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Will George Michael Freeek over chart position?
Undercover.com.au, March 26, 2002 George Michael made it quite clear when he signed his one single deal with Universal that if they didn't perform, they wouldn't get the album. This week was Freeek's chart debut and it has been mediocre. Australia has scored the best result to date with a #5 first week but in England 'Freeek' sold relatively poor with 60,000 sales pushing it as high at #7. Marilyn Manson's cover of 'Tainted Love" did better coming in at #5, but Freeek sold less than 10% the first week figure of Popstar Will Young. In Ireland, the story was even worse. Freeek came in at #14. The deal with Universal was unprecedented in music history. George Michael signed the one single deal with a stipulation that they would only get the album if they were successful with the single. Defining success is now going to be a matter of debate. After spending over $US1m on the video for Freeek, the expectation of anything less than a number 1 debut (especially in England) is questionable. Universal were successful in getting the song played in high rotation on radio as well as mass exposure of the video on TV. Then the downloads of the song via the Internet really branded the announcement that the song was out there. While critics agree the song is certainly cutting edge with its hot funk dance rhythm, maybe teenage single buyers don't have the same perception of the 40+ George Michael as he used to have. My money too!
Peoplenews, March 26, 2002 George Michael has launched an extraordinary attack on Oasis. The flamboyant singer told Radio 1 that he thought that the band's new single is a load of old rubbish. 'I think eight years ago, it wouldn't have even made it on to one of their b-sides,' he sniffed. 'It's a really boring record. They used to be one of the most exciting bands in the country. I really hope Noel hears this slag off too, because he slagged me off.' Ooh, George! If the fisticuffs start flying, my money's on the boy from Wham!. Disappointing chart debut
Dotmusic, March 25, 2002 No. 7 FREEEK by George Michael Ooh now this is an interesting one. The last time we saw George Michael was three years ago at a time when he had played a blinder regarding the incident in the public toilets and proved that even when you have no choice, the ability to laugh at yourself is one to treasure. On the back of that he had also released a greatest hits album and scored some massive hit singles in the shape of Outside, As and If I Told You That. Basically as the original teen pop star turned mature artist, he was still the man. Now he is back with his first album for six years and is about to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his first releases with Wham! Let's face it, it wouldn't be George Michael unless he tried to make an impact and Freeek does its best to shock with its censor-worrying video and raunchy, semi-explicit lyrics. Musically it is best described as I Want Your Sex crossed with Monkey and maybe a pinch of TooFunky. This is of course the problem as it is essentially the same record he has been making for the past ten years. As Michael Jackson has already found to his cost, the 21st century audience isn't content to welcome back superstars with the same act that made them famous years ago. They want something interesting and different. Much was made of the fact that George Michael stood little chance of topping the charts with his comeback single owing to the presence of Gareth Gates in the shops, but as it turns out even without him he never really stood a chance. Number 7 may not be a bad chart placing but for a single that was almost universally expected to go Top 3 it is something of a surprisingly poor performance. Freeek is actually a very good and in truth quite exciting single but I can't be the only one hoping that his next one is much, much better. George's Polydor Deal In Jeopardy?
Yahoo UK, March 25, 2002 George Michael's relationship with Polydor looks in jeopardy, following the disappointing sales of his comeback single, Freeek! Despite the sales suggestions that Freeek! would enter the chart at No. 3 on March 24th, the single eventually charted at a lowly No. 7, behind Blue, Marilyn Manson and Ali G. Last year, George signed a unique, one-single deal with Polydor, which allowed him to decide whether or not to release an album through the label, depending on the success of their promotion of the single. Freeek! has proved a massive failure, having only sold around 60,000 copies, way behind Gareth Gates, who managed to shift 900,000 copies of Unchained Melody before March 24th, to become the youngest homegrown male solo artist to have a No. 1. In addition, the promo video to Freeek! is rumoured to have coast around L1 million. Even Will Young, who's sold over 100,000 copies of his Anything Is Possible / Evergreen single after three weeks at the top of the chart, managed to outsell the veteran Wham! star's return to the pop fray. March 24th's chart also brought bad news for the Pet Shop Boys, whose Home And Dry single only managed to make No. 14, despite a midweek industry prediction of a Top 10 placing... Hot people: George Freeeks Out At Bully Madonna
The Sunday People, March 24, 2002 Stars in studio row GEORGE MICHAEL had a huge row with MADONNA after he saw her laying into her personal assistant, I can reveal. The Queen of Pop (Madonna that is) reduced the poor woman to tears - just because she'd bought the wrong type of coffee. And George - at No 3 today with his new single Freeek - was so shocked he shrieked: "You shouldn't speak to people like that. An onlooker who saw the row at a London recording studio said: "Madonna was being completely charming to all the engineers and other staff but she exploded at her assistant for a trivial mistake. Everyone was so embarrassed for the girl. "When George stepped in he was told to mind his own business." Madonna was working on her next album at the studio and George had come in to hear some new mixes of his latest work. A pal of George's said: "He couldn't believe Madonna's diva behaviour. "George never acts the star and hates to see others do it." Wrong paper, George
Infobrix, March 22 2002 NOT so much a Careless Whisper as a bit of gaffe as George Michael lambasted Der Schotte on Radio 1's Jo Whiley show on Monday night. Yes, us. The chanteur laid into The Scotsman for being homophobic and said we were trying to ruin his career. It was only when Gorgeous George was off air that someone pointed out he had got the wrong paper. It was the Daily Record that had been having a go at him. But we understand: if you mention a Scottish paper, it is only natural to think of The Sctosman. George's publicist, Julia, was on the phone to the editor yesterday with profuse apologies, recognising that Der Schotte had "always been supportive of him". We have, have we? Obviously she does not read the Diary. Your shout: Fans know what makes George great
Daily Record - Glasgow, March 22, 2002 WHAM! It seems the controversy surrounding John Dingwall's careless whispers about George Michael just won't go away. Now they're even talking about it in Mexico, not to mention a strange corner of the universe called Planet George... Michael was funny. You just don't have a clue what we, the die- hard fans, are made of. He is great and John... well, you just suck. Psychological pathology of you would reveal that you just envy him and his talents, his possessions and everything else he has for that matter. Dude, get a life. Go and do what you are good at. Like wash the toilets or something. And to finish, I hope you have a miserable life - Madis Sarglepp (die-hard fan of George Michael for years), by email. AS a current member of the Planet George internet site, I am very disappointed about what you wrote. I used to think that people that works for magazines, tv and radio were genuine people that do their job honestly and without lies. Because of people like you, other professionals such as George, who do their jobs to the best of their ability, are branded nothing more than dirty people I'm very mad about your comments and hope you can find the correct words to apologise to all PlanetGeorge members and to Mr Michael himself for beign so selfish and unprofessional in your false claims. If you took the trouble to really look into music, you would realise that your comments about George Michael are total rubbish. It seems you know nothing about Mr Michael, about Planet George or anything. I find it very disappointing that people like you can work to misinform and influence the world about an artist such as George Michael.