There are three competitions right now for George Michael stuff.
Win George Michael’s Armani Suit
You can win a custom-made, dark-grey metallic linen-blend Armani suit worn by George Michael during his 25 Live tour. The competition closes at midnight on May 22, 2014, and three working days later for postal entries. Check here for all the details.
Win Signed Copy of George Michael’s Symphonica
You can win a signed copy of Symphonica and a signed copy of Words, a book of George Michael lyrics. Also, four runners up will receive copies of Symphonica. The competition ends Tuesday, May 27, 2014. Check here for more information.
In a separate contest, you can also win a signed copy of Symphonica. No competition deadline is listed. Check here for the details.
About Melanie
Melanie is the co-founder of Yours Only George and has been the webmaster of the site since 1997. Melanie has been a George Michael and Wham! fan since "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" in 1984.
George Michael has released a new video for his single, “Going to a Town” (Amazon Ad). Unlike the “Let Her Down Easy” video, the video for “Going to a Town” is concert footage from the Symphonica tour.
“Going to a Town” was originally written and recorded by Rufus Wainwright and featured on his 2007 album Release the Stars (Amazon Ad). It is the second song to be released from the successful Symphonica CD.
This article has been updated since it was originally published to include the following information.
George Michael talks about “Going to a Town” in the following interview:
The Guardian reviewed “Going to a Town” as:
The King, George Michael, has returned to us, this time in the form of a Rufus Wainwright cover. Going To A Town is a wistful, orchestral anti-American ballad, which manages to tread the fine line between movingly grandiose and enjoyably tacky. This being George, the video features a poorly animated burning crucifix, which turns into a poorly animated giant burning wooden “LOVE”. He continues to be our most ludicrous yet talented pop artist, and long may he reign.
Melanie is the co-founder of Yours Only George and has been the webmaster of the site since 1997. Melanie has been a George Michael and Wham! fan since "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" in 1984.
George Michael is tweeting for the first time in more than a month, and this time it’s about the worldwide success of Symphonica (Amazon Ad). The new CD with vocals from the Symphonica tour was released this week.
Hi everybody, THANK YOU SO MUCH! Symphonica is at this moment sitting at No.1 in ELEVEN countries!! and it's so nice to be able to savour ..
Melanie is the co-founder of Yours Only George and has been the webmaster of the site since 1997. Melanie has been a George Michael and Wham! fan since "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" in 1984.
The reviews for George Michael’s Symphonica are coming in, and most of them are good.
The Daily Mail gives Symphonica 4 out of 5 stars with the following verdict: poignant and polished.
As befits a man of 50, this record is more refined. With elegant strings and horns adding colour without being intrusive, it places the onus firmly on a smooth, expressive voice that is still in magnificent fettle.
The Telegraph gives Symphonica 4 out of 5 stars as well, saying:
An unadventurous set list reworks some of his most thoughtful and sombre songs with a selection of classic covers, all given a lush production gloss by the late Phil Ramone. What lifts it to a higher plane is Michael’s smooth and expressive singing. He has gorgeous tone and timbre and an instinct for when to introduce a breathy intimacy and when to raise the roof.
Michael avoids a number of traps on this album, which was produced by the late Phil Ramone, who also teamed with the singer in 1999 on “Songs From the Last Century.” Michael deserves credit for moving deftly into big band and orchestral territory without in any way trying to imitate the master, Frank Sinatra, or taking on the vocal tics of the many other artists who have turned to American standards as a mid-career tonic. The style and phrasings are all his own, confident and understated, and the sparse arrangements allow ample room for his hypnotic voice to soar. By instinct, he shies way from self-dramatizing vocal pyrotechnics, letting the melodies and lyrics carry the day.
Rolling Stone gives Symphonica 3 out of 5 stars, saying:
Mr. Explore Monogamy lounges it up on “One More Try” and “Praying for Time”; best of all is when he torches up the Wham!-era oldie “A Different Corner,” giving it a touch of autumnal wisdom.
The negative reviews are coming from the U.S., which is not surprising.
Song selection also plagues Michael’s “Symphonica,” which is an unaccountably strange creature — a not-entirely-live collection of covers and little-known originals, many of them drawn from his 1999 release, “Songs From the Last Century.” The last album produced by the legendary Phil Ramone before his death last year, “Symphonica” appears to have undergone more than the standard amount of studio sweetening, with Michael’s 2012 orchestral tour serving as a foundation.
Let’s not get too excited about “Symphonica,” the first new George Michael album in seven years, because the live recording is made up of well-worn material.
Melanie is the co-founder of Yours Only George and has been the webmaster of the site since 1997. Melanie has been a George Michael and Wham! fan since "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" in 1984.
Symphonica (Amazon Ad) is released today in the U.K. and tomorrow in the U.S.
Today is the last day of 17 Days of Symphonica. Each day in March, George Michael has been previewing tracks from the forthcoming album. Today’s clip features “Cowboys and Angels,” “Let Her Down Easy,” and “Through.”
Melanie is the co-founder of Yours Only George and has been the webmaster of the site since 1997. Melanie has been a George Michael and Wham! fan since "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" in 1984.
