Editing George Michael (section)

===1990s===
''[[Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1]]'' was released in September 1990. The title is an indication of his desire to be taken more seriously as a songwriter.<ref name="listenpre">[http://teenink.com/reviews/music_reviews/article/7424/Listen-Without-Prejudice/ Listen Without Prejudice] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305131521/http://teenink.com/reviews/music_reviews/article/7424/Listen-Without-Prejudice/ |date=5 March 2011 }} Teen Ink. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> The album was released in Europe on 3 September 1990, and one week later in the US. It reached No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart<ref name="UKCharts2"/> and peaked at No. 2 on the US ''Billboard'' 200.<ref name="USCharts2"/> It spent a total of 88 weeks on the UK Albums Chart and was certified four-times Platinum by the BPI.<ref name=uk>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/george%20michael/|title=UK Charts > George Michael|publisher=The Official Charts Company|access-date=5 March 2011}}</ref> The album produced five UK singles, all of which were released within an eight-month period: "[[Praying for Time]]", "[[Waiting for That Day]]", "[[Freedom! '90]]", "[[Heal the Pain]]", and "[[Cowboys and Angels (George Michael song)|Cowboys and Angels]]" (the latter being his only single not to chart in the UK top 40).<ref name="UKCharts2"/> Michael refused to do any promotion for the album.<ref name="GayiconII"/> At the 1991 [[Brit Awards]], ''Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1'' won the award for Best British Album.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10139404/George-Michael-50-years-in-numbers.html "George Michael: 50 years in numbers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626202548/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10139404/George-Michael-50-years-in-numbers.html |date=26 June 2013 }}. ''The Daily Telegraph'' (London). Retrieved 15 December 2014</ref>

The album's first single, "Praying for Time", with lyrics concerning social ills and injustice, was released in August 1990. James Hunter of ''Rolling Stone'' magazine described the song as "a distraught look at the world's astounding woundedness. Michael offers the healing passage of time as the only balm for physical and emotional hunger, poverty, hypocrisy, and hatred."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=James|last=Hunter|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/listen-without-prejudice-vol-1-19901004|title=Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 &#124; Album Reviews|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=4 October 1990|access-date=17 December 2012|archive-date=16 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016203015/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/georgemichael/albums/album/200600/review/5940400/listen_without_prejudice_vol_1|url-status=dead}}</ref> The song was an instant success, reaching No. 1 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and No. 6 in the UK.<ref name="USCharts2"/> A video was released shortly thereafter, consisting of the lyrics on a dark background. Michael did not appear in this video or any subsequent videos for the album.<ref name="listenpre"/> The second single from ''Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1'', "Waiting for That Day", was an acoustic-heavy single, released as an immediate follow-up to "Praying for Time".

"Freedom! '90" was the second of only two singles from ''Listen Without Prejudice'' to be supported by a music video (the other being the Michael-less "Praying for Time").<ref name="Freedom"/> The song alludes to his struggles with his artistic identity, and prophesied his efforts shortly thereafter to [[Panayiotou v Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.|end his recording contract with Sony Music]]. As if to prove the song's sentiment, Michael refused to appear in the video (directed by [[David Fincher]]), and instead recruited supermodels [[Naomi Campbell]], [[Linda Evangelista]], [[Christy Turlington]], [[Tatjana Patitz]], and [[Cindy Crawford]] to appear in and [[lip sync]] in his stead.<ref name="Freedom">[http://soulbounce.com/soul/2010/11/soulbounces_class_of_1990_george_michael_listen_without_prejudice_vol_i.php SoulBounce's Class Of 1990: George Michael 'Listen Without Prejudice Vol. I'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110123829/http://soulbounce.com/soul/2010/11/soulbounces_class_of_1990_george_michael_listen_without_prejudice_vol_i.php |date=10 January 2011 }} Soulbounce.com, 29 November 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> It also featured lyrics critical of his sex symbol status.<ref>[https://ew.com/article/1990/09/14/listen-without-prejudice-vol-1/ Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1]  ''Entertainment Weekly'', 14 September 1990. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> It reached No. 8 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in the US,<ref name="USCharts2"/> and No. 28 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="UKCharts2"/> "[[Mother's Pride (song)|Mother's Pride]]" gained significant radio play in the US during the first [[Persian Gulf War]] during 1991, often with radio stations mixing in callers' tributes to soldiers with the music.<ref name="GayHist">[http://www.circa-club.com/gallery/gay_history_icons_george_michael.php Gay History, Gay Celebrities, Gay Icons – George Michael] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721090659/http://www.circa-club.com/gallery/gay_history_icons_george_michael.php |date=21 July 2011 }} Circa-club.com. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref>

