I’m Your Man – a live update

Apologies in advance for short sentences, part quotes etc. It’s not easy to type, pay attention, watch the TV screen and the computer screen, trying to get some stuff down – so bear with me. lol.

PART1:

 

Starting off with an announcement by George saying that he wishes to tell the viewer that he never tested positive for drink or drugs in his system whilst driving.

Then comes the infamous drug quote and “Fastlove” live.
Then the suggestion that he has less gay fans.

“They’re only interested when they think you’re in the closet. Once you’re out, they don’t give a toss.”

He’s coping with the liars cause he’s able to go to work every day and make his music.

Big hug with Melvyn, adding,

“I’ve got hairgel on my hands in case you were wondering what the sticky stuff was.”

lol.
Rehearsal of “John and Elvis” in Air Studios in August.
(Does this means we’ll be hearing this on the road at some point?)

“I’m not saying anything other than thank you”

(about the tour).
The “you’d wish you did this while you could still stand without help” quote.

“The only way to cut through all the bullshit is to go out on tour and give my fans what they want.”

More “John and Elvis” rehearsal footage.

Iraq war talk.

“Shoot the dog has never been more word perfect. As the years go by, Mr Blair is making it more and more of a perfect protest song.”

Video of “Shoot The Dog”.

“People laughed and said it was naive at the time. I’m nothing but naive, but that song is not naive.”

Then saying “Murdoch is the devil walking the planet,” adding he’s not had one convincing hit song in Europe since “STD”.

Madrid dressingroom:

“They suggested I had featured cartoon bestiality and the audience were uncomfortable! They weren’t, they were cheering their heads off! Uncomfortable,” he sniggered.

Car talk. Blah blah.

Rehearsing song called “Idol” – an Elton John song. (After this I lost track of whateverthefuck else he said, cause fuck-me, that’s what I call a nice vocal on a nice song!)

He was a light star
Tripping on a high wire
Bulldog stubborn, born uneven
A classless creature, a man for all seasons
But don’t bet them
They can’t take him
To the very bottom
Because they made him and they’ll waste him
And I don’t believe that I want to watch them

‘Cause the fifties shifted out of gear
He was an idol then, now he’s an idol here
But his face has changed, he’s not the same no more
And I have to say that I like the way his music sounded before

He was tight-assed
Walking on broken glass
Highly prized in the wallet size
The number one crush in a schoolgirl’s eyes
But don’t pretend that it won’t end
In the depth of your despair
You went from lame suits right down to tennis shoes
To peanuts from the lion’s share

PART 2:

Rehearsing “Flawless” in Air Studios.

“I can’t be an out gay sexually active man and be a part of the media.”

About leaving the media-career:

“I’m not only – pardon the pun – taking it on the chin.”

A lot about staying in the mainstream is bad.
More “Flawless” rehearsal – vocals without backing track – explaining the backingsingers how to do it (Cor!)
He wants to enjoy the tour and therefore relate to the public in a way that’s pure.
Then interrupting himself mid-sentence saying, “Can we stop, please? I’m feeling a bit sweaty.”
“Flawless” on the stage.

Madrid:

“My voice isn’t as pure as it was. The more you go through, the more you express it in a way you sing. So actually, I find my early vocal performances a bit boring, cause I didn’t know enough about life.”

“My Mother Had A Brother” live rehearsal in Air Studios.
He got to “…she said…” and starts talking “Tell ya what, a bit more top end. Just at the very top.” lol.
“Tell me again why he di…” then goes off it again, talking, “OK, stop, lower mid, that’s what I’ve been dealing with, that’s what’s been frightening me.” (OK?)

Madrid:

“Strangely enough it’s being completely humiliated kinda leaves you in a fearless position. That’s in there as well. There’s less insecurity.”

More “My Mother…” rehearsal.
He looks somewhat tortured when performing.

“I’m 43 yrs old, spent many yrs of my life living with the principles I grew up with.”

Mother was very principled – which he’s grateful for.
Father making him apologise for something he wasn’t apologetic about, which “is extremely hard to do”.
“My Mother…” live.

He can’t bear to be a negative in the world. 25 years of taking people through emotional levels. The only time he didn’t do it – with Freeek! – to express anger… (then he didn’t finish his train of thought)
Clip of “Freeek!”

