Review #151: Faith, George Michael
#151: Faith, George Michael
The Eighties albums are quickly becoming my favorite. How come pop artists in 2021 can drench their music in synths and I’m unmoved, but pop artists in 1987 can do it and I want to dance?? Probably some internal bias. Oh well, I guess I’ll have to work on that after I get over my country music bias completely.
For those who don’t know, George Michael was one half of Wham!, famous for “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “Last Christmas.” They broke up because George Michael wanted to make more mature music, but Michael said that it was “the most amicable split in pop history.” And then he went on to make the horniest pop album ever, so mission accomplished, I guess.
Michael died in 2016 of liver problems, and I remember it because of Adele’s gorgeous cover of “Fastlove” at the 2017 Grammy Awards. She actually has to start over because she is briefly off-key, but once she gets going she gets GOING.
Side note, I had no idea that George Michael/Wham! was British! I guess they loved American music, which makes a lot of sense.
FAVORITE SONGS:
“Faith” — Oh I know this music video! This is the one that Bowling For Soup parodies in “1985.” (Which, did you know, is actually a cover of an SR-71 song? We’re getting off track, sorry.)
“Father Figure” — Gross, I think?
“I Want Your Sex — Pts. 1 & 2” — I told you this was the horniest pop album ever — except for maybe every album Prince ever made.
“One More Try” — His voice is surprisingly powerful.
“Hard Day” — I looked up who the female feature on this song was and apparently it’s himself! How fun.
“Look at Your Hands” — So groovy. Nananana!
“Monkey” — Certainly a drug song. :(
LEAST FAVORITE SONGS:
“Hand to Mouth” — Not a fan of the “Gods of America” part.
“Kissing a Fool” — I respect his choice to include a ballad, but I don’t actually want to hear a ballad.
“A Last Request (I Want Your Sex)” — Chill OUT, George Michael.
IS RS FULL OF IT?
No. I know I complained about some of these songs, but I think this might actually be a perfect album. Did you know that George Michael didn’t come out until 1998, 12 years after this album came out?
