Perusing some of my favorite sites the other day I stumbled across this article which is a solid piece on George Michael written by Grantland's Steven Hyden. This month marks the 25th anniversary of Michael's 80's defining "Faith" album, and while I've put almost all of George's 80's stuff on here I did miss this little gem which was the last and least successful single released from the album. It peaked at #5 in the U.S., and in celebration of that album now 25 years old, here is the black and white video to "Kissing a Fool"...
Today's boring song and boring video comes from one of the most popular artists of the 80's - George Michael. There is a lot of white in this slow video and George has a lot of hair in it. A number one hit in the UK and a follow up to one of his trademark hits "Careless Whisper," here is "A Different Corner"...
Lyrics | George Michael lyrics - A Different Corner lyrics
"A Different Corner"
Single by George Michael
from the album Music from the Edge of Heaven
Released 2 April 1986
Format 12", 7"
Recorded 1984–1985
Genre Soft rock
Length 4:32 (LP version)
3:57 (single edit)
Label CBS Records (US/Canada)
Epic Records
Writer(s) George Michael
Producer George Michael
Chart (1986) Peak position
UK Singles Chart[8] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 7
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[9] 6
Ahh, this is so 80's today. A song written by Darryl Hall, but never released as a single by Hall and Oates, it became the only #1 hit for English musician Paul Young. Here is a live performance from 1986 that features Paul Young with a little help from George Michael on vocals, a decent guitar player named Eric Clapton, and I believe that is Elton on the Piano. Here is "Everytime You Go Away"...
Single by Paul Young from the album The Secret of Association B-side "This Means Anything" Released 25 February 1985 Format 7" single, 12" maxi Recorded 1984 Genre Rock, blue eyed soul Length 4:15 (7") 7:32 (12") 5:24 (album) Label Columbia Writer(s) Daryl Hall Producer Laurie Latham
We're closing in on another Halloween here at the Excellent 80's and if today's video doesn't scare you then I don't know what will! It's black and white and it features the group Wham! with "I'm Your Man." You've been properly warned...
"I'm Your Man" Single by Wham! from the album Music from the Edge of Heaven / The Final Released 14 September 1985 Format 12", 7" Recorded 1985 Genre Pop Dance Length 4:04 Label Epic Records, (UK) CBS Records Writer(s) George Michael Producer George Michael
I don't care what you think about today's video/song at #20. I admit it - it's a guilty pleasure of mine, so there. It will also remind you that guilty feet have got no rhythm. Love that line. It's probably my favorite slow jam of the 80's and what would my top 80 countdown be without some George Michael in it I ask? It would be nothing! There's a scene early in the video of George, a girl, and his boombox. My bet would be kids these days would see that thing and say 'what is that?' I love the saxophone riff at the beginning of this #1 Billboard Hit from 1984 (26 years ago? really?) as The Excellent 80's moves on into the top 20.
Well, we are concluding our "George Michael May" with one of the most controversial songs for its' time and probably George's most popular song ever... yes, I'm talking about "I Want Your Sex"... a song that was banned from play during the day in many places and only played on MTV at night, Michael's song was not even named by Casey Kasem during his weekly top 40 broadcasts - Kasem would only refer to it as the new single by George Michael... hope you enjoyed our "George Michael May", and remember to "Explore Monogamy"...
Single by George Michael from the album Faith B-side "I Want Your Sex" (Rhythm 2: Brass In Love) Released June 1, 1987 (1987-06-01) Format 7", 12", CD Recorded 1987 Genre Pop, Dance pop Length 4:44 Label Epic - LUST 1 Writer(s) George Michael Producer George Michael Certification Platinum
Chart (1987) Peak position
United States Hot 100: #2 United States Hot Dance Club Play: #2 United States Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: #34 UK Single Charts #3
Today's video was a song that shared the same record as their Christmas hit "Last Christmas"... George Michael states this as his favorite Wham single... here is the George and Andrew with "Everything She Wants" as our "George Michael May" rolls on...
Single by Wham! from the album Make It Big Released 27 December 1984 April 17, 1985 (US) Format 12", 7" Recorded 1984 Genre Pop Length 5:01 6:29 (Remix) Label Columbia Records Producer George Michael
Chart (1984/5) Peak position UK #2 US Billboard Hot 100 #1
Ho hum, just another #1 hit for George Michael as we roll through our "George Michael May"... this is one of my least favorites and I didn't hesitate to turn the radio station whenever this one came on... boring song and boring video I always thought, but apparently I was in the mainstream minority as this song spent three weeks at #1 in the U.S.... here is George still wearing that cross earring... did he shoot all these videos the same day?... here is "One More Try"...
