazy. If the music is not being shoved down their throats via video, radio, commercials, magazine covers music and non-music related, then they're not going to do the work to find out about you. Only die-hard fans will search and seek what they want. Everyone else wants it handed to them on a platter no matter how bad it is. IMO, GM's music is of higher quality than what's going on out there so automatically he's marginalized. Throw in his age and all the other stuff and no one's checking for him except for... well, us.  Been gone for a minute, now I'm back with the jump off | |
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George came out when he got in trouble with the law. Beforehand, he always remained private about who he was sleeping with. I mean he managed to keep a three-year relationship with a man secret even after the man died of an AIDS-complicated illness. I think had he come out without the bathroom scandal, he might've still had a random hit here in America. Hell, he could've charted with Mary J. Blige on their Stevie Wonder cover, but since George's controversy was still new on people's minds, they decided to only release it in Europe (where it was on the European edition of Mary's self-titled 1999 album). I think had he come out now, he'd probably have no problem. But now, I think age has been added to the mix. He's not the same 24-year-old who put out "Faith", he's gonna be 46 in June and ever since 1998, I do think his age along with his controversy and coming out quickly after that ruined his reputation in America. We were the first to embrace his solo projects after he left Wham! but as soon as his problems came into foreground, we turned our back on him. First the issue with Sony dampened his U.S. sales a bit though "Older" still went gold here and "Fastlove" and "Jesus to a Child" WERE top ten hits here, and then with the bathroom thing. Ever since, George has basically been only successful in Europe. But he DID manage to get a gold album with his last studio effort here so he still has a fan base here.
Anyway, one of George's best songs in this period to me would have to be "Freeek!" | |
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I don't really understand America's hangups on sex and sexuality. And yet they claim to be so advanced. Been gone for a minute, now I'm back with the jump off | |
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JackieBlue said: I don't really understand America's hangups on sex and sexuality. And yet they claim to be so advanced.
We're a country stuck on stupid.  | |
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JackieBlue said: daPrettyman said: You know, GM sold well in the states with LWP. Praying for Time and Freedom were big hits. They didn't perform as well as the prior material, but still did good. The US is so fickle about gay stars. They don't want to market a gay icon to the masses. When George was busted in the restroom, many didn't even know he was gay. When he did come out, his career DIED. Before all of that took place, George still managed to have hits. The Queen tribute project did well, as did "Jesus To A Child". They managed to chart well in the States. They tried to revive his career with songs like "As" and "Shoot the Dog", but America wasn't having it. I remember "As" getting lots of airplay when it first came out, but MCA stopped it claiming that Mary didn't get permission to record it. That song could have been his BIG comeback song if MCA hadn't blocked it. Maybe it was a combination of events. Not only did he come out, he was arrested for lascivious behavior but to be fair, the public has turned a blind eye to worse. The public, at least the American public is lazy. If the music is not being shoved down their throats via video, radio, commercials, magazine covers music and non-music related, then they're not going to do the work to find out about you. Only die-hard fans will search and seek what they want. Everyone else wants it handed to them on a platter no matter how bad it is. IMO, GM's music is of higher quality than what's going on out there so automatically he's marginalized. Throw in his age and all the other stuff and no one's checking for him except for... well, us. Precisely. I think of all the events that led to his current status in the States, it was the battle with Sony that did the most damage. Because the public is so lazy, keeping an active profile is probably the most important thing of all. George didn't do that, and his career here suffered as a result. | |
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violator said: JackieBlue said: Maybe it was a combination of events. Not only did he come out, he was arrested for lascivious behavior but to be fair, the public has turned a blind eye to worse. The public, at least the American public is lazy. If the music is not being shoved down their throats via video, radio, commercials, magazine covers music and non-music related, then they're not going to do the work to find out about you. Only die-hard fans will search and seek what they want. Everyone else wants it handed to them on a platter no matter how bad it is. IMO, GM's music is of higher quality than what's going on out there so automatically he's marginalized. Throw in his age and all the other stuff and no one's checking for him except for... well, us. Precisely. I think of all the events that led to his current status in the States, it was the battle with Sony that did the most damage. Because the public is so lazy, keeping an active profile is probably the most important thing of all. George didn't do that, and his career here suffered as a result. We're more fickle than Europeans. Like say you put out a hit album in this year, then for six years, something affects you to the point that you don't put out no new album during that time off, then you come out with a new album after six years, it's like "oh that's where so and so is" and while they do resoundingly well considering (say you go gold), it's clear they're not at the level they were in before that six-year layoff and you're pretty forgotten about. I think the scandal unfortunately turned more people off. George hasn't had that problem in Europe because he still can put out something after eight years and the album goes to number-one or go platinum. | |
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Timmy84 said: violator said: Precisely. I think of all the events that led to his current status in the States, it was the battle with Sony that did the most damage. Because the public is so lazy, keeping an active profile is probably the most important thing of all. George didn't do that, and his career here suffered as a result. We're more fickle than Europeans. Like say you put out a hit album in this year, then for six years, something affects you to the point that you don't put out no new album during that time off, then you come out with a new album after six years, it's like "oh that's where so and so is" and while they do resoundingly well considering (say you go gold), it's clear they're not at the level they were in before that six-year layoff and you're pretty forgotten about. I think the scandal unfortunately turned more people off. George hasn't had that problem in Europe because he still can put out something after eight years and the album goes to number-one or go platinum. I can see that. Sade has had unreasonable amounts of time between releases and she still sells fairly well. | |
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Timmy84 said: George came out when he got in trouble with the law. Beforehand, he always remained private about who he was sleeping with. I mean he managed to keep a three-year relationship with a man secret even after the man died of an AIDS-complicated illness. I think had he come out without the bathroom scandal, he might've still had a random hit here in America. Hell, he could've charted with Mary J. Blige on their Stevie Wonder cover, but since George's controversy was still new on people's minds, they decided to only release it in Europe (where it was on the European edition of Mary's self-titled 1999 album). I think had he come out now, he'd probably have no problem. But now, I think age has been added to the mix. He's not the same 24-year-old who put out "Faith", he's gonna be 46 in June and ever since 1998, I do think his age along with his controversy and coming out quickly after that ruined his reputation in America. We were the first to embrace his solo projects after he left Wham! but as soon as his problems came into foreground, we turned our back on him. First the issue with Sony dampened his U.S. sales a bit though "Older" still went gold here and "Fastlove" and "Jesus to a Child" WERE top ten hits here, and then with the bathroom thing. Ever since, George has basically been only successful in Europe. But he DID manage to get a gold album with his last studio effort here so he still has a fan base here.
Anyway, one of George's best songs in this period to me would have to be "Freeek!" I think the Oprah interview propelled that album to gold status here in the States. **--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••-
U 'gon make me shake my doo loose! http://www.twitter.com/nivlekbrad | |
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daPrettyman said: Timmy84 said: George came out when he got in trouble with the law. Beforehand, he always remained private about who he was sleeping with. I mean he managed to keep a three-year relationship with a man secret even after the man died of an AIDS-complicated illness. I think had he come out without the bathroom scandal, he might've still had a random hit here in America. Hell, he could've charted with Mary J. Blige on their Stevie Wonder cover, but since George's controversy was still new on people's minds, they decided to only release it in Europe (where it was on the European edition of Mary's self-titled 1999 album). I think had he come out now, he'd probably have no problem. But now, I think age has been added to the mix. He's not the same 24-year-old who put out "Faith", he's gonna be 46 in June and ever since 1998, I do think his age along with his controversy and coming out quickly after that ruined his reputation in America. We were the first to embrace his solo projects after he left Wham! but as soon as his problems came into foreground, we turned our back on him. First the issue with Sony dampened his U.S. sales a bit though "Older" still went gold here and "Fastlove" and "Jesus to a Child" WERE top ten hits here, and then with the bathroom thing. Ever since, George has basically been only successful in Europe. But he DID manage to get a gold album with his last studio effort here so he still has a fan base here.
Anyway, one of George's best songs in this period to me would have to be "Freeek!" I think the Oprah interview propelled that album to gold status here in the States. I was so glad he was on there. It explained alot and let the U.S. know he ain't dead. Been gone for a minute, now I'm back with the jump off | |
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daPrettyman said: Timmy84 said: George came out when he got in trouble with the law. Beforehand, he always remained private about who he was sleeping with. I mean he managed to keep a three-year relationship with a man secret even after the man died of an AIDS-complicated illness. I think had he come out without the bathroom scandal, he might've still had a random hit here in America. Hell, he could've charted with Mary J. Blige on their Stevie Wonder cover, but since George's controversy was still new on people's minds, they decided to only release it in Europe (where it was on the European edition of Mary's self-titled 1999 album). I think had he come out now, he'd probably have no problem. But now, I think age has been added to the mix. He's not the same 24-year-old who put out "Faith", he's gonna be 46 in June and ever since 1998, I do think his age along with his controversy and coming out quickly after that ruined his reputation in America. We were the first to embrace his solo projects after he left Wham! but as soon as his problems came into foreground, we turned our back on him. First the issue with Sony dampened his U.S. sales a bit though "Older" still went gold here and "Fastlove" and "Jesus to a Child" WERE top ten hits here, and then with the bathroom thing. Ever since, George has basically been only successful in Europe. But he DID manage to get a gold album with his last studio effort here so he still has a fan base here.
