A Song for the Weekend #38 – Father Figure by George Michael
I knew on this first Song for the Weekend of 2017 that I wanted to pay homage to a real musical talent. Someone who made a difference to the music scene and who, sadly, passed away at the very young age of 53 on Christmas Day 2016. George Michael was originally a member of the musical duo ‘Wham’ and then went on to be a solo artist. I will never forget the memories he gave me.
The first memory was one sunny Sunday afternoon in our house in Mayford. I would religiously listen to the Top 40 and as soon as Young Guns (Go For It!) came it, it was an instant hit for me. The next one, was Wake Me Up Before You Go Go – a memory I have already shared on a previous Song for the Weekend.
George Michael then joined me during my college years. I attended the London College of Fashion and would take a train every day from Woking. My headphones would always accompany me on my journey and, alongside Bros and INXS, the Faith album by George Michael was a constant for me.
I went on to admire him when he wrote the song ‘Outside’ which satirised the public toilet incident in 1998. I also had the albums ‘Older’ and his greatest hits compilation ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’ which got played regularly.
It was a hard decision to make as to which of his solo songs I should choose but, in the end, I had to go for his haunting performance of the beautiful track ‘Father Figure’. Released in January 1988 and 29 years old, it is a song that I never tire of. It still sounds great today. George looks and sounds amazing and the song spent two weeks at number 1 in the US and won the 1989 Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. It is easy to see why. What an incredible legacy of music his has left us.
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I don’t know which I’d have chosen but this is definitely a favourite. I think Older i my favourite album as a whole though. Really thought 2016 had done its worst and this news arrived, still taking some getting used to 🙁 xox
Older is a fantastic album, so timeless. I totally agree 🙁 xx
Love it and love him. So sad 🙁
Totally :'(
This is my absolute favourite of all his songs. There is an MTV unplugged version that i love so much and I think it’s being released on the album that comes out in April. I was so sad to find out he died that I cried. What a talent eh?
I shall have to go and look up that version – I love unplugged stuff. Really pleased to hear that it is being released. Totally and utterly – what a loss x