Single by George Michael from the album Faith Released 1988 Format CD, Cassette Recorded 1987 Genre Pop, R&B, Gospel music Length 5:52 Label Epic Records Writer(s) George Michael Producer George Michael Certification Gold (RIAA)
Chart (1988) Peak position
United States Hot 100 #1 United States Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks #1 UK Single Charts #8
Still one of my favorite ballads from the 80's... it's something about the saxophone, I don't know, but here is George Michael and Wham reaching number #1 in about 25 different countries with "Careless Whisper"
Single by Wham! from the album Make It Big B-side "Careless Whisper" (Instrumental version) Released July 24, 1984 (1984-07-24)(U.K.) February 1, 1985 (1985-02-01)(U.S.) Format 12" maxi 7" single Recorded 1984 Genre Pop, R&B Length 5:04 (Single Version) 6:30 (Album version) Label Columbia Records Writer(s) George Michael Andrew Ridgeley Producer George Michael Certification 2x Platinum (RIAA) 3x Platinum (BPI)
Chart (1984) Peak position UK Singles Chart #1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1 U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks #1
I always thought George Michael looked a bit Amish in this video in the shots of him in his hat, white shirt, dark pants, and suspenders... only the week old growth on his face separates him, well, that and the dancing he does... I just want to know why you can't set your "Monkey" free?...
Single by George Michael from the album Faith Released 1988 Format CD Single Recorded 1987 Genre Pop , Dance pop Length 5:37 Label Epic Writer(s) George Michael Producer George Michael
Chart (1988) Peak position
United States Hot 100 #1 United States Hot Dance Club Play #1 United States Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs #8 UK Single Charts #13
We just couldn't go through our "George Michael May" without one of the gayest videos and songs of all-time... this song still makes me cringe to this day, but like I've said, I'm not going to discriminate and there are plenty of people out there that might or might not admit to liking this song... a guilty pleasure by many and the song that put George Michael on the scene, here is the song by Wham inspired by a note written by Andrew Ridgley to his parents - "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"...
Single by Wham! from the album Make It Big Released May 5, 1984 Format 12", 7" Recorded 1984 Genre Pop Length 3:50 Label Columbia Records (US/Canada) Epic Records Writer(s) George Michael Producer George Michael
Chart (1984) Peak position UK #1 US Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Today's George Michael hit became his third consecutive number-one in the UK from three releases since going solo, following 1984's "Careless Whisper"... here is the unshaven one in a duet with the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, and "I Knew You Were Waiting"...
Single by Aretha Franklin and George Michael from the album Aretha Released 1987 Format 7' single Recorded 1986 Genre R&B/Pop Label Arista Writer(s) Simon Climie, Dennis Morgan Producer Narada Michael Walden
Charts Country Peak position Australia #1 Canada #4 The Netherlands #1 United Kingdom #1 United States #1
We're early into our "George Michael May" as the song "Faith" kicked it off on Friday. Today's Michael hit is the third single from the same album and also went on to reach #1... it's the seductive tale known as "Father Figure"...
Single by George Michael from the album Faith Released 1987 Format CD single Recorded 1987 Genre Pop, R&B Length 5:40 Label Columbia Writer(s) George Michael Producer George Michael
Chart (1988) Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100 #1 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play #13 US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs #6 US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks #3 UK Single Charts #11
Once upon a time, kiddies, before he was getting busted for drugs and getting busted soliciting gay sex in public restrooms, George Michael was a stud... a hit-making, lady-swooning sex symbol in the 80's, and since this is an 80's blog, we are dedicating the month of May to one George Michael and calling it our "George Michael May"... we're going to kick it off with the best selling single of 1988 and the video that had everyone talking about George's butt - "Faith"...
Single by George Michael from the album Faith Released 1987 Format CD Single Recorded 1987 Genre Pop rock Length 3:16 Label Columbia Records Writer(s) George Michael Producer George Michael Certification Gold (RIAA)
If you grew up during the 80's and still have a soft spot in your heart for mullets, leg warmers, Pacman, and you still remember who you had a crush on whenever you hear REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight This Feeling," then I hope you get some enjoyment here as we blast through the world of music videos, tv shows, sports, cartoons, and movie clips from the 1980's.
