A caucasian Greek singer/ songwriter who’s group WHAM with Andrew Ridgeley got excoriated in the media dies well before his time but he was well respected and admired in the African American community and the black diaspora at large.
Why was that?
Well a part of the reason was that when he was a kid he recieved a Tom Jones 45 and 2 supremes records. He would later on go on to work with Whitney Houston, Jody Watley, Aretha Franklin, Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, Mary J, Blige and many others.
As any teenager or confused self-loathing child will tell you. When you are holed up in your room avoiding your parents or any sense of responsability. Music is your solace.
He was a gay man living a lie to please the ones he loved. He didn’t want his sexuality to cause any tension or disappointment in his strict and old fashioned household.
We lament at the fact that he had to hide who he was for so long but no doubt he had a strong respect for the Stonewall riots and legends like Marsha P. Johnson who was largely responsible for Pride as we know it today.
George Michael oozed soul and emotion. He could take the simplist lyrics and lead you down a crescendo-filled roller coaster that tugs at your heartstrings and leaves you feeling either gutted or inspired.
How would his music have been different if he got to live his truth? And yet for all the respect he recieved we are seeing a resurgance and regression in homo and transphobia. He wouldn’t be pleased because he was such a giver and an empath.
He would not have been proud and he would have undoubetly written about it.
His music was a sountrack for all, not just kids from the UK or Greek kids who saw themselves represented in this man with a decidely non-anglicized name. Or the young teens who swooned over his good looks.
He was always uncomfortable with that part of his persona and that is what made him so endeering to so many. He didn’t take anything or anyone for granted. Even 8 long years since his death and we are hearing antidotes of kindness and all the charities and non-profits he helped on his own time and dime. Out of the glaring spotlight.
This is a lesson for us all. We like what we like. We are attracted to what we are attracted to. We love who we love. We laugh at what amuses us.
So the next time a purist or stoosh critic wants to tear down a musician. Remember how they treated George and Andrew in Wham. Cathchy pop tunes with great harmony, musical arrangement but all the songs written by George and Andrew had some hidden meaning to them.
Too deep for the press. But now they have to bite their words forever. George is an icon.
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George Michael had an honorary black card.
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Wham - Club Tropicana
A caucasian Greek singer/ songwriter who’s group WHAM with Andrew Ridgeley got excoriated in the media dies well before his time but he was well respected and admired in the African American community and the black diaspora at large.
Why was that?
Well a part of the reason was that when he was a kid he recieved a Tom Jones 45 and 2 supremes records. He would later on go on to work with Whitney Houston, Jody Watley, Aretha Franklin, Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, Mary J, Blige and many others.
As any teenager or confused self-loathing child will tell you. When you are holed up in your room avoiding your parents or any sense of responsability. Music is your solace.
He was a gay man living a lie to please the ones he loved. He didn’t want his sexuality to cause any tension or disappointment in his strict and old fashioned household.
We lament at the fact that he had to hide who he was for so long but no doubt he had a strong respect for the Stonewall riots and legends like Marsha P. Johnson who was largely responsible for Pride as we know it today.
George Michael oozed soul and emotion. He could take the simplist lyrics and lead you down a crescendo-filled roller coaster that tugs at your heartstrings and leaves you feeling either gutted or inspired.
How would his music have been different if he got to live his truth? And yet for all the respect he recieved we are seeing a resurgance and regression in homo and transphobia. He wouldn’t be pleased because he was such a giver and an empath.
He would not have been proud and he would have undoubetly written about it.
His music was a sountrack for all, not just kids from the UK or Greek kids who saw themselves represented in this man with a decidely non-anglicized name. Or the young teens who swooned over his good looks.
He was always uncomfortable with that part of his persona and that is what made him so endeering to so many. He didn’t take anything or anyone for granted. Even 8 long years since his death and we are hearing antidotes of kindness and all the charities and non-profits he helped on his own time and dime. Out of the glaring spotlight.
This is a lesson for us all. We like what we like. We are attracted to what we are attracted to. We love who we love. We laugh at what amuses us.
So the next time a purist or stoosh critic wants to tear down a musician. Remember how they treated George and Andrew in Wham. Cathchy pop tunes with great harmony, musical arrangement but all the songs written by George and Andrew had some hidden meaning to them.
Too deep for the press. But now they have to bite their words forever. George is an icon.
We will be participating in the Fierte Montreal Parade on August 13th, 2023 1 pm sharp.
Blessings,
Nadia