Link (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/singer-george-michael-dead-53-n700031)

Pop legend George Michael has died, his publicist said Sunday.

The singer was 53.

Michael's career began with the duo Wham in the 1980s, churning out hits like "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," and "Last Christmas" and continued into the 90s after he launched his debut chart-topping solo album "Faith" in 1987.

His publicist said he died at his home in Oxfordshire, according to a statement released to Britain's Press Association by Michael's publicist.

"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," it read.

"The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage."

Michael was originally born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, in London, on June 25, 1965 to a Greek immigrant father and a British mother.

An 80s and 90s heartthrob, questions about Michael's sexuality swirled until he was arrested in 1998 for "engaging in a lewd" act in a public park restroom in Beverly Hills, California.

In 2007, Michael told the Independent newspaper that hiding his sexuality made him feel like a fraud and that his arrest was subconsciously deliberate.

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Six more days and we will be in another year finally.

God bless you and his family always!!!

Holly

P.S. I wasn't a fan, but if there is any song from him that I don't mind, its "I'm Never Going To Dance Again".

53 is way too young to die. He had a good voice... so sad. Anyone know why he died?

P.S. I wasn't a fan, but if there is any song from him that I don't mind, its "I'm Never Going To Dance Again".

That's "Careless Whisper."

I love George Michael's duet with Elton John: Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me. They sound fantastic together.

That's "Careless Whisper."
Thank you. :) :) :)

God bless you always!!! :) :) :)

Holly

53 is way too young to die. He had a good voice... so sad. Anyone know why he died?


He had AIDS.

I wasn't a fan of his but I saw him at a concert when he came out as a guest. Can't remember which one though. I was at Live Aid but I was in Phily and I think he was in London.

I just heard that singer George Michael died "peacefully" at his home.
He was 53.
Younger than me.

This year has had some prominent music stars pass away.
David Bowie, and Prince were probably the most outstanding ones.
Of course Bowie was in his 70s. Prince and George Michael were still in their 50s.
However I recently heard a discussion on radio about how the many music stars of the 1960s , 1970s and even those of the 1980s are now reaching their older years and a lot of us will be hearing about their demise.

And surprisingly a lot of them are still going strong in their 60s and 70s and even older.
Tony Bennett is still performing

He had AIDS.
Are you sure he had AIDS? I heard that it might have been a heart attack.

He was a real talent who left us too soon; RIP George.

Are you sure he had AIDS? I heard that it might have been a heart attack.


For whatever reason, the links to the story aren't cooperating. No 53 year old 'dies peacefully at home' of a heart attack. If a 53 year old has a heart attack they are rushed to the hospital to try to save their life. If they're found dead of a heart attack in their home it's not described as 'peaceful'. Technically, you die when your heart stops so saying someone dies of cardiac arrest is meaningless.

For whatever reason, the links to the story aren't cooperating. No 53 year old 'dies peacefully at home' of a heart attack. If a 53 year old has a heart attack they are rushed to the hospital to try to save their life. If they're found dead of a heart attack in their home it's not described as 'peaceful'. Technically, you die when your heart stops so saying someone dies of cardiac arrest is meaningless.
So what makes you automatically think it was AIDS that killed him? Maybe it was AIDS, but I don't know for sure. Do you? How do you know it wasn't some sort of cancer? I'm just curious as to how you deduced his cause of death.

I've heard awhile back a major singer had AIDS. It was rumored to be Prince but that was proven wrong. I heard that yes George Michael had AIDS. Maybe it's not true but I have long suspected he has AIDS. Actually, I heard him and another 80's singer had AIDS so we'll see.

"Died peacefully" is probably a euphemism but sadly, sometimes people in their early 50s do die of heart attacks. We can only speculate for now. But whether he passed because of heart trouble, AIDS or something else; the fact remains we lost a great talent way too soon. Yes, I know George Micheal had his peccadillos, but he also had talent and genius. I also know I am greatly saddened he left us.

sadly, sometimes people in their early 50s do die of heart attacks.
Could he have had a stroke? My brother's friend had a stroke and she was only 35

So what makes you automatically think it was AIDS that killed him? Maybe it was AIDS, but I don't know for sure. Do you? How do you know it wasn't some sort of cancer? I'm just curious as to how you deduced his cause of death.

