No one could have guessed that this would be George Michael’s last studio album. Even if he only died twelve years later, there are traces of an old work on this record by the only 41-year-old.
He was back dancing to house and R&B, but at least the ballads spoke of pain and looked back. It’s about suicide in the family (“My Mother Had A Brother”), childhood as the son of a Greek immigrant (“Round Here”) and – a topic since the Wham! days – the doubts about the social benefits of pop stars (“John And Elvis Are Dead”).
Because Michael criticized Prime Minister Tony Blair and his support of George W. Bush in the Iraq war in “Shoot The Dog”, right-wing media in the USA and Great Britain campaigned against him.
George Michael was lonely
In “Precious Box” it says: “Have I a family? I guess not/ Because no one comes in the morning/ No one comes in the evening time.”
He was lonely at last; the “Last Christmas” singer was found lifeless in his bed on Christmas Day 2016.