In 1991, Michael embarked on the [[Cover to Cover tour]] in Japan, England, the US, and Brazil, where he performed at [[Rock in Rio]].<ref name="NYcover">[https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/28/news/reviews-pop-george-michael-s-tour-from-motown-to-disco.html Reviews/Pop; George Michael's Tour, From Motown to Disco] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819021134/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/28/news/reviews-pop-george-michael-s-tour-from-motown-to-disco.html |date=19 August 2016 }} ''The New York Times'', 28 October 1991. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> The tour was not a proper promotion for ''Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1''. Rather, it featured Michael singing his favourite cover songs.<ref name="NYcover"/> Among his favourites was "[[Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me]]", a 1974 song by [[Elton John]]; Michael and John had performed the song together at the [[Live Aid]] concert in 1985, and again for Michael's concert at London's [[Wembley Arena]] on 25 March 1991, where the duet was recorded. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was released as a single at the end of 1991 and reached No. 1 in both the UK and US.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SzV53dUOF1wC&pg=PA106 |page=106 |title=The Complete Guide to the Music of George Michael & Wham! |isbn=978-0-7119-6822-6 |last1=Ellis |first1=Lucy |last2=Sutherland |first2=Bryony |year=1998 |publisher=Omnibus Press |access-date=12 March 2016 |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209163423/https://books.google.com/books?id=SzV53dUOF1wC&pg=PA106 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1991, Michael released an autobiography through [[Penguin Books]] titled ''Bare'', co-written with [[Tony Parsons (British journalist)|Tony Parsons]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Michael|first1=George|last2=Parsons|first2=Tony|title=Bare: George Michael, His Own Story|date=15 July 1991|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-0-14-013235-9|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780140132359}}</ref>

An expected follow-up album, ''Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 2'', was scrapped due to Michael's [[Panayiotou v Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.|lawsuit]] with [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cope |first1=Michael |title=Inside Story: Sony faces a test of faith: George Michael, who has cast off the leather look for a suit and horn-rimmed glasses, went to court last week for a divorce from his Japanese bosses, Norio Ohga, below left, and Akio Morita. No matter who wins, writes Nigel Cope, the case will put a different spin on the record business |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/inside-story-sony-faces-a-test-of-faith-george-michael-who-has-cast-off-the-leather-look-for-a-suit-and-hornrimmed-glasses-went-to-court-last-week-for-a-divorce-from-his-japanese-bosses-norio-ohga-below-left-and-akio-morita-no-matter-who-wins-writes-nigel-cope-the-case-will-put-a-different-spin-on-the-record-business-1512870.html |website=The Independent |access-date=29 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916195904/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/inside-story-sony-faces-a-test-of-faith-george-michael-who-has-cast-off-the-leather-look-for-a-suit-and-hornrimmed-glasses-went-to-court-last-week-for-a-divorce-from-his-japanese-bosses-norio-ohga-below-left-and-akio-morita-no-matter-who-wins-writes-nigel-cope-the-case-will-put-a-different-spin-on-the-record-business-1512870.html |archive-date=16 September 2015 |date=24 October 1993 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Instead, Michael donated three songs to the charity project ''[[Red Hot + Dance]]'', for the [[Red Hot Organization]] which raised money for AIDS awareness; a fourth track, "Crazyman Dance", was the B-side of 1992's "[[Too Funky]]". Michael donated the royalties from "Too Funky" to the same cause.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20051220111840/http://gaylife.about.com/od/gaycelebrityprofiles/p/georgemichael.htm George Michael] Gay Life, About.com. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> "Too Funky" reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart<ref name="UKCharts2"/> and No. 10 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name="USCharts2"/>