I didn't 'decide' it. There are stories on the internet that he's had AIDS for a long time.

https://www.google.com/search?q=george+michael+aids&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=george+michael+aids&tbm=nws

This year has been downright awful. For the man who brought us Choose Life and all those shirts worn by girls and guys.....I grew up with George Michael music...he will sorely be missed.

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Could he have had a stroke? My brother's friend had a stroke and she was only 35


He could have been hit by lightning while walking a tightrope between two airplanes at 35,000 feet.

All the stories say that he died peacefully at home. That means his death was expected. Heart attacks and strokes are not expected for 53 year old's.

Link (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/george-michael-dead-singer-songwriter-was-53-959259)


George Michael has died of heart failure, according to the singer's longtime manager Michael Lippman.

The English singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame with the group Wham! in the 1980s was found on Christmas morning, says Lippman.

"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," his rep said in a statement to the BBC. "The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage."


"I'm devastated," Lippman said on Sunday. The manager received a call on Christmas morning notifying him that Michael had been found "in bed, lying peacefully." The exact time of death is not clear at this time, but there was "no foul play whatsoever," said Lippman.

The death by heart failure was unexpected, he added. Funeral plans will be announced shortly.

The Thames Valley Police, calling the death "unexplained but not suspicious," sent THR the following statement: "Thames Valley Police were called to a property in Goring-on-Thames shortly before 2pm Christmas Day. Sadly, a 53-year-old man was confirmed deceased at the scene. At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. A post mortem will be undertaken in due course. There will be no further updates from Thames Valley Police until the post mortem has taken place."

Michael gained success in the 1980s with Wham!, the duo created with his friend Andrew Ridgeley. Both as a solo artist and with Wham!, Michael collected 10 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including “Faith,” “Father Figure,” “One More Try” and “Careless Whisper.” The latter cut was credited to Wham! featuring Michael, while Wham! notched two more No. 1s: “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “Everything She Wants.” Over on the Billboard 200 albums chart, Wham! claimed a No. 1 with its breakthrough album Make It Big (spending three weeks at No. 1 in 1985), while Michael led the list as a soloist with Faith, spending 12 weeks in the top spot in 1988. He has sold more than 115 million records globally, according to Sony Music.

Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in London on June 25, 1963, Michael showed his musical aspirations early on while attending schools in the towns of Bushey and Kingsbury in the United Kingdom. It was at the former where he would meet future Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley. The two would form a ska band called The Executive, which featured Ridgeley and his brother Paul, though it was short-lived. Michael also spent time busking on the London Underground, where he performed songs by Elton John, David Bowie and The Beatles.

Michael and Ridgeley formed Wham! in 1981 and released their debut album, Fantastic, in July 1983, which quickly shot up to the top of the British charts. The 1982 single “Young Guns” was a top 5 hit that made its way across the pond to the United States, but the band’s debut only reached No. 83 on the Billboard 200 chart that year.

That all changed with follow-up album Make It Big, which was released on Oct. 23, 1984. It reached No. 1 in the U.S., U.K., Japan and multiple territories with lead track “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" sitting at the top spot on the U.S. Hot 100 chart for three weeks. That album also included the singles “Freedom,” “Everything She Wants” and the ballad “Careless Whisper,” a quantifiable smash that reached No. 1 in the U.S. and stayed there for three weeks.

Other major Wham! feats include a history-making tour of China in 1985, marking the first time a western act performed in the country. Wham! officially split in 1986, releasing a farewell single, “Edge of Heaven.”



