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George Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in East Finchley, London, and spent much of his childhood in Kingsbury before his family moved to Hertfordshire. The son of a Greek Cypriot restaurateur and an English dancer, he grew up immersed in music and pop culture, developing early aspirations of stardom. His musical partnership with childhood friend Andrew Ridgeley led to the formation of Wham! in 1981, a project that launched him into global fame within a few short years. The duo’s infectious energy, danceable hooks, and Michael’s undeniable charisma quickly made them pop royalty, beginning with their debut album Fantastic in 1983.
The Wham! Commercial Explosion
The commercial explosion came with Wham!’s second studio album, Make It Big (1984), which delivered four massive hits: “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” “Freedom,” “Everything She Wants,” and “Careless Whisper.” Although the latter was credited as a Wham! track in some territories, it was Michael’s solo debut, offering early evidence of the artistic independence he was preparing to assert. Wham! disbanded in 1986 at the height of their fame, a mutual decision that allowed Michael to pursue a more mature, soulful direction.
Defining Solo Mastery with Faith
His official solo debut album, Faith, released in 1987, became a defining moment in late 20th-century pop music. The album sold more than 25 million copies worldwide and topped charts across multiple countries. Its title track, along with “Father Figure,” “One More Try,” and “Monkey,” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Faith earned Michael the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and established him as an artist with range, depth, and staying power. His look, sound, and attitude helped reshape pop stardom in the late 1980s, balancing commercial appeal with a deeply personal songwriting style.
Artistic Evolution and the Legal Battle with Sony
Michael followed with Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 in 1990, a stark departure from the glossy production of Faith. It showcased his desire to be judged on musical merit rather than celebrity image. The lead single “Praying for Time” topped the U.S. charts, while “Freedom! ’90” and “Waiting for That Day” emphasized his evolving lyrical themes.
The video for “Freedom! ’90” notably featured supermodels lip-syncing the lyrics while Michael stayed off-camera, a visual metaphor for his rejection of fame’s trappings. A long and very public legal battle with Sony Music over artistic control followed, stalling his output during the early 1990s.
Introspection, Grief, and Vocal Brilliance
Despite the challenges, he returned with Older in 1996, an introspective and jazz-tinged album that reflected his experiences with grief, loss, and love. The death of his partner Anselmo Feleppa in 1993 from an AIDS-related illness profoundly shaped the tone of the record. “Jesus to a Child,” “Fastlove,” and “Spinning the Wheel” marked his return to the top of the UK charts, and Older became one of his most critically respected works. In 1999, he issued Songs from the Last Century, a collection of cover songs that paid tribute to classic jazz, blues, and pop standards.
George Michael released five solo studio albums: Faith (1987), Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990), Older (1996), Songs from the Last Century (1999), and Patience (2004). Patience, his final studio album of new material, debuted at number one in the UK and included songs including “Amazing” and “Shoot the Dog.” Over the course of his career, he sold more than 100 million records worldwide, won two Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, and received multiple Ivor Novello Awards for songwriting.
Michael’s voice, often described as one of the most technically gifted in pop music, gave his songs emotional clarity and richness. From gospel-inspired ballads to dance-pop anthems, he brought a distinctive tone and phrasing that few could match. His duets, most notably with Aretha Franklin on “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” further demonstrated his versatility and collaborative spirit. Other high-profile pairings included Elton John on “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and Mary J. Blige on “As.”
Quiet Philanthropy and Cultural Authenticity
Outside of his musical achievements, George Michael was known for his immense generosity and quiet philanthropy. He supported numerous causes, often anonymously, donating proceeds from performances to HIV/AIDS charities, children’s hospitals, and disaster relief funds. He gave away royalties from his 1991 single “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and supported local schools, homeless shelters, and free concerts for National Health Service nurses. After his death, numerous stories emerged confirming the extent of his private giving, often carried out without fanfare or public credit.
His personal life, especially during the 1990s and 2000s, was the subject of intense media scrutiny. His arrest in 1998 in Beverly Hills led him to publicly come out as gay, sparking a broader cultural conversation about sexuality, privacy, and the right to self-identify. While the event was tabloid fodder at the time, Michael responded with honesty and humor, using it as a catalyst to embrace openness about his identity. This transparency earned him greater respect in the LGBTQ+ community and endeared him further to fans who appreciated his authenticity.
An Enduring Musical Legacy and Rock Hall Induction
George Michael died unexpectedly on December 25, 2016, at the age of 53. The shock of his death on Christmas Day, after years of using his music to uplift, challenge, and console, reverberated around the world. Tributes poured in from fans and fellow musicians.
