The Daily Mirror has a contest to win a romantic break for two in Paris, plus the limited edition George Michael Faith boxset.
The prize includes travel from winner’s home to St Pancras or Ashford Eurostar terminal (winner’s choice), return travel on Eurostar to Paris, two nights in a 4-star hotel, dinner for two, travel insurance, plus a collectible, numbered, limited-edition copy of the re-mastered Faith boxset. More information is available here.
Here are the latest articles on the reissue of Faith:
GeorgeMichael.com is giving away 10 copies of the Limited Edition Numbered Collectors Box Set of Faith. Simply become a follower of http://twitter.com/georgemofficial and retweet “I GOTTA HAVE FAITH” starting at noon GMT on January 31, 2011. Winners will be randomly selected by the GeorgeMichael.com team every hour, on the hour, for 10 hours.
I’m publishing a series of articles on Faith Remastered based on some information I recently received. Obviously, the die-hard fans have already placed their orders. This information is for those who haven’t even heard about Faith remastered.
There are three options:
The deluxe edition is a limited edition, numbered box set presented in black-and-gold-foiled slipcase, with:
The deluxe edition is available only at GeorgeMichael.com. You can pre-order the deluxe edition now, and it will be shipped January 31, 2011. The cost is $141.57, plus shipping and handling.
The Faith special edition includes two CDs and a DVD. The first CD is the remastered Faith, while the second CD has all the remastered 7-inch and 12-inch versions. This edition will be released February 1, 2011. The cost is currently $27.99, plus shipping.
The Faith remastered edition includes two CDs. The first CD is the remastered Faith, while the second CD has all the remastered 7-inch and 12-inch versions. This edition will be released February 1, 2011. The cost is currently $13.85, plus shipping. The only difference with this version and the “special” version is that you don’t get the DVD.
From George Michael’s tell-all canned for being ‘too shocking’:
Jonathan Ross tipped the fallen star to return to the top of the charts after George played him and Cowell his post-prison tracks. ‘One of them, both me and Cowell, our ears went ‘‘boing’’ and Cowell said, ‘‘That’s a No.1.’’ It was very dancy and very electronic.
George Michael in vacationing in Australia, according to Sydney’s Georgeous George Michael parties day and night:
SYDNEY’S newest adopted son George Michael has been back in town a fortnight and has wasted no time kicking up his heels, with the ex-Wham! singer seen taking in all of the city’s daytime and nighttime delights. Michael, said to be splitting his time between his plush Whale Beach pad and a luxury inner-city hotel, stunned onlookers at Justin Hemmes’ Ivy bar on Saturday night by arriving with friends and partying up a storm.
But – not surprisingly – no photos please.
“He was really nice, just chilling out and obviously having a great time but it was clear he didn’t want his photo taken,” said one clubgoer.
“But he happily signed autographs which I thought was nice. He was very polite and happy to chat with locals just like a normal, everyday guy.”
Wasim sends us George Michael to head Down Under after splashing out £3.9million on ocean-view home in Australia:
According to reports today, the pop star has forked out £3.9million ($6millionAUS) on the property which sits on a secluded spot on the Whales Beach peninsula.
The Real Estalker published pictures of the star’s new pad along with information about his Down Under getaway.
The 3,500 sq ft contemporary holiday home has five bedrooms and each one has en suite bathroom and access to the exterior.
And two of them have access to a balcony that looks down into the courtyard and gives a sea view.
Here is the LA Times review: First look (and listen): George Michael’s ‘Faith’ gets the deluxe reissue treatment
(Okay, I just want to know why some of the fan sites can’t get these free copies way ahead of schedule and review them! I’d promote it far more if I had it ahead of time. Sorry, everyone, it just doesn’t make sense to me!)
According to the Daily Star, Simon Cowell has approached George Michael to be a judge on the U.S. version of X Factor, which premieres next September.
A source close to the music mogul said George would be ideal as he has a high profile in both the States and Britain.
He added: “Simon has always been a huge fan of George’s.
“His knowledge of the music industry is immense and he would be the perfect mentor for any up-and-coming artist.”
George could join UK judge Cheryl Cole, 27, on the show.
Speaking this week, Simon said: “I won’t be announcing the US X Factor line-up until January.
“No contracts have been signed yet. We are still in the discussion stages.”
Pepsi & Shirlie will be performing in June 2011. They will be part of the Here and Now tour. You can read more about it here.
Roman Kemp, the son of Shirlie Kemp (Pepsi and Shirlie) and Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet), plays bass in Paradise Point. You can hear clips at MySpace.
Here are a few of the recent articles on George Michael’s statement:
From the BBC:
Pop star George Michael has said he “just wants to start again” following his release from prison in Suffolk after serving a sentence for drug driving.
The 47-year-old said it was “fantastic” to be free on “a beautiful day”.
“I just want to say thank you for everybody who has supported me in there,” the singer told reporters outside his north London home.
Michael served half of an eight-week sentence in jail for crashing his car while under the influence of cannabis.
He was arrested in July after being found slumped at the wheel of his Land Rover in Hampstead, north London.
From Michael taking legal action over prison claims:
“Much as I would prefer to rise above the usual rubbish that I’m reading day after day about my time here in prison, I think it’s only fair to my fans, family and friends to respond in some way, even though I will be home soon.
“Please believe me when I tell you that in the last three weeks there have been no tears, no anxiety, no bullying, in fact not so much as a sleepless night for me. On the contrary, I have been treated with kindness by fellow in-mates and prison staff alike and as far as I can tell, have received no special treatment of any kind whatsoever.
“Most of my days have been spent reading thousands of letters and postcards of incredible support from people around the world. I promise to repay their kindness with new music as soon as I possibly can, and as far as running around this place “naked” and “drunk” on “Hooch” with an inmate for a bodyguard, let’s just say that the Sunday Mirror will be hearing from my lawyers very shortly. With Love always, George Michael.”
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From the Sun:
JAILED George Michael has received a hand-written letter from Sir Paul McCartney.
Macca wrote to the singer to lift his spirits while he serves time for his drug-fuelled car smash.
Pals said the Beatles legend, 68, “empathised” with the Wham! star’s plight after he spent ten days in prison in Tokyo in 1980 after being caught with cannabis.
George, 47, has served two weeks of his eight-week sentence and could be out on licence in a fortnight from Category C jail Highpoint in Suffolk.
A source said: “He got the letter on Monday and was really chuffed. Sir Paul said he would see him soon and told George to keep his chin up.
“The letter was two pages long and George read it over and over again.”
From Convicts’ fury at George Michael’s privileges:
Jailed George Michael has enraged inmates at his new jail by being given special privileges right away.
Convicts usually need to behave well for several weeks before rising to “enhanced” status, which allows them extra visits and a PlayStation in their cell.
Michael, 47 – who is serving two months for a drug-fuelled car crash – arrived at Highpoint jail in Suffolk on Friday.
Amel Sahbaz, 23, who was visiting his brother, said: “It’s not fair. The other inmates have to earn their way onto that wing but George is famous so he’s allowed in straight away.”
Visitor Amanda Hunt said: “My friend saw him playing pool with another prisoner and he seemed happy, but looks very haggard and quite old.”
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From Despite George Michael’s tawdry antics, his basic talent lets some keep the faith:
The image he established on Faith will outlast his fall from grace, because it has become a pop prototype, capturing not just a moment in time, but a whole idea of how a modern star can create a look and sound that crosses all the bases, risque without alienating the mainstream, sexy without being too trite or immature for adults.
Maybe what happened to George Michael afterward will make this artfully constructed persona seem more interesting, rather than less. You’ve got to have faith, as the man himself might suggest.
From George Michael is a national treasure, despite the funny fags:
Let’s face it, George Michael occupies a special place in the hearts of the British public. We are enormously fond of him and we hate to see him hit bad times.
Our fondness is partly rooted in the fact that he has made some phenomenally good pop music. Michael peaked as a solo artist with 1987’s Faith and you have to wonder how much his predilection for funny fags has affected him creatively.
But Wham! were a staggeringly good all-in pop proposition, easily one of the best this country has ever produced. They were cartoonishly pretty and upbeat, but also musically deft and inventive and lyrically inspired.
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From George Michael Gives Up on Escape:
The multi-millionaire had been due to appear via videolink for a conference with his lawyers yesterday before a bail hearing at Blackfriars Crown Court, London.
But the application was suddenly withdrawn. A clerk for his barrister, Mukul Chawla QC, confirmed the hearing had been pencilled in the lawyer’s diary, saying: “It was in the diary, but now there’s nothing in his diary today.”
A court spokesman said: “It’s been cancelled completely. There are no new dates for the hearing.’’
The climbdown came after Michael had a two-hour visit from his partner Kenny Goss, 50, in a private room at the jail.
Asked how Michael was doing, Kenny said as he left: “I think he’s doing OK.”
From George Moved to Soft Cell:
The former Wham! star – who bottled out of a legal bid for freedom yesterday – hid under a blanket as he was whisked out of Pentonville Prison, North London.
He had hoped to get bail while his lawyers launched an appeal against his “excessive” eight-week sentence for a drug-fuelled car crash.
But George, 47, was warned by his high-powered legal team he stood little chance of winning – and his sentence could have been nearly DOUBLED. A legal source said: “George was playing with fire. He was quite fortunate to escape with a two-month stretch.”
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From George Michael moved to Category C Highpoint Prison:
Jailed pop star George Michael has been transferred to a softer Category C prison.
The former Wham! star was moved out of Pentonville Prison on Friday after abandoning plans to apply for bail.
The 47-year-old, whose real name is Georgios Panayiotou, moved to Highpoint Prison in Suffolk. …
On Friday, a bail application on his behalf was cancelled.
Michael will serve four weeks in prison, with the rest of his sentence spent out on licence under the supervision of the probation service.
Pentonville Prison, where former inmates have included Oscar Wilde and fellow 1980s singer Boy George, houses close to 1,000 male convicts.
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said the department did not discuss the movement of prisoners.
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From George Michael’s ‘Faith’ Reissue Postponed:
A source within Sony Music denied tabloid reports that the label was distancing itself from the star, who is no longer under contract to Sony.
“We’re very supportive of George,” said the source. “‘Faith’ was a culturally important album for Sony Music and we want to do the right thing by him. He may not be signed to us any more but he’ll remain important to us forever.”
“Faith,” initially released in 1987, was Michael’s debut album as a solo artist. It hit No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic and went on to sell a reported 20 million copies worldwide.