George Michael News from April-June 1999
June 25, 1999
Happy Birthday, George!
Okay, George, so I didn't spend 40 hours pulling a birthday website and
book together for you this year, but that doesn't make my birthday wishes
for you any less. I hope you have a wonderful year and get everything
that you deserve.
Melanie,
ultrabusy webmaster :-)
Yours Only George
June 21, 1999
Outing: Revealing Other People's Secrets
Stephen Gately of Boyzone recently
announced to The Sun that he is homosexual. The BBC,
Enews,
and Radio
One have examined the issue of "outing" celebrities with
many references to George.
A Lily
The BBC
also reports on the sad story of Andrea and Julian Dykes who were killed
when a nail bomb went off. A flower was left on behalf of George.
June 11, 1999
Vote for Wham! as Favorite 80's Band
Since things are a little slow in news, I thought I'd direct all of you
to a fun voting link. You can vote for Wham! or Pepsi & Shirlie as
your Favorite 80s Band.
June 10, 1999
I just can take New York (New York)
Pat tells us that there was an article in New York magazine saying George
is looking for an apartment in New York City's upper east side.
The Company File: EMI tunes into Internet
According to the BBC,
"The world's third-largest music company, EMI, and the Internet compilation
CD distributor, musicmaker.com, have signed an exclusive five-year licensing
agreement over the use of EMI's huge back-catalogue... With the addition
of the EMI stable, songs by artists such as George Michael, Robbie Williams
and the Spice Girls could become available, along with older favourites
from bands such as the Rolling Stones and the Beatles."
Breakthrough Breast Cancer
Organizers of a charity concert for Breakthrough Breast Cancer is hoping
that George will play at the 24 July concert at Hyde's Park, according
to the BBC.
June 5, 1999
100 Millennium Men
Company magazine's 100
Millennium Men (dubbed The Sexiest Men of the Century) includes George
at #14.
Opps!
Looks like even I forgot the Yours Only George 2nd anniversary. Thanks
to everyone who has helped and supported Yours Only George site during
the last two years!
June 3, 1999
Voice of an Angel
The Associated Press has a profile of Charlotte Church, a 13-year-old
Welsh soprano, who is making waves all over the world. In it, she says,
"I like Will Smith, Puff Daddy, George Michael and Celine Dion."
June 1, 1999
"Ex-Spice Girl Gets Help From Friend"
NEW YORK (AP) -- Who does a troubled British pop star turn to in a time
of trouble? Another troubled British pop star, of course.
Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, whose temperamental departure from the
group made tabloid headlines worldwide, took comfort from George Michael,
whose career has included bad publicity, like his arrest for lewd behavior
in a Los Angeles-area public bathroom.
"George really looked after me," Halliwell says in the June
US magazine. "After I left the band, I was completely isolated. It
was like being on a very crowded street and then getting into a car and
shutting the door. I was lonely, and he showed me so much warmth."
Since ending her run as Ginger Spice, Halliwell has done charity work
and made her debut solo album, "Schizophrenia." In the 10 months
or so since the highly publicized Spice Girls' bickering and breakup,
Halliwell said she finally has some perspective.
"I'm actually starting to get nostalgic now," she said. "I
can look back and understand things more."
May 29, 1999
George to be new member of Queen?
YOGfriend Bev has some interesting news:
Despite official denials, this story just refuses to go
away. Hot off the press -- from the new edition of Record Collector magazine
comes the following:
QUEEN BACK IN THE STUDIO
George Michael to take Freddie Mercury's place?
Rumours of a Queen reunion gathered momentum, thanks to comments made
by Roger Taylor to the Daily Express. "I spoke to Brian May last
week," said Taylor, currently promoting his "Electric Fire"
album. "He suggested we book a studio, write a song and see what
happens. I haven't spoken to John Deacon in ages, but Brian and I are
hopeful he'll do it."
Taylor also commented on the difficult task of filling the
void left by Freddie Mercury: "The plan for a lead singer is to write
a song first and then find the best voice for it. A lot of singers have
expressed an interest in working with Queen, but we're not thinking of
anyone taking Freddie's place permanently. It took us a lot of time to
get over Freddie's death, and there were horrible expectations about what
we would do next."
However, the smart money on Mr. Mercury's replacement is
George Michael, who sang with the band at the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute
Concert at Wembley. Meanwhile, Queen's official fan club magazine also
reports that the former Frederick Bulsara is the subject of a UK postage
stamp. Freddie's distinctive features will stare out from second class
stamps from 1st June.
May 28,1999
VH-1 Celebrates George's birthday in the U.K.
YOGfriend Bev says:
Attention all UK GM fans who can receive VH-1! You can celebrate GM's
birthday in style this year! :o) VH-1 is devoting 25th June to George!
According to my "Sky Guide" they are showing: 10 Of The Best
with Pepsi and Shirlie; Greatest Hits Of George Michael; George Michael
Unplugged; and Wham! In China. Enjoy. And on that note -- HAPPY 36th BIRTHDAY
GEORGE! :o)
May 11, 1999
George in New York
Paulette gives us the scoop on George's recent appearance in New York:
Hi Everyone!
If you haven't heard by now, George and Kenny were in New York City last
Thursday, May 6th. The Daily Post has a HUGE picture of the two, with
George sitting on a milk crate reading the newspaper and Kenny looking
on. The two said they were looking to having a fun evening and checking
out the movie section of the Post.
Greatest Hits video premieres in North America
Dave reminds us that the Ladies and Gentlemen home video is released
in the United States & Canada today.
May 7, 1999
Geri 'N George
YOGfriend Angelo points us to an article on Geri
Halliwell's one-time dream of tying the knot with George Michael.
And Chrissie says:
Last night (May 5) Channel 4 in the UK showed a 90 minute documentary
about Geri Halliwell following the first 12 months after her departure
from the Spice Girls. It showed George hanging out with Geri backstage
and accompanying her as she went to a London dog pound to rescue her new
pet. I was absolutely gobsmacked to see George on screen without warning,
and to see him so relaxed.
May 4, 1999
Just for Fun
Vote for George at MusicQuest's
"Who's your favorite artist?"
May 1, 1999
George and The Sun
Here are a few more articles on George's case against the Sun:
George said:
“I am delighted with the judge’s decision. The Sun newspaper
have informed the public of my whereabouts on three separate occasions
now. As a result I have moved house twice, only to have the same thing
happen within weeks. I have had fans break in on several occasions, and
of course have been worried about my safety for some time. I chose to
be a celebrity, and perhaps people like me lose the right to privacy by
courting fame. But surely we deserve to be safe in our own homes. As the
law stands right now, celebrities are sitting ducks, and that really has
to change.”
Kosovo
The BBC
has information on George's radio commercial concerning Kosovo. Wall
of Sound also has an article.
The Most Beautiful Man In The World
On the fun side of things, get in on the voting at "The
Most Beautiful Man In The World" poll.
April 30, 1999
George on the radio
YOGfriend Bev tells us:
Just to let everyone know that George spoke on Capital Radio (London)
this morning (Friday 30th) about his court case against The Sun, preventing
it from printing his address. Apart from it being a gross invasion of
his privacy, he apparently said that he fears coming face to face with
a stalker, and the following quote was broadcast on the news:
"Basically I just don't feel safe. I don't think anybody whose address
is made known to the general public, if they're in the public eye, is
particularly safe these days, and I think it's becoming more and more
dangerous to be a celebrity right now."
On the 9 a.m. news slot, he also made an impassioned plea for the Kosovo
refugees:
"Children and the elderly are most at risk, but all desperately
need our help and, for many, time is running out, in the worst European
refugee crisis since the Second World War."
I understand that there will be phone numbers for anyone who want to
donate money, broadcast all over the weekend; or perhaps check out the
CapitalFM website.
A little food for thought for all fans.
Bev.X
"Hanging on to hope,
When there is no hope to speak of..."
April 28, 1999
GLAMA
YOGfriend Paulette says:
Good news for U.S. fans!
From 5/11/99 edition of The Advocate:
...On April 12, 1999 George Michael won two music awards from GLAMA (Gay/Lesbian
American Music Awards) for "Outside".
GLAMA executive producer Tom McCromack stressed that, far from objecting
"Sony was glad that the original version would finally reach a U.S.
audience."
Footage that MTV had cut out was restored. The unedited "Outside"
will be available as part of Sony/Epic's forthcoming Ladies and Gentlemen...The
Best of George Michael video compilation.
April 23,1999
Kosovo
Yes, I know I'm not supposed to print part of the Members Online letters.
In this case, I think what George said was important and that everyone
should read it:
Lastly, a request. I know that I don't normally do this kind of thing
but, please spare a little more than a thought in the coming weeks for
the many thousands of Kosovan refugees in desperate need right now. Find
the organisation nearest you and give whatever you can manage. It's urgent,
and if you are anything like me, you will feel a little less helpless
when you see those awful,frustrating images on your TV every night. Please
dont feel insignificant about your own contribution, if we all take a
little time and responsibility, we can genuinely ease the suffering of
these innocent victims of racism.
Off the Menu
Paulette informs us of the following Press Association article from April
22, 1999.
"Off the Menu"
A community picnic to promote organic food which was due to be attended
by singer George Michael was cancelled after it attracted too much interest.
Organisers of the event on Primrose Hill, north London, said advance publicity
had led to becoming 'too big' for adequate security.
The picnic, to oppose genetically modified food and promote organic products,
was due to have taken place on Sunday and to have been attended by a host
of celebrities.
Birgit Cunningham, 33, a freelance journalist and one of the organisers,
said 'What we hoped was that it would be a small picnic but it just became
too big. We had too much publicity and too many people wanting to come
and the Royal Parks Agency said there was no way in the time left that
we could organise enough security.'
In the April 16 Members Online letter, Shirlie said that George would
not be attending this event.
Yours Only George A Readers Choice Award Favorite
Thanks to everyone who voted for Yours Only George at DotMusic's
Readers Choice Award. This site was ranked #102 out of 948 sites,
with more than 30,000 music fans voting.
April 11, 1999
A Concert for Linda
YOGfriend Angelo directs us to an article on the Linda McCartney tribute
concert:
And Angelo also tell us about:
Ladies & Gentlemen home video in the U.S.
Dave says that:
The Ladies & Gentlemen - Best of George Michael home video
in the United States has been rescheduled and will now come out on May
4th.
April 4, 1999
George on Help A London Child
YOGfriend Bev never disappoints us:
STOP PRESS : SUNDAY 4th APRIL : 3.15 pm LONDON TIME
Just to let everyone know that this Easter weekend is, traditionally,
the Help A London Child fundraiser on Capital Radio in London. George
has literally *just* phoned in, to speak to Chris Tarrant and Neil Fox,
to pledge £50 000 for London's underprivileged kids! And to top it, he
has promised a further £20 000 to Foxy, who is planning to run this year's
London Marathon in aid of HALC, as long as he completes the course --
or, as George put it, as long as he manages to get his "fat arse"
right round the 26 or so miles!! :o)
April 2, 1999
More Capital Awards News
Paulette has even more information about the Capital Awards:
According to the Daily Mirror's feature column "The Wright
Stuff", George was 2 hours late for the awards show causing some
people to be quite worried that he wasn't going to show. But a "flushed"
George finally did arrive.
Hmm, wonder if he got stuck in traffic...
April 1, 1999
Capital Awards
Paulette lets us in on all the Capital Awards news:
News from Press Association re: George's Award:
"Thanks and Apologies-From Award Winner George"
George Michael has accepted a fans' award as best male vocalist-and apologised
for the arrest that kept him away last year.
News of Michael's arrest for soliciting in a Los Angeles toilet broke
on the pop world at the Capital Radio London Awards last year. This year,
he thanked listeners for voting for him despite learning he was gay.
'I am really thankful that things like last year are not that important
any more. Ultimately, I like to think that I received this award as a
singer and not as a gay singer,' he said.
And a follow up to that story is from News and City (don't know which
British Paper):
"George Michael's our favorite male artist" by Sarah Shannon
George Michael knocked Robbie Williams off his pop pedestal today when
he beat him to the title of London's favourite male artist of the year.
Williams, self-styled bad boy of pop, won three awards at last month's
Brit Awards, but Michael triumphed as the capital's favourite today.
He was given the award, voted for by thousands of Capital Radio listeners
and Evening Standard readers, at a celebrity-packed ceremony at the Royal
Lancaster Hotel.
....His album, Ladies and Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael, became
a massive chart hit.
And last but not least from 95.8 Capital FM news:
"London's Favourite Male Vocalist was George Michael. Accepting his
award in a humourous and earnest speech he joked: 'Firstly I must apologize
for not being here last year...I was otherwise engaged.'
Before adding that the 'strength I had and the belief I had to get through
that whole affair is directly connected to awards like this.' He concluded:
' I'd like to think that modern life is changing, that ultimately I receive
this award for what I am as a singer not for what I am as a person.' "
Whew! Sorry I wrote so much but it's wonderful getting news about George
and I thought I'd share it with other Yog lovers.
Thanks for wading through all this!
Paulette
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