In 2023, George Michael was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Performer category, with Andrew Ridgeley presenting the honor. The induction recognized his enduring legacy as a singer, songwriter, producer, and defining figure in popular music.
In the years since his death, retrospectives, reissues, and archival recordings have continued to affirm the breadth of his talent. The 2017 reissue of Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 returned the album to the top of the UK chart and paired it with his MTV Unplugged performance. The 2022 deluxe edition of Older collected B-sides, live recordings, edits, and remixes from that era. His posthumous releases have also included the Nile Rodgers version of “Fantasy” and “This Is How (We Want You to Get High).”
The preservation of Michael’s catalog continued in 2026 with archival editions of the Faith singles and new releases built around “I Want Your Sex,” including a collaboration with Mosimann. A restored concert film documenting his 1988 Faith tour was also announced for a worldwide theatrical release, accompanied by an 18-track live album of previously unreleased performances. These projects have kept the focus on Michael’s original recordings and live work while introducing another generation to the ambition and precision behind his music.
Complete List Of George Michael Songs From A to Z
- “Amazing” – Patience – 2004
- “American Angel” – Patience – 2004
- “As” (with Mary J. Blige; Stevie Wonder cover) – Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael – 1998
- “Bad Boys” – Fantastic (Wham!) – 1983
- “Battlestations” – Music from the Edge of Heaven (Wham!) – 1986
- “Blame It on the Sun” (with Ray Charles; Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright cover) – Genius & Friends – 2005
- “Blue” (live in China) – Music from the Edge of Heaven (Wham!) – 1986
- “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” (E.Y. Harburg, Jay Gorney cover) – Songs from the Last Century – 1999
- “Calling You” (live; Bob Telson cover) – Five Live – 1993
- “Careless Whisper” – Make It Big (Wham!) – 1984
- “Cars and Trains” – Patience – 2004
- “Club Tropicana” – Fantastic (Wham!) – 1983
- “Come On” – Fantastic (Wham!) – 1983
- “Cowboys and Angels” – Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 – 1990
- “Cowboys and Angels” (Edit) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “Crazy Man Dance” – B-side of “Too Funky” – 1992
- “Credit Card Baby” – Make It Big (Wham!) – 1984
- “December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)” – Non-album single – 2009
- “Desafinado” (with Astrud Gilberto) – Red Hot + Rio – 1996
- “A Different Corner” – Music from the Edge of Heaven (Wham!) – 1986
- “Do You Really Want to Know” – Red Hot + Dance – 1992
- “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” (with Elton John) – Non-album live single – 1991
- “An Easier Affair” – Twenty Five – 2006
- “The Edge of Heaven” – Music from the Edge of Heaven (Wham!) – 1986
- “Edith and the Kingpin” (Joni Mitchell cover) – John and Elvis Are Dead EP – 2005
- “Everything She Wants” – Make It Big (Wham!) – 1984
- “Everything She Wants” (live) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “Faith” – Faith – 1987
- “Fantasy” – B-side of “Waiting for That Day” / “Freedom! ’90” – 1990
- “Fantasy” (featuring Nile Rodgers) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “Fantasy ’98” – Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael – 1998
- “Fastlove” – Older – 1996
- “Fastlove” (A/C Summer Mix) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Fastlove” (Forthright Dub Remix) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Fastlove” (Forthright Extended 12″ Mix) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Fastlove” (Forthright Remix 7″ Version) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Fastlove” (live) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “Fastlove” (Part II – Fully Extended Mix) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Fastlove” (Part II) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Fastlove” (Promo Edit) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Father Figure” – Faith – 1987
- “Father Figure” (live) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “Feeling Good” (Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse cover) – Twenty Five (U.S. edition) – 2008
- “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” (Ewan MacColl cover) – Songs from the Last Century – 1999
- “Flawless (Go to the City)” – Patience – 2004
- “For the Love (Of You)” (The Isley Brothers cover) – John and Elvis Are Dead EP – 2005
- “Free” – Older – 1996
- “Freedom” – Make It Big (Wham!) – 1984
- “Freedom! ’90” – Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 – 1990
- “Freedom! ’90” (Back to Reality Mix Edit) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “Freedom! ’90” (Back to Reality Mix) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “Freedom! ’90” (Edit) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “Freedom! ’90” (live) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “Freedom ’94” (Live Version) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Freeek!” – Non-album single – 2002
