WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped will feature a world exclusive first broadcast of George Michael performing “Last Christmas” at Wembley Arena in December 2006!
“It’s a privilege, 40 years on, to be able to have this opportunity to celebrate WHAM!’s wonderful and enduring musical homage to Christmas and I’m absolutely thrilled that WHAM! in partnership with The BBC will present this joyful and touching tribute to the nation this Christmas. Christmas was a special time of year for George and Christmas songs were a special type of song for him too and that was why he considered writing a Christmas classic one of the great achievements of his career. Only he will ever know quite what inspired him to such dizzying heights, but his songwriting genius led him to distil the quintessential essence of Christmas into a song whose breadth of appeal spans the generations. Revisiting Saas Fee, four decades on, with some of the closest friends of my youth was a very special experience and one which I know Yog would have loved to have shared in.”
Andrew Ridgeley
The December treat will feature new interviews with Andrew Ridgeley, Pepsi DeMacque-Crockett and Shirlie Kemp. It will also include archive footage of George Michael.
The special will also include interviews with Mary J Blige, Sir Bob Geldof, Neil Tennant and Sam Smith.
Some of the features are Andrew, Pepsi, Shirlie, and friends revisiting the video location, never-seen-before outtakes from the original 35mm music video footage, and George and Andrew’s personal photographs.
“Last Christmas remains as iconic today as it was 40 years ago, continuing to capture the essence of Christmas with the same magic and emotion. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the song, a true testament to George Michael’s songwriting brilliance. A timeless holiday classic, it holds a place among the greatest Christmas songs ever written, resonating with listeners of all ages and inspiring new generations today as it did 40 years ago. As we celebrate this incredible milestone, we are proud to be involved in this heartfelt tribute to the song, the video, and those involved. It offers fans the chance to relive the magic and gain fresh insight into the making of this beloved masterpiece, allowing us to share its enduring legacy with the public and fans around the world.”
George Michael Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment handles distribution outside of the UK.
Will you be watching WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped? Tell us in the comments.
Buy Now! Careless Whisper (Red marble vinyl) 12″ Single, Maxi-Single, 12″ vinyl sleeve-jacket Amazon Ad
The new release of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper,” 40 years after its original release, is garnering George Michael the top spot on UK music charts this week.
“Careless Whisper” is ranking on 5 different UK charts this week, according to Forbes.
George Michael’s first solo single is #1 on the Official Physical Singles and Official Vinyl Singles lists in the UK.
“Careless Whisper” also tops the charts for most-purchased songs on any physical medium. Vinyl sales play a huge role on that roster, according to Forbes.
The 40-year-old song also is a number one on the Official Singles Sales chart this week.
In other charts, “Careless Whisper” is at No. 39 on the Official Singles Downloads and at No. 69 on the “main list of the most-consumed individual songs,” according to Forbes.
George Michael first released his first solo single, “Careless Whisper,” on July 23, 1984, in the UK. (It was released as a Wham! single in the U.S.)
George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” was number one on the charts for three weeks in both the UK and the US.
Don’t miss out on our articles about the 40th anniversary of “Careless Whisper,” an unforgettable song by George Michael:
Last Christmas (Live at Wembley Arena, December 2006)
Last Christmas (Instrumental)
The “Last Christmas” CD single is described as:
WHAM!’s Last Christmas is not only one of the most iconic songs of all time, it is a cultural phenomenon. Loved by generations around the world, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s timeless Christmas classic is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The CD single brings all of the versions together in one special festive package. It includes a stunning previously unreleased live version of the track performed by George at Wembley in 2006.
Wham! “Last Christmas” 40th Anniversary CD Single
40th Anniversary “Last Christmas” Vinyl Amazon Ad
The “Last Christmas” vinyl is described as:
WHAM!’s Last Christmas is not only one of the most iconic songs of all time, it is a cultural phenomenon. Loved by generations around the world, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s timeless Christmas classic is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The 12 Inch vinyl brings all of the versions together in one special festive package. It includes a stunning previously unreleased live version of the track performed by George at Wembley in 2006.
Wham! “Last Christmas” 40th Anniversary Vinyl
The CD and vinyl of “Last Christmas” will be available December 13, 2024.