- Ana de la Serna, Mexico. JOHN DINGWALL is completely out of order with his negative comments on George Michael. How dare he write such a thing about this wonderful artist. Nikolai Tannen, by email. I CAN'T agree with those George Michael fans who wrote in last week to complain. John Dingwall's article was well-informed and well- balanced and said exactly what George needed to hear. I have read the Daily Record for more than 15 years and the music coverage is better than ever. Perhaps now George will stop being so self-indulgent and start making good music again. Ms Hill, Glasgow. I HAVE to admit that what John Dingwall wrote about George. from Jewel, Planet George, March 21, 2002: Mr. Dingwall, This is Planet George writing to you today. I am "Jewel", the founder of the club and the editor of our newsletter. Planet George is the largest George Michael fanclub in the world, operated privately by devoted fans, and we have proudly created "The place George Michael fans call home." Your recent article has caused quite a stir in our community of thousands of on-line fans from over 100 countries who read our daily and weekly newsletters. What is most surprising is that you have spoken on behalf of George´s fans without actually consulting them in the first place. If you want to know about George´s fans, and their reactions to George´s new music, you should have come to us! George has always been a deep artist, with controversial music and videos, and his fans love him for it. To refer to George as a "sleaze-star" only demonstrates your lack of knowledge of "The Legend That Is". George is one of the few artists left in the industry that still writes music with a meaning, lyrics that make you stop and think, with impeccable musical quality to boot. You may not understand him, but don´t assume that his fans are quite so short-sighted. George has always presented his unique combination of sex appeal and class, making him irresistible across all ages and cultural borders. From my experience with Planet George I can tell you that the vast majority of fans have been with George for well over 15 years, and their enthusiasm has anything but diminished. In fact, membership is UP and we are presently swamped with a flood of new and old fans who are eager to know more about George. Who are George Michael fans? We are a different breed of music listener, indeed. We expect more from an artist, and we appreciate and admire George´s perfectionism. We listen to lyrics, and we are fully dissatisfied with the new wave of talentless artists on the market with meaningless music. George is the ultimate musician, a master in his own right, and he will continue to enjoy the adoration of fans from every corner of the planet. Simply put, George does not disappoint his fans, rather he delights and impresses us time and time again. Sincerely, Jewel Planet George www.planetgeorge.org Gareth's Debut Single Gets Unexpected Sales Boost
Ananova, March 21, 2002 Gareth Gates' debut single has benefited from an after-school sales surge. More than 300,000 copies of Unchained Melody were sold on the first day of its release. The figure was boosted beyond expectations when young fans bought it after lessons had finished. HMV chart expert Gennaro Castaldo said: "What we didn't expect was an absolutely massive surge in sales of Gareth's single from around 4.30pm, when all the kids got off school." But Gareth still failed to beat Will Young's first day sales record of 385,000 copies. George Michael's new single Freeek! clocked up the second biggest sales of the day, followed by Will Young, Marilyn Manson and Ali G. Mr Castaldo says Gates' single could still eclipse Will's weekly sales record of 1.1 million copies if it sells consistently during the week and at the weekend. And it should still comfortably pass the 750,000 first week sales of Band Aid's Do They Know it's Christmas? to become the second most successful debut single of all time. Cristal champagne for Gareth
Daily Mirror, March 20, 2002 POP Idol loser Gareth Gates is to live out his dreams on Sunday when he beats his pop hero George Michael to No 1. The 17-year-old's cover of Un- chained Melody had shifted 300,000 by yesterday - outselling George more than 20 times. He had sold 17,000 copies despite a L1million advertising campaign. And George has already conceded defeat by sending L300 worth of Cristal champagne to Gareth. Gareth Gets Bubbly
George Michael sends his newest chart rival a #300 bottle of champagne Dotmusic, March 20, 2002 George Michael has shown he has no hard feelings towards chart rival Gareth Gates, by sending the Pop Idol runner-up a magnum of champagne. George, who releases his comeback single 'Freeek' [this] next week, spent #300 on a bottle of Cristal after hearing that Gareth was nervous of the impending chart battle. As Dotmusic reported this week, Gareth's debut single, also released on March 18, has already sold over 1.3 million copies in advance orders, giving George Michael more than a run for his money. According to a UK tabloid, George has resigned himself to the fact that 'Freeek' will be beaten to the top spot by Gareth's cover of the Righteous Brothers' 'Unchained Melody'. A hand-written note accompanying the bubbly to the offices of Gareth's record company BMG, said: I wish you well with your No1 record next week. You re very talented and Im delighted youre doing so well. Keep it up - best wishes, George. Meanwhile, the ten finalists of hit TV show Pop Idol took to the London stage last night for the first in a series of 'Pop Idol Live' concerts. Will Young, Gareth Gates, Darius Danesh, Zoe Birkett, Hayley Evetts and Rosie Ribbons were amongst those performing to over 10,000 fans at Wembley Arena. The concerts, which are said to be earning each of the finalists around #100,000, are expected to raise #250,000 for the Prince's Trust charity. Awww, what a trooper! He's no freeek
Yellowbrix, March 20, 2002 I WOULD like to voice my disgust at John Dingwall's article headlined "Sleazy George has gone to the Dogs". To say George Michael's music, including his new single Freeek, is "over-rated" and a "parade of sexual perversion" is insulting to the 67million people who have bought his records. Lyrics used by boy bands such as Blue are more explicit than anythingGeorge Michael has written, yet this is a group who have been marketed to a very young audience. John Dingwall's view was far from balanced. - Colin Cowan, Glasgow. Arrest was shakeup, wakeup, singer says
Infobrix, March 20, 2002 Singer George Michael thinks he might have been trying to shake up his life when he got arrested four years ago. Michael, 38, was charged with lewd conduct in a Los Angeles public bathroom in April 1998. Soon afterward, he said publicly for the first time that he was gay. The singer told British Broadcasting Corp. radio on Monday that he might have tried to get caught to "make my life about me." He said he had been grieving after the deaths of his mother and his former partner, Anselmo Feleppa. NOT so much a Careless Whisper as a bit of gaffe as George Michael lambasted Der Schotte on Radio 1's Jo Whiley show on Monday night. Yes, us. The chanteur laid into The Scotsman for being homophobic and said we were trying to ruin his career. It was only when Gorgeous George was off air that someone pointed out he had got the wrong paper. It was the Daily Record that had been having a go at him. But we understand: if you mention a Scottish paper, it is only natural to think of The Sctosman. George's publicist, Julia, was on the phone to the editor yesterday with profuse apologies, recognising that Der Schotte had "always been supportive of him". We have, have we? Obviously she does not read the Diary. 'I Wanted To Get Caught'
365Gay.com, March 19, 2002 For the first time singer George Michael is talking opening about his tea room sex arrest in 1998. In an interview with BBC radio, Michael says he now believes he secretly wanted to be caught and outed. The pop singer was arrested for lewd conduct in a park washroom in Los Angeles. On the eve the release of his new CD "Freeek!" he told the BBC's Jo Whiley he believes it was an attempt to refocus his life after a string of tragedies. He said that in the weeks before his arrest he had been grieving over the deaths of his mother and former partner, Anselmo Feleppa. "I couldn't understand why my writing wasn't coming together was very tough on myself but actually I think that was what it was about, making my life about me and for that moment in time it worked," he said. Michael's arrest led to him being publicly outed as gay after years of mystery surrounding his sexuality. And he is full of praise for British popper Will Young's decision to tell the world he was gay. "Was I surprised? I don't want to be insulting, but about as surprised as people were with me probably - and they'd had 18 years to work on it." he said. "I'm very impressed that he did it. I think for a start it was fairly obvious that he might have been gay. I think it's very encouraging that the general public gave him the nod." Darren Hayes puts 'Spin' on pop; Joi gets 'Revenge'
