George Michael - top 20 songs from The Backlot

[Source]

The Essential George Michael: Ranking His Top 20 Songs

by snicks | June 25, 2014

George Michael was one of the biggest stars of the 80′s and early 90′s, starting with Wham! and then solo. Since his debut, he’s sold over 100 million records worldwide and notched eight #1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100.

He’s had a tougher time personally and professionally since the mid-90′s thanks to a prolonged battle with Sony records and very public legal problems, but he’s been publicly out for over fifteen years, and hopefully he’s found his freedom.

Today is his 51st birthday, so let’s take a look back and try to pick out the 20 best singles of his career, both solo and with Wham! This is a good place to start The Essential George Michael Collection.

20. FREEDOM

YEAR: 1985
ALBUM: Make It Big
CHART PEAK: #3

The fourth and final single from Make It Big in the U.S., it was the first not to hit #1

19. LAST CHRISTMAS

YEAR: 1984
ALBUM: N/A
CHART PEAK: N/A

The B side of “Everything She Wants,” it was never released as a single in the U.S., but it was, and continues to be, one of the biggest holiday songs around the world.

18. WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO GO

YEAR: 1984
ALBUM: Make It Big
CHART PEAK: #1

True Story – Starting back at school in fall of 1984, I was walking with my best friend, who was wearing a Walkman. He stopped, head bopping, then took the headphones off. He said “I just heard the new song from The Pointer Sisters. It’s called ‘Jitterbug.’” Of course, the song wasn’t from The Pointer Sisters, and it wasn’t called “Jitterbug.” It was our first taste of Wham!.

17. FASTLOVE

YEAR: 1996
ALBUM: Older
CHART PEAK: #8

George released his first album in six years in 1996, after years of a bitter and costly legal battle with Sony records. “Fastlove” was the second single released, and to date, is his last entry on the Billboard Hot 100.

16. I KNEW YOU WERE WAITING FOR ME

YEAR: 1987
ALBUM: Aretha
CHART PEAK: #1

George fulfilled his dream of singing with Queen Of Soul with his mega-smash, which hit #1 around the world.

15. DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME

YEAR: 1991
ALBUM: Duets
CHART PEAK: #1

Speaking of worldwide #1 duets, George and Elton first performed “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’ at Live Aid in 1985, and years later, they performed it again during George’s 1991 Wembley Arena concert, and hit chart paydirt.

14. MONKEY

YEAR: 1988
ALBUM: Faith
CHART PEAK: #1

The fifth single from Faith, it was his his fourth #1 smash in a row, and his first #1 song on the dance chart.

13. ONE MORE TRY

YEAR: 1988
ALBUM: Faith
CHART PEAK: #1

One of the biggest singles from 1988, it was an across-the-board classic, hitting #1 on the pop, adult-contemporary and R&B charts.

12. I’M YOUR MAN

YEAR: 1985
ALBUM: Music From The Edge Of Heaven
CHART PEAK: #3

By late 85, Wham! was on its last legs, and Music From The Edge Of Heaven (released in the U.S. in the summer of 1986), was a hodgepodge of one-offs and odds and ends. But it had some great stuff, including “I’m Your Man”, which was the album’s highest-charting single.

11. CARELESS WHISPER

YEAR: 1985
ALBUM: Make It Big
CHART PEAK: #1

The first inkling we got that Wham! might not endure was when “Careless Whisper” was released in the states as “Wham! Featuring George Michael.” Yeah, that was a clue. “Careless Whisper” spent three weeks at #1, and was Billboard’s #1 song of 1985.

10. JESUS TO A CHILD

YEAR: 1996
ALBUM: Older
CHART PEAK: #7

The first single from Older, it was written as a tribute to George’s boyfriend lover Anselmo Feleppa, who died of a brain hemorrhage.

9. FAITH

YEAR: 1987
ALBUM: Faith
CHART PEAK: #1

The biggest song of his career from the biggest album of his career, it spent four weeks at #1 and became Billboard’s #1 song of 1988.

8. THE EDGE OF HEAVEN

YEAR: 1986
ALBUM: Music From The Edge Of Heaven
CHART PEAK: #10

Wham!’s most underrated single, it was their final top ten (or top 40) release in the U.S.

7. PRAYING FOR TIME

YEAR: 1990
ALBUM: Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1
CHART PEAK: #1

The first single from Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1, it marked a decidedly different tone from his early frothy hits. It was his final #1 song on the Billboard chart.