A previously unreleased live recording of “Careless Whisper” from George Michael’s performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City in July 2008 is available.
The official site listed “Careless Whisper” products that were available for preorder.
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper,” we’ve gathered 10 interesting facts about the timeless classic. New “Careless Whisper” merchandise (Amazon Ad) is available on October 18, 2024.
Co-Written by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley: The song was co-written by George Michael and his Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley when they were just 17 years old.
Inspiration on a Bus: George Michael came up with the iconic saxophone riff while riding a bus to his job as an usher at a cinema.
Iconic Saxophone Solo: The famous saxophone solo was played by Steve Gregory. It took 10 different saxophonists to get the sound George Michael wanted.
Multiple Recordings: The song was recorded in several locations, including Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama and Sarm Studios in West London.
Chart-Topping Hit: “Careless Whisper” topped the charts in 25 countries, including the US and the UK.
Personal Experience: The song was inspired by George Michael’s personal experiences from his teenage years.
First Solo Single: Although it was released on Wham!’s album, Make It Big (Amazon Ad), it was also released as George Michael’s first solo single (except in the United States).
Global Success: The song sold more than 6 million copies worldwide and became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Music Video: The music video was filmed in Miami, Florida, and features George Michael brooding over a failed relationship.
Legacy: “Careless Whisper” remains one of the most beloved ballads of the 1980s and continues to be a staple on classic pop and love song playlists.
“Careless Whisper” products are available on October 18, 2024.
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of “Careless Whisper” and the arrival of new “Careless Whisper” merchandise (Amazon Ad) on October 18, 2004, we are looking at George Michael’s most popular videos on YouTube.
Have you ever wondered what George Michael’s most popular videos are? Here are the top 10 George Michael (and Wham!) videos on YouTube with the highest views:
1. Careless Whisper
This iconic track was written when George Michael was only 17 years old. In George Michael’s biography, Bare (Amazon Ad), George said of the song, “I was on my way to DJ at the Bel Air when I wrote ‘Careless Whisper’. I have always written on buses, trains and in cars. It always happens on journeys… With ‘Careless Whisper’ I remember exactly where it first came to me, where I came up with the sax line… I remember I was handing the money over to the guy on the bus and I got this line, the sax line… I wrote it totally in my head. I worked on it for about three months in my head.”
“Careless Whisper” (Amazon Ad) has more than 1.2 billion views and has been captivating audiences for 40 years.
2. Last Christmas
“Last Christmas” (Amazon Ad) was written in George Michael’s childhood bedroom. At the age of 21, George Michael produced, performed, and played every single instrument on “Last Christmas.” The classic video was filmed at a Swiss resort called Saas-Fee, and the ex-girlfriend was played by model, Kathy Hill.
The holiday classic by Wham!, which continues to top the holiday charts, has more than 901 million views.
3. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
“Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” was inspired by a note Andrew Ridgeley left his parents. George later saw the note and used the title as inspiration. George Michael talked about “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (Amazon Ad) in an interview with Rolling Stone in 1984. He said, “I just wanted to make a really energetic pop record that had all the best elements of Fifties and Sixties records, combined with our attitude and our approach, which is obviously more uptempo and a lot younger than some of those records. It’s one of those tracks that gets rid of a lot of your own personal influences; it reminds me of so many different records that I couldn’t actually nail them down.”
This Wham! hit boasts 496 million views.
4. One More Try
Of the song “One More Try,” George Michael said, “I think this is the best thing I’ve ever done. It’s certainly my best vocal. I actually wrote the whole thing from start to finish in eight hours. We recorded it the same day.”
A StereoGum review describes “One More Try” as “a slow and stately ballad that sprawls elegantly over nearly six minutes. But it’s also a simple song, built on a churchy organ and a heartbeat-thump drum pattern. The lyrics don’t try to be clever, and Michael doesn’t try to sing them in a clever way. Instead, he belts them out, and there’s urgency in his heartbreak and in his hunger.”
This soulful #1 ballad has more than 194 million views.
5. Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me
“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” (Amazon Ad) a duet with Elton John, was recorded at the final show of George Michael’s Cover to Cover tour at Wembley Arena in London on March 23, 1991. The video was filmed during a concert at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago, Illinois, during George’s Cover to Cover tour on October 19, 1991.