USA Today, by Elysa Gardner, March 19, 2002 Pop/rock: Darren Hayes, Spin (*** out of four) Like George Michael before him, ex-Savage Garden frontman Hayes is following up a stint in a successful duo with a solo debut that provides a more distinctive, sophisticated showcase for his pop-savvy, R&B-tinged singing and songwriting. Hayes' blue-eyed soul stylings can sometimes seem overly cute or calculated, but his knack for infectious hooks is undeniable. And with the help of co-writer and co-producer Walter Afanasieff, he has crafted a collection of luscious ear candy, ranging from the sweetly sensuous Insatiable to the bubbly confection Creepin' Up on You. Even if Spin doesn't prove the commercial blockbuster that Michael's Faith was, Hayes has cooked up some of the tastiest and most substantial pop fare you're likely to sample this year. George Michael has savaged Oasis
Yahoo, March 19, 2002 George Michael has savaged Oasis, claiming their new single, The Hindu Times, isn't much cop. Speaking to Jo Whiley on her Radio 1 show on March 18th, George, whose Freeek! single has just been released, said The Hindu Times isn't as good as Noel and co.'s earlier material, reasoning, "I think eight years ago it wouldn't have even made it on to one of their B-sides. It's a really boring record. They used to be one of the most exciting bands in the country." The TV show Pop Idol which spawned George's chart rival Gareth Gates also came in for a bashing, with the Faith star stating, "I don't think Pop Idol has much to do with the music industry. It's just Saturday night TV entertainment. It's killing the music industry. The singles market is dying in this country and we're not exporting any stars around the world. Eight million people called in to vote for Pop Idol, which is about interactivity not music. We should turn all that people power into something positive, maybe give exposure to bands who can't be heard right now." George also denied tabloid reports that he's fallen-out with his pop pal, Geri Halliwell. Last year, the tabloids suggested that the pair had a bust-up and were no longer pals but George admitted that their friendship is still intact, though he does take her to task on her relationship with the press. "Geri is a lovely girl and a remarkable person but it's difficult to be friends with someone who courts the press all the time," George admitted, explaining, "I don't mean that in a bad way. She's a victim of that process in a way but I love privacy so it's difficult to be with her. I was drawn to her initially after The Spice Girls split. We'd both recently lost a parent and she was good company to be with." Gareth on course for No 1
Worldpop, March 19, 2002 Pop Idol runner up Gareth Gates is on course for his debut No 1 single this week according to midweek chart figures. Sales of Gareth's debut, Unchained Melody, picked up considerably yesterday after 4pm when the schools closed for the day. Gareth ended the day having sold well over 300,000 copies although this wasn't enough to beat Will Young's first day sales record of 385,000 set three weeks ago. An HMV chart expert says it is still not impossible that Gareth could outsell Will's record of 1.1m copies by the end of the week. 'Failing that, he should comfortably pass the 750,000 of Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas in 1984 to become the second most successful debut single of all time,' said HMV's Gennaro Castaldo. Gareth is outselling George Michael's new single, Freeek, at No 2, by a ratio of 5:1. Will Young is currently at No 3 on the midweek charts while Marilyn Manson's Tainted Love is at No 4. Ali G and Shaggy's Julie drops to No 5. Last night worldpop witnessed Garethmania in person at the Pop Idols concert at the London Arena. 'I Love You' Gareth posters littered the front rows and there was hysterical screaming as Gareth performed Unchained Melody, Mack The Knife and a duet with Zoe Birkett, Look At Me Now. Seventeen-year-old Terry Franzel said: 'Gareth was amazing. It's made me want to buy his new single.' worldpop quizzed fans last night about whether Will Young's recent revelation that he is gay, would change their support for him. 'You can't throw your knickers at him but he's lovely anyway,' said Lesley of North London. Fifteen-year-old Louise Claire said: 'Will being gay doesn't change my feelings for him. I think he's still gorgeous.' Read a full review of last night's concert later today on worldpop. Meanwhile the Pop Idol 10 finalists are set to release Pop Idol, The Big Band Album on 8 April. The album will feature all of the artists' favourite big band tracks as performed on the TV show. George Michael claims toilet arrest was intentional 'outing'
Dotmusic, March 19, 2002 George Michael has claimed he deliberately got himself arrested for lewd conduct in an attempt to refocus his life. In an interview with BBC Radio 1, the singer explained this afternoon how he had wanted to "make my life about me." Michael's arrest in a Los Angeles public toilet resulted in him finally revealing his sexuality to the press. He said: "I think, with hindsight, I did it to myself and I tried to work out why. It certainly wasn't because I wanted to be outed in that way. I knew I would have to defend myself and I'd gone through losing my mother and I'd gone through losing a partner before that. I'd had a lot of difficult stuff going on and my life had not been about me forever." He continued: "And suddenly it was a way of making my life about me. And for six months it worked. I had to fight, I had to make the video, I had to make the single ('Outside'), I had to finish the greatest hits, I did the Parkinson interview." Michael was fined $800 and ordered to do community service after admitting he had conducted the lewd act. Meanwhile, George releases his long-awaited comeback single, 'Freeek', this week. Lewd boy, George
Megastar, March 19, 2002 GEORGE MICHAEL says he deliberately got himself arrested for lewd conduct to help refocus his life. His arrest in a Los Angeles public toilet in 1998 led him to reveal he was gay, ending years of mystery about his sexuality. And in an interview with BBC Radio 1's Jo Whiley, the singer - who has a new single out called Freeek! - said he thinks he may have tried to get caught to "make my life about me". The ex-Wham frontman had been grieving over the deaths of his mother and former partner Anselmo Feleppa. Michael said: "With hindsight I did it to myself and tried to work out why. It certainly wasn't because I wanted to be outed in that way. I knew I would have to defend myself and I'd gone through losing my mother and I'd gone through losing a partner before that. I'd had a lot of difficult stuff going on and my life had not been about me. Suddenly it was a way of making my life about me. And for six months it worked. I had to fight, I had to make the video, I had to make the single (Outside), I had to finish the greatest hits, I did the Parkinson interview." Michael rarely gives interviews, preferring his work to speak for itself, but he took the opportunity to air his thoughts on his love for partner Kenny Goss. Sales
Associated Press, March 19, 2002 According the Ananova the best selling single in the Uk on March 18th were: 1. Unchained Melody (Pop Idol) - sold better after school lessons finished at 16.30! (how revealing) 2. FREEEK! (George Michael) 3. Evergreen (Pop Idol) 4. Tainted Love (Marylin Mason) 5. Me Julie (Ali G & Shaggy) George Michael says his arrest was deliberate
Advocate, March 19, 2002 BBC News reports that George Michael says he may have deliberately gotten himself arrested in 1998 for lewd conduct so that he could refocus his life after the deaths of his mother and former partner. In an interview with BBC Radio 1's Jo Whiley, Michael says he may have put himself in a situation where he could be caught so that he could "make my life about me. And for six months it worked. I had to fight, I had to make the video [for his song "Outside"], I had to make the single, I had to finish the greatest hits.... But very soon after that I sank again." Following that flurry of activity, Michael says, he returned to grieving for his mother, a process that lasted another four years. Other points covered in the interview include his "fantastic relationship" with Kenny Goss and the recent coming-out of Pop Idol singer Will Young. "Was I surprised? I don't want to be insulting, but about as surprised as people were with me, probably--and they'd had 18 years to work on it." Michael adds, "I'm very impressed that he did it. I think for a start it was fairly obvious that he might have been gay. I think it's very encouraging that the general public gave him the nod." Michael's new single "Freeek!" is being released Monday in the United Kingdom, although the singer is resigned to the fact that he'll probably lose the number 1 slot to the debut single from Young's Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates. The BBC reports that Michael has "conceded gracefully, sending [Gates] a bottle of champagne and advising him to enjoy his career." Why everyone hates Geri by her old pal George Michal