6. I WANT YOUR SEX

YEAR: 1987
ALBUM: Faith
CHART PEAK: #2

George courted controversy for the first time in his career with this single from the Beverly Hills Cop 2 soundtrack, which also previewed his first solo album. Not everybody does it … but everybody should!

5. A DIFFERENT CORNER

YEAR: 1986
ALBUM: Music From The Edge Of Heaven
CHART PEAK: #7

George’s first official solo single, it’s a sparse, delicate ballad that’s overlooked among his more well-known hits.

4. EVERYTHING SHE WANTS

YEAR: 1985
ALBUM: Make It Big
CHART PEAK: #1

Wham!’s third consecutive (and final) #1 song, George has named it as his favorite Wham! song. I concur.

3. FREEDOM ’90

YEAR: 1990
ALBUM: Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1
CHART PEAK: #8

Second single from Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1, it had George recounting the story of his life, and the shedding of his teenybopper MTV image.

2. TOO FUNKY

YEAR: 1992
ALBUM: RED HOT & DANCE
CHART PEAK: #10

“Would you like me to seduce you?” George’s greatest dance song, it’s still just as vibrant over 20 years later.

1. FATHER FIGURE

YEAR: 1988
ALBUM: Faith
CHART PEAK: #1

For me, this is hands down the greatest song in George’s discography. Gorgeous and seductive, it’s one of the great ballads of the decade.

Bubbling under the Top 20: “Waiting For That Day,” “Kissing A Fool,” “Amazing”

Okay, your turn! What’s in your Essential George Collection?

George Michael on Out In The City - interview

George Michael cancels Australian concerts

[Source]

30 September 2012 Last updated at 12:08 GMT
George Michael cancels Australian concerts

Michael apologised to his Australian fans

Singer George Michael has cancelled the Australian leg of his tour due to "major anxiety" following his battle with pneumonia at the end of last year.

In a statement on his website, Michael said the cancellation of nine concerts "breaks my heart".

He confirmed he would still fulfil his UK dates in October but would then undergo treatment for his condition.

Michael suffered from life-threatening pneumonia and spent a month in a Vienna hospital last winter.

The ex-Wham singer added in his statement: " I have tried in vain to work my way through the trauma that the doctors who saved my life warned me I would experience.

"They recommended complete rest and the type of post-traumatic counselling which is available in cases like mine but I'm afraid I believed (wrongly) that making music and getting out there to perform for the audiences that bring me such joy would be therapy enough in itself."

He has already performed numerous dates across Europe over the last month.

The singer added that despite enjoying his recent performances, "unfortunately, I seriously underestimated how difficult this year would be".

The nine cancelled concerts were due to take place in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Hunter Valley.

The Symphonica tour was resumed this autumn after it was pulled when he became ill in November last year, just hours before he was due to perform in Vienna.

He had completed 46 of the original 65 dates when he contracted pneumonia.

George Michael on BBS Radio 2 Chris Evans

White Light - George Michael

Clip:georgemichaelVEVO

The new single from George Michael "White Light" is available for Pre-order now: https://bit.ly/GMWhiteLight

Find George on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgemichael and Twitter: https://twitter.com/#/georgemichael

http://www.GeorgeMichael.com

Music video by George Michael performing White Light. 2012 G.K. Panayiotou, under exclusive licence to Universal Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Ltd

An article from PinkNews.co.uk

[Source]
George Michael: Eastenders gay storyline “scaring children”
by Stephen Gray
11 November 2011, 9:32am

George Michael heavily criticised the storyline between two gay character in the soap opera Eastenders.

The musician took to Twitter last night to tell followers the BBC drama was “scaring the shit out of children”.

He said “The relationship between Sayed and Christian is the most insulting piece of bullshit on British television right now.

“Insulting to the gay community, insulting to the Muslim community, and in the meantime, terrifying every gay child that is struggling to come to terms with their sexuality , and the prospect of coming out to their family, whatever their religion.

“So far, Christian has been beaten up 3 times that I can remember, and is now accused of child molestation. Sayed has been disowned and is now mistreating his partner shamelessly, presumably because he is now a confused bisexual after all.

“Total fucking bullshit.”

Michael described modern soap operas as being hugely influential in society, with a power to positively reflect “race and integration”.
He praised the actors, John Partridge and Marc Elliott who portray an openly gay man and a Muslim who struggled to come to terms with his sexuality, eventually leaving his wife.