This duet with one of George Michael’s heroes has garnered 183 million views.
6. Freedom ’90
“Freedom ’90” (not to be confused with the Wham! song “Freedom”) was George Michael’s highly autobiographical song about his transition from the top-selling pop of Faith to a more serious Listen Without Prejudice.
At this point in his career, George Michael refused to appear in any videos. The solution? George asked the five models on the January 1990 cover of the British edition of Vogue to star in his video: Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford.
“Freedom ’90” is an iconic video with 145 million views.
7. Father Figure
Of the ballad “Father Figure,” George Michael said: “The initial concept was totally different from the way the song turned out. In fact, the initial concept for ‘Father Figure’ was to make it a kind of mid-tempo dance track. And what happened was I wanted to hear something in my mix so I happened to cut out the snare on the board and suddenly it changed the whole entire mood of the track. Suddenly it seemed really dreamy. And this was halfway through writing it because I was writing the song as I was going along in the studio. And I just thought, well, hey, this is actually much better! So I worked the rest of the feel of the track around this spacey type sound. And it ended up, in my mind, being the most original-sounding thing on the album.”
The video depicts the story of a cab driver played by George Michael and a high-fashion model played by Tania Coleridge.
The sensual “Father Figure” track has 135 million views.
8. Fastlove
Producer Johnny Douglas said of George Michael’s performance in “Fastlove”: “As an artist and studio collaborator, George was unique. He was very uncomfortable with the idea of anybody hearing him mess up, or recording anything that wasn’t 100% perfect. He wasn’t afraid to put as much time as he felt necessary into his craft. He was also the only artist we ever worked with who absolutely refused to have his vocals pitch-corrected. Yet the result of this obsessive attention to detail is the incredible body of work he leaves behind, of which Fastlove is, personally for me, the jewel in the crown of a brilliant artist, sadly missed.”
“Fastlove” (Amazon Ad) is a dance-pop hit with 77 million views.
9. Amazing
The video for “Amazing” was directed by Matthew Rolston and was filmed in London in 2003.
Of the video, George Michael said, “If I’m honest, I’m not very happy with the video. It was done very quickly because my normal director let me down at the last moment actually. And we didn’t have time, the director and I, to really work together before the video, which is what I normally do. I’m normally very involved, and this was very much rushed because I was finishing the album, or had just finished the album, and the single was already on the radio. So, having screwed up the video, we really had to work fast. And you know, I guess it’s okay.”
This song dedicated to then-partner Kenny Goss has more than 56 million views.
10. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
“Nobody can emulate Aretha Franklin,” George Michael said of his recording with Aretha Franklin for the song, “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)”. “It’s stupid to try. I just tried to stay in character, keep it simple – it was very understated in comparison to what she did.”
Of George Michael, Aretha Franklin said: “The first time I heard George was with Wham! and I liked it then. He had a very unique sound, very different from anything that was out there. When Clive [Davis], suggested we get together for ‘I Knew You Were Waiting’, I was all ready. It reminded me of Jerry Wexler. We’d go in the studio and cut songs. If we were happy with what we recorded, Jerry would say, ‘Let’s wait until tomorrow. If we feel the same way [then] that we do now, maybe we have a hit.’ ‘I Knew You Were Waiting’ had that. Musically, it does not grow old.”
Chris Smith, John Battsek, Simon Halfon, Gregor Lyon, Alex Black
A Netflix Documentary, Ventureland, Passion Pictures, Library Films, Nemperor Production – Netflix
In 1982, teenagers George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley set out to conquer the world as WHAM! By June of 1986 they played their very last gig at Wembley Stadium having done exactly that. Now for the very first time, told in their own words, the amazing story of how in four years they dominated the charts around the world with timeless and classic pop songs.
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Wham! is on the shortlist for the BBCs Ultimate British Group.
On Saturday, October 19, we will celebrate National Album Day. Radio 2 will be crowning the Ultimate British Group.
Wham! is one of 54 artists, spanning from the 1960s to the 2010s. A panel voted from a list of nearly 100 artists to produce a final list of 54.
BBC Sounds will have a special program on Friday, October 11, 2024, with the results. The show will also be broadcast on Radio 2 on Saturday, October 19, from 1-3 p.m.