“Because I was trying to say something aggressive, it really freaked my female audience. I love it as a record, but stands out so much from what I normally try to do, and it dawned on me how much time people invest in who they think you are.”

(half hour break – Jesus Christ, they’re running 10 minutes late cause of the fucking loser assholes ran overtime with the football, and instead of cutting down the goddamn commercials to get back on time, they just keep going and going and going. For this I wanna extend a special thanks to ITV for being clueless, annoying, stupid fuckers.)

PART 3:
“I feel so spoilt in a strange way cause I spent most of the early part of my career…” then laughs and goes, “Sorry, I just saw Kenny going…” then does a series of hand/arm/facial movements.
About nicking stuff from the Beatles and Beach Boys in the 80s, but him not doing it.
Doesn’t get anything out of the early Beatles stuff – needs the Motown r’n'b beat.
Another unheard song rehearsed: “Knocks Me Off My Feet” by Stevie Wonder.

I see us in the park
Strolling the summer days of imaginings in my head
And words from our hearts
Told only to the wind felt even without being said
I don’t want to bore you with my trouble
But there’s sumptin’ bout your love
That makes me weak and
Knocks me off my feet

There’s supmtin’ bout your love
That makes me weak and
Knocks me off my feet
Knocks me off my feet

I don’t want to bore you with it
Oh but I love you, I love you, I love you
I don’t want to bore you with it
Oh but I love you, I love you, I love you
More and more

We lay beneath the stars
Under a lovers tree that’s seen through the eyes of my mind
I reach out for the part
Of me that lives in you that only our two hearts can find
But I don’t want to bore you with my trouble
But there’s sumptin’ bout your love
That makes me weak and
Knocks me off my feet

There’s sumptin’ bout your love
That makes me weak and
Knocks me off my feet
Knocks me off my feet

3*(I don’t want to bore you with it
Oh but I love you, I love you, I love you)
Darling I don’t…

Loves the later Beatles stuff.
Led Zeppelin quote about “knowing how to have sex”.
R’n'B music = the music is sexual expression.
Bad rock music = the music of sexually frustrated.

“Strange that I didn’t go down the rock path given that I was sexually frustrated for ages. I just didn’t look it or sound it!”

“I’m Your Man” video.

Madrid: Talking about Wham!, their mentality and image.

Always unhappy about not being born ten years before.
But would have been even worse to be born ten years later.
Walked into a recordcompanies without an appointments, and they liked that kinda cheek – “cause they thought we may tell’em something they didn’t already know.”
“Careless Whisper” video clip.

Madrid: Talking about writing Careless Whisper in a basement flat in Peckham. He said he was sure it was going to be a number one song for *someone* but not necessarily them.

“It took me 3 or 4 albums to realise I was a good a singer as I was a writer.”

“Careless Whisper” live.

Talking of how young artists showing any kind of determination or own ideas are shown the door.
Independent radio stations playing only stuff that sounds like something that’s on there already.
“The First Time Ever…” rehearsal footage from Air Studios.

“One of the greatest successes of my career is that the intent of my music hasn’t changed much. Leaning your craft, life and changing as a person and yet holding onto the basic elements of what gave you your appeal in the first place.”

More “The First Time…” ending it with “cool.”
PART 4:

“I’ve been an incredibly lucky man. Combination of musical ability and sexuality is afforded to very few people. Always believed I could have my ego’s desires and control over my life, cause I was so insecure, without compromising my music. The music I happened to love making happened to be the kinda music that a lot of people loved to buy.”

“Faith” live.
The house of his dreams, man of his dreams, making the music he wants – still loaded. “I’d be much more unhappy about it if it was true.”
More “Faith”.

“Those people I’m going to play to know why it’s been 25 years career, and a good time to centre on music again. Instead of the other crap.”
“Good for my memoirs.”

Lights up the spliff. “This stuff keeps me sane and happy” blah blah.

“I only started smoking this at 22-23, where I’d achieved a lot of what I wanted – though obviously not enough. You just can’t smoke this stuff if you’ve got anything to do!”

“Outside” rehearsal at Air Studios.

“I hope my future is very different and that it’s purely constructive thing. As an individual I stop being a ping-pong ball for various political ideas and learn to shut my mouth as well, that would be good. If I learn to shut my mouth I could probably have all the sex I like wherever I like. Which I do anyway, to be honest with you, but people won’t write about it. You know. Yeah, I should learn to shut my mouth and sing – that would be really clever.”

