Remembering George Michael
George Michael was the quintessential ’80s pop star to my sister and me. A perfect soundtrack maker to our teen and young adult lives. Sure, there was also Duran Duran or The Police; Duran Duran seemed too stylishly sulky, The Police too serious. George seemed like he would jump off the TV screen and dance right with you if you could only wish hard enough when Wake Me Up Before You Go Go came on.
George adorned lockers and scrapbooks, every magazine interview devoured and passed around the high school at lunchtime in an era without internet or smartphones. We all sighed at Careless Whisper, reimagining in daydreams with teenage angst our own version of the video where we starred with the man with the beautiful, soft brown eyes. He was an exotic creature to two girls raised in the rural American South.
Sure, his sexuality came up, but it didn’t matter, not really. Anything to keep talking about George!
He was at Live-Aid, which aired the week before our father died. He sang to the world that day, and beautifully.
When he left Wham and “Faith” came out, I was working in a mom and pop restaurant, my sister a young mother. When the weeknights lagged, any George Michael song on the restaurant kitchen’s little radio, wired to the window screen with a twisted coathanger, was welcome.
My sister has separate memories as well. I asked her for her thoughts, and she replied:
“Hope this helps……When I first heard Wham! I was immediately a fan. The Make it Big album was so great but Careless Whisper was the song that resonated with me and George Michael’s voice was so perfect on that song, and still today is my favorite song and my ringtone for my husband. Then dancing with my one year old to my first ever cd the Faith album. Then loving the cd for the next 29 years just as if it were a new release. My daughter grew up loving him just like we did.
Losing him on Christmas was so sad and adds a significance to our favorite Holiday song….”Last Christmas” He gave us the gift of a lifetime of amazing music that lifts our spirits whenever we hear it.”
She and her husband waited for a concert announcement, planning to go. It didn’t matter where, she said. “China, London…it didn’t matter. We were going.”
But that day never came.
Michael, like every human being, had a personal life fraught with heartbreak, and in his more mature years, he never hid it. But let’s not remember what is common in all humankind, certainly let us forego any judgements as some love to pass, armed with hindsight upon the passing of one so famous; let us instead remember the uncommonness of George Michael, this immortal rarity of a soul that touched so many. The singer and songwriter, the voice that fuelled our joys, our sorrows, and our memories.
Rest in Peace, George Michael.
Thank you*.
*A special thanks also to my sister, L. Combs, for her contribution to this article.