You can vote for Wham! as Your Ultimate British Group here. You can vote for up to five of your top acts. Voting closes at 4 p.m. on Friday, September 27, 2024.
According to the rules, a British group is defined as an act containing two or members that is made-up wholly of, or where the majority are, people who were born, live or hold British citizenship.
Make sure to follow Yours Only George on Facebook and X, and join our mailing list for the latest news on George Michael.
This t-shirt comes in black, navy, asphalt, and white. It is described as:
Relive the magic of George Michael’s legendary music with “Tonight The Music Seems So Loud.” This exclusive collection celebrates his enduring influence on pop music, featuring remastered tracks that highlight his soulful voice and poetic lyrics. The striking cover design, inspired by George Michael’s iconic style, adds a nostalgic touch to this must-have compilation.
This hoodie comes in black, navy, and heather grey. It is described as:
Celebrate the legacy of George Michael with the “George Michael Retro Icon” Merchandise Collection. This stylish design of the music legend, capturing his iconic look and timeless appeal. Made from high-quality materials, perfect for fans who want to honor George Michael’s enduring influence on pop music and fashion.
This t-shirt comes in black, navy, asphalt, baby blue, heather grey. It is described as:
Celebrate the legacy of George Michael with the “George Michael Retro Icon” Merchandise Collection. This stylish design of the music legend, capturing his iconic look and timeless appeal. Made from high-quality materials, perfect for fans who want to honor George Michael’s enduring influence on pop music and fashion.
This t-shirt comes in black, navy, asphalt, white, baby blue, red, kelly green, olive, lemon, heather grey, pink, purple, orange, and royal blue. It is described as:
Add a burst of color to your wardrobe with the “George Michael Vibrant Music” design. This eye-catching design features a bold and vibrant design inspired by George Michael’s hit song “Tonight The Music Seems So Loud.” Made from soft, high-quality fabric, this garment offers both comfort and style, perfect for any fan of the legendary artist. Celebrate the enduring legacy of George Michael with a piece that truly stands out.
This t-shirt comes in navy, asphalt, white, baby blue, red, kelly green, olive, lemon, heather grey, pink, purple, orange, and royal blue. It is described as:
Add a burst of color to your wardrobe with the “George Michael Vibrant Music” design. This eye-catching design features a bold and vibrant design inspired by George Michael’s hit song “Tonight The Music Seems So Loud.” Made from soft, high-quality fabric, this garment offers both comfort and style, perfect for any fan of the legendary artist. Celebrate the enduring legacy of George Michael with a piece that truly stands out.
This t-shirt comes in black and navy. It is described as:
Add a burst of color to your wardrobe with the “George Michael Tonight the Music Sparkled” design. This eye-catching design features a bold and vibrant graphic inspired by George Michael’s hit song “Tonight the Music Seems Loud.” Made from soft, high-quality fabric, this garment offers both comfort and style, perfect for any fan of the legendary artist. Celebrate the enduring legacy of George Michael with a piece that truly stands out.
This t-shirt comes in black, navy, and asphalt. It is described as:
Add a burst of color to your wardrobe with the “George Michael Tonight the Music Sparkled” design. This eye-catching design features a bold and vibrant graphic inspired by George Michael’s hit song “Tonight the Music Seems Loud.” Made from soft, high-quality fabric, this garment offers both comfort and style, perfect for any fan of the legendary artist. Celebrate the enduring legacy of George Michael with a piece that truly stands out.
The 40th anniversary “Careless Whisper” releases are available on October 18, 2024, in the following formats:
Andy Chandler, Director of Catalogue Streaming, Sony Music UK said “After the incredible success of the Older remix campaign, we’re excited to extend our collaboration with Amazon Music to celebrate such a universally loved track, and pay tribute to the timeless lyrics which continue to connect with fans.”
George Michael Entertainment said ”We are proud to offer George’s loyal fans and music lovers worldwide, a very special 40th-anniversary edition of his timeless classic, “Careless Whisper” along with an exclusive range of merchandise, only available from the George Michael Amazon shop”
Which George Michael shirt or hoodie is your favorite? Tell us in the comments!
Don’t miss out on our articles about the 40th anniversary of “Careless Whisper,” an unforgettable song by George Michael:
George Michael is topping the Amazon UK Bestsellers list today for the new “Careless Whisper” vinyl and CD to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this classic, #1 song from the 80s.
