Born in East Finchley, Middlesex, Michael rose to fame after forming the pop duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Their first two albums, "Fantastic" (1983) and "Make It Big" (1984), reached number one on the US Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart. They had commercial success with singles "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)", "Young Guns (Go for It)", "Bad Boys", "Club Tropicana", "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "Last Christmas", "Everything She Wants", “Freedom”, and “I'm Your Man”. Their 1985 tour in China was the first by a Western popular music act and generated worldwide media coverage. Michael took part in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 and performed at the following year's Live Aid concert.
Michael's first solo single, "Careless Whisper" (1984), reached number one in over 20 countries, including the UK and US. The second solo single, "A Different Corner", also reached number one in 1986. After Wham! disbanded that year, Michael released the number-one duet with Aretha Franklin, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". His debut solo album, "Faith" (1987), stayed at number one on the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks and topped the UK Albums Chart. It is one of the best-selling albums of all time, having sold over 25 million copies worldwide. The singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Michael became the best-selling music artist of 1988, and "Faith" was awarded Album of the Year at the 1989 Grammy Awards. Michael's second solo album, "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1" (1990), was also a number one in the UK and yielded the Billboard Hot 100 number one "Praying for Time" and the worldwide hit "Freedom! '90". Michael went on to release a series of multimillion-selling albums, including "Older" (1996), "Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael" (1998), "Songs from the Last Century" (1999), "Patience" (2004), and "Twenty Five" (2006). The albums earned him multiple hits such as "Jesus to a Child", "Fastlove", "Outside", "Amazing", and "An Easier Affair".
Michael came out as gay in 1998 and was an active LGBT rights campaigner and HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. His personal life, drug use, and legal troubles made headlines following an arrest for public lewdness in 1998 and multiple drug-related offenses. The 2005 documentary "A Different Story" covered his career and personal life. Michael's "25 Live" tour spanned three tours from 2006 to 2008. Michael fell into a coma in 2011 during a bout with pneumonia but later recovered. He performed his final concert at London's Earls Court in 2012. Michael died of heart disease on Christmas Day in 2016 at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Michael
Solo discography
Faith (1987)
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990)
Older (1996)
Songs from the Last Century (1999)
Patience (2004)
Wham! discography
Fantastic (1983)
Make It Big (1984)
Music from the Edge of Heaven (1986)
Freedom 90
George Michael Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I will not give you up
Gotta have some faith in the sound
It's the one good thing that I've got
I won't let you down
So please don't give me up
'Cause I would really, really love to stick around, oh yeah
Didn't know what I wanted to be
(Didn't know what I wanted to be)
I was every little hungry schoolgirl's pride and joy
And I guess it was enough for me
(I said I guess it was enough for me)
To win the race, a prettier face
Brand new clothes and a big fat place
On your rock and roll TV (rock and roll TV)
But today, the way I play the game is not the same, no way
Think I'm gonna get myself happy
I think there's something you should know
I think it's time I told you so
There's something deep inside of me
There's someone else I've got to be
Take back your picture in a frame
Take back your singing in the rain
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man
All we have to do now
Is take these lies
And make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me, yeah, yeah
Freedom (I won't let you down)
Freedom (I will not give you up)
Freedom (gotta have some faith in the sound)
(You've got to give for what you take) (it's the one good thing that I've)
Freedom (I won't let you down)
Freedom (so please don't give me up)
Freedom ('cause I would really, really love to stick around)
(You've got to give for what you take)
Heaven knows we sure had some fun, boy
What a kick, just a buddy and me
(What a kick just a buddy and me)
We had every big-shot good time band on the run, boy
We were living in a fantasy
(We were living in a fantasy)
We won the race, got out of the place
I went back home, got a brand new face
For the boys on MTV (boys on MTV)
But today the way I play the game has got to change, oh yeah (oh yeah)
Now I'm gonna get myself happy
I think there's something you should know
I think it's time I stopped the show
There's something deep inside of me
There's someone I forgot to be
Take back your picture in a frame
Don't think that I'll be back again
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man
All we have to do now
Is take these lies
