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)
IDOL
George Michael Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is Idol
He was a light star
Tripping on a high wire
Bulldog stubborn
Born uneven
A classless creature
But don't bet them
They can't take him
To the very bottom
Because they made him
And they'll waste him
And I don't believe
That I wanna watch them
'Cause the fifties shifted out of gear
He was an idol then
Now he's an idol here
But his face has changed
Oh, he's not the same no more
And I have to say
That I like the way his music sounded before
He was tight-assed
Walking on broken glass
Highly prized in the wallet size
The number one crush
In a schoolgirl's eyes
But don't pretend
That it won't end
In the depth of your despair
You went from lame suits
Right down to tennis shoes
To peanuts
From the lion's share
'Cause the fifties shifted out of gear
He was an idol then
Now he's an idol here
But his face has changed
Oh, he's not the same no more
And I have to say
That I like the way his music sounded before
In George Michael's song "Idol," he sings about the rise and fall of a celebrity, who was once an idol in the 1950s, but now has lost his shine. The lyrics describe the persona of the celebrity as someone who was Bulldog stubborn and born uneven, a man for all seasons, and a classless creature. The celebrity faced hardships during his rise to fame, such as being tripped on a high wire, yet he never gave up. However, the lyrics suggest that the celebrity was made by others who will waste him and take him to the very bottom.
The chorus talks about the celebrity's face having changed, and he is not the same anymore. George Michael sings that he likes the way the celebrity's music sounded before, indicating his preference for the celebrity's earlier work. The second verse reminds the listener about how the persona had been highly prized in the wallet size and was a schoolgirl's number one crush. The lyrics end with an acknowledgement that the persona has gone from wearing lame suits to tennis shoes to peanuts, and his star power has faded away.
Overall, "Idol" is a commentary on the pitfalls of fame and how difficult it can be to maintain success in the music industry. The lyrics suggest that the celebrity's authenticity was lost as he transformed into a manufactured idol, who lost his edge and ultimately fell from grace.
Line by Line Meaning
He was a light star
He was a rising star - a character that shone brilliantly.
Tripping on a high wire
He was walking a fine line at the head of his career - a razor-thin line where one significant mistake could have ended it all.
Bulldog stubborn
He was fiercely determined and steadfast in his beliefs.
Born uneven
He was not born with the same opportunities or advantages as others around him.
A classless creature
He didn't belong to a specific social class and could be appreciated and loved by everyone irrespective of their social status.
A man for all seasons
He was an equally memorable character in different times and situations - a versatile artist that could cater to everybody.
But don't bet them
Others may underestimate him, but they are wrong to do so.
They can't take him
Others may try to bring him down, but they can't succeed.
To the very bottom
They may go as low as they can to bring him down, but it can't affect him beyond a point.
Because they made him
They not only created him, but they also see themselves as his controllers or executors of his talent.
And they'll waste him
They will destroy him by overusing his talents without giving him the right credit or space.
And I don't believe
The artist does not trust their agenda and doesn't want to see the artist one step closer to their control.
That I wanna watch them
The singer doesn't want to sit idly by and let others destroy the career of an artist they love.
'Cause the fifties shifted out of gear
The culture and environment when the artist started their career have changed beyond recognition.
He was an idol then
In the past, he was an ultimate icon and more than just a musician.
Now he's an idol here
He is still an icon, but his relevancy fades with time.
But his face has changed
His features have altered over the course of the years.
Oh, he's not the same no more
He's not how he used to be, whether it's just his physical or mental state, or both.
And I have to say
Using 'I have to say' is a way for the singer to clarify or stress their opinion on the matter.
That I like the way his music sounded before
The artist prefers the older style of the artist's music, and perhaps even the way things used to be. They don't see any reason to change what isn't broken.
He was tight-assed
He used to be incredibly formal and used to follow specific decorum or styles for his performances.
Walking on broken glass
He was walking around, performing or living through a bad and dangerous phase of life.
Highly prized in the wallet size
In great demand, with a high price on his performances and records.
The number one crush
The artist was the primary attraction and love interest among his fans.
In a schoolgirl's eyes
He had an unmistakable charm that caught the young girl's imagination and love.
But don't pretend
The singer knows that the love or adoration towards the artist is not always genuine or consistent.
That it won't end
Just like everything else, the artist's career and domination that came with it will eventually end.
In the depth of your despair
People will have moments of despair when their idols or loved ones disappoint them.
You went from lame suits
The artist used to dress awkwardly, unfitting to the audience's perception of what is cool and fashionable.
Right down to tennis shoes
This allusion indicates more casual attire, signaling a shift towards what people perceive as a cooler fashion choice.
To peanuts
He went from being one of the most expensive performers to have ever lived to someone who would later perform at low prices.
From the lion's share
Having to share pride or success with everybody else contributed to his downfall, but eventually has led to decay.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bernie Taupin, Elton John
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind