My Top 3 Songs, Plus the Important People and Stories You Need to Know
25 years ago, George Michael released his bold, beautiful, and somber album, Older. It turned out to be his best and most personal album. The first single, “Jesus to a Child” (Jan. ’96), was an unlikely choice for a first single. It was a number one hit in the UK, but I think many people felt the way I did. We liked it, but we wanted the glitzy, glamorous George! Fortunately, the following single “Fastlove,” delivered. I purchased the CD as soon as I could, and it quickly became (and still is) my favorite George Michael album. Later, I will deep dive into my three favorite tracks and talk about their meanings and the important people behind them .
First, Who is George Michael?
He really needs no introduction, but for the sake of the gen z readers (and a few millennials), let me give you a quickie. George Michael (real name Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou) was born in June 1963, in London. In 1981, he and his best friend, Andrew Ridgeley, formed Wham! The duo created two very successful albums, Fantastic (1983) and Make it Big (1984). After just two amazing albums, George decided to go solo. In 1987, at the age of 24, he released his first solo album. Faith turned this Tiger Beat dream into a mega star, on par with the likes of Michael Jackson, Prince, and Madonna.
George released a total of five solo studio albums, a few compilations, charity recordings, and performed around the world many times over. Unfortunately, it all ended with his untimely death on Christmas 2016. George was highly regarded in the industry and so loved by his millions of fans for his incredible talent, charm, intelligence, integrity, and bravery. During the past decade, the world experienced the loss of many legendary artists. George’s death is the one that left a hole in my heart.
About the Album…
Older was released 25 years ago, in May of 1996. It was the first release under his own label, Aegean Records, which he formed after ending his strained relationship with Sony Music. Although Older didn’t sell as well in the United States as his previous work, it did achieve platinum status (over a million in sales). In the UK, all six singles form Older hit the top three, breaking several records. It is still one of the most successful recordings in the UK.
On Older, we hear George stretching his artistry into newer territory. His previous work was often a very stylized fusion of R&B, pop, and rock. For Older, he opted for a more sophisticated and mature sound to reflect his growth as a person and as an artist. But he didn’t leave his R&B and pop roots behind. Instead, he incorporated them with jazz and bossa nova and favored real instruments over synthesizers and drum machines. The result is a dynamic album that is, at different times, groovy, heartbreaking, and introspective. And always beautiful.
Older is Dedicated to Two People
The first dedication is to Antonio Carlos Jobim, who “changed the way I listened to music.” Jobim, who died two years before Older’s release, was a Brazilian musician, composer, and singer. He is sometimes referred to as the “father of bossa nova.” Although Milton Banana invented the distinctive beat, Jobim brought bossa nova to international recognition through his work with American jazz musicians in the late 50s and 60s.
The other dedication is to Anselmo Feleppa, who “changed the way I look at my life.” Anselmo, his first and true love, caught George’s attention during his performance at Rock in Rio in 1991. They locked eyes during George’s performance and began dating just days after the show. A few months into their relationship they learned of Anselmo’s HIV status. George has said that those months before Anselmo’s diagnosis were the happiest moments of his life. It’s a sark contrast to the days afterwards, which were the scariest. Anselmo succumbed to HIV/AIDS complications in 1993. “Jesus to a Child” and “You Have Been Loved,” are two songs George is the proudest of. Both were written about Anselmo.
The Top 3 Songs You Need to Know
Below I will dive into my top 3 songs from George Michael’s 25-year-old classic. You will learn about their meanings and the important people behind the recordings.
- Fastlove
- Star People
- You Have Been Loved
“Fastlove”
The album’s second single, “Fastlove” (April 96), like fast food, fast fashion, and fast cars, is about instant gratification. It’s about the pursuit of casual hookups for sexual and personal healing. He compares his single life to his friends who have “their ladies, they’re all making babies” while “I just want to have some fun.” He tells you he may not be your Mr. Right, and “fastlove is all that I’ve got on my mind.” Beneath the surface display of hedonism, George recognizes the loneliness that comes with bachelor life. And it’s okay because you can help him fulfill all his needs: “Let’s just say that maybe, you could ease my mind.”
The “Fastlove” Sample
“Fastlove” contains a sample of Patrice Rushen’s 1982 Grammy-nominated hit, “Forget Me Nots.” You may also recognize this sample on Will Smith’s song, “Men in Black,” or Spice Girls’s “If You Wanna Have Some Fun.” Patrice Rushen (https://patricerushen.com/) is an internationally recognized singer, producer, composer, and musician. She is considered one of the world’s top jazz pianists. She was also the first female musical director of the Grammy Awards, from 2004 through 2006. Currently, she is the Chair of the Popular Music Program at The University of Southern California.
George Loves Good Sax and Andy Hamilton Delivers
George features a sax solo on several songs. Aside from “Fastlove,” two others that come immediately to mind are “Careless Whisper” (1987), “Cowboys and Angels” (1991). Andy Hamilton (http://www.andyhamilton.net/) provides the sax solos on this song, as well as “Cowboys and Angels” from 1991’s Listen Without Prejudice. In addition to his session work, he joined George on the road for the Faith Tour, Cover to Cover, 25 Live, and Live in Australia. Beyond his work with George Michael, Hamilton has an impressive history. He was a musician for such legends as Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Duran Duran, Elton John, Pet Shop Boys, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Bon Jovi, Radiohead, and Nina Hagen.