George Michael is topping the Amazon UK Bestsellers list with:
George Michael released his first solo single, “Careless Whisper,” on July 23, 1984, in the UK. Today is the 40th anniversary of the release date for “Careless Whisper.”
Amazon UK is listing a CD of “Careless Whisper” as well as a Vinyl for preorder. According to the description:
George Michael’s ‘Careless Whisper’ is one of the most iconic songs of all time and 2024 celebrates its 40th anniversary. Hailed as a pop masterpiece, it topped the charts in 25 countries when it was released in 1984. The track has since been certified multiple times Platinum around the world. To mark this incredible milestone, the limited edition ‘Careless Whisper’ EP brings together all of the versions in one special release. It features instrumental and extended mixes and a previously unreleased live version recorded at Madison Square Garden, New York.
The official site is listing new “Careless Whisper” products that are available for preorder and available on October 18, 2024.
This opportunity looks like a treat for any George Michael fan. You can stay at the pool house of Mill Cottage where George Michael lived. The house is located in Goring, England.
George Michael’s pool house at Mill Cottage is described as:
The Pool House on the grounds of Mill Cottage is very unique. Guests will have exclusive use of the pool. Sitting directly on the Thames there are plenty of riverside restaurants and cafes to explore by foot or boat.
The Pool House has one bedroom with black out blinds and one sofa bed in the main room where there are no blinds.
Goring on Thames village is a couple of minutes walk away as is the train station.
There is a BBQ and outdoor seating area.
Airbnb Listing for George Michael’s Pool House at Mill Cottage
George Michael’s pool house is available for 4 guests, has 1 bedroom, 2 beds, and 1 bath.
The location is listed as a “rare find” and is “usually fully booked.” It gets a 4.87 rating. It is in the top 10% of eligible listings based on ratings, reviews, and reliability.
Make sure to follow Yours Only George on Facebook and X, and join our mailing list for the latest news on George Michael.
It looks like we are going to be getting a Christmas gift from Wham!
Wham! will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the song “Last Christmas” and wants to hear “Last Christmas” stories from fans.
Calling All WHAM! Fans
We invite you to help us celebrate the 40th anniversary of Last Christmas! As part of an exciting new project, we want to hear your Last Christmas stories.
Do you have a personal connection to the song? Do you have any videos, photos or stories? Have you ever performed your own version?
Today is George Michael’s birthday. It would have been his 61st birthday if he had been alive.
As most of you know, I recently posted my happiest and saddest moments for the 27 years that Yours Only George has been online. Obviously, the saddest moment was learning that George Michael would no longer be with us to share his smart and humorous personality, nor his gift for writing and singing songs that defined a generation.
I still believe that there is a need for this site, and I have been trying to keep everyone updated on what I find online about George Michael. Until 2024, it had been quite some time since I posted news on the site, and for that I apologize. I have always continued to post on Facebook and X. Fortunately, I now can update the site daily.
Many things have changed over 27 years, and I am trying to go page by page to determine what is broken and needs to be fixed on the site. Some of the Amazon sponsorship links weren’t working, but I think those are fixed. I have at least 15 things that need to be fixed or added. Even some of the things that should be easy to fix have not been easy to fix! I am trying, and I ask you to have faith in me that I can get the site back up and running.
At this point, I have updated the following pages or sections:
Links – I have checked every link on the the links page. If you have a site that you would like added, please let me know.
Posters – I have also updated the posters page with new posters.
FAQ – Sadly, this part talked about e-mailing George, and that had to be removed.
I have also started a feature called “On this day” on Facebook and X, pointing to things that have happened to George Michael through the years. I have forgotten about so many of these things, and it’s so fun to read about them again. Usually, these pages are also updated, which helps me keep things more up to date.
For those of you who were on the mailing list through Feedburner/Google, I have moved the mailing list to Follow.it. You should have received a message asking you to confirm that would you like to continue receiving e-mails. If you’re new to the site, you can subscribe here.
When I first started coming up with my Top 5 favorite things that have happened over the last 27 years at the Yours Only George site, I kept coming up with some truly sad things that have happened. I decided to have a happy list of George Michael things that have happened and a list of sad things that have happened.