{{Quote box|width=25em|align=right|quote="George Michael was the best. There's a certain note in his voice when he did '[[Somebody to Love (Queen song)|Somebody to Love]]' that was pure Freddie."|source=—Queen guitarist [[Brian May]] on Michael's performance at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert.<ref name="Mercury">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VyBp_VEiIVYC&pg=PT364|page=364|title=Is This the Real Life?: The Untold Story of Queen|isbn=978-0-306-81973-5|last1=Blake|first1=Mark|date=22 March 2011|publisher=Hachette Books |access-date=14 December 2014|archive-date=9 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209163401/https://books.google.com/books?id=VyBp_VEiIVYC&pg=PT364|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
Michael performed with [[Queen (band)|Queen]] at [[The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert]] on 20 April 1992 at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]].<ref>[http://www.mygnr.com/bootleg/Tribute/Freddie_Mercury/freddie_mercury_tribute.html Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917212424/http://www.mygnr.com/bootleg/Tribute/Freddie_Mercury/freddie_mercury_tribute.html |date=17 September 2013 }} MyGnR.com. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> The concert was a tribute to the life of the late Queen frontman, [[Freddie Mercury]], with the proceeds going to AIDS research.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110326162044/http://www.cineman.ws/films/7333/The-Freddie-Mercury-Tribute-Concert-for-AIDS-Awareness.html The Freddie Mercury Tribute: Concert for AIDS Awareness] Cineman. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> Michael performed "[['39]]", "[[These Are the Days of Our Lives]]" with [[Lisa Stansfield]] and "[[Somebody to Love (Queen song)|Somebody to Love]]". Michael's performance of "Somebody to Love" was hailed as "one of the best performances of the tribute concert".<ref name="Queen's Greatest Hits 3">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A3818793 Queen's Greatest Hits 3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927183627/https://h2g2.com/entry/A3818793 |date=27 September 2020 }} h2g2, BBC, 22 March 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref><ref name="Queen Greatest Vol 3">[http://www.albumlinernotes.com/Queen_Greatest_Vol_3.html Queen Greatest Vol 3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726142233/http://www.albumlinernotes.com/Queen_Greatest_Vol_3.html |date=26 July 2011 }} AlbumLinerNotes.com, 17 January 1997. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> Michael later reflected, "It was probably the proudest moment for me of my career, because it was me living out a childhood fantasy, I suppose, to sing one of Freddie's songs in front of 80,000 people."<ref>{{cite news |title=Queen's Roger Taylor: George Michael 'Wouldn't Have Suited' Band |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/queen-roger-taylor-george-michael/ |access-date=2 March 2021 |magazine=Ultimate Classic Rock |archive-date=28 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228012751/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/queen-roger-taylor-george-michael/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The ''[[Five Live (George Michael and Queen EP)|Five Live]]'' EP<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r177656/review|pure_url=yes}} Five Live (George Michael and Queen EP)]. AllMusic.</ref> featured five live recordings (six in several countries) performed by Michael, Queen, and [[Lisa Stansfield]]. "Somebody to Love" and "These Are the Days of Our Lives" were recorded at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. "[[Killer (Adamski song)|Killer]]", "[[Papa Was a Rollin' Stone]]", and "[[Calling You]]" were recorded during his Cover to Cover tour in 1991.<ref name="Queen's Greatest Hits 3"/><ref name="Queen Greatest Vol 3"/>
All proceeds from the sale of the EP benefited the Mercury Phoenix Trust.<ref>[http://www.shanemcdonald.org/queen/album-detail.php?id=23 5 Live / Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110201042331/http://www.shanemcdonald.org/queen/album-detail.php?id=23 |date=1 February 2011 }} Shanes Queen Site. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> Sales of the EP were strong through Europe, where it debuted at No. 1 in the UK and several European countries.<ref name="UKCharts2"/> Chart success in the US was less spectacular, where it reached No. 40 on the ''Billboard'' 200 ("Somebody to Love" reached No. 30 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]).<ref name="USCharts2"/> The performance would later feature on Queen's compilation album ''[[Greatest Hits III (Queen album)|Greatest Hits III]]''.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r443580|pure_url=yes}} Queen – Greatest Hits III]. AllMusic. Retrieved 23 September 2021</ref>

During November 1994, after a long period of seclusion, Michael appeared at the first [[MTV Europe Music Awards]] show, where he gave a performance of a new song, "[[Jesus to a Child]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Dominic|last=Pride|title=MTV Euro Awards Get Mixed Response|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZQgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA18|access-date=21 April 2011|date=10 December 1994|pages=18–|issn=0006-2510|archive-date=9 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209163423/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZQgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA18|url-status=live}}</ref> The song was a melancholy tribute to his lover, Anselmo Feleppa, who had died in March 1993. The song entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 1 and No. 7 on ''Billboard'' upon release in 1996.<ref name="UKCharts2"/><ref name="USCharts2"/> It was Michael's longest UK Top 40 single, at almost seven minutes long. The exact identity of the song's subject—and the nature of Michael's relationship with Feleppa—was shrouded in [[innuendo]] and speculation, as Michael had not confirmed he was homosexual and did not do so until 1998. The video for "Jesus to a Child" was a picture of images recalling loss, pain and suffering. Michael consistently dedicated the song to Feleppa before performing it live.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010911141631/http://members.fortunecity.com/cheznobby/partone.htm Part one] Chez Nobby, Fortunecity. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref>