The Sun, March 19, 2002 GEORGE MICHAEL has blasted his old pal GERI HALLIWELL, saying they fell out over her love of publicity. He joins a long list of celebs who have attacked the ex Spice Girl who, as I revealed yesterday, has been out on dates with EMINEM. George said he finds Geri’s love of appearing in newspapers too hard to deal with though he respects her as a person. He admitted: “The truth, the real truth, is Geri’s a lovely girl and in some ways she’s a remarkable person but it’s very difficult to maintain a relationship with a person who lives for the Press. It’s hard to hang out with someone who loves the Press when you spend your time running away from them.” It is not the first time Geri has fallen out with a friend over her constant need to see her name in papers and magazines. POSH SPICE has said she stopped talking to her former band mate when photographers were tipped off they were having dinner. George, whose new single Freeek! was released yesterday, also revealed he has only just got over his mum Lesley dying from cancer in 1997. He said: “I went through a period of grieving which is actually more than four years. I was impatient with myself all the way through and thought I should be over it. I couldn’t understand why my writing wasn’t coming together and I was tough on myself. But now I haven’t felt stronger in my life. I feel the way I was just before my mother died. It’s like I can take on the world again and I think that shows in this record. I just pray to God I get a nice run of good luck.” George goes up against GARETH GATES in Sunday’s charts and admits his Freeek! does not have a chance of getting to No1. He said: “The guy’s going to have a fantastic week and I sent him a bottle of champagne. I actually think the Pop Idol thing has been quite healthy. It didn’t occur to me there would be this massive record at the end of it and I should get out the way. It only occurred to me when they said the record was coming out on the same day as mine.” George also told Radio 1 that he though Oasis had been destroyed by LIAM GALLAGHER’s behaviour. He said: “Oasis are the most amazing band I’ve ever seen live with the possible exception of U2. The critics made one member of Oasis feel they were the whole of Oasis. He promptly wrecked the best band we’d had in 20 years." Pals queue up for a pop HERE’S what other former pals have to say about Geri: ROBBIE WILLIAMS: “When her career started happening again she became a different person. She turned into a demonic little girl. She started speaking like a psychotic child and developed this possessed look. It was genuinely scaring me. I realised our friendship wasn’t what I thought." CHRIS EVANS’ best pal John Webster said: “She moved her clothes into his wardrobes. Then she insisted on a fax machine in the bedroom. It was all a bit too quick. Chris’ face was a picture of a man trapped in something he didn’t know how to get out of.” POSH SPICE: “I can’t stand Geri. I haven’t seen her for a couple of years and I’m pleased about that. She is one of the most disloyal people I’ve ever known. When she walked out of the Spice Girls she almost split up an entire band with her selfish behaviour.” Bunch Of 45s
March 18-24, 2002 Hey there pop people! When you stroll into your nearest choons emporium this week, don't shell out on that Savage Garden Blokey effort - why not try one of these little beauties instead... First off, time for that all-important Single Of The Week trophy to fall into some of the oldest hands to ever get a fondle of it, namely those of George Michael, whose comeback 'Freeek!' finally shows up this week on Polydor, and what an inordinate seeping of sauce it turns out to be. Grafted onto a positively indecent grind, Mr M delights with tales of the fascinating options opened up to him and, dear readers, to your mucky selves as well courtesy of this here internet thing and manages to turn the whole thing seamlessly into the godlike 'Try Again' roughly three minutes into the whole affair. More sordid and sorted than many a performer of his vintage could manage, and he's also managed to get the f-word more daytime radio play than any other record in recent memory, if ever (has no-one noticed?). Cheeky! Michael: My arrest was deliberate
BBC, March 18, 2002 Pop singer George Michael has said he thinks he got himself deliberately arrested for lewd conduct in 1998 to try to refocus his life after a string of tragedies. The star spoke openly about his arrest for lewd conduct in a Los Angeles public toilet in an interview with BBC Radio 1's Jo Whiley. Michael - who releases his new single Freeek! on Monday - told Whiley that in the run-up to his arrest he had been grieving over the deaths of his mother and former partner, Anselmo Feleppa. The singer also spoke candidly about his partner Kenny Goss and Pop Idols Will Young and Gareth Gates. Michael's arrest led to him being publicly outed as gay after years of mystery surrounding his sexuality. He said that, in retrospect, he may have put himself in a situation where he would be caught to "make my life about me". He said: "And for six months it worked. I had to fight, I had to make the video, I had to make the single (Outside), I had to finish the greatest hits, I did the Parkinson interview. Actually, in reality, when you saw me on the Parkinson interview I was doing well. But very soon after that I sank again," he added. He returned to grieving for his beloved mother and did so for four years in total, he said. He said he was "very impatient" with himself and thought "I should be through it". "I couldn't understand why my writing wasn't coming together was very tough on myself but actually I think that was what it was about, making my life about me and for that moment in time it worked," he added. The 38-year-old confirmed he still had a "fantastic relationship". And Michael was full of praise for Pop Idol winner Will Young's decision to tell the world he was gay. "Was I surprised? I don't want to be insulting, but about as surprised as people were with me probably - and they'd had 18 years to work on it." he said. "I'm very impressed that he did it. I think for a start it was fairly obvious that he might have been gay. I think it's very encouraging that the general public gave him the nod." He has already written off his chances of beating Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates' Unchained Melody to the number one spot. But he has conceded gracefully, sending him a bottle of champagne and advising him to enjoy his career. The genius of King George:
Shock value... George Michael in the Freeek video SMH / Australia, March 18, 2002 Renaissance man or freak of pop nature? George Michael has peeled away yet another layer in his evolution as ruler of the charts, Brett Thomas reports. You can just imagine the throne George Michael might have sitting in one of his mansions in London, Los Angeles or the south of France. High-backed, plush black ultra-shiny leather, trimmings in gold and satin. Regal chic. You can see him sitting there, contemplatively stroking his designer goatee with manicured thumb and forefinger, as he surveys the pop kingdom shimmering below him. Occasionally, as he's attempting now with his controversial new single and video, Michael comes back to reclaim that kingdom, but in between the campaigns that have often left him battered and spent, the 38-year-old multimillionaire singer likes to issue proclamations from this lofty perch. When the ageing pop pixie Sir Cliff Richard released a version of The Lord's Prayer, sung to the tune of Auld Lang Syne and retitled Millennium Prayer, in time for New Year's Eve 1999, Michael went on British radio to slam it as "exploitative and "vile". "He's always taking his hat off to himself, telling you how many hits he's had," said perma-tanned Michael of the perma-tanned Sir Cliff, a fellow devotee of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. A year later, Michael penned a piece for upmarket British newspaper The Sunday Times decrying the state of modern pop music. England's former dominance of said art form had been destroyed, according to Michael, by the influx of one-hit-wonder boy groups, girl groups and boy-and-girl groups. Greedy music industry executives had "spent the past 15 years doing their best to relieve artists of their art and now they have pretty much succeeded", he wrote. Of course, Michael who was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou didn't rabbit on about art, or anything much else, pre-1987 when he was a member of the seminal boy group Wham!. The duo, made up of Michael and his boyhood pal Andrew Ridgeley, famously stuffed shuttlecocks down their boxers before making public appearances and created art along the lines of: Wake me up before you go-go/Don't leave me hanging on like a yo-yo. But we're all allowed our mistakes (more on Michael's most infamous blunder later) and a glittering, though sometimes sputtering, solo career since then has earned him just about every award and accolade available as well as the right, so it seems, to be pop music's self-proclaimed conscience and guardian. There's also the fact that for lengthy periods of his solo career Michael has often had little more to do than observe pop's passing parade. Record company spats, personal issues, relentless perfectionism and a fiercely waged battle for total control over his career have seen his output pale behind contemporaries such as Prince and Madonna. Since 1987, Michael has released only five albums, and only three of those have been stocked with original material, the others being a greatest hits collection and a set of cover versions. Thus, every new song and every new album is invariably referred to as a comeback and the release of Michael's new single Freeek tomorrow amounts to the third or is it fourth? such career reinvention. The title may read like the noise a doomed mouse makes when it's nabbed by the family cat but the song itself is a slick piece of post-millennial funk, with music designed to get the body moving and a $3 million video courting the usual you-can't-show-that-on-TV! controversy. Some sample lyrics: I'll be your sexual freak/Of the week (Oh, touch it)/I'll be your educational lover/Your one f*** fantasy. It's a well-trodden path to column inches (the increasingly reclusive Michael hasn't given an interview since he was forced to explain his arrest for lewd conduct arising from an infamous incident in a Beverly Hills public toilet in April 1998) but unlike failing fellow superstars such as Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson, Michael still seems able to cut it both with fans and style arbiters alike. "He's still got it," Dave Cameron, music director for radio station 2Day FM, said. "I think he's one of those artists who has been lucky enough to have redefined his sound and his image. He's reinvented himself in the same way that someone like Madonna has done and as a result he's managed to stay pretty contemporary." Nova FM music director Dan Bessant said: "The song sounds like a hit to me. You can expect a huge chart debut. We've had it on a high rotation and my gut feeling is that it's going to be massive." Andrew Mercado, the entertainment reporter for cable TV music station ChannelV, said that despite the lewd conduct controversy Michael had managed to keep his integrity and respect while many of his superstar peers had fallen by the wayside. "Some of the 'gods' of yesterday aren't considered in the same vein," Mercado said. "Nobody considers Michael Jackson to be a god any more the kids just think he's a freak now. People like Jackson, Whitney, Mariah and Posh aren't being taken seriously. The bathroom incident [Michael was arrested and charged after allegedly exposing himself to an undercover police officer. He was fined and ordered to carry out community service] doesn't seem to have affected him; he still has respect. The way that he reclaimed that incident for himself and poked fun at it was very clever. He rose above it." "There's always that gossip side," Bessant said. "There's some shock value in the video and he's very good at creating talk." Cameron said the most important reason for Michael outlasting fellow pop icons was the fact that he continually delivered high-quality material. "The bottom line is, a hit's a hit," he said. "If you have the right song, it will work for you, no matter who you are. The problem with Mariah, Whitney and Jackson is that their songs have been crap." If there's one thing that Michael values above all else, even his obsession with his privacy, it's maintaining a high level of control over everything he does. In October 1993, while still riding high on the international success of his solo debut Faith and its follow-up Listen Without Prejudice Vol 1, Michael took on the giant multinational record company Sony, seeking to end his contract with it because he alleged his artistry was being stifled. After a nine-month court case, he lost and his recording career was in limbo for a further two years while legal negotiations continued. He once told his former manager Simon Napier-Bell: "I will never do anything I regret." Napier-Bell said later: "He really meant it. The words carried to me not a sinister quality but clarified just how tightly buttoned up and careful Michael was in relation to being a pop star. He wanted to be the biggest pop star in the world and nothing should be allowed to get in the way of that ambition." The lessons learned by Michael in his quest for total control now see him with an unprecedented new record deal with the Universal music group. After spending his own money recording a new album in LA, London and Paris, Michael signed with Universal for the single only and basically told them, "Do your best." If he's happy with the way Freeek is promoted, he'll go with the company for the album; if he's not, he's free to look elsewhere. Unlike artists who sign multi-year, multimillion-dollar deals and become virtual slaves to their record companies, this arrangement leaves Michael squarely in the driver's seat and may be the way major artists structure their deals in the future. But, ironically, if the singer's concerns about privacy and control have driven him to do things his own way, there may have been an artistic side effect. Because of all the problems and setbacks he's suffered the death of his first love, Anselmo Feleppa, of AIDS in 1993, the death of his mother a year later, his public and humiliating "outing" as a result of the Beverly Hills incident, his battle with Sony critics and fans have often expected more self-revelation from Michael's lyrics. By now, they're used to being disappointed and despite the jokes and self-deprecatory response to his arrest, it seemed to have a sudden and quite devastating effect on Michael's creativity, with the best-of album and ill-advised covers collection Songs From The Last Century his only major releases since then. Apart from the song Outside, which appeared on the best-of album, and was accompanied by a video parody of the arrest, there has been no new material until Freeek. "By the time I come around to doing my next album, hopefully it'll be a lot more upbeat than Older [released in 1996] was," Michael said in a 1998 interview with gay magazine The Advocate. "It has to be triumphant, in a sense. I have to write a 'f*** off' hit record. I think it's very important that when people are outed or out themselves that it's seen as a positive thing for the future of their lives. Whatever kind of artistic statement Imake in writing about this experience has to be a hit. It has to say, 'It doesn't matter'." Freeek may indeed be destined for the top of the charts but it's clearly not the song Michael was talking about. The question therefore remains: is pop's King George, sitting alone on his throne, as willing to judge his own place in the kingdom as he is others'? George Michael says he got himself arrested on purpose
Ananova, March 18, 2002 George Michael believes he deliberately got himself arrested for lewd conduct to help refocus his life. His arrest in a public toilet in Los Angeles in 1998 led him to disclose he is gay. George now says, in retrospect, he thinks he may have tried to get caught to "make my life about me". The singer had been grieving over the deaths of his mother and former partner Anselmo Feleppa. He told Jo Whiley on Radio 1: "I think, with hindsight, I did it to myself and I tried to work out why. It certainly wasn't because I wanted to be outed in that way. I knew I would have to defend myself and I'd gone through losing my mother and I'd gone through losing a partner before that. I'd had a lot of difficult stuff going on and my life had not been about me for ever. And suddenly it was a way of making my life about me. And for six months it worked. I had to fight, I had to make the video, I had to make the single (Outside), I had to finish the greatest hits, I did the Parkinson interview." George was fined $800 and ordered to do community service after admitting committing a lewd act. George also said it was no surprise to hear Pop Idol winner Will Young is gay. "Was I surprised? I don't want to be insulting, but about as surprised as people were with me probably - and they'd had 18 years to work on it," he said. "I'm very impressed that he did it. I think for a start it was fairly obvious that he might have been gay. I think it's very encouraging that the general public gave him the nod." George's new singe Freeek! is out today. It is available for L3.99 through Ananova's ecommerce partner HMV. George Michael Says Arrest Was Deliberate
Pop Singer Pitching New Single, Album NewsNet5, March 18, 2002 George Michael told a London radio station that he believes that he may have deliberately gotten himself arrested for lewd conduct in 1998. Michael, whose new single "Freek!" was released in the United Kingdom on Monday, told British Broadcasting Corporation's Radio 1 that he had been grieving over the deaths of his mother, Lesley, and his former partner, Anselmo Feleppa. The pop singer's arrest in a public toilet in Los Angeles for soliciting led to him being publicly outed as gay. He said that, in retrospect, he may have put himself in a situation where he would be caught to "make my life about me. I think, with hindsight, I did it to myself and I tried to work out why. It certainly wasn't because I wanted to be outed in that way," he told the BBC. Michael was arrested, charged, and then released on a $500 bail after an undercover cop observed him performing a "lewd act" alone in a public restroom. He was fined $810, ordered to perform community service and to seek counseling. The 38-year-old Michael is currently keeping censors in France and Britain busy with the video release for "Freek," according to Britain's ITV.com. The video features nudity and explicit language. Michael's new album is set for release in November. George Michael Back With New Single
Yahoo, March 18, 2002 LONDON - George Michael thinks he may have been trying to shake up his life when he got arrested four years ago. Michael was charged with lewd conduct in a Los Angeles public bathroom in April 1998. Soon afterward, he said publicly for the first time that he was gay. The 38-year-old singer told British Broadcasting Corp. radio on Monday that he may have tried to get caught to "make my life about me." He said he had been grieving after the deaths of his mother and of his former partner, Anselmo Feleppa. "I think, with hindsight, I did it to myself and I tried to work out why," Michael told BBC Radio 1. "I'd gone though losing my mother and a partner before that and my life hadn't been about me forever," he added. "And suddenly, it was a way of making my life about me. And for six months it worked." Michael was fined $810 and ordered to perform 80 hours of community service for committing the unspecified solo act. He rebounded with the single and video "Outside," which poked fun at the police. After that, he said, he "sank again" into mourning for his mother. "I was very impatient with myself all the way through that and thought I should be through it. I couldn't understand why my writing wasn't coming together, was very tough on myself, but actually I think that was what it was about, making my life about me and for that moment in time it worked," Michael told the BBC. Michael, who was half of the duo Wham! in the 1980s, released his latest single, "Freeek!" in Britain Monday. George Michael 'Freeeks' Out
Reuters/Variety Music, March 18 2002 LONDON (Reuters) - George Michael's latest single "Freeek" has been released, accompanied by a video featuring mating dogs, nudity and swearing, which has kept censors busy in both France and Britain. "I've realized that ... starting with this single, I've actually written some fairly controversial stuff for this album," the 38-year-old star told BBC radio. "Freeek," which has been edited by both French and British broadcasters, is Michael's first self-written single since October 1998. Michael said he had spent nearly five years working on a new album but could not say exactly when fans should expect its release. "For me to get it out in November I won't even get another week off between now and then," he said. George freeeks out
World Pop, March 18, 2002 George Michael has launched a stinging attack on Oasis and the Pop Idol format. Speaking to Radio 1's Jo Whiley today George said of Oasis' new single, The Hindu Times: 'I think eight years ago it wouldn't have even made it on to one of their b-sides. It's a really boring record. They used to be one of the most exciting bands in the country. I really hope Noel hears this slag off too because he slagged me off,' added George. 'Noel said he thought most of his gay friends thought I was disgusting. Yeah, right, I can really imagine Noel hanging out with a load of nellies round at his house every night, slagging out off the gays.' George then turned his attentions to the Pop Idol format. He conceded that his new single Freeek would be eclipsed by Pop Idol runner up Gareth Gates' new single in the chart battle this week. 'Gareth's single will be huge, obviously,' said George. 'When I was watching Pop Idol I never thought it would become this huge phenomenon and so it never occurred to me to change the release date of my single. 'But I don't think Pop Idol has much to do with the music industry,' said George. 'It's just Saturday night TV entertainment. It's killing the music industry. The singles market is dying in this country and we're not exporting any stars around the world. Eight million people called in to vote for Pop Idol, which is about interactivity not music. We should turn all that people power into something positive, maybe give exposure to bands who can't be heard right now.' Asked whether he had any advice for Will and Gareth, George replied; 'Yes, I'd tell them not to listen to advice from people who are closely connected with their careers because they have a vested interest. They should seek advice from someone completely disconnected from them. The public can be very brutal and it will be difficult for them to survive the hype around them.' George said he was surprised that Will had announced he was gay. 'It didn't come as a surprise to me but I'm impressed that he did it. It was fairly obvious though.' George also denied he had fallen out with former pal, Geri Halliwell. 'Geri is a lovely girl and a remarkable person but it's difficult to be friends with someone who courts the press all the time. I don't mean that in a bad way. She's a victim of that process in a way but I love privacy so it's difficult to be with her. I was drawn to her initially after the Spice Girls split. We'd both recently lost a parent and she was good company to be with.' Michael also added that he is working on putting a live show together for next year. 'I want to blow everyone away with this stage show,' said George. Michael's single Freeek is released today. The singer defended the controversial video with its saucy antics. 'It's meant to be tongue in cheek and fun. I'm not advocating that kids go out and become perverts or anything. I do think that people are very suspicious of the sexual opinions of anyone who is openly gay and the flak I've received conceals a certain amount of homophobia in the press,' said George. George Michael talks '98 arrest
CNN, March 18, 2002 LONDON (AP) -- George Michael said Monday that he may have been deliberately attempting to shake up his life when he was arrested for lewd conduct in 1998. Michael was charged with lewd conduct in a Los Angeles public toilet in 1998. Soon after, he said publicly for the first time that he was gay. The singer told British Broadcasting Corp. radio that he may have tried to get caught to "make my life about me." He said he had been grieving after the deaths of his mother and of his former partner, Anselmo Feleppa. "I think, with hindsight, I did it to myself and I tried to work out why," Michael told BBC Radio 1. "And suddenly, it was a way of making my life about me. And for six months it worked." Michael was fined $810 and ordered to perform 80 hours of community service for committing the unspecified solo act. He rebounded with the single and video "Outside," which poked fun at the police. Michael's latest single, "Freeek!" was released in Britain on Monday. George Michael - Freeek! single (Polydor)
Megastar, March 18 2002 George returns with his first single in nearly four years and he's got a lot to tell us. Full of scratchy noise, pent-up anger and more than his fair share of sexual tension, Freeek! unleashes the lot. The stylish video attracted all manner of attention but it's nice to have the original Pop Idol back on the block. George Michael - Freeek! (Polydor)
Dotmusic, Released on: Monday, March 18 2002 Any multi-millionaire pop star who's prepared to hang-out in a public toilet just to get his dick sucked has to be an unhinged sexual lothario in anyone's book. And so George Michael proves on 'Freeek', which is another breathless visitation to the swinging, incoherent orgasmotronic paradise Michael seems to have been trying to conjure since the heady days of 'Club Tropicana'. Typically red-hot, sassy and riotously addictive, 'Freeek' is a thundering blast of sweltering electro bass stabs and rebounding modems, in which Michael promises to be your "sexual freak". And you can guarantee the video features leather-clad female androids writhing around a futuristic 'Clockwork Orange' shell, with him as the ring-leader. Say what you like about George Michael though, because the man has a constant desire to make pop music that sounds like it's looking to the future rather than gazing at a derivative past and infinite money bags. Thoughts of his other desires should perhaps be avoided. Freedom!