“Fastlove” Co-writer and Producer, Jon Douglas
George wrote, arranged, and produced most of the tracks on Older. “Fastlove”, one of the few exceptions, credits co-producer Jon Douglas. He also co-wrote the amazing track, “Spinning the Wheel”. Also known by his real name, Johnny Douglas, he is not to be confused with the other Johnny Douglas, a composer who died in 2003, or yet another one, the cricketer who died in 1930. This Johnny Douglas also lists Kylie Minogue, All Saints, Tom, Jones, Tina Turner and Bootsy Collins (and many more) on his production and keyboarding resume. Despite his prolific work, Douglas doesn’t have a website or a Wikipedia page. You can find him on Instagram or listen to his production playlist on Spotify.
“Star People”
“Star People” is about celebrities in the fame game for all the wrong reasons. From the top, he also states, “I do not count myself among you, I may be living in a dream… Can’t help but hope there’s a difference between you and me.” He’s living that celebrity dream by fulfilling his own prophecy, not because he’s trying to fill a void with it. He hopes you can see that difference. He speculates that some pursue fame and fortune to make up for their horrible childhoods. They think self-validation, fulfillment, and happiness can be achieved through the money and attention. While those needs are never fully met, they don’t want to face the dirty secret: “It’s a dream, with a nightmare stuck in the middle.” I can be a painful life, but nobody else will care because you have everything you ever wanted.
The Bossa Nova Influence
“Star People” credits instruments to only two people. Chris Cameron plays the Rhodes piano (what is that?) and George Michael plays all other instruments. In addition to singing and songwriting, George also played bass, drums, and percussion for this track. As mentioned earlier, George partially dedicated this album to Jobim, who was one of the pioneers of bossa nova. This song is a clear and perfect example of that influence, incorporating a bossa nova beat to support its jazz and r&b musical styling. You can listen to examples of bossa nova on Youtube, including this one: Bossa Nova Beat 120 BPM.
“You Have Been Loved”
Last, but not least, my third favorite track is “You Have Been Loved,” which is about Anselmo Feleppa. This song views loss from Anselmo’s mother’s perspective and expresses George’s disbelief in God. George questions her steadfast faith: “So if it’s God who took her son, He cannot be the one living in her mind.” In the next lines George recalls her words to him: “take care my love, she said; Don’t think that God is dead… you have been loved.” Her son’s love for George should be all the proof he needs; that love was a blessing. Despite her words, his doubt continues “So what’s the use in pressing palms (i.e. praying), if you won’t keep such love from harm?”
Musician: Chris Cameron on “Star People” and “You Have Been Loved”
Chris Cameron plays piano & Keyboards for “Star People” and “You Have Been Loved”. George and Cameron first first collaborated on the 1984 Wham! hit, “Careless Whisper”. In addition to playing keyboards, piano, arranging and producing, he was George’s musical director for his 25 Live Tour, which took George and his crew through 41 countries, from 2006 to 2008. He was also responsible for musical direction on George’s Faith Tour and his performance on MTV Unplugged.
In addition to his work with George, Cameron served as a musical director for late night talk show hosts Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, and David Letterman. He also recorded with many other influential artists such as Elton John, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks, Jody Watley, and Pet Shop Boys. You can view his impressive accomplishments on his website: https://www.chriscameronmusic.co.uk/
Interesting Side Note:
After the breakup of Wham! and before George’s first solo album, Chris Cameron produced Pepsi & Shirley’s 1987 album, All Right Now. Pepsi & Shirley provided backup vocals for Wham! for their two albums and concert tours. They are prominently featured in the “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” video. In 1999 they briefly reemerged from their hiatus to provide backing vocals for Geri Halliwell’s (of Spice Girls) third number one single in the UK, “Bag it Up.”
Engineer Extraordinaire, Paul Gomersall
First, what does an engineer do?
Engineers are often overlooked, but a great engineer is invaluable to a record. An engineer is responsible for making recordings sound the way they are intended, both from an artistic and technical standpoint. They are the person in the studio who knows what all the buttons, switches, and sliders do on a massive soundboard. They need to know all the technical rules and how to break them.
Paul Gomersall
Gomersall is the studio engineer for most of the songs on Older, including the three in this article. Active since 1983, Gomersall continues to build his resume, which already includes Samantha Fox, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Boy George, Dead or Alive, Guns & Roses, Phil Collins, and Eric Clapton. He currently resides in Australia and specializes in mastering studio recordings and mixing. Check out his discography on his website: http://www.gomersall.com/.
Legacy of Older
25 years ago, George Michael’s released his bold, beautiful, and somber album, Older. It is an underrated work of art. It is undoubtedly his best and most personal work. He channeled his personal struggles and artistic growth to craft an honest and beautiful album, fitting for the debut of his own record label, Aegean Records. Along with the record label, he was breaking new ground with its corresponding website, Aegean.net.
Both the label and website are no longer active, but at the time they were groundbreaking efforts. With Aegean.net, George provided of the first places where artist could sell downloadable music, long before services such as iTunes and Napster came along. Aegean was also a place where independent artists of any medium (musical, literary, or visual) could publish their work without the heavy hand of corporations like Sony Music.
The 25th Anniversary
A 25th anniversary edition of Older is on the way! And I cannot wait to get my hands on it! George’s estate announced the anniversary edition early this year. Unfortunately, they recently announce a delay until 2022, due to the global supply and manufacturing crisis. I am definitely going to preorder as soon as possible, and I highly recommend you do the same! Older is a treasure for the heart and ears.