I am posting my Top 5 Saddest George Michael things about the site from the last 27 years:
5
When Princess Diana died, we decided to start a Princess Diana tribute page, which ended up being far larger than ever anticipated with contributions from the Yours Only George site, Yogmael, and Gnotes. As I wrote at the time: “And so, in my grief, my best friend and I decided to create a small tribute page for you, which turned out to be much larger than I ever expected it to be. In a world that is often cynical and cruel, it is so beautiful and fitting that people united to make this page for a woman who had so much love in her heart. You taught us how to love, and I can only hope that we will share your gift with one another. Thank you for giving us the greatest gift of all.” (This is one of the many pages that needs to be updated with new graphics.)
4
I remember searching for George Michael news one night in 1997. If I looked late at night, I would get all the tabloid news that was published in the U.K. while most people were asleep. I remember not wanting this information to be true: George’s beloved mother, Lesley Angold Harrison Panayiotou, died on February 26, 1997, of cancer. I created a small page with quotes of all the lovely things George Michael said about his mother over the years. There is also a second tribute page to Lesley Panayiotou written from a fan’s perspective.
3
George Michael was known for various accidents involving cars. The accident on the M1 was another scary moment in the life of George Michael. It was such a crazy moment where we once again didn’t know if George was going to make it.
2
When George Michael had pneumonia, I remember not much was being said. The only information that was coming was through the tabloids, and it sounded bad.
When George first spoke to the press after nearly dying in the hospital, it was heartbreaking. Whenever I see this clip, I start crying.
1
I still have not totally dealt with the death of George Michael. I like to think there is an alternate universe where he is still alive, happy, and making music. I will never forget the moment that Shannon, cofounder of this site, called me on Christmas day and told me that George Michael had died. I had previously been worried about him because his voice did not sound strong during the Red Line interview. George Michael had cheated death so many times before that it was shocking that he would die on Christmas day.
Thanks to all the Lovelies for all the support through the years, in the good times and the bad!
Make sure to follow Yours Only George on Facebook and X, and join our mailing list for the latest news on George Michael.
On June 1, 2024, Yours Only George is celebrating its 27th anniversary. Shannon and I started this site in 1997 back when AOL gave free space for web sites. We later moved it to a webhost and bought the domain www.yogworld.com.
We had our first fan club in 1986 and came up with the name “Yours Only George” in the early 1990s. The name not only represented fans dedicated to George Michael, but also spelled out “YOG,” George Michael’s nickname. The name “Yog” was originally given to George Michael by Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley.
I am forever thankful to Shannon for her friendship and support. There is no better friend in this world than Shannon. This site would not be here without her.
Over the past five months, I have been going page by page to update the site. Considering that it is two sites in one and it has about 500 pages, there is a lot to work on!
I am posting my Top 5 Favorite things about the site from the last 27 years:
5
The George Michael Links section is really the beginning of the entire Yours Only George web site. Back in the mid 1990s, I had gone to a seminar, and the gist was that links were a key to success. It was only later that we became known for the George Michael news. At one point, I think there were at least 400 links. I recently deleted any that were no longer available.
4
Amazon Ad
I remember being shocked when I saw the Yours Only George website listed as a source for a few George Michael biographies. The first one is George Michael: The Biography (Amazon Ad) by Rob Jovanovic. The second one is George Michael: A Life (Amazon Ad) by James Gavin. I was also recently approached to write a George Michael book. Maybe some day I will!
3
When George Michael died, one tabloid picked up on the fact that Andrew Ridgeley called George Michael “Yog” in his Twitter post about George Michael dying. The writer wrongly said Andrew’s nickname of Yog stood for “Yours Only George.” The nickname “Yog” derives from the Greek pronunciation of George’s given name: Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou. The “G” on “Georgios” is pronounced with a “y” sound like “yogurt.” Unfortunately, this inaccurate information has propagated to other sites.
2
Amazon Ad
It was an absolute thrill when we interviewed Shirlie Kemp. I wish I had dated the article. I think it was in February 1998. We interviewed Shirlie when she was running the George Michael fan club during the Aegean record label era. Some day I hope to interview Shirlie again.
