29th March, 2024
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Faith – George Michael

Midway through writing my next LP reviewfor this column, I read the shocking news of George Michael’s death and I decided to choose the album ‘Faith’ over what I was reviewing. It had to be done.

Coming out of the Wham era, ‘Faith’ was his solo debut and what a debut! Musically, capturing Pop, Funk, R&B, Soul and lyrically mature, the album betrays the then age (24) of George Michael. Also, the fact that the album is almost hundred per cent produced, played and written by the man himself, is extremely commendable. The album went on to receive Grammy for Album of the Year and has sold over a quarter million copies worldwide so far.

Side one opens with the title track that incorporates the famous Bo Didley beat, tastefully fused with guitar strumming, finger clicking, hand-claps and tambourine. It’s an instant hip-shaker. The song was used in “Bitter Moon”, the movie by Roman Polanski.

Then comes the beautifully sung Father Figure, talking exactly about that…being a father figure. Next up is the lusty 9 minute, I Want Your Sex. The song was banned by the BBC because its raunchiness. The last track on the side, One More Try is lovely display of singer’s R&B singing capabilities. It became a live concert favourite for George in the following years.

Side two begins with the electro / funk Hard Day which is followed by the sweet and low key cadence of Hand to Mouth. A satire on American Dream. One may feel that musically, the song became inspiration for Richard Marx for the song Hazard.

Look at Your Hands, the next track is about a young man’s anger at his married ex-girlfriend’s battered state. Then comes Monkey, an anti-drug song set to the dance-rock style, popular in the 80’s. The last track of the album is Kissing a Fool, a ballad with a jazz feel wherein George once again displays his versatile singing skills.

George Michael wasn’t just a musician; he was something much bigger…a style icon, a poster boy for the 80’s and much of 90’s. He had music, he had the looks and he had MTV. Ironically this stardom became his bane to an extent in the later years.

In the Indian context, George (along with Michael Jackson and Madonna) brought English pop music to the country in a bigger way. His ‘aviator and stubble’ poster was ubiquitous and every young lad wanted to look like him.

But above all, George Michael was an outstanding singer with a soulful voice. One just has to hear his live rendition of Queen’s Somebody to Love to understand what we lost last Christmas. And, 53 is no age to go.

2016 was bad to the world of music…here’s to a better 2017.

Rating: 4.5/5

Year: 1987 Genre: Pop, Funk, R&B, Soul, Dance Duration: 49:37 Label: Columbia. Epic Producer: George Michael

Reviewed by Meraj Hasan

Meraj Hasan is a Mumbai based communication professional (and an amateur poet/musician) with a passion for listening to music the vinyl way. His 25 year old Technics turntable along with a humble collection of LPs across genres like Classic rock, Classical, Blues and Jazz (amongst others) are his prized possessions.

He can be reached at +91 9833410791 or email: meraj.hasan@gmail.com

 

 


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