- “Freeek! ’04” – Patience – 2004
- “Going to a Town” (live; Rufus Wainwright cover) – Symphonica (Deluxe Edition) – 2014
- “The Grave” (Don McLean cover) – Hope – 2003
- “Hand to Mouth” – Faith – 1987
- “Happy” – Red Hot + Dance – 1992
- “Hard Day” – Faith – 1987
- “Hard Day” (Shep Pettibone remix) – Faith – 1987
- “Heal the Pain” – Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 – 1990
- “Heal the Pain” (with Paul McCartney) – Twenty Five – 2006
- “Heartbeat” – Make It Big (Wham!) – 1984
- “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?” (with Tony Bennett) – Duets: An American Classic – 2006
- “I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)” (live; Stevie Wonder cover) – B-side of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” – 1991
- “I Can’t Make You Love Me” (live) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “I Can’t Make You Love Me” (Studio Version) – The Older EP – 1997
- “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” (with Aretha Franklin) – Aretha – 1987
- “I Remember You” (Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger cover) – Songs from the Last Century – 1999
- “I Want Your Sex” (featuring Mosimann – Edit) – Non-album single – 2026
- “I Want Your Sex” (featuring Mosimann) – Non-album single – 2026
- “I Want Your Sex” (Monogamy Mix) – I Want Your Sex EP – 2026
- “I Want Your Sex” (Parts 1 & 2) – Faith – 1987
- “I Want Your Sex” (Rhythm 1 – Lust) – I Want Your Sex EP – 2026
- “I Want Your Sex” (Rhythm 2 – Brass in Love) – I Want Your Sex EP – 2026
- “Idol” (live; Elton John cover) – Symphonica – 2014
- “If I Told You That” (with Whitney Houston) – Whitney: The Greatest Hits – 2000
- “If You Were My Woman” (live at Wembley Stadium) – B-side of “Praying for Time” – 1990
- “If You Were There” (Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, Chris Jasper cover) – Make It Big (Wham!) – 1984
- “I’m Your Man” – Music from the Edge of Heaven (Wham!) – 1986
- “I’m Your Man” (The Jon Douglas Remix) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “It Doesn’t Really Matter” – Older – 1996
- “Jesus to a Child” – Older – 1996
- “Jesus to a Child” (Radio Edit) – Older – 1996
- “Jesus to a Child” (Special Radio Edit) – Older – 1996
- “Jingle (A Musical Interlewd)” – B-side of “December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)” – 2009
- “John and Elvis Are Dead” – Patience – 2004
- “Killer” (live; Adamski and Seal cover) – Five Live – 1993
- “Kissing a Fool” – Faith – 1987
- “Last Christmas” – Music from the Edge of Heaven (Wham!) – 1986
- “Last Christmas” (Pudding mix) – Music from the Edge of Heaven (Wham!) – 1986
- “A Last Request (I Want Your Sex Part 3)” – Faith – 1987
- “Learn to Say No” (with Jody Watley) – Jody Watley – 1987
- “Let Her Down Easy” (live; Terence Trent D’Arby cover) – Symphonica – 2014
- “Like a Baby” – Make It Big (Wham!) – 1984
- “The Long and Winding Road” (live; Beatles cover) – B-side of “Freeek!” – 2002
- “Look at Your Hands” – Faith – 1987
- “Love Machine” (instrumental remix) – Fantastic (Wham!) – 1983
- “Love Machine” (Pete Moore, Billy Griffin cover) – Fantastic (Wham!) – 1983
- “Love’s in Need of Love Today” (live; Stevie Wonder cover) – B-side of “Father Figure” – 1987
- “Miss Sarajevo” (Adam Clayton, Brian Eno, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul Hewson cover) – Songs from the Last Century – 1999
- “A Moment with You” – Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael – 1998
- “Monkey” – Faith – 1987
- “Mother’s Pride” – Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 – 1990
- “Move On” – Older – 1996
- “My Baby Just Cares for Me” (Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson cover) – Songs from the Last Century – 1999
- “My Mother Had a Brother” – Patience – 2004
- “Nothing Looks the Same in the Light” – Fantastic (Wham!) – 1983
- “Nothing Looks the Same in the Light” (instrumental remix) – Fantastic (Wham!) – 1983
- “Older” – Older – 1996
- “Older” (Instrumental) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Older” (live) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “One More Try” – Faith – 1987
- “One More Try” (Live Gospel Version) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Outside” – Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael – 1998
- “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” (live; Temptations cover) – Five Live – 1993
- “Patience” – Patience – 2004
- “Patience Pt. II” – Patience – 2004
- “Please Send Me Someone (Anselmo’s Song)” – Patience – 2004
- “Please Send Me Someone (Anselmo’s Song)” (alternative version) – Patience – 2004
- “Praying for Time” – Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 – 1990
- “Praying for Time” (live) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “Precious Box” – Patience – 2004
- “A Ray of Sunshine” – Fantastic (Wham!) – 1983
- “A Ray of Sunshine” (instrumental remix) – Fantastic (Wham!) – 1983
- “Round Here” – Patience – 2004
- “Roxanne” (Sting cover) – Songs from the Last Century – 1999