And make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me, yeah, yeah
Freedom (I won't let you down)
Freedom (I will not give you up)
Freedom (gotta have some faith in the sound)
(You've got to give for what you take) (it's the one good thing that I've got)
Freedom (I won't let you down)
Freedom (so please don't give me up)
Freedom ('cause I would really, really love to stick around)
(You've got to give for what you take)
Well, it looks like the road to Heaven
But it feels like the road to Hell
When I knew which side my bread was buttered
I took the knife as well
Posing for another picture
Everybody's got to sell
But when you shake your ass, they notice fast
And some mistakes were built to last
That's what you get (that's what you get)
That's what you get (I say that's what you get)
That's what you get (for changing your mind)
That's what you get for changing your mind
That's what you get
That's what you get (and after all this time)
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man (do not make the man)
All we have to do now
Is take these lies
And make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me, yeah, yeah
Freedom (oh)
Freedom
(My) freedom
You've got to give for what you take
Freedom (hold on to my)
Freedom
(My) freedom
You've got to give for what you take
Give for what you, give what you take, yeah
Yeah, you've got to give what you, give what you, give
May not be what you want from me
Just the way it's got to be
Lose the face now
I've got to live, I've got to live, I've got to live
In George Michael's "Freedom 90," the lyrics evoke themes of change, liberation, and self-actualization. The singer proclaims his desire for a new level of artistic and personal freedom, no longer subject to the constraints of past images, expectations, and relationships. He values his own personal voice and sound, and encourages others to embrace their own sense of self. The line "'cause I would really, really love to stick around" suggests that the singer is ready for a new chapter, but also hesitant to leave behind all that he has accomplished thus far in his career.
During the song, Michael reflects on his past fame and success, both as a member of Wham! and as a solo artist, but also recognizes that he has grown since then and is no longer content to play the same game. He acknowledges that while the trappings of fame, such as fancy clothes and celebrity status, may have helped him achieve success, they are not the key to his happiness or authenticity. His call for "faith in the sound" suggests that he has found a more genuine and meaningful source of inspiration in his own music.
Overall, "Freedom 90" is a powerful declaration of artistic independence and individuality, as well as a celebration of the transformative potential of personal growth.
Line by Line Meaning
I won't let you down
I will not disappoint you
I will not give you up
I will not abandon you
Gotta have some faith in the sound
You need to believe in the power of music
It's the one good thing that I've got
Music is the one positive thing in my life
So please don't give me up
Please don't leave me
'Cause I would really, really love to stick around, oh yeah
I want to stay in your life
Heaven knows I was just a young boy
When I was young, I didn't know myself
Didn't know what I wanted to be
I was unsure of my future
I was every little hungry schoolgirl's pride and joy
As a musician, I was popular with young girls
And I guess it was enough for me
I was content with my level of success
To win the race? A prettier face
To achieve more success, one needs to have good looks
Brand new clothes and a big fat place
The music industry values material possessions
On your rock and roll TV (rock and roll TV)
Being on TV is a symbol of success for musicians
But today, the way I play the game is not the same, no way
My approach to music has changed since my earlier days
Think I'm gonna get myself happy
I am determined to find happiness in my music
I think there's something you should know
I have something important to tell you
I think it's time I told you so
I think it's time for me to be honest with you
There's something deep inside of me
I am struggling with an internal conflict
There's someone else I've got to be
I need to be someone different from who I am today
Take back your picture in a frame
Remove your photograph from my physical space
Take back your singing in the rain
Forget our shared experiences and memories
I just hope you understand
I hope you can empathize with my decision
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man
My appearance does not determine who I am as a person
All we have to do now
We only need to do one thing now
Is take these lies
We need to confront the false or negative things in our lives
And make them true somehow
We must turn these negative aspects into positive ones
Is that I don't belong to you
You do not own me
And you don't belong to me, yeah, yeah
I do not own you either
Well it looks like the road to Heaven
I seem to be headed in a positive direction
But it feels like the road to Hell
Despite positive appearances, I feel like I am struggling
When I knew which side my bread was buttered
When I understood where I could find success
I took the knife as well
I made sacrifices for that success
Posing for another picture
Taking another publicity photo