A-M-E-N!!!
More “Outside” – slightly out of tune.

Madrid:

“The grass makes me love my life even more. I tell myself regularly I’m the luckiest man alive – though it’s usually after a bit of this” (holds up spliff)

“Outside” live.

View from Kenny’s balcony. Someone re-doing the pond.

“They’ll be very upset if they realise that’s the state of their garden for the South Bank show” – adding grin.

“Freedom 90″ live clip with some very strange lyrics – literally mixing two sentences, making it sound something like “wat da dib da dibbi di”. lol.
More views, three gardens.

“You don’t need anything else. I didn’t go anywhere this year – sad old life.”
“When we’ll leave this house is when we can’t cope with the stairs. And Kenny will get there before me, cause he’s 48 this year. So I don’t know how long it’ll last, but I absolutely love it here.”

The South Bank Show – tonight

SORRY – are we meant to be shocked by George Michael sparking up a joint before his concert in Madrid? I was more riveted by the make-up artist who seemed to toil away with endless slap without making George look any different from when he first sat down. As George lit up, she was busy colouring in his hairline – hence my distraction.

Elsewhere in this fascinating chat, George, who actually heeds those motorway signs warning: Tiredness kills – take a break, shows Melvyn Bragg how his neighbours are re-doing their pond and explains why he’s going back on the road after 25 years to reconnect with his fans. “That’ll be exciting,” says Melvyn politely.

…reports the Mirror. A radiostation said yesterday that “one side-effect of smoking grass is making 8 minute long songs that are just dreadfully boring”. Ouch.

I’ve seen the little TV snippets, of George looking rather camp with a spliff in his hand saying, “THIS makes me sane and happy”, adding, “I’d be able to write without it if I was sane and happy.”

You could argue that if spliffs make him “sane and happy”, then he kinda shot himself in the foot when he added, “I could write without it if I was sane and happy”. So what he’s really saying is that he’s happy for the duration of the spliff – well, that’s the ‘blessing’ of drugs/drink isn’t it? You think it makes you happier then and there, but when you come down from your little cloud of induced happiness, you soon enough realise nothing’s changed. So wouldn’t it more effective to take a pill that generally works at least 12 hours?

Oh well. I shall be very intrigued to see this thing tonight. Bring on Halloween!

Melvyn and George – doing it outside

UPDATE:

ITV lunchtime news:

“This is not the first time George Michael has chosen to be in front of the camera to explain why he doesn’t have to explain himself” and “A man more famous recently for hitting the rocks than hitting the notes is finally back on the stage…”

Oh yeah, and he lit up. Ooooh. lol.

The Right To Sing

The right to sing, the right to play, the right to do the things I feel in my own way – and if you took it all and asked me to pretend, you’d be breaking a heart that won’t mend.

The right to win, the right to lose, the right to fall in love with anyone I choose – and when it’s my mistake and everything goes wrong, I would write what I feel in a song.

They know it all, where is the answer? They can only see what’s down in black and white. Back to the wall, just a romancer, to sing and play my music is my life.

The right to laugh, the right to dream, the right to know that people say just what they mean – and if it turns out that my hopes were not to be, then there’s no one to blame, only me.

The right to live, the right to breathe, the right to stand by all the things that I believe – can’t say I know it all, but someone has to try, I will stand or I will fall, live or die, I will stand or I will fall, live or die.

As some of you know I was in Norway for little over week and in that time I managed to get my hands on a Jan Werner live album (the Norwegian exceptional vocalist that passed away a month ago). Him singing “The Right To Sing” is just… well, heartbreaking, as well as utterly impressive. So, here’s your chance to hear it – but it has limited downloads, so be quick

Song 1: The Right To Sing

I know this is the wrong audience to say this to… but he’s in a different category than George live. Hell, he’s in a different category than anyone. It’s a matter of facts, considering George’s vocalspan is – I’m guessing – about three octaves now (which is a lot for a singer – most singers have about one and a half or two) and this guy had four and a half. To illustrate his upper range, have a listen to this one – even if it’s not your kinda song, just listen to those notes. It doesn’t get any purer than this – and it’s live.

Song 2: Courtyard Lullaby

Some more Oslo pics

So they’re not what I’d call spectacular, but the camera I was borrowing kinda sucked. That, or I had no idea how to work it. Women and technology etc. But these are the ones I thought was worth a viewing. Enjoy.