Dotmusic, March 18 2002 George Michael has claimed he deliberately got himself arrested for lewd conduct in an attempt to refocus his life. In an interview with BBC Radio 1, the singer explained this afternoon how he had wanted to "make my life about me." Michael's arrest in a Los Angeles public toilet resulted in him finally revealing his sexuality to the press. He said: "I think, with hindsight, I did it to myself and I tried to work out why. It certainly wasn't because I wanted to be outed in that way. I knew I would have to defend myself and I'd gone through losing my mother and I'd gone through losing a partner before that. I'd had a lot of difficult stuff going on and my life had not been about me forever." He continued: "And suddenly it was a way of making my life about me. And for six months it worked. I had to fight, I had to make the video, I had to make the single ('Outside'), I had to finish the greatest hits, I did the Parkinson interview." Michael was fined $800 and ordered to do community service after admitting he had conducted the lewd act. Meanwhile, George releases his long-awaited comeback single, 'Freeek', this week. Buy a copy HERE. Win: George Michael
Rainbownetwork, March 16, 2002 Download - `Freeek` Audio and Video (full version) George Michael’s long awaited new single ‘Freeek’ is released on 18 March. To celebrate the return of George, we`ve got a fantastic 8ft George `standee` to giveaway. This fab piece of memorabilia features George in his black rubber futuristic suit. Freeek’ is homage to all things cyber sex and the video comes over all ‘Fifth Element’ sci-fi. George himself had a big hand in the production of the video, which oozes special effects and freakish dancers. The song is as saucy as you’d expect from someone who’s not shy in letting us know what turns him on. Decked out in a fantastic rubber cat suit, George flits from fantasy to fantasy. We see him morph into a muscle bound stud one minute, before slipping into the guise of pin-striped businessman. “You got yourself a big bed, you shoot off but you take your time, I’ll be your sexual freak” ‘Freeek’ is one of those epic videos that leaves you a tad exhausted by the end of it. It’s dark, it’s hard and it’s downright sexy! Hear `Freeek` Now! The George Standee is... 6ft ... 7ft ... 8ft ... Fizzy Pop Idol
The Sun, March 15, 2002 GEORGE MICHAEL has sent GARETH GATES a magnum of champagne – because he is certain the Pop Idol finalist will beat him to No1 next week. The superstar splashed out on a L300 bottle of Cristal after reading how Gareth had admitted to me he was scared of the chart battle with George. George’s pals say he is resigned to his comeback single Freeek being thrashed by Gareth’s Unchained Melody. Both singles are out on Monday. George sent Gareth’s bubbly to Pop Idol guru SIMON COWELL’s record company BMG yesterday with a handwritten note. It said: “I wish you well with your No1 record next week. You’re very talented and I’m delighted you’re doing so well. Keep it up — best wishes, George.” Pals say George is chuffed Gareth has expressed his admiration for him and wants to give the newcomer support. One told me: “It was just a gesture to say he wishes him well and no hard feelings. He knows he can’t compete with someone who has been in such a popular TV show and he will be pleased if Freek gets into the top five.” In Tuesday’s Bizarre, Gareth revealed he was frightened about going up against his hero. He said: “When I first heard about George’s single I was scared — he’s such a huge star. But hopefully I will do well.” Gareth is expected to eclipse even WILL YOUNG’s record-breaking No1 with sales of his debut single. An amazing 1.3million copies of Unchained Melody have been shipped to shops in preparation for the rush. George sends Gareth champagne message
Ananova, March 15, 2002 George Michael has admitted defeat in his chart battle with Gareth Gates. He sent him a magnum of champagne with a note saying the Pop Idol runner-up would be number one. George's comeback single Freeek and Gareth's debut Unchained Melody are both released on Monday. The £300 bottle of champagne arrived at Gareth's record label BMG, reports The Sun. The handwritten note said: "I wish you well with your number one record next week. You're very talented and I'm delighted you're doing so well. Keep it up - best wishes, George." Gareth could beat Will's record-breaking number one hit after retailers ordered 1.3 million advance copies of the single. It is available to pre-order for £3.99 through Ananova's ecommerce partner HMV. Gareth Gets Bubbly
Dotmusic, March 15, 2002 George Michael has shown he has no hard feelings towards chart rival Gareth Gates, by sending the Pop Idol runner-up a magnum of champagne. George, who releases his comeback single 'Freeek' next week, spent L300 on a bottle of Cristal after hearing that Gareth was nervous of the impending chart battle. As Dotmusic reported this week, Gareth's debut single, also released on March 18, has already sold over 1.3 million copies in advance orders, giving George Michael more than a run for his money. According to a UK tabloid, George has resigned himself to the fact that 'Freeek' will be beaten to the top spot by Gareth's cover of the Righteous Brothers' 'Unchained Melody'. A hand-written note accompanying the bubbly to the offices of Gareth's record company BMG, said: "I wish you well with your No1 record next week. Youre very talented and Im delighted youre doing so well. Keep it up - best wishes, George." Meanwhile, the ten finalists of hit TV show Pop Idol took to the London stage last night for the first in a series of 'Pop Idol Live' concerts. Will Young, Gareth Gates, Darius Danesh, Zoe Birkett, Hayley Evetts and Rosie Ribbons were amongst those performing to over 10,000 fans at Wembley Arena. The concerts, which are said to be earning each of the finalists around L100,000, are expected to raise L250,000 for the Prince's Trust charity. Ding-"dung" battle with George's fans
Daily Record - Glasgow, March 15, 2002 POP Editor John Dingwall's comments about George Michael going to the dogs (our cover story last week) has got his fans standing to attention. DEAR Mr.Ding-whatever! Nice article about George Michael in the Daily Record. Y'know, if George is or was what you describe him to be, I'd tell you in response of your article "Takes one to know one".Of course, George is not a sleaze-ball - you on theother hand are a whole different story. Now, I must admit that some parts of your "article", or should I just call it "Ding Sleaze", was arguable, but the rest (and by that I mean 90 per cent) was pure - and I mean PURE - dung. I'm not going to argue or correct you in your Ding Sleaze, because I don't have the time and, even if I did, I wouldn't dignify you with the effort. Y'know, I think you should stop writing fiction, you ain't that good at it. I think you went over the line - beware, beware. - Dax Pandhi I'VE read your article about George Michael and all I can say about it is that you know nothing about George Michael. You know nothing about his fans. You know nothing about good music or even what makes good music video. You know nothing. You are nothing. Change your job and do nothing - you are good at it. Please - save the world and do nothing. No-one will cry. P.S. do not forget to change your e-mail adress to nothing@noplacefrom.hell All the worst - btl Dear BTL - thanks for the comments and picture - we know you can say it with flowers, but never thought we'd see a bouquet quite like that. WIN - Every week, the writer of our Red Alert letter will win pounds 50 to spend on the music of your choice. Write to: Your Shout, 192, Daily Record, One Central Quay, Glasgow G3 8DA or e-mail: r.fulton@dailyrecord.co.uk and remember to give your address. Out of the closet and in control
