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)
Monkey
George Michael Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why can't you set your monkey free?
Always giving into it
Do you love your monkey or do you love me?
Why can't you do it?
Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey?
(Monkey, monkey, monkey, yeah, y-yeah)
Oh, I count to ten
But I don't know how, and I don't know when to open my eyes
Baby, if you kiss me again
Like you did just now, like you did just then (then, then, then)
Just, just, just (do it again)
I've had the rest
Now it's time I had the best
So you tell me that you won't do anymore
Well, I'd write your heart a letter
But I think you know me better
If I keep on asking baby, maybe I'll get what I'm asking for
Why can't you do it?
Why can't you set your monkey free?
Always giving in to it
Do you love your monkey or do you love me?
Why can't you do it?
Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey?
(Monkey, with a monkey, monkey, yeah, y-yeah)
Oh, I hate your friends
But I don't know how and I don't know when to open your eyes
Yes, your monkey's back again
Do you want him now like you did back then? (back then, back then)
(D-do it again)
I tried my best but your head is such a mess
So I guess that I don't want you anymore
Well you say you care about me, that you just can't do without me
But you keep on dancin' baby 'til that monkey has you on the floor
Why can't you do it?
Why can't you set your monkey free?
Always giving into it
Do you love the monkey or do you love me?
Why can't you do it?
Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey?
(Monkey, with a monkey, monkey, yeah, y-yeah)
(Monkey, monkey-monkey)
(Monkey, monkey-monkey)
(Monkey, monkey-monkey)
(Monkey, monkey-m-m-m-monkey)
Don't look now, there's a monkey on your back
Don't look now there's a monkey on you
Don't look now there's a monkey on your back
Don't look now there's a monkey on you
So you tell me that you won't do anymore
If I keep on askin' baby, maybe I'll get what I'm askin' for
Why can't you do it?
Why can't you set your monkey free?
Always giving into it
Do you love the monkey or do you love me?
Why can't you do it?
Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey?
(Monkey, with a monkey, monkey, yeah, y-yeah)
Why can't you do it?
Why can't you set your monkey free?
Always giving into it
Do you love the monkey or do you love me?
Why can't you do it?
Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey?
(Monkey, with a monkey, monkey, yeah, y-yeah)
(Monkey, monkey-monkey)
(Monkey, monkey-monkey)
(Monkey, monkey-monkey)
(Monkey, monkey-m-m-m-monkey)
George Michael's song "Monkey" tells a story of a love triangle between the singer, their partner, and a metaphorical monkey. In the song, the singer is frustrated with their partner for always giving into the monkey, which could represent addiction, bad habits or possibly another person. The lyrics are written in a questioning tone, asking why the partner won't "set the monkey free" and if they truly love the singer or the monkey.
The singer expresses their desire for a monogamous relationship with their partner, wanting to feel like they are the best choice and that the partner chooses them over anything else, including the monkey. The song contains a repeated phrase "Why can't you do it?" which emphasizes the singer's frustration and desperation for a resolution. The song also touches on the theme of being stuck in a toxic or unhealthy relationship.
The lyrics to "Monkey" can be open to interpretation and have been analyzed in various ways, including as a commentary on drug addiction, homosexuality, or infidelity.
Line by Line Meaning
Why can't you do it?
Why can't you break free from the hold that the monkey has on you?
Why can't you set your monkey free?
Why can't you let go of the bad habits that are holding you back and preventing you from loving me fully?
Always giving into it
You constantly give in to the monkey's desires and temptations, despite knowing they are harmful.
Do you love your monkey or do you love me?
You must choose between your addiction and me, because you cannot have the both of us.
Oh, I count to ten
But I don't know how, and I don't know when to open my eyes
I try to ignore the problems and pretend that everything is fine, but I can't keep doing that without hurting myself.
Baby, if you kiss me again
Like you did just now, like you did just then (then, then, then)
Just, just, just (do it again)
When you kiss me, I forget all my worries, and I want you to do it again and again.
I've had the rest
Now it's time I had the best
I have been with other people before, but I want to be with you because you are the best.
Well, I'd write your heart a letter
But I think you know me better
If I keep on asking baby, maybe I'll get what I'm asking for
I want to express my feelings to you, but I know you already understand me, and I hope that if I persist, you will give me what I am asking for.
Oh, I hate your friends
But I don't know how and I don't know when to open your eyes
Yes, your monkey's back again
Do you want him now like you did back then? (back then, back then)
(D-do it again)
I dislike your friends because they are influencing you in a negative way, but I don't know how or when to tell you the truth. Your addiction is back, and I wonder if you want it just like you did before.
I tried my best but your head is such a mess
So I guess that I don't want you anymore
I have made every effort to help you, but I realize that I cannot fix you. I cannot continue to be with someone who is unwilling to change.
Well you say you care about me, that you just can't do without me
But you keep on dancin' baby 'til that monkey has you on the floor
You claim to love me and need me, yet you continue to dance with your addiction until it completely overwhelms you.
Don't look now, there's a monkey on your back
Don't look now there's a monkey on you
You are so consumed by your addiction that you do not even realize it is still with you, controlling your every move.
If I keep on askin' baby, maybe I'll get what I'm askin' for
I hope that by persisting in asking you to change, you will eventually do so and commit to loving me fully.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Michael
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind