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Rating: A man on the cover smelling his own armpit. Long beard but not too much, meticulously groomed. Earring with an attached crucifix. Ray-Ban glasses. A jacket in fonzie-vintage style. A name, George Michael, Giorgio Michele, a stage name mixing Boy George and Pino Daniele. Five aligned symbols perhaps representing the artist's name, like Led Zeppelin IV. You are looking at one of the greatest living icons of the '80s.
Of Cypriot descent, Georgius Kyriacos Panayiotou (perhaps a translation of "paninaro" in Greek) realized as a teenager that the destiny of the nearly compatriot Cat Stevens (Islamic conversion excluded) was in his veins. While working at his parent's restaurant in the suburbs of London, he invented the job of DJ, alternating it with waiting tables. He brought home records to work, Marvin Gaye, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, and between courses, he put on headphones to entertain the lively patrons of the venue. He wrote songs on buses, at school, and in the meantime, met Andrew Ridgeley, yes, the magnificent prototype of the 883's blond guy. The two formed their first group in high school, the Executives, where George wrote, sang, and played the tracks. Andrew limited himself to playing guitar and doing some backing vocals (in playback). They would become the "Wham!" within months, kings of the early '80s dance-pop. Only Duran and Spandau seemed to compete with the mini-group's commercial growth. With "Make It Big" (1984) and gigantic hits like "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" and "Last Christmas," they became a top-tier phenomenon. Moreover, Giorgio didn't miss a chance to demonstrate his talent, participating in the charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas" (yes, he had a Christmas craze), at "Live Aid," and collaborating with idols like Aretha Franklin and Elton John (George sings on "Ice On Fire," Elton played in "Music from the Edge of Heaven" and also gave him his first lessons on good gay sex).
In 1986, at the height of fanaticism for the new boy-band, the two decided to dissolve the company after the memorable tour in China (the first Westerners to do it, no big deal) and the triumphant farewell concert at Wembley in front of more than 200,000 souls. While Andrew rightly disappeared quickly into nowhere after a couple of unlistenable attempts at a music career, George began his ascent to the pop Olympus. They opted for a striking change of image, making George even more commercially appealing and as a sex symbol, crafting a look that appeared more adult and extraordinarily successful. What the Spears, the Aguileras, the Ricky Martins of the situation attempt every three years was realized here with meticulous study. Gone were the legendary t-shirts with the slogan "Choose Life," the long bleached hair, and Miami Vice suits; we have before us a prototype of a neo-Elvis, rugged, terribly masculine to the point of kitsch, cowboy boots with steel toes, the worn jeans swaggering incessantly. This is the icon presented in this solo debut, titled "Faith," in the series "have faith."
From the sales, which made it one of the decade's greatest best-sellers, second only to Thriller and nearly tied with Purple Rain, the message was fully embraced. The album begins with a distant church organ majestically (at least it tries) tracing the refrain of "Freedom," a retro-soul melody that was the duo's last great hit (later famously plagiarized by the Gallagher brothers). And here the pop mass begins. Abruptly, the notes are interrupted by the arrival of a stark country guitar set against the singer's voice, as scratchy and aggressive as ever, and a syncopated and genuine rhythm giving the impression of a tribute to old-time rock'n'roll.
As if to say, thirty years after the king of Memphis, the new prophet of light music has arrived. Ultimately, George Michael didn't stray far from this dream, carefully crafting and with great commitment the turn that was to lead the promising 24-year-old towards adulthood. In fact, the artist in question, despite the myriad ambiguities, distractions, and insecurities he floundered in over the following years, was and remains a pop genius. Not only because one can't call otherwise someone who writes songs as good as "Careless Whisper" at 14, but for the air of novelty and creative cockiness he brought in those years commercially dominated by people like Nick Kamen, various Isle Bonites, burst Bangles, and perhaps dashing boys like Den Harrow.
Michael's strength lies not only in the explosive and accurate image he presents but in the MUSIC. His genius shines in his extraordinary ability to synthesize all the valid elements of the latest decades' trends, stored in a young and imaginative mind that knows how to reinterpret and revitalize in a personal and superbly accessible style soul, synth-pop, r'n'r, the softest funk, folk, beatlesque rock and more. Everything is filtered into a dance-pop made to be used but not consumed nor forgotten. It's the demonstration of the art of producing songs meant to be sold a lot, everywhere, quickly, but also for a long time. "Faith" shows us a diverse talent, revolutionizing the trends of the record market, offering, with a D'Annunzio touch, always the best product, the one that's ahead, the avant-garde for the consumer. "I Want Your Sex," proposed in its parts I, II, or III, is a symbol: from the prehistory of "I Want To Hold Your Hand" (Beatles) or "Let's Spend The Night Together" (Rolling Stones) we've practically arrived at "Dammela/o." George rewrites the conventions of pop with an anthem to the most immediate and pleasurable sexuality, a "5 Maggio" of human arousal. The lyrics are elementary but flow like a charm, simple but apt. And the voice. George Michael, undeniably, has one of the most beautiful, warm, expressive voices ever recorded. It's powerful, impetuous, inviting, skillfully engaging and attracting both female and male audiences (apparently even too much). It's the perfect voice to send soaring to the top of the charts, but also ideal for the chicest extravagance. Here, for example, he astonishes us with what might be one of the most beautiful songs on the album, "Kissing A Fool." Perhaps it's just an exercise in style, a divertissement, but who would have been capable of inserting a flawless jazz-swing gem into an album like this? And yet everything sounds flawless, revisited millions of times, choirs, guitars, handclaps, drums, Michael samples himself infinitely, becoming a curious and inventive multi-instrumentalist granted full autonomy over the final result.
And it couldn't be otherwise: "Faith" is the dream of every crafty producer, every record company, every MTV, but above all, every gourmet of "pure pop".