Anyway, one of George's best songs in this period to me would have to be "Freeek!" I think the Oprah interview propelled that album to gold status here in the States. Hey you do what you gotta do. I'm glad he did it too.  | |
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Timmy84 said: daPrettyman said: I think the Oprah interview propelled that album to gold status here in the States. Hey you do what you gotta do. I'm glad he did it too. yeah it was funny. But his performance of Faith has been cut in favor for a ad??? In fact Oprah is best for George Michael. She has mainly female viewers in the age of 40 and who are those kinda people who like considering themselves open and tolerant towards gays and other minorities... oprah was an ideal place for George to tell the US what happened in his life since 19990... But the ad for the show was BAD! The cut his words... They said: He is gay... and then they cut in his sentence "and so i plummeted in this deep, deep depression". But GM was referring to his partner's death not about his sexuality. | |
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graecophilos said: Timmy84 said: Hey you do what you gotta do. I'm glad he did it too. yeah it was funny. But his performance of Faith has been cut in favor for a ad??? In fact Oprah is best for George Michael. She has mainly female viewers in the age of 40 and who are those kinda people who like considering themselves open and tolerant towards gays and other minorities... oprah was an ideal place for George to tell the US what happened in his life since 19990... But the ad for the show was BAD! The cut his words... They said: He is gay... and then they cut in his sentence "and so i plummeted in this deep, deep depression". But GM was referring to his partner's death not about his sexuality. They had to get people to watch some way. Oprah is good at that. Her producers can edit anything to make it seem weird. **--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••--**--••**--••-
U 'gon make me shake my doo loose! http://www.twitter.com/nivlekbrad | |
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Outside. http://www.facebook.com/p...111?ref=ts
y'all gone keep messin' around wit me and turn me back to the old me...... | |
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I really like This Is Not Real Love, so I'll go with that one. | |
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Cloudbuster said: I really like This Is Not Real Love, so I'll go with that one.
yep, I mentioned this. Even George seems to underrate this. He once did a radio interview, and the DJ said, this would be one of his best songs, and George replied: "Really? You think so?" In a scpetical way. I would have loved to know more about it. When it was written, and stuff. | |
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graecophilos said: Cloudbuster said: I really like This Is Not Real Love, so I'll go with that one.
yep, I mentioned this. Even George seems to underrate this. He once did a radio interview, and the DJ said, this would be one of his best songs, and George replied: "Really? You think so?" In a scpetical way. I would have loved to know more about it. When it was written, and stuff. Makes you wonder then why he even bothered to record it. | |
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Cloudbuster said: graecophilos said: yep, I mentioned this. Even George seems to underrate this. He once did a radio interview, and the DJ said, this would be one of his best songs, and George replied: "Really? You think so?" In a scpetical way. I would have loved to know more about it. When it was written, and stuff. Makes you wonder then why he even bothered to record it. he had to do a ballad for his best of album contractually. Also originally it was planned to be a duets album, that's why the ballad is a duet. | |
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Okay people, after I realised many orgers seem to like Patience I gave it another listen... I think I like it more than 5 years ago. Maybe it's because I'm used to his deeper voice now, or the melodies needed five years to make sense to me... I didn't even skip the title track,,,
have you all listened to the alternate version of Please Send Me Someone? It was on the Japanese version and is more like the demo he did in 1996. | |
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Cloudbuster said: I really like This Is Not Real Love, so I'll go with that one.
Everytime I hear the intro, I just skip it. I took it off my iPod a week after I put it on
I was thinking, with 3 albums by Wham!, 5 solo albums, and 1 EP, could a George Michael boxset work? I feel although Ladies and Gentleman and Twenty Five are great, they somehow don't really capture the full image of his artistry. Throw one or two Wham! songs, some songs from Faith and LWP, and then the rest from Older and Patience a 4CD+1DVD boxset would be better "We may deify or demonize them but not ignore them. And we call them genius, because they are the people who change the world." |
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bboy87 said: Cloudbuster said: I really like This Is Not Real Love, so I'll go with that one.
Everytime I hear the intro, I just skip it. I took it off my iPod a week after I put it on
I was thinking, with 3 albums by Wham!, 5 solo albums, and 1 EP, could a George Michael boxset work? I feel although Ladies and Gentleman and Twenty Five are great, they somehow don't really capture the full image of his artistry. Throw one or two Wham! songs, some songs from Faith and LWP, and then the rest from Older and Patience a 4CD+1DVD boxset would be better well, personally I don't need a boxset. I don't buy best ofs anyway, and it surely won't happen. He would do me a big favor in releasing ALL his solo and Wham! tours on DVD. All of them were recorded professionally. And... although it won't happen... what about giving the missing LWP2 tracks away for free? Or are they owned by Sony? In my head I imagine the LWP2 all the time. Sometimes I include Someday and How Many Hearts as well, sometimes I don't... | |
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