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)
Star People
George Michael Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something from the very same album
This one hopefully will get you all, uh
Get you all going
It's called 'Star People'"
"One, two, three, four"
Come on
Give us a bit of vibe here"
Maybe your mama gave you up, boy
I said, maybe your daddy didn't love you enough, girl
One, two, three, yeah
Maybe your mama gave you up, boy
It's the same old same old
Maybe your daddy didn't love you enough, girl
Star people
Counting your money until you soul turns green
Star people
Counting the cost of your desire to be seen
I do not count myself among you
I may be living in a dream
It's just there seem so many of you
Can't help but hope
There's a difference between (ah-ah-ah) you and me
(Ah-ah-ah, ah, you're a star)
Ooh, I'm talkin' to ya, yeah
Ah-ah-ah and you should go far
I said, maybe your mama gave you up, boy
It's the same old same old
Maybe your daddy didn't love you enough, girl
How much is enough?
Star people
Never forget your secret's safe with me
Just look at all wonderful people
Trying to forget they had to pay for what you see
It's a dream
With a nightmare stuck in the middle (middle)
But listen, brother, where would you be
Without all of this attention?
You'd die
I'd die
We'd die, wouldn't we?
(Well, wouldn't we?)
(Ah-ah-ah, ah) you're a star
Ooh, I'm talkin' to you, yeah
Talkin' to you
You're a star
I said, maybe your mama gave you up, boy
It's the same old same old
Maybe your daddy didn't love you enough, girl
How much is enough?
You only wanted them to love you
You may have been living in a dream
And there's a demon's tower above you
You bite your tongue when you really wanna scream
(Baby, mama)
(Maybe)
Look at me
(Baby, daddy)
(Maybe)
How much is enough?
(Hey!) talk about your mother
Talk about your father
Talk about the people
Who have made you what you are
Talk about your teacher
The bully boy who beat you
Talk about the people who have paid
For their new sports car
(Maybe your mama gave you up, boy)
You're a big, big, big thing
Star (maybe your daddy didn't love you enough, girl)
Say, how much is enough? (hey, hey, yeah)
Did you get up on a bad foot, baby?
Do you have a little tale to tell?
Did you get up on a bad foot
Bad, bad foot?
Is that why you're a star?
(Maybe your daddy didn't love you enough, girl)
Is that what makes a star?
Hey, hey (how much is enough?)
How much is enough?
(Did you get up on a bad foot, baby?)
(Do you have a little tale to tell?)
Yeah (how much is enough?)
How much is enough?
(Did you get up on a bad foot, baby?)
(Do you have a little tale to tell?)
(How much is enough?)
Please
So nothing comes for nothing, baby
(Do you have a little tale to tell?)
That fame and fortune's heaven sent
(How much is enough?)
And who gives a fuck about your problems, darling
(Do you have a little tale to tell?)
'Cause you can pay the rent
(How much is enough?)
How, how much is enough?
(Maybe your mama gave you up, boy)
Yeah, say how much is enough?
(Maybe your daddy didn't love you enough, girl)
Say, how much is enough?
"Thank you!"
The song "Star People" is about the various aspects of fame and how it can affect people differently. The lyrics are a commentary on the different motivations that drive people to pursue fame and the price they are willing to pay for it. George Michael is essentially saying that while some people may have been rejected by their parents or felt unloved, they are using their fame to fill that void instead of addressing their real emotional needs. Meanwhile, he distances himself from the "star people" by saying that he does not count himself among them, preferring to live in a dream world.
The chorus "Star people, counting your money until your soul turns green" is a critique of the greed that can come with fame. He is saying that some people become so focused on their wealth and status that they forget the important things in life like relationships and personal fulfillment. The line "J ust look at all wonderful people trying to forget they had to pay for what you see" is an acknowledgment that many people make sacrifices to be famous and may be unhappy with the consequences.