At the local boxing club, 15-year-old Ben Mitchell, played by Joshua Pascoe, confides to Partridge’s character that he is gay.

The younger character’s feelings initiate the storyline referenced by George Michael.

The star continued: “Life in London is a wonderful thing for so many gay and lesbian people these days, and I know that there are gay people involved in the writing of the show but they really need to rethink their approach to gay ‘issues’. They are scaring the shit out of children everywhere.”

He concluded by saying that he hoped for the sakes of the actors and for “the sake of gay kids in this country, regardless of their cultural background, that Eastenders gets a clue and begins to acknowledge their responsibility and provides us with gay characters that have no reason to live in fear. We do exist.”

George Michael phones Loose Women - 18th March 2011 - Comic Relief

George Michael denies love split on TV

George Michael denies split from Kenny Goss

[Source]

George Michael denies split from Kenny Goss as he sets the record straight live on TV and Twitter

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 8:00 PM on 7th March 2011

George Michael has angrily denied claims that he has split from partner Kenny Goss after 15 years together.

It was reported this morning that the couple had parted because of the singer's issues with drugs.
But the singer hit back at the reports and said the paper that made the claim was 'lying through its teeth'.

Still together: George Michael has denied reports that he and Kenny Goss have split after 15 years

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A source claimed in The Sun today that Michael's dope-smoking and his drug-driving conviction last year were the reasons for the split.

They said: 'There are only so many second chances Kenny was prepared to give. He's been loyal to George from day one, but that hasn't always been reciprocated. It's really sad, but hopefully this could be the wake-up call George needs.'

But Michael denied the pair had gone their separate ways and took to his Twitter page to set the record straight.

The story was being discussed on Channel 5 chat show The Wright Stuff this morning, which prompted Michael to write: 'Would someone Tweet 5wrightstuff and tell them the Sun is lying through its teeth as usual.'

He also rang the show personally to deny the story and let his fans know that he and Kenny were still very much an item and suggestions they had split were 'untrue'.

He said: 'It is complete bull**** about myself and Kenny breaking up. Don't believe this story.

All is well: George Michael, pictured outside the BBC Radio Two studios last week, said the newspaper was 'lying through its teeth'

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'We've had our problems but he's never had a problem with my lifestyle. I love Kenny very much.'
And his fans came out in full support of the singer as they tweeted back saying they were on his side and were relieved to hear they hadn't split.

Last week, Michael opened up about his drug abuse and his conviction in an interview being broadcast this week on BBC Radio 2's Chris Evans Breakfast Show.

He said: 'By the time I went to court, I knew this wasn't going to happen again. I knew I was going to lose my licence.

'I was assured I wasn't going to prison but I thought I was, and like I said, it was much easier to take because I felt it was deserved.

'This was a hugely shameful thing to have done repeatedly, so karmically I felt like I had a bill to pay. I went to prison, I paid my bill.'

Asked for his reaction to being sentenced after admitting driving while unfit through drugs and possessing two cannabis cigarettes, he said: 'Remarkably enough, I know people must think it was a really horrific experience - it's so much easier to take any form of punishment if you believe you actually deserve it, and I did.'

Candid: George was totally honest about his time in prison for his interview with Chris Evans, which is being broadcast on his Radio 2 breakfast show this week

---

He said he was sent to prison for two reasons - because it was his second conviction for the same offence, despite the fact no cannabis was involved on the first occasion, and also because: 'I'm George Michael and the poster boy for cannabis.'

The singer, whose real name is Georgios Panayiotou, was initially taken to Pentonville Prison in north London, where former inmates include Oscar Wilde and Boy George - who was one of many fellow celebrities to write to him in prison.

Michael revealed he has not spoken to Sir Elton John 'for a long time', but said: 'He wrote to me in the nick which was nice, and so did Boy George write me a lovely letter.'

Wham! The Snappy Snaps store in
Hampstead, north London, which
George Michael crashed into in his
Range Rover in July

He added: 'And I got a letter from Paul McCartney which was lovely.'

Describing his first night in the prison, he said: 'Well, it was Pentonville. It wasn't a weekend break, put it that way.

'What did I think? Well, I didn't feel sorry for myself. I thought, 'Oh my God, this place is absolutely filthy, because it was Pentonville.

'I just thought, you get your head down.'