The Daily Telegraph, March 14, 2002 With the hinges of Will Young's closet door still audibly creaking, an individual who could be legitimately described as the nation's leading gay pop idol makes a spectacular return to the fray next week. With the saucily confrontational Freeek!, his first single in over a year, George Michael is mounting a particularly risque bid to unseat his young usurper. While Britain's current pop idol may have sold more than a million copies of his debut single, he still has some way to go to match Michael's 80 million record sales worldwide. Mind you, many of those sales date back to a time when Michael was widely admired by young ladies as a stubbly heterosexual pin-up. He kept the metaphorical closet door firmly closed for most of his career, before being outed by a Beverly Hills police officer in a widely reported incident in a toilet cubicle in 1998. Michael subsequently confirmed both his long-rumoured homosexuality and his continuing popularity with the hit single Outside (which reached number 2 in the UK). Judging by the "Parental Guidance: Explicit Content" sticker adorning the graphic sleeve of his latest self-penned and self- produced offering, Michael is (to use the vernacular) comfortable with his sexuality, even if it does mean dressing up in a one- piece, heavily buckled and phallically-studded moulded rubber fetish suit with power-tool attachments that makes him look like a cross between Batman and Bob the Builder's perverted mate. Featuring copulating dogs, self-abusing S&M slaves and a sci-fi mutant orgy that would make Flesh Gordon blush, the video was never likely to be widely shown. Evidently, this did not deter Polydor, a division of Universal records, from providing the kind of budget normally reserved for Hollywood epics. But there is a very good reason why Universal are sparing no expense promoting Michael's single. They need this record to be a substantial hit because, if they can't do it, the superstar is free to find someone else who can. In a ground-breaking arrangement that challenges the traditional balance of power between record company and artist, Michael has essentially leased his services to Universal for one single. Only if he judges it to be a success will the relationship continue for the release of an album later in the year. Record companies, of course, are notorious for dropping musicians if they don't sell enough records. This time, it is the other way around. It is a deal that reflects the strange level of antipathy and suspicion that exists between the two mutually dependent sides of the music business: those doing the selling and those whose wares are being sold. This is a perpetual struggle that goes deeper than the inevitable tensions between art and commerce. Elton John, the Eagles, Beck, Courtney Love, Billy Joel, Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow, the Dixie Chicks, No Doubt, Tom Petty, Offspring and Pearl Jam have all lent their weight to a US campaign to change the structure of recording contracts. "It is an unfortunate fact of life that the entertainment industry has a history in which artists have sometimes been relegated to near-servitude status," says Michigan Congressman John Conyers. Asked what advice he would give to would-be pop stars, Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees notoriously replied: "Get a lawyer." It is advice that George Michael seems to have taken to heart. His first legal dispute came early in his career, when he successfully changed the terms of his contract with his label Innervisions, and, in 1993, he spent an estimated pounds 4 million trying to release himself from a contract with Sony. Although he lost the case, he orchestrated an expensive buy-out (in the region of pounds 28 million), financed by a two-album deal with Virgin. Since 1999, he has been a free agent. Other stars who have found themselves in this position (such as U2 and REM) have negotiated massive advances on multi-album contracts, but Michael chose a different route. "This is really a very simple deal between somebody making music and an international music marketing company," says Dick Leahy, Michael's long-standing publisher. "He wants to have an equal relationship, and, as long as it works well, they will continue to work together. A lot more people could make this kind of deal if they were prepared to gamble on their futures, instead of taking the money up front." Perhaps the real question is whether it is possible for people to take seriously as a business role model a man in a rubber suit, who says he wants to be your sexual freak. ATV cuts star's raunchy video
South China Morning Post, March 13, 2002 Pop superstar George Michael's latest music video has been censored by ATV because the TV station considers it too raunchy for a Hong Kong audience. Fifteen seconds of nudity from the original video for Michael's first single in three years - Freeek! - have landed on the cutting room floor. Footage of scantily-clad female dancers has stayed in but the sexiest segments of the British singer's first collaboration with Universal Music have been deemed too much. The video was sent to ATV, which rejected it and asked the record company to resubmit a "clean" version. Record company boss Norman Chan Kang-fai said yesterday he was disappointed by the decision, but willing to accept it. "The video is a bit controversial as certain scenes are related to sex. But we respect the decision as these are the rules of the game. We don't want anybody to get in trouble." A spokeswoman for ATV said it edited the video according to the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority's code of practice. "We basically wanted to take out the nude scenes. We don't have to do this very often as record companies usually send us a clean version. Up till now we still haven't got a finalised version of the video," she said. Freeek! has also been heavily censored in Singapore and Malaysia, according to Universal Music. Previous music videos which have fallen victim to the censors in Hong Kong include Bjork's Pagan Poetry, Limp Bizkit's Rollin' and The Real Slim Shady by Eminen. The video is to be shown on Monday on ATV World. Channel V has already aired it. Marilyn Manson speaks out on chart battle with Gareth Gates
Ananova, March 13, 2002 Marilyn Manson says he is equally as 'handicapped' as Gareth Gates, and deserves a number one single in the UK. He says he is "mentally handicapped in some ways from years of drugs and alcohol." Manson releases his cover of Tainted Love on Monday, the same day Gates releases his cover of Unchained Melody. Tainted Love has been given the Single Of The Week accolade in this week's editions of NME and Kerrang! It is taken from the soundtrack to Not Another Teen Movie. Manson told NME (http://www.nme.com): "You think he's going to win by default because he's handicapped and people feel sorry for him? Well, I can assure you that I'm mentally handicapped in some ways from years of drugs and alcohol, so I deserve my fair shot." He added that he wouldn't be able to meet Gates on Top Of The Pops, because he's not planning on visiting the UK. |
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CD1 1. Freeek! (explicit version) 2. Freeek! (Scumfrogs mix) 3. Freeek! (Moogymen mix) |
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CD2 (limited format) 1. Freeek! (explicit version) 2. Freeek! (Max Relch mix) 3. The Long And Winding Road |