George Michael has died

[barleysugar]

Just noticed Limmy’s been doing the same kinda joke. Always happens. I’m Limmy.

[penoid]

the treatment of him by the (homophobic) press, how he was publicly outed and just how defiant, vocal and unapologetic he became afterwards can’t be overlooked? plus his campaigning and fundraising for LGBTQ charities and HIV awareness? what is wrong with these people

was glad to see the daily mail removed their “Was George Michael being treated for depression brought on by AIDS?” article. fuck off.

[digdug]

I’m a straight male who has always bragged about loving GM. It saddens and confuses me to know he has consistently battled depression. But the thought of him dying in his sleep is comforting. RIP. You will be remembered fondly! This is my fave tune of his…

[Fintans_Cat]

Yeah, it’s brilliant. Flawless was ace too

[Fintans_Cat]

It’s really sad in loads of ways. Listen without prejudice is one of the most battered and overplayed pieces of vinyl we own, a very familiar drinking partner of ours and we’ve loved most of what he’s put out. not got a lot to add but praying for time is one of the most incredible vocals and statements of intent I’ll ever hear. Hope you’re happier on the other side big man, RIP x

[bugduv]

Absolutely. You couldn’t assess his solo career particularly without coming to the conclusion that it played a huge part in who he was. That’s not to say some people can’t appreciate the songs on a very basic level or even seperately to the man, but i don’t know why that would be necessary, and it would require a certain level of ignorance.

A similar thing happened when Muhamad Ali died. Lots of caucasian people seemed deeply offended that he was going to be remembered primarily on a human level as an important black man. Apparently him being very good at his job of work was much more important than being a defiantly positive face of change for people of colour throughout Civil Rights era America and beyond.

Obviously the two cases do differ significantly, but i think you can loosely tie them together in the sense that the reaction to both passing has felt weirdly mawkish, selectively protective, and like there are a huge amount of people simply missing the point.

[CillaCrack]

for me, GM’s gayness eclipses his musical output (I like some of his music though). I loathe the fact that people are telling me that I’m not allowed to do that.

[CillaCrack]

poor grammar, soz

[TKC]

just remembered the time he rang into Richard and Judy live

[penoid]

theres a transcript http://georgemichael.songs.over-blog.com/article-george-michael-on-richard-judy-july-25th-2006-51168000.html

I don’t even think the people at Fleet Street think the words “shame” and “depravity” are real. There can’t be any shame in a situation unless the person is ashamed, and I’m certainly not that. I think it’s a very sad thing for young gay people that are growing up, that words like “depravity” are available to Rupert Murdoch when he wants to have a go at a gay person. I think that should change, I really genuinely do. But from my own point of view, I just don’t want people to think my life is troubled, when it’s not. And I think I should be able to be what I am to young gay people, which is a man that’s managed to succeed in the industry for twenty five years. You know, I’ve just had the fastest selling tour of perhaps all time in Britain. And I should be allowed to be that to young gay people – I have to be somehow troubled. And much in my case, I know there’s no point in resisting it, you know it’s just part of the game. As long as you’re releasing records, you have to accept that. But I think it’s deeply ethically wrong that young people can be exposed to that kind of that language.

[TKC]

I dont think its that! I seem to remember him calling about cannabis and saying it helped his creativity

[Matt_was_taken]

https://mobile.twitter.com/hollytowell/status/813711581070639108/photo/1

[Native12]

My fav George track - love it!
This live version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGQhJgubIrM

[TheWza]

That Symphonia thing on BBC One. Classy as.

(Fame and celebrity have definitely morphed into something else over the last few years. Look at, say, Chris Martin. Or Adele. Or whoever. Can’t take away the fact that they have logged huge achievements. Or that they mean a lot to millions. But, for all Martin’s worthiness (just as a contemporary example of huge fame), that class and, y’know, glamour(?)… feels like it’s not really a thing any more. Or is it? Maybe Beyonce fits - or will fit - the bill of true icon. Whatever ‘it’ is, it’s an ever rarer commodity in a world of YouTube fame democracy. Not necessarily a bad thing, but definitely a different state of play.)

[Kallgeese]

Genuinely can’t explain what that man meant to me. Loved ‘Outside’ and ‘Freak’ more than anything when they were released. I have so many memories related to him. An absolute hero, full stop.

[Kallgeese]

Just remembered I have two copies of ‘Club Tropicana’ on 7" at home. Amazing song. What a person. Genius.

[dingaling]

The hours I spent practicing my walk so I could be like the Harley girl in this vid. SO MANY HOURS.

[Icarus-Smicarus]

some people saying his sexuality was irrelevant. one of the more insidious forms of prejudice, that, where people can’t even admit to their own bigotry and project their own feelings as some objective truth.

very much like the “i don’t see colour” argument. you don’t see colour cos you’re white and have never had to.

[Damian]

So it’s transpiring that he was an absolute diamond. And I grew up with his stuff too. RIP George.

[I_LIKE_CATS]

Yep. I remember watching Newsnight when Jo Cox was killed. I never even knew who she was before, and she was an amazing, selfless person who dedicated her life to helping people. I was in tears watching it, how someone so good was gone.

And we are seeing all this stuff about George Michael. I knew he did a lot for nurses as some of that happened when he was alive, but all this other stuff is amazing too.