Overall, the song is a cynical take on the realities of fame and wealth. George Michael presents himself as an outsider who has not been blinded by the world of celebrity, while critiquing those who he sees as having lost themselves in the process of achieving success.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe your mama gave you up, boy
Suggesting that the person may have had a bad upbringing
I said, maybe your daddy didn't love you enough, girl
Suggesting that the person may have had a bad upbringing
Star people
Counting your money until you soul turns green
People who care too much about money and show off their wealth
Star people
Counting the cost of your desire to be seen
People who care too much about attention and fame
I do not count myself among you
I may be living in a dream
It's just there seem so many of you
Can't help but hope
There's a difference between (ah-ah-ah) you and me
The singer does not consider himself like the titled people, and compares himself with them to highlight the differences
(Ah-ah-ah, ah, you're a star)
Ooh, I'm talkin' to ya, yeah
Acknowledging that the person is famous
Star people
Never forget your secret's safe with me
Just look at all wonderful people
Trying to forget they had to pay for what you see
The singer is mocking the titled people and telling them that he knows their secrets
It's a dream
With a nightmare stuck in the middle (middle)
But listen, brother, where would you be
Without all of this attention?
You'd die
I'd die
We'd die, wouldn't we?
(Well, wouldn't we?)
Despite the challenges of being famous, the titled people cannot live without that attention
(Ah-ah-ah, ah) you're a star
Ooh, I'm talkin' to you, yeah
Talkin' to you
You're a star
Acknowledging that the person is famous
You only wanted them to love you
You may have been living in a dream
And there's a demon's tower above you
You bite your tongue when you really wanna scream
The singer points out the struggles that come with fame and the fake persona people put up to maintain it
(Hey!) talk about your mother
Talk about your father
Talk about the people
Who have made you what you are
Talk about your teacher
The bully boy who beat you
Talk about the people who have paid
For their new sports car
Saying that people should stop hiding behind fame and acknowledge their struggles
(Maybe your mama gave you up, boy)
You're a big, big, big thing
Star (maybe your daddy didn't love you enough, girl)
Say, how much is enough? (hey, hey, yeah)
Suggesting that people misuse their fame to sidestep the problems they face and asking them how much they need for the same
Did you get up on a bad foot, baby?
Do you have a little tale to tell?
Did you get up on a bad foot
Bad, bad foot?
Is that why you're a star?
(Maybe your daddy didn't love you enough, girl)
Is that what makes a star?
Hey, hey (how much is enough?)
How much is enough?
Asking the titled people why they are the way they are and how much their fame satisfies them
So nothing comes for nothing, baby
(Do you have a little tale to tell?)
That fame and fortune's heaven sent
(How much is enough?)
And who gives a fuck about your problems, darling
(Do you have a little tale to tell?)
'Cause you can pay the rent
(How much is enough?)
How, how much is enough?
Saying that fame has its own problems, but people still want it for the money
(Maybe your mama gave you up, boy)
Yeah, say how much is enough?
(Maybe your daddy didn't love you enough, girl)
Say, how much is enough?
Asking again how much is enough for the titled people to feel satisfied
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Michael
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mariamb1223
It’s 2023 and I’m still here!!!This is masterpiece!!! Music definitely not the same anymore. I think he is one of a few lucky ones who sound exactly same in live performances if not better then on a record! So much talent in one men! This should be thought in a music school, as masterclass of live performances! Brilliant GM💫👏
@serge3877
that's MTV Unplugged, and yes, the level of performance, arrangement, back vocals, vibe is unparalleled. If it weren't George, I would think it's prerecorded.
@jamie1224
What's the point of seeing anyone in concert that has electronics shaping their voice into something extraordinary. George Michael was always a huge talent.
@Baraban-hf9tf
2024🎉🎉🎉 I listened
@LauraHernandez-vy4zp
He sings so effortlessly. He is always pure perfection. The music industry will never be the same without him.
@blackvirgo09
The industry is over buddy 😂😂😂 no on sings anymore
@ragga1040
The voice control this man had was something from another planet
@user-so5ly3fx1c
Wow. Missssss u😇🤍🤍🤍
@TheHobbitmann
the best
@lisamiller3161
For sure!!