1
My absolute favorite memory was finding out that George Michael not only knew about the Yours Only George web site, but George Michael also had the Yours Only George web site bookmarked on his computer! This was in 2004. Jill Taylor, a DJ, did an Internet search before her interview with George Michael, and she found the Yours Only George web site. She mentioned the site during the interview. George was very nice, said he knew about the site, and even had it bookmarked on his computer.
I never had the chance to meet George Michael, but knowing George visited the site is the next best thing.
George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” has reached 1 billion streams on Spotify and 1.2 billion streams on YouTube.
We’re absolutely thrilled to share that ‘Careless Whisper’ has just joined the #BillionsClub on @Spotify. 1 BILLION STREAMS! This is incredible, thank you for all the love and support you continue to show the song every single day 🎷 @SpotifyUKpic.twitter.com/AYAjzZILaO
— George Michael Official (@GeorgeMOfficial) May 8, 2024
“Careless Whisper” joins Spotify’s Billion’s Club. There are more than 600 songs on Spotify’s Billion’s Club.
Currently, 631 songs have surpassed one billion streams on Spotify, 79 have surpassed two billion, and nine have surpassed three billion. “Blinding Lights” by the Weeknd is the only song that has surpassed the four billion mark.
List of Spotify streaming records
🎷 1 BILLION streams on Spotify + 1.2 BILLION views on YouTube 📽️ Still as popular as it was in 1984! Join us in celebrating 40 years of ‘Careless Whisper’ this summer 🎶 pic.twitter.com/0qfrJWNv9j
— George Michael Official (@GeorgeMOfficial) May 9, 2024
Earlier in the year, “Careless Whisper” reached 1 billion YouTube views. According to Variety, the “Careless Whisper” music video is the eighth from the 1980s to reach the 1 billion milestone on YouTube.
Make sure to follow Yours Only George on Facebook and X, and join our mailing list for the latest news on George Michael.
Simon Napier-Bell’s George Michael documentary, “George Michael: Portrait of an Artist,” (Amazon Ad) will be on Kaleidoscope Film Distribution’s Cannes slate, according to Variety.
The documentary was directed by Simon Napier-Bell, the manager of Wham! in the mid 1980s who masterminded the historic Wham! trip to China. “George Michael: Portrait of an Artist” includes interviews with Stevie Wonder, Sanandra Maitreya, Stephen Fry, Kenny Goss, Chris Cameron, Rufus Wainwright, Piers Morgan, and Jo Whiley.
The 2023 documentary is described as:
Packed with rare archive footage and candid interviews from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Stephen Fry, and many more of his close friends and colleagues, witness George Michael’s meteoric rise to superstardom like never before. This fascinating documentary exposes, honestly and respectfully, the man who he was, with unprecedent insights into both his professional persona as a world-renowned celebrity, and his tumultuous personal life that nearly brought his career to an early end.
George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” is #1 on 2024’s All Time Top 500 for Smooth Radio. It is the sixth year in a row that “Careless Whisper” has topped the chart, and the seventh year at #1.
George Michael Entertainment released the following statement about this achievement:
On behalf of George Michael Entertainment, we are delighted that Smooth Radio listeners and George’s loyal fans have once again, for the 6th consecutive year, voted for George Michael’s Careless Whisper as their number one song in Smooth’s “All Time Top 500” for 2024.
In this year, the 40th anniversary of its release, this is an incredible achievement as Careless Whisper has now topped Smooth’s chart for a total of 7 years.
We know that George would be proud and truly grateful just as we are, for the continued support of Smooth Radio, its listeners and his loyal fans around the world.
George Michael had a total of 20 songs in Smooth’s Top 500. Here is the ranking:
#1 “Careless Whisper” #3 “A Different Corner” #11 “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” (duet with Elton John) #31 “Jesus to a Child” #48 “Father Figure” #80 “Somebody to Love” (with Queen) #104 “FastLove” #105 “Club Tropicana” #109 “One More Try” #114 “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” (duet with Aretha Franklin) #116 “Faith” #138 “Praying for Time” #140 “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” #163 “I’m Your Man” #169 “Freedom 90” #178 “Everything She Wants” #284 “The Edge of Heaven” #313 “As” (duet with Mary J. Blige) #320 “Freedom” #453 “Heal the Pain”
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