He dismissed reports he had been distressed during his time at Pentonville, adding: '"Those stories of me crying are rubbish. They wish that was me, but that's not me.'

Michael was later downgraded from a category C prisoner to category D and transferred to Highpoint Prison, an open prison in Suffolk.

His last night in prison was 'great', with 'every single staff member' and prisoner getting his autograph - some of them on headed prison paper.

He described signing a guitar for one man, saying: 'So this guy comes in with a guitar and he said he wanted me to write the date.

'So I asked the date, and he said it's the 10th of the 10th of the 10th. And I just thought "that's so fitting".

'It's kind of like the clock rolling round to the end of something, tomorrow I start again.'

Michael has recorded a cover of True Faith by New Order for this year's Comic Relief appeal, which will be released on March 13. It is his first single since serving the prison sentence.

The first part of Chris Evans's interview was broadcast on his breakfast show at 8am today, with the second part due at the same time tomorrow.

George Michael released from jail

11 October 2010 Last updated at 13:55 GMT

Free George Michael 'wants to start again'

George Michael emerged from his home earlier to speak with reporters

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.

The singer served the initial days of his sentence in Pentonville Prison before being transferred to Highpoint Prison in Suffolk.

While serving his time in jail, Michael - real name Georgios Panayiotou - issued a statement to say he had received "no special treatment of any kind".

The star, who had a previous conviction for a similar offence, was told there was no option apart from a custodial sentence when he appeared at Highbury Magistrates Court last month.

Following his release on Monday, Michael left his home to tell reporters he was "going to try to stop running away from you guys".

"I'm coming out here on my own so that you'll realise I just want to start again," he said, adding they would "see him about".

"By the way, I've just thought of a really good idea for a song," he added. "It's going to be nothing to do with prison."

Michael first shot to fame as half of pop duo Wham! before embarking on a successful career as a solo artist.

Start Quote

I'm coming out here on my own so that you'll realise I just want to start again

George Michael

End Quote

[source]

George Michael released from jail after 4 weeks

– Mon Oct 11, 11:25 am ET

LONDON – George Michael has regained his freedom.
The wayward singer was released from jail Monday after serving almost four weeks for driving under the influence of drugs.
Michael thanked those who had supported him while he was jailed and said outside his north London home: "I just want to start again."
The former Wham! singer received an eight-week sentence on Sept. 14 for crashing his car into a London photo shop in July while high on prescription drugs and marijuana.
The judge ordered Michael to serve four weeks of the sentence in prison and the rest on parole.
The musician, whose hits include "Faith" and "Freedom," also received a 1,250 pound (about $2,000) fine and lost his driver's license for five years. [source]


AP – British singer George Michael outside his house in Highgate, London, after being released from prison, …

George Michael jailed for eight weeks...

I'm really sorry. Love him

[Source]

George Michael sobs as he is branded a drug addict and sent to prison for smashing car while high on cannabis
By Tom Kelly
Last updated at 1:37 AM on 15th September 2010

George Michael wept yesterday as a judge told him he was a drug addict - and jailed him for crashing his range rover into a shop.

The singer was sentenced to eight weeks for driving after taking a 'dangerous and unpredictable' cocktail of cannabis and anti-anxiety prescription medication - but may be out of jail in a month.

A district judge told the 47-year-old he was being locked up because of his failure to tackle his illegal drug habit, despite previous ' wake-up calls' and convictions.

Jailed: George Michael arriving at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court yesterday

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Michael was a 'risk to a public', he said. 'Despite the resources at your command it does not appear that you took proper steps to deal with what's clearly an addiction to cannabis.'

Michael, who has blamed his downfall on his mother's death from cancer in 1997, wept as he was led to the cells. His partner Kenny Goss also sobbed.

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Michael was taken to Pentonville jail, North London - a category B jail housing muggers, sex offenders and drug dealers. Boy George and Pete Doherty were previous inmates.

The singer found fame in the duo Wham!, but despite 11 UK number ones in his career, it never recovered from his 1998 conviction for 'engaging in a lewd act' in a Los Angeles public toilet.

He has since had cautions for cannabis and crack cocaine possession and a previous conviction for driving while unfit through drugs.

Michael admitted crashing his Range Rover while under the influence of cannabis

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The singer was found slumped in his car in the early hours of July 4

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In his latest fall from grace, he smashed into a Snappy Snaps photography shop in Hampstead, North London, in his £80,000 4X4, in the early hours of July 4.

