George Michael News

Since the release of the new version of George Michael’s “Fantasy,” Nile Rodgers has been posting tidbits on Twitter.

One of the most intriguing is the following:

We were planning an entire new album but this was the 1st thing @GeorgeMichael wanted done and the reason will become obvious very soon. https://t.co/L5G9WSjxrj

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) September 7, 2017

It also looks like David Austin was instrumental in getting “Fantasy” released for all of George Michael’s Lovelies to hear.

Thx @david__austin 4 saying,”Nile, George called you because he wanted your take on it. I promise you he’d love it.”#Fantasy @GeorgeMichael

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) September 7, 2017

I can’t give enough love to the unsung hero of @GeorgeMichael #fantasy @David_Austin He got me to see the world through #Yogs eyes. https://t.co/bahtTtp3Uw

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) September 7, 2017

Thx for the props. I must thank @david__austin for helping me see the situation through @GeorgeMichael eyes. I was not going to turn this in https://t.co/1zU4LxNHaC

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) September 8, 2017

Here is one with which all George Michael fans would agree:

For me too. I love @georgemichael. Yeah I said it. He’s f-ing amazing https://t.co/e61DnHaid6

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) September 9, 2017

And here is one just for the George Michael fans out there:

@georgemichael fans really move me to the depths of introspection. I love you passion. @nilerodgers https://t.co/I4QTIoUtDu

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) September 9, 2017

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I have to admit I was conflicted when I heard the “new” George Michael song was “Fantasy.”

“Fantasy” is one of my favorite George Michael songs — maybe even my favorite of all time.

The song was updated by producer and musician Nile Rodgers.

The song was on the B-side “Freedom! ’90” originally.

On the plus side, it’s still George singing, but to be honest, the original was better.

“Fantasy” is taken from Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged and will be out October 20th. Please consider buying it from our sponsors Amazon or from Amazon UK.

Take a listen for yourself.

What did you think of the remix of “Fantasy”? Tell us in the comments below!

As was hinted at yesterday in the letter from George’s family, a new, posthumous George Michael song will be released. The song will premiere on BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show with Chris Evans tomorrow morning (September 7). The statement reads:

“Sony Music proudly presents a single by the late George Michael. Tune in to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 tomorrow, Thursday 7th September at 9am for the first play.”

George was working on at least two songs before his untimely death on December 25, 2016.

One was with Nile Rodgers who said today on Twitter:

Getting a pedicure and radio’s pumping @georgemichael #coincedence hmm? @nilerodgers

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) September 6, 2017

Nile Rodgers also retweeted:

Pretty sure it’s @nilerodgers‘ remix of Fantasy which will (a) be fantastic and (b) stretch the definition of “brand new”. https://t.co/uLVnsRFSjI

— Mark Savage (@mrdiscopop) September 6, 2017

Do you think George would have wanted this song released? Let us know in the comments section.

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In the past few weeks, quite a few musicians have been talking about George Michael’s influence. Here are a few of the comments:

Elton John opens up about George Michael’s shock death:

I haven’t had the chance to play “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” in England since George died.

It is such a big part of him and a big part of me.

Losing him was one of the most devastating things that had happened to me for a long long time.

Ronan Keating has revealed the heartbreak he felt in December when his friend and mentor George Michael died.

I got to know George 20 years ago and I grew up listening to George Michael.

 
He was my musical mentor and he’s the reason I’m a singer today… He’s always been a hero of mine.
 
It’s still very raw for me that he’s gone, I still can’t believe it.

Alison Moyet has paid tribute to George Michael performing his song “Jesus to a Child” on BBC Radio 2.

Chatting to Jo Wiley, Moyet said she wasn’t close friends with George Michael, but they used to bump into each other regularly, and at one point she was lined up to sing some backing vocals for a project of his.

“He was just such a kind and unpretentious person,” Moyet said.

Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste described George Michael’s influence:

While George Michael was and will remain one of the biggest pop stars in the world, he enabled me and gave me the strength to be a teeny tiny gay indie public figure, and for that, I am so grateful for George Michael and all he has given me and the world.

Mike Brown recalls his 120 gigs with George Michael and describes him as “amazing” in the studio. It’s about 40 minutes into the interview. (Thanks, Sebastian!)

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Geri Horner’s new single, “Angels in Chains”, came from her grief after George Michael died on Christmas day.

“I didn’t know quite what to do with my feelings so I put it in a song, which became ‘Angels In Chains’,” she said. “I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to work on this record with Chris Porter and the same team George had hand picked for his own projects. I am first and foremost a George Michael fan, so to be in the same studio with these amazingly gifted artists who have put their stamp on so many of my favorite records was a real privilege for me.”