- “Safe” – The Spinning the Wheel EP – 1996
- “Secret Love” (Paul Francis Webster, Sammy Fain cover) – Songs from the Last Century – 1999
- “Shoot the Dog” – Patience – 2004
- “Somebody to Love” (live with Queen) – Five Live – 1993
- “Something to Save” – Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 – 1990
- “Song to the Siren” (Tim Buckley cover) – B-side of “White Light” – 2012
- “Soul Free” – Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 – 1990
- “Soul Free” (Special Radio Edit) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “Spinning the Wheel” – Older – 1996
- “Spinning the Wheel” (Forthright Dub Mix) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Spinning the Wheel” (Forthright Edit) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Spinning the Wheel” (Forthright Extended 12″ Club Mix) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Spinning the Wheel” (Radio Edit) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Spinning the Wheel” (The Jon Douglas Remix) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Star People” – Older – 1996
- “Star People” (Forthright Club Mix) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Star People” (Forthright Dub Mix) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Star People” (Forthright Radio Edit) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Star People” (Galaxy Dub Mix) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Star People” (Galaxy Mix) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Star People” (live) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “Star People” (Unplugged) – Older (Deluxe Edition) – 2022
- “Star People ’97” (Radio Edit) – Older – 1996
- “Star People ’97” (Radio Version) – Older – 1996
- “The Strangest Thing” – Older – 1996
- “The Strangest Thing” (live) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “The Strangest Thing” (Live) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “The Strangest Thing ’97” (Loop Ratz Mix) – Older – 1996
- “The Strangest Thing ’97” (Radio Version) – Older – 1996
- “These Are the Days of Our Lives” (live with Queen and Lisa Stansfield) – Five Live – 1993
- “They Won’t Go When I Go” (Stevie Wonder, Yvonne Wright cover) – Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 – 1990
- “This Is How (We Want You to Get High)” – Last Christmas: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – 2019
- “This Is Not Real Love” (with Mutya Buena) – Twenty Five – 2006
- “Through” – Patience – 2004
- “To Be Forgiven” – Older – 1996
- “Tonight” (live; Elton John cover) – Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin – 1991
- “Too Funky” – Red Hot + Dance – 1992
- “Too Funky” (Extended) – Red Hot + Dance – 1992
- “Too Funky” (Single Edit) – Red Hot + Dance – 1992
- “Too Jazzy” (Happy Mix) – B-side of “Too Funky” – 1992
- “True Faith” (New Order cover) – Non-album single – 2011
- “Understand” – Twenty Five (Deluxe Edition) – 2006
- “Waiting” (Reprise) – Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 – 1990
- “Waiting for That Day” (George Michael, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) – Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 – 1990
- “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” – Make It Big (Wham!) – 1984
- “Waltz Away Dreaming” (with Toby Bourke) – Non-album single – 1997
- “Wham! Rap ’86” – Music from the Edge of Heaven (Wham!) – 1986
- “Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)” – Fantastic (Wham!) – 1983
- “Where Did Your Heart Go?” (Don Was, Dave Was cover) – Music from the Edge of Heaven (Wham!) – 1986
- “Where or When / It’s All Right with Me” (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart / Cole Porter cover) – Songs from the Last Century – 1999
- “White Light” – Non-album single – 2012
- “Wild Is the Wind” (Dimitri Tiomkin, Ned Washington cover) – Songs from the Last Century – 1999
- “You and I” (Stevie Wonder cover) – Non-album release – 2011
- “You Have Been Loved” – Older – 1996
- “You Have Been Loved” (live) – Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged – 2017
- “You Know That I Want To” – The Spinning the Wheel EP – 1996
- “Young Guns (Go for It!)” – Fantastic (Wham!) – 1983
- “You’ve Changed” (Bill Carey, Carl Fischer cover) – Songs from the Last Century – 1999
George Michael and Wham! Albums, EPs, Compilations, and Live Releases
Fantastic (Wham!) (1983)
Make It Big (Wham!) (1984)
Music from the Edge of Heaven (Wham!) (1986)
Faith (1987)
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990)
Five Live (1993)
Older (1996)
Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1998)
Songs from the Last Century (1999)
Patience (2004)
Twenty Five (2006)
Symphonica (2014)
Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged (2017)
Older (Deluxe Edition) (2022)
I Want Your Sex EP (2026)
Check out our George Michael articles detailing his albums, songs, career, and more, all on ClassicRockHistory.com.
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Updated July 26, 2026.
Complete List Of George Michael Songs From A to Z article published on ClassicRockHistory.com © 2026



























