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)
It Doesn't Really Matter
George Michael Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How many reasons call
It doesn't really matter at all
It doesn't really matter that I failed to
Break down your father's wall
It doesn't really matter at all
Why tell me you don't understand when you do
But it doesn't really matter at all...
I changed my name to be rid of the things that I want from you
It's strange but the name is a name and the truth is a truth
Oh, there is always, always someone there to remind me
So I learn to live with shame
I tell myself I feel no pain
But I do and if I have to tell you
Then it doesn't really matter at all...
And it's no good looking back
Because time is a thief and I believe that I'm too old for that
We're just saying the things that we have said forever
It doesn't really matter that I loved you
How many reasons fall
It's too bad
It really doesn't matter at all
In "It Doesn't Really Matter," George Michael laments the end of a past relationship with someone he loved deeply but failed to break down their father's wall, indicating that he was unable to make a meaningful connection with this person's family. The lyrics convey a sense of resignation and acceptance, as he admits that all of his love and effort ultimately didn't matter. He also touches on the theme of regret, wishing he could go back and change things, but acknowledging that time is a thief and it's too late to do so.
The chorus, "It doesn't really matter at all," is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the idea that sometimes love and effort are futile, and there's nothing that can be done to change the past. Michael changes his name in an attempt to distance himself from his former love and move on, but he's haunted by memories and reminders of this failed relationship.
Overall, the song is a melancholic reflection on lost love and missed opportunities, and the feelings of shame and regret that can accompany these experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
It doesn't really matter that I loved you
The fact that I loved you doesn't hold any significance now
How many reasons call
No matter how many reasons there were to love you, it's irrelevant
It doesn't really matter at all
The previous two lines emphasize that the love is in the past and has no bearing on the present
It doesn't really matter that I failed to
It's not important that my attempts to break down your father's wall weren't successful
Break down your father's wall
Refers to a literal or metaphorical wall that held them apart - either way, the attempt failed and is inconsequential now
Why tell me you don't understand when you do
The other person is pretending not to understand, despite actually comprehending
I thought I had something to say
George Michael originally intended to express something meaningful, but now feels it doesn't matter
But it doesn't really matter at all...
Reiterates the point that the whole situation is of no importance
I changed my name to be rid of the things that I want from you
George Michael took a drastic step to distance himself from wanting anything from the other person
It's strange but the name is a name and the truth is a truth
The name change was a superficial attempt to change the reality of the situation
Oh, there is always, always someone there to remind me
There are reminders of their past relationship everywhere, making it hard for George Michael to move on
So I learn to live with shame
Feeling ashamed for still thinking about the relationship, George Michael has learned to live with the struggle
I tell myself I feel no pain
George Michael tries to convince himself that he's not in pain, but he really is
But I do and if I have to tell you
The pain is there and if necessary, George Michael will admit it to the other person
Then it doesn't really matter at all...
Again, no matter what is said, it won't change the past, so it doesn't matter
And it's no good looking back
Looking back is fruitless, as they can't change anything
Because time is a thief and I believe that I'm too old for that
The passage of time is like a thief that has stolen the opportunity to revisit their past relationship, and in any case, George Michael feels too old for that kind of sentimental nonsense now
We're just saying the things that we have said forever
They're stuck in a cycle of repeating the same unproductive conversations about their past relationship - something that will continue forever if they don't move on
It doesn't really matter that I loved you
The song comes full circle, emphasizing once again that the love is in the past and doesn't matter anymore
How many reasons fall
Despite the many reasons there may have been to love the other person, they're inconsequential now
It's too bad
A sentiment of regret, acknowledging that things didn't work out
It really doesn't matter at all
The final reiteration of the song's central theme - that regardless of what was felt in the past, it has no bearing on the present
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE MICHAEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Devin Gademan
Calms me down at nights where I cannot get myself asleep. Love him.
Marty Lyles
Yes his music can put you to sleep ❤
Shininglight Joi
Me too. Every night😢😢😢
Raisa Cherry's Universe 🍒
@Shininglight Joi 😭😭😭😭💔💔💔
李宜德
他死了⋯⋯
Anthony Warren
Devin Gademan OFFICIAL voice of a angel that’s why
InSleeplessToronto1
I was doing my internship for MBA at Harrods of London for three months. I saw this beautiful man in person on the 4th floor in October 1993. Despite my efforts, I missed shaking his hands due to huge crowd around him. A true gentleman inside out. It actually does not matter what anyone says, George was a real star singer, a rare talent.
Michael Crawford
were you at the concert of hope in 1993?
InSleeplessToronto1
@Michael Crawford no, I never had a chance to attend any of his concerts.
Warren Fuchs
Biggest Talent Since The Invention Of Music