The estate of George Michael has extended its global publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music U.K. The deal covers Michael’s solo work and songs from his time in Wham! The George Michael-Warner Chappell alignments dates back four decades, according to an announcement of the renewal.

“We are genuinely delighted that, after many months of detailed discussions and negotiations, we have renewed our longstanding association with WCM which started in the early ‘80s,” said Chris Organ, attorney for Michael and co-executor of the George Michael Estate. “We live in an age of sale and acquisition, and interest in, and competition for, this catalogue was fierce. George was a very loyal man who valued and nurtured long-term business relationships; but ultimately wanted to be remembered as a great songwriter. We strongly believe that his legacy as a songwriter, and the protection and enhancement of this stellar catalogue of songs, is best served by a traditional, hands-on day-to-day relationship with an established music publisher. Warner Chappell Music’s current structure and management is ideally suited to achieve those goals. We look forward to continuing our extremely successful relationship and, most importantly, to maintaining the status and integrity of George’s work for many generations to come.”

More here.

[Edited 12/22/21 8:41am]

EmmaMcG said:

Great. Now how about they release some previously unreleased music?

This is what I'm waiting for. We need some never before heard GM music.

EmmaMcG said:

Great. Now how about they release some previously unreleased music?

The estate did note recently that because of the supply chain issue and other things, that an eminent release wasn't so eminent right now, but is coming. Whatever it is, I hope it'll have some goodies on it.

TrivialPursuit said:

Empress said:

EmmaMcG said:

TrivialPursuit said:

The estate did note recently that because of the supply chain issue and other things, that an eminent release wasn't so eminent right now, but is coming. Whatever it is, I hope it'll have some goodies on it.

I know they're planning some sort of anniversary package for Older. It was supposed to be out this year but was delayed til next summer. I just hope it has some unreleased stuff on there and it's not just a remastered re-release.

I listened to about 3 interviews last night with GM. In almost every one, he noted how Older was his favorite album, and considered it his best, by far. He noted, and I agree, that it's not that upbeat compared to other records, but it's his most personal and came from a lot of grieving and growing. I would really love to find a copy of Older & Upper. Although I have the files digitally.

My best find was a few years ago, the 12" of the full suite of "I Want Your Sex."

TrivialPursuit said:

EmmaMcG said:

Older is my favourite GM album. I actually have the Older & Upper version. I got it in a second hand book/music shop here in Dublin. Same place I got The Family and Prince's Black Album. I assume any re-release would include the extra disc. I hope it includes a few more but at the very least I expect it will include Upper.

It would seem logical to release Older & Upper if they were doing an anniversary release or something. I'd buy it for sure that way.

Empress said:

EmmaMcG said:

Great. Now how about they release some previously unreleased music?

This is what I'm waiting for. We need some never before heard GM music.

That is what I would like

George's family releases a Christmas message:

Hello Friends, Lovelies and Fans everywhere,

Another twelve months have passed and I am writing once more to send you Christmas Greetings from the family as this year draws to an end.

On the 25th December 2021 it will be five years exactly since we lost George and two years since Melanie passed away. We remember them with love each day.

Last Christmas, we all did our part to keep our loved ones safe, and for many of us that meant not having them close, however much it hurt to be apart. It seems that this year too, we will need to take great care. Some of you have lost loved ones in 2021 and our thoughts are particularly with you this Christmas.

These are tough times and I have found myself thinking we need to look forward to moving on to better days…..

‘Waiting for that change of season……

Oh the winter’s been so long’

With our thanks for the love and loyalty you have shown to George and his music this year and looking forward to that change of season with hope for happier times to come in 2022.

Keep listening to George’s beautiful voice, and as always, find comfort and joy in his music.

Merry Christmas!

With love

Yioda, Jack, David

xxxxxx

TrivialPursuit said:

EmmaMcG said:

TrivialPursuit said: I know they're planning some sort of anniversary package for Older. It was supposed to be out this year but was delayed til next summer. I just hope it has some unreleased stuff on there and it's not just a remastered re-release.

