George Michael

[danie]

I heard George Michael had died as I was driving to South Carolina yesterday morning and cried.

He is one of my idols. I would listen to him so many years ago in my Miata, car top down, I'm Your Man blasting. I remember how beautiful his voice was and I cried.

Every song on the Faith album is amazing. I especially love Listen Without Prejudice. Who can hear Praying for Time and not feel what his voice conveys?

And it's hard to love
There's so much to hate
Hanging on to hope
When there is no hope to speak of
And the wounded skies above
Say it's much too late
Well maybe we should all be praying for time

This one is hitting me hard.

Moderators: I didn't see a thread for him this morning. Please merge this one to the appropriate place if I missed it.

 

[Spideyman]

May he RIP

 

[skimom2]

This one just knocked me back. Not a whole lot of deaths do that to me.

 

[Dana Jean]

This was a shocker too. RIP

 

[arista]

I heard that he performed a lot of charitable works behind the scenes. He helped at a homeless shelter and helped a lot of other organizations. RIP

 

[GNTLGNT]

....I will confess that I am not much of a fan of his music, but his good works are commendable-and the "other people's opinions be damned" way of life is one that more should strive for...rest ye well Whamajamma.....

 

[kingricefan]

This one hits close to home. He had the voice of an angel. Who can ever forget the images from Faith- him in that black leather jacket and blue jeans? R.I.P. sweet George- be at peace, get together with Prince and make some d*mn fine music together.

 

[skimom2]

One of the most poignant tweets yesterday: "David Bowie. Prince. George Michael. 3 men who showed that masculinity has no boundaries. 2016 took them all."

 

[arista]

One of the most poignant tweets yesterday: "David Bowie. Prince. George Michael. 3 men who showed that masculinity has no boundaries. 2016 took them all."

Excellent quote about three extraordinary men.

 

[Dana Jean]

At my tap class this week, we tapped to all George Michael songs.

 

[hossenpepper]

2016 continues to bite butts...

 

[danie]

 

[carrie's younger brother]

One of the most poignant tweets yesterday: "David Bowie. Prince. George Michael. 3 men who showed that masculinity has no boundaries. 2016 took them all."

Here an article from yesterday's NYT that touches on this sentiment.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/26/arts/music/george-michael-death-appraisal.html

 

[skimom2]

Here an article from yesterday's NYT that touches on this sentiment.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/26/arts/music/george-michael-death-appraisal.html

Thank you for that, CYB. The struggles GM had to be accepted as a human being and an artist--maybe even to accept himself--feel very personal to me. One of my very best friends rode that particular roller coaster--"Is there something wrong with me? Maybe I'm bi. Nope, I'm gay. How does that affect how people see me in my job? In my life? Am I in? Am I out? Screw you, I'm doing what I want to do. Nope, it's NOT a shame that I'm an attractive man (Perry looks very much like GM, in fact) and that women are attracted to me but my interests lie elsewhere"--for years, and we're not a hell of a lot younger than GM (my friend just turned 50 a week before Christmas, and I'm almost there). I can't say I loved everything he did, but that's the case with every damn artist that I admire. A big part of why I love them is that they're fearless about trying new things.

 

[Jojo87]

I read it on Facebook that he had died
RIP
Faith was one of my favourite song by him

 

[DiO'Bolic]

At my tap class this week, we tapped to all George Michael songs.

You look so young.

 

[Dana Jean]

You look so young.

and I tap so well!

 

[GNTLGNT]

....I love this, and it's rather sadly ironic......since both have bowed off life's stage.....

 

[Steffen]

One of the most poignant tweets yesterday: "David Bowie. Prince. George Michael. 3 men who showed that masculinity has no boundaries. 2016 took them all."

So glad to read this, and it is so darn true.

I was hanging out with some high-school buddies last night and we got to talking about George's death. We're 80s kids; we grew up in the shadow of AIDS paranoia and homophobia, when it was perfectly acceptable to poke fun at guys for acting or dressing effeminate or call someone by the various slurs for homosexuality. As George Michael grew in popularity and the rumours swirled about his sexuality, none of us in class ever gave a crap. We were kids from different social strata but all that mattered to us was that this guy could sing and make music like nobody's business. When the 'Faith' album came out, we wore our copies out. At our young age, icons like Bowie, Elton John, Freddie Mercury and George Michael did indeed help reshape the way we thought about masculinity.

As I wrote on another post, I don't think my generation will ever stop missing this gentleman.

 

[Tery]

He was a friend of a friend and, though I never met him, I knew him as Yog as well as George. I know my friend is hurting terribly and my heart bleeds for him and for everyone who feels this awful loss.