Michael’s solo endeavors extended beyond Wham! to include an appearance on the all-star charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 and a duet with Aretha Franklin, “I Knew You Were Waiting,” in 1987, which won a Grammy Award in 1988 for Best R&B Performance – Duo or Group with Vocal. But it was his first solo album Faith, which was released in 1987, which catapulted him to a virtually unprecedented level of fame.

Beginning with racy first single "I Want Your Sex," which was banned by some radio stations due to its sexually suggestive lyrics (American Top 40 host Casey Kasem would not say the song’s name on the air) and its video relegated to late-night plays on MTV, but still shot to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, Faith’s title track would lock in what would later become one of the best-selling albums of all time. (Billboard estimates George Michael has sold 20.7 million albums in the U.S. over the course of his career -- combining both his solo work and that of Wham! That number blends Recording Industry Association of America [RIAA] sales certification data through early 1991 and Nielsen Music’s electronically tracked point-of-sale information from 1991-present.)

Followed by singles “Faith,” “Father Figure,” “One More Try," “Monkey” and "Kissing a Fool," Faith spent 51 non-consecutive weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard 200, eventually selling more than 10 million copies in the U.S., according to the RIAA, and winning the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1989. That year, Michael was also honored by MTV at the MTV Video Music Awards, where he received the Video Vanguard honor.

Subsequent solo album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, released in Sept. 1990, featured no videos, but still yielded hit singles in “Praying for Time” and “Freedom ’90.” However, Michael felt his label Sony did not adequately promote the album and it led to years of discord with the company. Instead, Michael released music -- the single "Too Funky" -- via the charity Red Hot + Dance for the Red Hot Organization.

In late 1992, Michael went to court in an attempt to break free from his recording contract with Sony Music Entertainment. He parted with the company in 1995, signing with DreamWorks for North America and Virgin elsewhere. Sources close to the negotiations at the time said Sony was to receive a cash sum of $30 million to $40 million as a payment to release Michael. This was to be paid by DreamWorks and Virgin against their earnings from the release of subsequent albums.

Though he would not come out as gay officially until 2007, Michael was open about bi-sexuality and matters of sex in general. But an incident on April 7 1998, an arrest for “engaging in a lewd act" in a public restroom of the Will Rogers Memorial Park in Beverly Hills, would forever link him with the topic of sex. According to reports, Michael was approached by an undercover policeman for a sexual act. He later pleaded no contest to the charge.

Scraps with the law and the tabloids would continue for the next decade. In July 2006, Michael was accused of anonymous public sex at London's Hampstead Heath. Earlier that year, he was also arrested for drug possession, and was released without incident, and in 2008 and again in 2010 received a DUI in the U.K. for driving under the influence of drugs. He joked often about his prolific use of marijuana.

Appearances on U.K. television shows like Top of the Pops and So Graham Norton, and with the likes of Elton John, like on the 1991 duet “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me,” kept Michael in the public eye for the rest of the 1990s and into the 2000s. In 2006, Michael embarked on his first world tour in 15 years, called 25 Live. It coincided with a two-disc album called Twenty Five, released in 2008 and featuring duets with Paul McCartney and Mary J. Blige along with new songs.

All told, Michael only released five solo albums -- Faith, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, Older, Songs From the Last Century (a covers/standards albums) and Patience. He also released two greatest hits sets. His first live album, Symphonica, was his final album during his lifetime, released in 2014, and also the last album produced by the late Phil Ramone.

Michael would become more reclusive as the years went on. In the U.S., Michael was seen in the TV series Eli Stone and performed on American Idol in 2008. He also released a new track that year called “December Song,” via his website for free. His pop culture relevance would not dissipate, however, with Michael showing up prominently in the comedy Keanu as well as the end of the film Deadpool.

In 2011, Michael also released a cover of Stevie Wonder's "You and I" as a wedding gift to Prince William and Catherine Middleton. A month after the April nuptials, Michael announced dates of a European Symphonica Tour to kick off in late August. In November, however, Michael canceled the remainder of the dates after battling pneumonia. Health problems would persist in the coming months and years, with Michael ending up in an intensive care unit and later revealing that he had undergone a tracheotomy.

Throughout his life, Michael remained active in many charities, performing concerts to raise money a myriad of causes, including HIV research.

Friends, colleagues and musicians paid tribute to Michael on Christmas Day, including The Late Late Show's James Corden and Ben Winston, who credited Michael with inspiring "Carpool Karaoke" after their Red Nose Day sketch in 2011.

Actor and fellow gay rights activist George Takei paid tribute with Michael's own song titles: "Rest with the glittering stars, George Michael. You've found your Freedom, your Faith. It was your Last Christmas, and we shall miss you."

And who could forget this song.....had to be the gayiest song ever....two guys singing to each other that I am your man....the song sounds so tame now compared to the music that plays now.

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He could have been hit by lightning while walking a tightrope between two airplanes at 35,000 feet.

All the stories say that he died peacefully at home. That means his death was expected. Heart attacks and strokes are not expected for 53 year old's.
^^^^ Wrong


George Michael has died of heart failure

This year has been downright awful. For the man who brought us Choose Life and all those shirts worn by girls and guys.....I grew up with George Michael music...he will sorely be missed.

I intentionally left out "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" because I absolutely despise the song.

I intentionally left out "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" because I absolutely despise the song.

That's the song that got him on the map! I didn't care for it when it was first released but it caught on and you couldn't go anywhere because the song was playing and all the guys and gals were wearing that shirt...LOL

Heart attacks and strokes are not expected for 53 year old's.

I had a heart attack at 38. If I live to 53 it will be amazing.

The Choose Life shirts were concluded to mean having the right to be gay or straight.

I intentionally left out "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" because I absolutely despise the song.
George Michael had a beautiful voice. I love his duets with Elton John, and his songs Father Figure, Careless Whisper, Everything She Wants, I'm Your Man, Faith, etc. The man was extremely talented.

So tragic and sad. He was way too young.

:rip:

George Michael had a beautiful voice. I love his duets with Elton John, and his songs Father Figure, Careless Whisper, Everything She Wants, I'm Your Man, Faith, etc. The man was extremely talented.

No argument with any of that, but like any other singer he had songs that I liked and some I didn't.

He could have been hit by lightning while walking a tightrope between two airplanes at 35,000 feet.

All the stories say that he died peacefully at home. That means his death was expected. Heart attacks and strokes are not expected for 53 year old's.

Uh, one can die peacefully of a heart attack in their sleep. If someone dies of AIDS, it means that their quality of life had been diminished for quite some time, so I don't know how that would be "peaceful." What an asinine assumption.

"Died peacefully" is probably a euphemism but sadly, sometimes people in their early 50s do die of heart attacks. We can only speculate for now. But whether he passed because of heart trouble, AIDS or something else; the fact remains we lost a great talent way too soon. Yes, I know George Micheal had his peccadillos, but he also had talent and genius. I also know I am greatly saddened he left us.


:clap

I had a heart attack at 38. If I live to 53 it will be amazing.
Bless you always, Nordy. I wish you good health for the future. :)

Very, very sad!:( Regardless of what was the cause of his death, he was way too young to go! :( And RIGHT AT the holidays! Very tragic and sad for his family and loved ones! :(

There have been so many celebrity deaths and illnesses lately! :confused: Very Sad ! :(

RIP Gearge Michael! He was very much a part of the music scene in the 80's,and as I wasn't really a big fan of his per se' ,he did have some very catchy tunes!;)

George Michael had a beautiful voice. I love his duets with Elton John, and his songs Father Figure, Careless Whisper, Everything She Wants, I'm Your Man, Faith, etc. The man was extremely talented.

Amen to that. He was ultra-talented -absolutely, positively

No words... :crying: :crying: :crying:

I intentionally left out "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" because I absolutely despise the song.

I can see that "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" is like "I'll Tumble For You" for Boy George. It is an earlier song for the artist which is considered drek.