Michael released "[[Fastlove]]", an energetic tune about wanting gratification and fulfilment without commitment, in 1996. The single version was nearly five minutes long. "Fastlove" was supported by a futuristic virtual reality-related video. The single reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks at the top spot.<ref name="UKCharts2"/> In the US, "Fastlove" peaked at No. 8.<ref name="USCharts2"/> Following "Fastlove", Michael released ''[[Older (George Michael album)|Older]]'', his third studio album.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.albumism.com/features/george-michael-older-turns-25-anniversary-retrospective|title=George Michael's 'Older' Turns 25 &#124; Anniversary Retrospective|website=Albumism|date=12 May 2021 |access-date=14 October 2021|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003104948/https://www.albumism.com/features/george-michael-older-turns-25-anniversary-retrospective|url-status=live}}</ref> In the UK, the album was particularly notable for producing a record six top three hit singles in a two-year span.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2021/07/george-michael-older/|title=Making George Michael: Older|date=19 July 2021|access-date=14 October 2021|archive-date=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028170557/https://www.classicpopmag.com/2021/07/george-michael-older/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1996, Michael was voted Best British Male at the [[MTV Europe Music Awards]] and the [[Brit Awards]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metrolyrics.com/1996-mtv-europe-awards.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022121526/http://www.metrolyrics.com/1996-mtv-europe-awards.html|archive-date=22 October 2012|url-status=unfit|title=1996 MTV Europe Awards|publisher=MetroLyrics.com|date=14 November 1996|access-date=21 April 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.everyhit.com/awardbrit.html The Brit Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419142717/http://www.everyhit.com/awardbrit.html |date=19 April 2012 }} everyHit.com. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> and at the British Academy's [[Ivor Novello Awards]], he was awarded the title of Songwriter of the Year for the third time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.femail.com.au/snapshotgeorgemichael.htm|title=George Michael – Star Snapshot|publisher=Femail.com.au|date=27 April 2009|access-date=27 April 2009|archive-date=10 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510151923/http://www.femail.com.au/snapshotgeorgemichael.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Michael performed a concert at Three Mills Studios, London, for ''[[MTV Unplugged]]''.<ref>[http://www.tv.com/george-michael/person/130286/summary.html George Michael on] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222080434/http://www.tv.com/george-michael/person/130286/summary.html |date=22 December 2009 }} TV.com, 20 December 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> It was his first long performance in years, and in the audience was Michael's mother, who died of cancer the following year.<ref>[http://popdirt.com/george-michaels-suicidal-thoughts-after-mothers-death/32657/ George Michael's Suicidal Thoughts After Mother's Death] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617123325/http://popdirt.com/george-michaels-suicidal-thoughts-after-mothers-death/32657/ |date=17 June 2011 }} popdirt.com, 10 September 2004. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref>

''[[Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael]]'' (1998) was Michael's first solo greatest hits collection. The collection of 28 songs (29 songs are included on the European and Australian release) are separated into two-halves, with each containing a particular theme and mood. The first CD, titled "For the Heart", predominantly contains ballads; the second CD, "For the Feet", consists mainly of dance tunes. It was released through Sony Music Entertainment as a condition of severing contractual ties with the label.<ref name=BBCNews1>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3278909.stm George Michael goes back to Sony] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406214000/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3278909.stm |date=6 April 2012 }} BBC News, 17 November 2003. Retrieved 21 April 2011</ref> ''Ladies & Gentlemen'' was a success, peaking at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart for eight weeks.<ref name="UKCharts2"/> It spent over 200 weeks in the UK chart, and is the 45th [[List of best-selling albums in the United Kingdom|best-selling album ever]] in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/assets/files/top%2040%20albums.pdf|title=BPI Highest Retail Sales|publisher=British Phonographic Industry|access-date=17 January 2011|archive-date=22 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122135241/http://www.bpi.co.uk/assets/files/top%2040%20albums.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is certified seven-times platinum in the UK and multi-platinum in the US, and is Michael's most commercially successful album in his homeland, having sold more than 2.8&nbsp;million copies.<ref name="uk"/> As of 2013, the album had reached worldwide sales of approximately 15&nbsp;million copies.<ref>[http://www.hiponline.com/artist/music/m/michael_george/index.html Artist: George Michael] Hip Online {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915062553/http://www.hiponline.com/artist/music/m/michael_george/index.html |date=15 September 2013 }}</ref> The first single of the album, "[[Outside (George Michael song)|Outside]]", was a humorous song making a reference to his arrest for soliciting a policeman in a public toilet. "[[As (song)|As]]", his duet with [[Mary J. Blige]], was released as the second single in many territories around the world. Both singles reached the top 5 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="UKCharts2"/>

Released in 1999, ''[[Songs from the Last Century]]'' is a studio album of cover tracks. The album achieved the lowest peak of his solo efforts, peaking at No. 157 on the American ''Billboard'' 200 albums chart<ref name="USCharts2"/> and at No. 2 in the UK Albums Chart.<ref name="UKCharts2"/>