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Faith (03:16)
Well, I guess it would be nice
If I could touch your body
I know not everybody
Has got a body like you.
Oh, but I gotta think twice
Before I give my heart away
And I know all the games you play
Because I play them, too.
Oh, but I need some time off from that emotion,
Time to pick my heart up off the floor.
And when that love comes down without devotion,
Well, it takes a strong man baby, but I'm
Showing you the door,
Cause I gotta have Faith
I gotta have... Faith
Because I've gotta have Faith, Faith, Faith
I gotta have Faith, Faith, Faith.
Baby, I know you're asking me to stay
Saying please, please, please don't go away
You say I'm giving you the blues.
Maybe you mean every word you say
Can't help but think of yesterday
And another who tied me down to loverboy rules
Before this river becomes an ocean
Before you throw my heart back on the floor
Oh baby, I reconsider my foolish notion
Well, I need someone to hold me,
But I'll wait for something more.
Cause I gotta have Faith...
(*Repeat Chorus*)
Before this river
Becomes an ocean
Before you throw my heart back on the floor
(I've just got to have faith)
I've reconsidered my foolish notion
Yeah, I need someone to hold me,
But I'll wait for something more....
(*Pause*)
Cause I gotta have Faith
(*Final chorus*)
02 Father Figure (05:36)
That's all I wanted
Something special, something sacred
In your eyes
For just one moment
To be bold and naked
At your side
Sometimes I think that you'll never
Understand me
Maybe this time is forever
Say it can be
That's all you wanted
Something special, someone sacred
In your life
Just for one moment
To be warm and naked
At my side
Sometimes I think that you'll never
Understand me
But something tells me together
We'd be happy
(Baby)
I will be your father figure
(Oh baby)
Put your tiny hand in mine
(I'd love to)
I will be your preacher teacher
(Be your daddy)
Anything you have in mind
(It would make me)
I will be your father figure
(Very happy)
I have had enough of crime
(Please let me)
I will be the one who loves you
Until the end of time
That's all I wanted
But sometimes love can be mistaken
For a crime
That's all I wanted Just to see my baby's
Blue eyed shine
This time I think that my lover
Understands me
If we have faith in each other
Then we can be strong
I will be your father figure
Put your tiny hand in mine
I will be your preacher teacher
Anything you have in mind
I will be your father figure
I have had enough of crime
I will be the one who loves you
Until the end of time
If you are the desert ,I'll be the sea
If you ever hunger, hunger for me
Whatever you ask for, that's what I'll be
So when you remember the ones who have lied
Who said that they cared
But then laughed as you cried
Beautiful Darling
Don't think of me
Because all I ever wanted
It's in your eyes baby, baby
And love can't lie, no...
(Greet me with the eyes of a child)
My love is always telling me so...
(Heaven is a kiss and a smile)
Just hold on, hold on
I won't let you go, my baby
I will be your father figure
Put your tiny hand in mine
I will be your preacher teacher
Anything you have in mind
I will be your father figure
I have had enough of crime
(So I am gonna love you)
Until the end of time
I will be your father
I will be your preacher
I will be your daddy
I will be the one who loves you until the end of time
08 Monkey (05:06)
Why can't you do it?
Why can't you set your monkey free?
Always giving in to it -
Do you love your monkey or do you love me?
Why can't you do it?
Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey?
(With a monkey, with a monkey, aye, aye, aye, uh-huh)
Oh, I count to ten
But I don't know how and I don't know when
To open my eyes
If you kiss me again
Like you did just now, like you did just then
I've had the rest, now it's time I had the best
So you tell me that you won't do anymore
Well I'd write your heart a letter
But I think you know me better
If I keep on askin' baby, maybe I'll get what I'm askin' for
Why can't you do it? Why can't you set your monkey free?
Always giving in to it -
Do you love your monkey or do you love me?
Why can't you do it?
Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey?
Oh I hate your friends
But I don't know how and I don't know when
To open your eyes
Yes the monkey's back again
Do you want him now like you did back then?
I tried my best, but your head is such a mess
So I guess that I don't want you anymore
Well you say you care about me
That you just can't do without me
But you keep on dancin' baby
'Til that monkey has you on the floor
Why can't you do it? Why can't you set your monkey free?
Always giving into it
Do you love the monkey or do you love me?
Why can't you do it
Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey?
Don't look now
There's a monkey on your back
Don't look now
There's a monkey on you...
09 Kissing a Fool (04:35)
You are far, when I could have been your star
You listened to people
Who scared you to death, and from my heart
Strange that you were strong enough
To even make a start
But you'll never find peace of mind
Till you listen to your heart
People, you can never change the way they feel
Better let them do just what they will
For they will, If you let them
Steal your heart from you
People,Will always make a lover feel a fool
But you knew I loved you
We could have shown them all
We should have seen love through
Fooled me with the tears in your eyes
Covered me with kisses and lies
So good-bye, but please don't take my heart
You are far, I'm never gonna be your star
I'll pick up the pieces and mend my heart
Maybe I'll be strong enough, I don't know where to start
But I'll never find peace of mind, while I listen to my heart
People, you can never change the way they feel
Better let them do just what they will
For they will, If you let them, steal your heart
And people, will always make a lover feel a fool
But you knew I loved you,
We could have shown them all
We should have seen love through
But remember this, every other kiss,
That you ever give, long as we both live
When you need the hand of another man
One you really can surrender with
I will wait for you, like I always do
There's something there, that can't compare
With any other
You are far
When I could have been your star
You listened to people
Who scared you to death, and from my heart
Strange that I was wrong enough
To think you'd love me too.
I guess you were kissing a fool
You must have been kissing a fool
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By alessioIRIDE
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