 

 

 

 

Let’s go backstage

As previously mentioned, I did not only bring my mother to see George, I brought her to see a play. You’re only 60 once, you only h ave one mother – so why not go the whole nine yards, right?

Well, our little Cinderella story really begins when we came into the theatre, looked for our seats, saw one table that was fully serviced and thought “Lucky!” – and nearly lost our jaws to the floor when we realised it was ours. First of all, perfect view to the stage. Perfect. Plenty of legroom, our own little table, plenty of drinks (including wine for moi), a big bowl of nuts and a note saying, “With love from” and their initials. We weren’t the only people stopping and staring at this display. At this point, we felt like queens.

The show was great, I could list quotes for pages and pages but I’ll save that for a later occasion. I’ve seen it at least three times before, but it’s been years. A school class from the equivalent of Juilliard were waiting in the seated area for a Q&A, so that’s why we had to come back and say hi first. I asked the woman at the door – as requested – to take us back, but she wasn’t too willing at first, even though she knew about it. She said they’d come out and that we’d talk to them later. I said fine. Why argue? So we went back to our seats, texted one of the actors and said she suggested we’d talk to them later. About thirty seconds after this the woman received something on her earpiece and came over to us, asking us – rather meekly – to come with her. Effective, anyone?

When back there I got a couple of hugs (the Norwegian bearhug way – not air-kisses like in the bloody UK), my mother was standing in the corner – in a mix of awe and shyness – but got a couple of hugs too and quizzed about her last theatre experience. 50 years ago. I said thanks for having us and for everything – and they said, “It’s the least we could do, you’ve been with us from the very beginning!”

Which is true. My career pretty much was born after meeting these two guys at a theatre they were – then – artistic directors. In short, I was a theatre novice, didn’t know what the hell went on at a press preview, was told I’d just watch the play and then write something up about it. But as it turned out, I realised I was in deep shit when I met the equivalent of the BBC in the door up to the showroom. And I didn’t feel any better when the PR chick said, “You’ll see ten minutes of the play and then we’ll go to interviews.” I wanted to jump out a window. I was assigned one of the guys to talk to, and in the break I gave my boss a good, solid, aggressive portion of my thoughts on the phone, but was interrupted when the other actor came over and asked if I wanted to talk to him too. So I had to come up with questions for both – in a period of about three minutes and make it look rehearsed. Halfway through the first interview I said, “You know what, I’ve no idea what the fuck I’m doing here. I came here under false information, I’m nervous as shit so I’m sorry if this seems out of the ordinary.” The reply? “Really? I wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t told me. Just relax, you’re doing great.” Even if it was a lie – which I’m pretty sure it was – it gave me the strength to move on to the other one. And afterwards, I was so thrilled I just KNEW this is what I had to do with my life.

I have so many awesome memories from the time at that theatre; I went to every preview (once I got an exclusive!), every opening night, spoke to everyone – actors, directors – and their time at the theatre ended as I left for London. Funny how things work out. And now, 3 1/2 years after leaving… here I am, still passionate about theatre, dreaming of being able to do the same in London. Oh well

A picture I took in Oslo

Damn that was a good night

“Sing to me, Oslo!”

First off I’d like to extend a few thank yous:

- Ryan Air, for making me show up at Stansted airport two hours before departure time, only to postpone the flight another two hours, making my total time at the most boring airport in the world four hours.-

- The bus driver from the airport that tried to rip me off by attempting to convince me that £25 is 140NOK when in fact it’s 300.

- The fucker on the bus that kicked me in the back for two hours. I sincerely hope you enjoyed my “Tell ya what, if you don’t kick my back for the next 20 minutes, you get to not go to hell” and the laughing that followed as much as I enjoyed your continuous kicking. My back is eternally grateful.

- The guy at the concert that nearly gave me a black eye by waving his elbow in my face for the whole duration of the gig.

- George, for leaving out “A Different Corner” and “An Easier Affair”, easily knocking ten, maybe twelve minutes off the length of the concert.

- Myself, for thinking this was a great idea to begin with (though I do appreciate my own stupid ideas – like this one).

