George Michael was an iconic British musician, singer, and songwriter who left an indelible mark on the music industry. Over the course of his illustrious career, Michael produced some of the most memorable and beloved songs of all time. From his early days with Wham! to his solo career, Michael’s music was marked by his soaring vocals, emotive lyrics, and undeniable talent for crafting catchy hooks and melodies. His music transcended genres, from pop and rock to soul and R&B, and touched the hearts of millions of fans around the world. In this article, we will take a closer look at the top 10 best George Michael songs of all time, exploring the stories behind the music, the lyrics that continue to resonate with fans today, and the enduring legacy of one of the greatest artists of our time.
1. “Freedom! ’90” (1990)
“Freedom! ’90” might be George Michael’s equivalent of David Bowie’s “Changes”: a loud declaration of a desire to keep moving artistically. The video famously featured the leather jacket he’d worn in the Faith era set on fire. Perhaps it was a desire to get the message across that led Michael to set the lyrics to irresistible music. The buoyant house-influenced piano riff and Funky Drummer-sampling beats are very 1990 and so joyous they transcend their era; the gospel-inspired vocals soar, Michael himself sounding impassioned. The result is perfect pop music.
2. “Jesus to a Child” (1996)
Never let it be said that Michael was afraid to take risks: after a three-year absence from the charts, he returned with an astonishing seven-minute meditation on loss and grief. The tune is haunting, the lyrics – which describe Feleppa’s death and pick over the emotional aftermath – genuinely extraordinary.
3. “Everything She Wants” (1984)
If you turned over “Last Christmas,” you found Wham!’s greatest song, evidence of George Michael’s rapid development as a songwriter: six and a half minutes of lyrical misery – its protagonist is trapped in a loveless relationship with a demanding partner – set to sublime synth-funk that has somehow never seemed to date.
4. “Fastlove” (1996)
Michael described “Older” as the sound of him “trying to come out … to my fans.” Nowhere was that clearer than on the superb “Fastlove,” a paean to cruising, underpinned with grief: “I miss my baby.” The music is fabulously poised – subtle and lingering, yet funky, flecked with references to Patrice Rushen’s “Forget Me Nots.”
5. “Careless Whisper” (1984)
The song that first signaled Michael’s solo ambitions dated back to Wham!’s first demo, but you can see how he thought it was a bit luxe and grown-up for their brash image. It’s a brilliant pop song regardless, and, in “guilty feet have got no rhythm,” it boasts one of the great once-heard-never-forgotten lyrics.
6. “You Have Been Loved” (1996)
Ubiquitous on British radio after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the second of “Older’s” great elegies for his late partner, Anselmo Feleppa, concentrates not on Michael’s grief but that of Feleppa’s mother. Hushed and painful, it would be almost too sad to listen to if the melody were not so exquisite.
7. “Last Christmas” (1984)
A song that pulls off Abba’s old trick of masking distraught lyrics – the protagonist’s protestations that he’s found someone else aren’t terribly convincing – with bulletproof ultra-hooky music. If it was easy to write Christmas songs as durable as “Last Christmas” has proved, everyone would do it and luxuriate in the annual payout. But it isn’t.
8. “Father Figure” (1987)
The video for “Father Figure” may have depicted Michael in a relationship with a woman, but the song’s lyrics told a more complex story: “Sometimes love can be mistaken for a crime.” Meanwhile, the shift from the hushed longing of the verses to the explosive, gospel-inspired chorus is just fabulous.
9. “A Different Corner” (1986)
Few artists have ever moved from teen sensation to “adult” artist with the deftness of George Michael. The real signal that the Wham! years were over, “A Different Corner” is a fantastic ballad and astonishingly bold. Given that it’s stark to the point of sounding eerie, it seems remarkable it made it to No 1.
10. “Outside” (1998)
The musical response to Michael’s arrest for “lewd behavior” in a California lavatory is one of the finest screw-you gestures in pop history: a gleeful, unapologetic, witty hymn to cruising – “I’d service the community, but I already have, you see” – set to the best disco track he ever came up with.
George Michael’s music continues to resonate with fans around the world, and his legacy as one of the greatest artists of all time remains intact. His ability to craft songs that are both deeply personal and universally relatable is a testament to his talent and artistry. Whether through his soulful ballads or his infectious dance tracks, Michael’s music has left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions, and his influence will be felt for generations to come.
Source: The Guardian, Rolling Stone