My best find was a few years ago, the 12" of the full suite of "I Want Your Sex."

sweet memories, one of the first 12" I bought, my momwasnt happy about it

Watching Live in London a few times recently, I'm just truly brought to tears. Man, I miss him. What a kind soul, unapologetic about himself and his life, never tried to hurt anyone in the process (a rule that Prince followed, and everyone where could learn from more and more, myself included). Was smart, knew about world topics and could talk at length about them. Friends talk constantly about his generosity not just financially, but with his time, spirit, and sense of humor.

I really admired him not apologizing for being cruised and entrapped in a bathroom for wanting to have a quickie with someone. Sex is natural, sex is good, not everybody does it, but everybody should. I thought, "Fuck yeah, George! Fucking live your life!"

That hit even more when I first heard "An Easier Affair." He uses to address people "like Rupert Murdock...and type," and "living your life and not giving a fuck what other people think," in the Live in London show. "Don't let them use my life to put your future down / Don't let them tell you that love can't be found." I mean, YES! FUCK YOU for being a racist, a bigot, or otherwise talkin' shit. Cuz two can play that, and frankly gays are better at comebacks, because not only are they more witty, but it comes with glitter. And like being gay, once you get glitter somewhere, you can never get it out.

As personal as he was, he was rather public with grieving and strife, and relationships, or at least the emotions the stemmed from them, good or bad. Kenny Goss said his favorite song about him was "American Angel," (although he quoted "Amazing," in one interview I think).

Bless the day you came into my life, I still remember
Horny cowboy with your stars and stripes
Bringing the light into my day
With that Texan smile

The man had the nerve, the nerve, to think almost fresh out of the gate he could ask Aretha Franklin to sing on a song. And he did and fucking nailed it. He held his own against many levels of talent: Whitney, Enrique, Mary J., Jody W., Elton, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Paul McCartney, Queen, and others.

He was cocksure and had the goods to back it up. He pissed off the right people - mainly people on the right.

He was doing an interview after Patience had come out and said someone pointed out to him that the acronym of his albums spelled F.L.O.P. (Faith, Listen without Prejudice, Older, Patience) He found that pretty funny, which is another charming feature about him: the ability to laugh at himself, and appreciate the absurd rather than get up in his feelings about it.

[Edited 12/26/21 19:05pm]

TrivialPursuit said:

It´s cool to see some people mentioning ´Older´ as their faves. It´s my fave too. On Saturday, I listened to it with earphones in memory of 5 years without him.

EmmaMcG said:

Amazing post. Have you seen his performance of "Careless Whisper" with Smokey Robinson? It takes someone very special to share the stage with Smokey Robinson and make Smokey appear second best.

Well no. But I have now. Smokey should've never done that. He was definitely upstaged by GM, perhaps even unintentionally. He flipped the melody in one part, and got applause for that, then GM went off the rails with the ad-libs and took it back.

I never understood why, in the 80s and before, people would applaud in the middle of a song. I mean, sure - someone does something different or whatever in a song, but does it warrant interrupting the song like that. Even when I was a kid, it felt prompted or disingenuine. "Let's have them applaud here so we highlight this part." Yeah, but the audience at home isn't stupid. They can see what's good and what's not. Eh, anyway.

Yeah, I've never seen that, and probably never will again. haha

GustavoRibas said:

It´s cool to see some people mentioning ´Older´ as their faves. It´s my fave too. On Saturday, I listened to it with earphones in memory of 5 years without him.

I've been listening to Patience a lot lately. I never gave the full album a fair shake. The US version deletes "Shoot The Dog" and "Patience (Part 2)." It seems folks outside the US love "Precious Box," but it was never a thing here in the US, that I remember. It's a bonus video on the Live in London DVD/BluRay.

I very much remember "Freeek" a few years before in 2002. (Same director as "Doesn't Really Matter" by Janet, and the same FX, first used in her video.) I also learned that "Freeek '04" is just a remastered version for the Patience album.

Patience sounds less mournful, and more confident. There's something different about his delivery. It's not more aggressive. It's just more... well, confident. Sure. Grounded.

It feels very balanced, insightful, fun. He's so great at storytelling in his songs, just taking things word for word it seems, and putting it in a song. Songs like "John and Elvis Are Dead," "Round Here," and "My Mother Had A Brother" are just incredible. The music almost seems secondary.

Also to not only write songs for Kenny Goss, but to also pay tribute to Anselmo is a great balance, too.

The only time "Through" was performed live was on the Symphonica tour. What a great opener. I sorta love that he comes out to a ballad, the way he did with "Waiting (Reprise)" on the TwentyFive Live tour. Other newbies on the Symphonica tour were "Patience," "John and Elvis are Dead" (only as a video on the 25 Live tour), and "Praying For Time."

Patience is a great last album for him. It has him in a happy place, content with life, invigorated, even keel, and it gives everyone what they'd want from him, whether it's a ballad, a love song, a banger, a bop, a statement, or otherwise. I'd say it was the most diverse GM album.

______________

On another note, I saw a Symphonica press conference. He talked about wanting to do an album with an orchestra, then he was getting ready to work on music that harkened back to 90s club music. He'd touched on it before (especially with stuff like "Spinning The Wheel" on the 25Live Tour), but wanted to raise up gay club culture, and work with established and new artists.

I wonder how much of that was done when he passed, because that would be awesome to hear.

*Some folks have mentioned Older & Upper. I know what Older is but what's Upper?

- Never mind. I found it.

But yes, I would love some unheard of GM music.

[Edited 1/3/22 13:25pm]

TrivialPursuit said:

I've been listening to Patience a lot lately. I never gave the full album a fair shake. The US version deletes "Shoot The Dog" and "Patience (Part 2)." It seems folks outside the US love "Precious Box," but it was never a thing here in the US, that I remember. It's a bonus video on the Live in London DVD/BluRay.

- I will take a better listen. I always thought it was too ´pop´, but I will take a new listen with more attention. Thanks for the tip.

Of course, IMO, nothing beats the first two albums.

GustavoRibas said:

TrivialPursuit said:

I've been listening to Patience a lot lately. I never gave the full album a fair shake. The US version deletes "Shoot The Dog" and "Patience (Part 2)." It seems folks outside the US love "Precious Box," but it was never a thing here in the US, that I remember. It's a bonus video on the Live in London DVD/BluRay.

- I will take a better listen. I always thought it was too ´pop´, but I will take a new listen with more attention. Thanks for the tip.

I will say it's lighter in some ways. Older is heavier, textured, very introspective. And while Patience examines the pains of the past, it does so with new eyes and no filter. Older is the same issues - love, loss, grief, sex, fame, home, life - just with that filter he had at the time.

In a way, they are each other's reliefs. LIke how Lovesexy is the relief of The Black Album, or something like that. Both are stellar, just in different ways. I'll never take away from Older's sheer staying power and heft as a George Michael record. I would agree it's likely his best album ever.

Update: I went and listened to Older, uninterrupted, last night while sewing. Gave it a re-listen, especially after listening to Patience a lot lately.

It's a very adult album with adult themes. There are commons sounds that keep it cohesive, because a lot of the songs are very different styles.

"To Be Forgiven" sounds like a blueprint for "Amazing" in some ways.

"The Strangest Thing" is the most ethereal and interesting track on the record.

"Older," "Free," and "Spinning The Wheel" all share that haunting trumpet sound and mood.

"Star People" almost feels like the unplugged version. I def like the '97 mix a tad more.

I suppose when you open an album with a song like "Jesus To A Child," this isn't going to be a lightweight record.

I need to go back to Listen Without Prejudice Vol 1. and see where I land on it.

_________

On another note, I found some MSG footage of the 25Live tour. I noticed he did "Hard Day", and "Star People '97" before the break, in the U.S. He also added "One More Try," "Kissing a Fool," and "Praying For Time," and moved "Flawless" to near the end.

In one clip, he noted how grateful he was for the U.S. crowd sticking by him. Because in Europe, his music was out and about. But in the U.S., his fans had to go and purposely find it and search it out because radio and such wasn't giving him that much attention. He noted it was a real statement of his U.S. fans that they were sticking by him throughout whatever. He said after the loss of his mom, Anselmo, and the fight w/ Fony™, he didn't have the energy to tour here.

One could really feel the gratitude in his words and voice.