THE CONCERT

What can I say, vocally it’s the best I’ve heard him on this tour – and that includes all the decent clips I’ve heard/seen on the likes of YouTube, from friends on email and so forth. I was seated right across from the stage, on row one, looking down on the show. I saw everything, even George showing his liking for the black backing singer by dry-humping him from behind without him noticing. The crowd was a strong – though modest – 8000. Full house.

He dedicated “You have been loved” to Anselmo and seemed generally broken up when performing the ballads, “Jesus to a child”, “You have been loved” and “The first time ever I saw your face” in particular. The vocal, as previously mentioned, was just mesmerising; Strong, effortless, powerful and emotional. Just fucking fantastic. Me, personally, live, have never heard better. But I’ve already said that.

Now, I hate to be the one to say “I told you so” but I was too right about the Norwegian audience. Sure, they applauded and screamed occasionally, but the prompted sing-alongs typically went something like this:

EVERYONE!
*silence*
Come on!
*silence*
Sing to me!
*silence*

They did put in volume for the likes of “Faith”, the Wham! numbers and “Careless Whisper” – but even this one he had to sing mostly himself. The rest was pretty… it made ME blush. Only cause it hit me that I’ve been part of this country for 22 solid years before I came to my senses and fled. It didn’t surprise me, as I’d already predicted it, but it saddened me a bit nonetheless. He tried his best – bless him – but it wasn’t happening. The ironic part is that once every song was done, and once he was off the stage between the last songs, everyone screamed from the top of their lungs.

That being said, he was in a massively good mood, smiling a LOT from ear to ear, with morose moments during certain songs. He was on good form, vocally in particular, but in generally good/great spirits and it didn’t seem to affect him that everyone there didn’t sing along every time. This could be because he made us do other non-vocal challenges, like waving our arms from side to side during “Spinning the wheel” and raise our right arm in the air – Queen/Freddie Mercury/”We will rock you” style – during “Freedom 90″ (Freedom *hand in the air*, Freedom *hand in the air*, Freedom *hand in the air*).

When his big, bright, white, flawless smile – that he clearly couldn’t hold back in the end – showed on those huge screens, it told us one thing; despite having to sing most of the songs himself this Thursday evening, the boy from Finchley had had a good time.

PS I did take some pictures, but they have to get out of my borrowed camera before I can post them. In the meantime, this’ll have to do.

Bon Voyage for now

Well, in about 8 hours I’m setting off to Norway for yet another George Michael gig. I’m excited (about seeing/hearing that again!), I’m nervous (about the audience – God let me be wrong in assuming they’ll all be stiffs), I hate the journey tomorrow already (1 hour to the airport, 2 hours of waiting at the airport, 2 hours in the air, 1 hour waiting, 2 hours on a bus, 1 hour on another bus, half an hour walk… yawn!) and generally a lot of mixed emotions – all ending up with a cause I’m doing it all for the sake of seeing the singing Greek. Again. Clearly I must be mad – I’m broke as a beggar and I’m going to the most expensive country in the world for ten days. Good going!

Having said that, I’m really looking forward to showering in some nice water again. Over here I’m a dirty blonde/brunette cause of the hard water that’s full of nasty limescale. It clogs up your plumbing, your shower heads, your taps; leaves white flakes in your coffee makers, kettles, everything. Never mind what it does to my hair! I have fine hair. I’m Norwegian, I’m used to soft water that doesn’t contain any crap. See, over there, the water is being cleaned and sterilised properly. I don’t know what the hell the government puts money into around here, but it ain’t water. My hair goess four shades darker with slightly green/orange shine (keep in mind I’ve never as much as coloured my hair!), gets greasy within hours and super-frizzy (thank fuck for hair straighteners! I’d look like Diana Ross without’em!). In addition to this, I say there’s no wonder Brits have awful, horrible skin – it’s down to the water. So unless you know how to use cleansers, peeling and face-masks, you’re going to be spotty, wrinkly before your time and just look washed out cause of this disgusting plaque. Ew, ew, ew!

So I’m looking forward to going away for that reason alone. Clean water. George is a good second I’ll be able to write now and then, but not every day. I’ll make sure to write something after the gig. It won’t be as long and windy as last time, but I’ll make it entertaining nonetheless – I promise.

Competition

Which one of the following screencaps do you reckon is from the correct website of George Michael’s publicist Connie Filipello? Click to enlarge.

 The winner gets to email Connie and tell her that George’s website is GeorgeMichael.com, not Aegean.net.

A VERY British commercial