I still miss our George so much. I think I was in some kind of shock when I found out he died right at the end of a fuckery of a year for celebrity deaths, sandwiched between the news of Carrie Fisher becoming gravely ill and then her death followed by her mother’s equally heartbreaking death, it all seemed quite unbelievable. George was local to my where my parents’ live, his house only down the road from them. I was staying at my parents’ for Christmas when he died, so it took on a slightly surreal feeling that it happened not far from where I was. However, let’s not mull on the sad times now. George Michael was a phenomenal talent, the perfect popstar not to mention a beautiful person who was generous with both his time and money for people less fortunate than himself. Today, would have been his 55th Birthday, so to celebrate both him and his music, I’ve put together a list of my top 15 George Michael songs (it was going to be a top 10, but I just couldn’t narrow it down to that). Whilst, I do love the Older album, somehow not one track from it made my top 15. They’re just sitting on the outside of it in my top 20 (if I’d done one). As per, there’s a Spotify list at the end.
15. Amazing (from the album Patience, 2004, reached no.4)
14. Kissing a Fool (from the album Faith, 1998, reached no.18)
13. Too Funky (from the album Red Hot + Dance, 1992, reached no.4)
12. One More Try (from the album Faith, 1998, reached no.8)
11. Waiting for the Day (from the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. I, 1990, reached no.23)
10. Heal the Pain (from the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. I, 1991, reached no.31)
9. I Knew You Were Waiting (from the album Aretha, 1987, reached no.1)
8. As (from the album Ladies & Gentleman: The Best of George Michael, 1999, reached no.4)
7. A Different Corner (from the album Music from the Edge of Heaven, 1986, reached no.1)
6. Father Figure (from the album Faith, 1988, reached no.11)
5. Careless Whisper (from the album Make It Big, 1984, reached no.1)
4. Praying for Time (from the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. I, 1990, reached no.6)
3. Faith (from the album Faith, 1987, reached no.1)
2. Freedom ’90 (from the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. I, 1990, reached no. 28)
1. They Won’t Go When I Go (from the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. I, 1990, wasn’t released as a single). The most perfect cover version. This song show cases George’s vocals like no other song does. I still get chills every time I listen to this song. Whilst it’s originally a Stevie Wonder song, George absolutely (to borrow a phrase from Simon Cowell) makes it his own. Breathtaking.
The one that almost made it: Mothers Pride (from the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. I, 1991, didn’t chart in the UK, but got to no.46 in the US)
I absolutely love George’s cover of Queen’s Somebody to Love that he performed at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992. Here is a video clip of him rehearsing it (with another great British talent that we lost in 2016- David Bowie watching). I think the video nicely demonstrates George’s sensational talent as a singer and performer. He makes it all look effortless. It is worth watching from beginning to end. It never fails to make me feel emotional. It was released as part of the Five Live EP (a collection of his performances from the concert) and reached no.1 in 1993.
George had a sense of humour too. Here’s a clip of him sending himself up for Comic Relief:
And here’s a clip of him mocking himself again for Extras:
I’d love to know which George Michael track is your favourite, so let me know in the comments section below.
For other musical artist top tunes click on the link:
Beatles Björk Blur The Cure Kylie Minogue Madonna Prince Pulp Suede Tori Amos
Just Another Blog From a Woman 
I think Father Figure or Freedom are my favorites. He was still so young!! Makes me sad.
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Makes me sad too. I loved him so much musically, but he was also the kind of pop star that I wanted to be best buddies with too.
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He was such a talent. I will still turn Freedom ’90 up way loud when I’m cleaning the house. I remember the first time I saw that video and heard the song. Blew me away. Why do all the good ones go too soon?
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It’s so true, Christine. Yet, Trump? Still going strong. The c*nt.
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It’s always that way, isn’t it?
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What a legend. Xx
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He really was x
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He was one of my favorites!
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Mine too 😦
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Ah George. He was so intertwined with many artists I admired growing up, such as Freddie and Elton. He was a complete and unique talent. Such a fabulous body of work too, picking just one is hard. Jesus to a Child though, I’m shivering now just thinking about it ❤
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Oh man- I love that song too. It almost made my top 15. So bloody hard making this list. It should’ve been a top 30. And then on top of all these great George tunes, there was Wham…
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Fastlove is probably my favourite, but it is very difficult to pick just one GM track…
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I love Fastlove too! You’re right, it is so hard picking a favourite. Doing this list gave me such a headache.