Everybody's got to sell
Musicians must sell their image to be successful
But when you shake your ass, they notice fast
Sexual appeal is very effective in marketing music products
And some mistakes were built to last
Some mistakes or negative experiences are difficult to forget and move on from
That's what you get (that's what you get)
That's the consequence of your actions or decisions
That's what you get (I say that's what you get)
Your actions have consequences
That's what you get (for changing your mind)
Your decision to change your mind has consequences
I just hope you understand
I hope you can comprehend this message
Sometimes the clothes do not make me
My current image does not reflect who I am today
Yeah, you've got to give for what you, give for what you, give
You have to give something to get something in return
May not be what you want from me
What I can give you may not be exactly what you are looking for
Just the way it's got to be
This is the situation we are in and we must accept it
Lose the face now
Stop presenting yourself in a certain way
I've got to live, I've got to live, I've got to live
I need to just be myself and live my life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Michael
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mauricioprada4976
I won't let you down
I will not give you up
Gotta have some faith in the sound
It's the one good thing that I've got
I won't let you down
So, please, don't give me up
'Cause I would really, really love to stick around
Oh, yeah
Heaven knows I was just a young boy
Didn't know what I wanted to be (didn't know what I wanted to be)
I was every little hungry schoolgirl's pride and joy
And I guess it was enough for me (said I guess it was enough for me)
To win the race, a prettier face
Brand new clothes and a big fat place
On your rock and roll TV (rock and roll TV)
But today the way I play the game is not the same, no way
Think I'm gonna get me some happy
I think there's something you should know
I think it's time I told you so
There's something deep inside of me
There's someone else I've got to be
Take back your picture in a frame
Take back your singing in the rain
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man
All we have to do now
Is to take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me (yeah, yeah)
Freedom (I won't let you down)
Freedom (I will not give you up)
Freedom (gotta have some faith in the sound)
You got to give what you take (it's the one good thing that I've got)
Freedom (I won't let you down)
Freedom (so, please, don't give me up)
Freedom ('cause I would really, really love)
You got to give what you take (to stick around)
Heaven knows we sure had some fun, boy
What a kick, just a buddy and me (what a kick, just a buddy and me)
We had every big-shot good time band on the run, boy
We were living in a fantasy (said we were living in a fantasy)
We won the race, got out of the place
Went back home, got a brand new face for the boys on MTV (boys on MTV)
But today the way I play the game has got to change, oh, yeah (oh, yeah)
Now I'm gonna get myself happy
I think there's something you should know
I think it's time I stopped the show
There's something deep inside of me
There's someone I forgot to be
Take back your picture in a frame
Don't think that I'll be back again
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man
All we have to do now
Is to take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me (yeah, yeah)
Freedom (I won't let you down)
Freedom (I will not give you up)
Freedom (gotta have some faith in the sound)
You got to give what you take (it's the one good thing that I've got)
Freedom (I won't let you down)
Freedom (so, please, don't give me up)
Freedom ('cause I would really, really love)
You got to give what you take (to stick around, to stick around)
Well, it looks like the road to heaven
But it feels like the road to hell
When I knew which side my bread was buttered
I took the knife as well
Posing for another picture
Everybody's got to sell
But when you shake your ass, they notice fast
And some mistakes were built to last
That's what you get
That's what you get
That's what you get
I say that's what you get
I say that's what you get for changing your mind
That's what you get for changing your mind
That's what you get
That's what you get
And after all this time
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man
All we have to do now (oh, yeah)
Is to take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me (yeah, yeah)
Freedom (oh)
Freedom
(My) freedom
You got to give what you take
Freedom
(I'll hold on to my) freedom
(My) freedom
You got to give what you take (you got to give what)
(To give what, to give what you take)
Yeah
You got to give what, to give what, to give
May not be what you want from me
Just the way it's got to be
Lose the face now
I've got to live
@barbarafordham9185
forget instagram...these are the REAL models
@laila9269
Correct.
@norwegiangangsta
💯💯💯💯
@11940ful
Amen to dat!!!
@jacquelinerodriguez845
Exactly
@gonzaloarvietti7189
instatrash
@daveystriper3739
Please like if you are here in 2024,
R.I.P George ❤
@seaqueencourtney795
R.I.P. George Michael <3
@InannaWarfare
Also RIP Tatjana Patitz. She died about a year ago.
@kenabiggs
We had a gift with George, i hope hes in peace now