She worked with George Michael’s extended musical family: Chris Cameron (Michael’s musical director), guitarist Phil Palmer and back up singers Shirley Lewis, Lucy Jules and Jay Henry for her tribute single.

She added: “This is our way of saying goodbye to our friend and music idol, and I hope George’s fans enjoy this as much as we have making it.”

“I am a George fan. I was a George Michael fan from the beginning. That was first. And so I want to share that with other George Michael fans,” Geri Horner also said.

The track is intended as a “beautiful, healing message” to anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one. In the process I found how healing making this record had been not only for me but also for everyone involved,” she said. “This is our way of saying goodbye to our friend and music idol, and I hope George’s fans enjoy this as much as we have making it.”

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Bonhams in London will be auctioning off some iconic George Michael items on June 28, 2017.

George Michael: The black leather biker jacket worn in the ‘Faith’ video, 1987

George Michael: The black leather biker jacket worn in the ‘Faith’ video,

1987, labelled La Rocka! Di Londres, front left breast pocket with white BSA logo, back with chromed studs and pale orange rhinestones, lettered in white Rockers Revenge and with green and gold wreath and red and white BSA logo, the lower left sleeve signed by George in silver marker, accompanied by a poster of George Michael wearing an identical jacket (2)

FOOTNOTES

• Donated by George to a Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy charity auction hosted by Christie’s South Kensington, Sunday 31st January 1993 (Lot 35), held at the HMV shop, Oxford Street, London. Sold with a letter from Christie’s Archives, 2016.

George Michael: A pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses 

George Michael: A pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, with brown leather bound frames, with a letter concerning the provenance from George Michael’s office

FOOTNOTES

• The vendor acquired these sunglasses from a Starlight Charity auction ‘Night Of The Stars Ball’ in 2003. The letter from Michael’s PA states that they were worn in his music video for ‘Faith’ however these can not be matched to those seen in the video.

George Michael: A jacket by Jean Paul Gaultier worn in the video for ‘I Want Your Sex’, 1987

George Michael: A jacket by Jean Paul Gaultier worn in the video for ‘I Want Your Sex’, 1987, in dark navy blue, collarless, double-breasted with decorative, diamond-shaped metal Gaultier buttons to front and cuffs, two hip and one breast pockets, single inside pocket, black/purple lining to shoulders, labelled Jean Paul Gaultier Homme Pour Gibo

FOOTNOTES

• Donated by George to one of Elton John’s Out Of The Closet charity sales.

Wham!: An autographed copy of the album ‘Fantastic’, CBS Records, 1983

Wham!: An autographed copy of the album ‘Fantastic’, CBS Records, 1983, signed by both George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley in black ink on the front cover, accompanied by a copy of their single ‘Bad Boys’, and a letter concerning the provenance from the BBC (3)

FOOTNOTES

• The vendor of this lot won these items on the 17th October 1983 after writing into a Wham! competition at the BBC.

George Michael: Handwritten notes relating to his lawsuit with Sony, circa 1992

George Michael: Handwritten notes relating to his lawsuit with Sony, circa 1992, comprising a yellow, lined notepad with five pages written by George in blue and black ballpoints, with many deletions/amendments, reading: …who quite frankly, have little understanding of the creative process. With C.B.S….I felt that I was believed in…as…a long-term artist…whereas Sony…appear to see artists as little more than software…They do not understand that musicians do not come in regimented shapes and sizes…but…are individuals who…change and evolve along with their audiences. Sony…obviously view this as a great inconvenience…they have developed…hard sell, high profile sales techniques…which, in the short-term at least, are very lucrative for them, and the simple truth is that if George Michael, or any other artist for that matter, doesn’t wish to…conform to…Sony’s…current ideas, there are…plenty of hungry…young acts who will., the ‘Expert Perforated Pad’, 5in x 8in (13cm x 20.5cm)

FOOTNOTES

• Provenance: Andros Georgiou, George Michael’s cousin and former head of Aegean Records, George’s record label.

George Michael: A black leather coat worn at the 1994 MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony

George Michael: A black leather coat worn at the 1994 MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony, three-quarter length, one inside pocket with zip, one breast and two hip pockets, single vent, with faux fur-covered collar, labelled John Richmond Man, with the original ‘Out Of The Closet’ sales tag

FOOTNOTES

• Originally purchased at one of Elton John’s Out Of The Closet sales. Worn by George when performing ‘Jesus To A Child’ at the MTV Europe Music Awards, held in Berlin, 24th November 1994.

George Michael: An autographed publicity photograph, 1990s

George Michael: An autographed publicity photograph,

1990s, black and white, signed by George in silver pen, 8in x 10in (20.5cm x 25.5cm)