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These are some good picks, but my favourite will always be the duet he did with Paul Young: Every Time You Go Away. Such a great combination of voices!
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There he is, lovely man: https://youtu.be/ekIw4h8L-po
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I was just watching this myself!
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Too funky and careless whisper are my two favs! But I loved his version of papa was a rolling stone! He was a gorgeous man! And he was a local boy to me growing up! Madness!
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Oh yes, I loved his cover of Papa. He knew how to cover a song. He was indeed such a gorgeous man 😔
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He was just wonderful…
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He really was 💔
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I think Amazing is my favorite because he was so happy then. He his big interview with Oprah, here in the states are the horrible scandal and cleared the air and it has always held memories of him being happy with his new love and life at the time. He’d come through the fire, I’d thought. It also makes me cry. Also Fastlove is in there too.
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Oh that’s so lovely though. To think he had that happiness. I don’t think I watched that Oprah interview! I must see if I can find it. Fastlove is an excellent song too.
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Yes, that episode is around. I watched it after his death as well. The quality of the video wasn’t great but it lovely seeing him smiling.
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Wonderful. Thanks Trudy x
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Oh George is such a miss. What a loss to the music world! He was incredibly talented and by all accounts a genuinely lovely wonderful man. He did so many charitable things too. I love your selection of songs I just can’t choose a favourite.
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It’s quite hard to pick a favourite, isn’t it? He’s so very missed. More pop stars like him please x
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Yeah his death was a total shocker, he was so talented!! That video of his rehearsal was fantastic!! I’ve never seen it – wow! I loved all his songs and danced my heart out when young to his Wham songs too 🙂 I did love Faith though 🙂 Still can’t believe he’s dead 😦
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The rehearsal is amazing, isn’t it? Oh I loved Wham too. He was SUCH a good songwriter x
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In Form 2, we had a poster of him on our bulletin board. We adored him and felt his passing so profoundly. “Jesus to a Child” is my favourite (and it’s hard to pick a favourite from his body of work because he was awesome). Such a beauty! Such a talent!
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Oh Jesus to a Child is lovely. That almost made my list. He donated all the money he made from that record to a children’s charity. He really was wonderful.
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It was a hard year and it seems to continue. I remember WHAM – wasn’t that the duo he was in? Hard to pick a song. enjoyed the post and memories.
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Yes Wham were brilliant. He wrote so many great pop tunes.
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I love father figure… well I love that more than careless whisper since theyre the only two I know on the list🙈
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Ha don’t worry about it. Father Figure is a fantastic tune.
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He could hold a tune that’s for sure. A nice post thank you and Careless Whisper is my favourite I think.
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He definitely could. Cheers Ellen.
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I’m 99% sure that WHAM! was the first music poster that made me feel all tingly. And, “I Want Your Sex” was definitely a teenage moment for me–and I don’t mean that in a gross way. I just mean I couldn’t believe people acted like that. How naive of me. But how delightful is George over the years. Not a perfect person, but a talented one.
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No he wasn’t, bless him, but he had the biggest heart. Wham and George were so sexual. It certainly was all a bit eye opening. Plus he broke so many hearts when he finally came out 💔
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Love how you read our musical minds Hayley! I loved George and his music is still fab.
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Aah thanks Lucy. His music definitely hasn’t dated, has it?
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Freedom, Faith….you name it. His voice was awesome. Listening to him cover Somebody to Love really showcased it. I think he’s the only one that could have done the tribute for that song.
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Absolutely agree. Nobody else could have covered Somebody to Love and done it justice the way George did. I think that can also be said for his Stevie Wonder covers. It says so much about his talent as a musician and singer.
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I still can’t believe he is gone – and I can’t choose! Just too many that have so many memories….
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I have devoted this week’s Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs to BUYB and have shared your link! Claire x
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Thank you Claire 💋
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Careless whisper and Amazing would be 2 of my favourites. I felt like it was some cruel joke when I found out and still miss his presence in the world.
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I still miss him too. Such a beautiful soul.
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I do too. He was amazing and I don’t think there will ever be a man like him.
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Kissing a Fool is such a fantastic track. I loved it from the first time I heard it, but I have to give a special mention to I’m Your Man!
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Hello! How are you? I’ve seen you’ve been busy on my blog, so I shall go through all your comments now. Kissing a Fool is such a great track. Hey, I should do a Wham Top 10!
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Good thanks, just been so busy and haven’t had time for blogging! Catching up with all your posts again which is great. You’ve still been busy since I last visited so lots to read! Ray of Sunshine would be in my top 3 Wham songs.
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