53 year old British pop superstar George Michael, who has sold tens of millions of albums as a member of the duo Wham! as well as in his solo career, was found dead yesterday at his residence in Goring in Oxfordshire, England.
The news sent shock waves across the fans. While Michael’s publicist said that he hadn’t been ill, his manager said that the popstar succumbed to heart failure. His publicist, Connie Filippello issued a statement that said, “It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period, the family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage."
With time, Michael grew increasingly uncomfortable with the superficiality and unceasing promotion of 1980s-style pop stardom. He stopped doing video clips and live shows and decided to make more mature statements in his songs. He however, never completely stopped singing about love and desire.Michael won a Grammy Award in 1988 for ‘I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me)’. His album ‘Faith’ won him the Grammy Award for album of the year. Michael had been the most-played performer on British radio from 1984 to 2004.
Michael came out as gay in 1998 when he was arrested on charges of indecent behaviour in a men’s room in Beverly Hills, Calif. Years later he revealed that he is bisexual and that concealing his sexuality made him feel ‘fraudulent’. He also opened up about his struggles with depression.
In an interview regarding the release of his album 'Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1' which was released in 1990, Michael said, “I’m not stupid enough to think I can deal with another 10 or 15 years of major exposure. I think that’s the ultimate tragedy of fame, people who are simply out of control, who are lost. I’ve seen so many of them, and I don’t want to be another cliché.”
While people began to think he didn’t like the idea of being a star anymore, later at an event in 2004 Michael said, “I never minded being thought of as a popstar. People have always thought I wanted to be seen as a serious musician, but I didn’t. I just wanted people to know that I was absolutely serious about pop music.”
You will be remembered George Michael!
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