Police found him at the wheel 'spaced out and sweating profusely', prosecutor Jonathan Efemini told Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court.

Michael initially said he had not crashed and gave his name only as 'George'.

In a police interview, Michael admitted smoking a 'small quantity' of cannabis the previous night and said he also took a newly prescribed sedative and anti-anxiety pill, Amitriptyline.

He told police he decided to drive between his two London homes in Highgate and Hampstead and forgot he had taken the sedative.

The front page of today's Sun
newspaper

Michael had been warned he could face jail when he admitted driving while unfit through drugs and possessing two cannabis cigarettes at a hearing last month.

Yesterday, sitting in the dock of a packed court, the singer spoke only once to agree with the clerk that he would prefer to use his stage name George Michael rather than his real name of Georgios Panayiotou.

'I think that would be easier,' he explained with a forced grin.

Mukul Chawla QC, for Michael, told the court the singer felt 'shame and horror'. 'The prospect he could have put anyone else in danger is an appalling prospect to him.'

The QC asked for him to be spared jail, explaining that the crash happened as Michael struggled to turn his life around after years hooked on prescription medication to deal with his anxiety, depression and insomnia.

But District Judge John Perkins told the singer: 'Your record is of concern. It shows cautions for possession of cannabis twice in 2006, a conviction at Brent Magistrates in 2007 when you were disqualified from driving for two years for your first offence of driving whilst unfit, and again a caution for possession both of class A and class C drugs in September 2008.

Today's Daily Mirror (left) devoted two pages to the singer being imprisoned and (right) another of the Sun's headlines describing how Michael reacted on being sent to Pentonville prison along with 'I'm Your Van'

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The Daily Star's coverage of the singer being jailed included this headline

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Mukul Chawla QC, for Michael, told the court the singer felt 'shame and horror'. 'The prospect he could have put anyone else in danger is an appalling prospect to him.'

The QC asked for him to be spared jail, explaining that the crash happened as Michael struggled to turn his life around after years hooked on prescription medication to deal with his anxiety, depression and insomnia.

But District Judge John Perkins told the singer: 'Your record is of concern. It shows cautions for possession of cannabis twice in 2006, a conviction at Brent Magistrates in 2007 when you were disqualified from driving for two years for your first offence of driving whilst unfit, and again a caution for possession both of class A and class C drugs in September 2008.

'You refer in the probation report to that conviction being a wake-up call.

'Despite the resources at your command, it does not appear that you took proper steps to deal with what's clearly an addiction to cannabis.

'That was a mistake which puts you and, on this occasion, the public at risk.'

He sentenced him to eight weeks, banned him from driving for five years and ordered him to pay a £1,250 fine.

Upset: Michael's boyfriend Kenny Goss leaving court after the sentencing

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Distraught: One George Michael fan wipes away tears outside the court

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A Serco security van takes George Michael from Highbury Corner Magistrates'
Court to begin his eight-week sentence

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Earlier during the day, Mr Chawla said Michael had tried to turn his life around since the incident and had started writing songs again.

'For the first time in many years he has started writing again. His creativity, so long hampered by his drug dependence, is re-emerging.'

He had also personally paid for repairs at the Snappy Snaps shop in Hampstead near his home, his lawyer said.

The star had admitted possessing class B drugs and driving while unfit through drugs at a hearing last month.

Michael had been on his way home from a Gay Pride parade and two police officers found him apparently unconscious behind the wheel.

An artist's impression showing Michael in the dock in Highbury Corner
Magistrates' Court in north London yesterday

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The Snappy Snaps in Hampstead after the accident

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Prosecutor Penny Fergusson told the court last month that Michael appeared to try to get the car back in gear when he was roused by one officer banging on his window.

She said: 'Mr Michael looked at the officer with his eyes wide open and the officers could see his pupils were dilated. They opened the door and could see he was dripping with sweat.'

The court heard Michael did not initially respond to police and when asked what his name was, replied: 'George.'

Ms Fergusson said Michael was confused and when told he had crashed into a shop, added: 'No I didn't. I didn't crash into anything.'

When he got out of the car the officers found he was soaked with sweat, breathing heavily and had to be held up.

Crush: The scene outside the court in north London as George Michael is led out

of court

---

Michael was handcuffed, arrested and driven back to Hampstead police station where he failed a test to find whether he was fit to drive.

