Tonight the Music Seems So Loud – The Meaning of George Michael. By Sathnam Sanghera
Pegasus Books £22
George Michael (1963-2016) led a rollercoaster life, even by pop music standards. On the upside, he and his schoolfriend Andrew Ridgeley sold more than 30 million records as that quintessential 1980s duo Wham! Their appearance in those early days, sporting a wardrobe of neon-hued outfits with shirts proclaiming ‘Choose Life’, caught the spirit of the decade as much as Maureen Lipman’s iconic ‘Beattie’ TV ads or the tendency of English football supporters to put the boot into opposing fans. Unlike many of those who walk away from a successful group, Michael embarked on a spectacular solo career with his album Faith, released to critical and commercial acclaim in 1987. Never one to rest on his laurels, he went on to flit promiscuously between musical styles, at one point releasing a melancholic single by the title ‘Jesus to a Child’, whose (literally) breast-baring video broadcasters restricted to late-night play only. Although...
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