He had not been drinking but was found to be carrying two cannabis cigarettes. Tests on a sample of his blood showed he had chemicals linked to the drug in his system.

The prosecutor added: 'He could not remember the route he took or crashing his car. He just remembers the police officer knocking at his window.'

Michael admitted smoking a 'small quantity' of cannabis about 10pm the previous evening and said he also took a newly-prescribed sedative to help him sleep.

He told police he decided to drive between his homes in Highgate and Hampstead to meet a friend on the spur of the moment and forgot he had taken the sedative. Michael revealed at the end of last month that he was having professional help and 'counselling' for drugs. In a shock statement, he revealed how he secretly went on a 14-day detox programme the day after the July crash. Since then, he has been undergoing drug counselling 'several times' a week, he told fans in an open letter. The admision was the first time the star has tried to explain his increasingly erratic behaviour in recent years. He blamed his behaviour on ‘personal problems’ which had ‘clearly got the better’ of him - and admitted that ‘pride’ had stopped him seeking help in the past. It is believed the personal problems Michael was referring to stem from the deaths of his late boyfriend Anselmo Feleppa from an AIDS-related brain hemorrhage in 1993 and then his mother Lesley Angold Harrison, an English dancer who died from cancer in 1997. Until this year, Michael had ignored all previous appeals from concerned friends such as Sir Elton John and Bono to quit smoking marjuana. He had even appeared on television programme The South Bank Show smoking the drug. Michael, who was being filmed during his greatest hits tour, said at the time: 'It's a great drug, but obviously it's not very healthy. You can't afford to smoke it if you've got anything to do. Anything at all would be foolish.'

THE SINGER'S RAP SHEET

SEPTEMBER 2010 Crashed Range Rover into shop in Hampstead in the early hours on his way back from the Gay Pride parade. Arrested and tested for drugs. JAILED AUGUST 2009 Arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drink or drugs after crashing into the back of a lorry on the A34 in Berkshire. Breathalysed and held for almost five hours. NO ACTION SEPTEMBER 2008 Held for possession of Class A and Class C drug after being caught by police in a public toilet on Hampstead Heath, a notorious meeting place for gay men. CAUTIONED OCTOBER 2006 Found slumped at the wheel of his Mercedes in north London. Pleaded guilty to driving while unfit. Banned for two years and handed 100 hours' community service. Also cautioned for possession of cannabis. BAN, COMMUNITY SERVICE APRIL 2006 Allegedly crashed his Mercedes into three parked cars near his north London home. Interviewed under caution but not charged. NO ACTION FEBRUARY 2006 Arrested for possession of a Class C drug after being found asleep at the wheel at Hyde Park Corner. Later said it was 'my own stupid fault as usual'. CAUTIONED 1998 Arrested by U.S. police for 'engaging in a lewd act' in a public toilet in California. FINE, COMMUNITY SERVICE

He added that it could be a 'terrible, terrible drug' and that it could 'chill you out to such a degree that you could lose your ambitions,' but denied having a drug problem on camera.

In a later interview with on the BBC's Desert Island Discs, he admitted his cannabis use had become a 'problem.' He added: 'Absolutely I would like to take less, no question.'

But he added that he did not think his habit was 'getting in the way of my life in any way.'

However, he was at least believed to have cut down his habit from 25 marijuana joints a day a few years ago to eight a day now.

In an interview last December, he said: 'I was probably more stoned in those days. I was existing on a balance of Starbucks and weed. I probably do about seven or eight a day now.’

George Michael December Song Live!

Wow!

December Song - longer clip

December Song

Wow! George Michael's new songs! I really am happy!
I've already pre-ordered it. I can't wait!

1. December Song (I Dreamed Of Christmas)
2. Jingle (A Musical Interlewd)
3. Edith & The King Pin
4. Praying For Time

Genius

I can do nothing but refer to George Michael. George Michael cannot be removed from my music life. From the very beginning of time when he started his career as a member of Wham!, I've been a big fan of him. After they split up and George started solo career, I had become more enthusiastic.
I guess he has a lot of problems with his private life, but it doesn't matter. I love his music and him. He is genius in music.

His single "Jesus to a Child" is a tribute to Anselmo Feleppa, then partner, and he always dedicates it to him before performing it live. Sadly I haven't had any opportunities being at his concert.

"Jesus to a Child"