I may not care for the lyrics for the lyrics, but I like the bouncy tune.
But I guess people dislike songs that are not "raunchy" enough.
I think that is unfortunate.

Very, very sad!:( Regardless of what was the cause of his death, he was way too young to go! :( And RIGHT AT the holidays! Very tragic and sad for his family and loved ones! :(

There have been so many celebrity deaths and illnesses lately! :confused: Very Sad ! :(

RIP Gearge Michael! He was very much a part of the music scene in the 80's,and as I wasn't really a big fan of his per se' ,he did have some very catchy tunes!;)


At the time I am writing this post, it has been less than 24 hour since I heard about his death.
I don't have TV, only radio and internet access (currently). On certain radio stations here in NY news of celebrity deaths come hours after it is mentioned on TV.
At first it was sometime after 6 PM and before 8 PM on Christmas day (yesterday as of this writing) in which I heard that George Michael died "peacefully" at home which does seem to indicate that he was sick and being cared for by others where he lived and that his demise was expected. However as the hours went by I eventually heard that the cause of death was "heart failure."
Of course a 53 -year-old dying of heart failure is unusual unless there is something genetic or the person had been ill previously. Drug and/or alcohol abuse could contribute.

But I once explained to a nurse practitioner that my own dad died of a stroke years back and the death certificate said Arteriosclerotic heart disease , and the NP told me that that definition is something that is often written on death certificates because everyone's heart fails at death; and that is what it essentially means. It does not pinpoint the exact cause in all cases. Also, my sister told me that a doctor friend of hers told her that if the coroner does not know what else to attribute death to, or does not know the cause of death, then Arteriosclerotic heart disease will be written in.

It is possible that the family of George Michael does not want the exact cause of his death to be known and are only saying it was "heart failure."

Nevertheless, it was rather odd that George Michael died on Christmas day.
(Florence Henderson died on Thanksgiving day).
But I guess coincidences or odd occurrences have to happen.

BTW, I have also heard that people of the music industry have spoken out their condolences , and one was Elton John who had some sympathetic words to say.
But I recall years back that he said something rather negative about George Michael.
The same when David Bowie died. Elton John spoke out his condolences, but decades back I read that he said negative things about Bowie.

What will he say about Madonna?

For whatever reason, the links to the story aren't cooperating. No 53 year old 'dies peacefully at home' of a heart attack. If a 53 year old has a heart attack they are rushed to the hospital to try to save their life. If they're found dead of a heart attack in their home it's not described as 'peaceful'. Technically, you die when your heart stops so saying someone dies of cardiac arrest is meaningless.

It is possible...John Candy died peacefully of a heart attack.

But...No matter...Bye, George Michael...

I had a heart attack at 38. If I live to 53 it will be amazing.


That's why everyone here is always worried about you Nordy.

My favorite songs were Freedom & Faith.

I can see that "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" is like "I'll Tumble For You" for Boy George. It is an earlier song for the artist which is considered drek.

I may not care for the lyrics for the lyrics, but I like the bouncy tune.
But I guess people dislike songs that are not "raunchy" enough.
I think that is unfortunate.

Raunchiness has nothing to do with it, the lyrics to the song are way beyond stupid. I can actually listen to Culture Club's "I'll Tumble for Ya" , but "Karma Chameleon" is another matter entirely. :rolleyes:

He had suffered from pneumonia. If he did have AIDS, pneumonia with a compromised immune system can make things a lot worse and it can be a strain on the heart. No matter his cause of death, it's a shame. I was in grade school when he got famous and enjoyed his music. Wham was one of the first tapes I bought myself and danced in my bedroom to it all the time. RIP. :(

Regardless what the man died from it is awful that he did pass and on Christmas Day even. That would have to be horrible for his family I imagine although they were most likely seeing him slipping away before Christmas Day. 53 is way too young. Heck my Mom is 47 and I can't even imagine her passing in 6 years.

Amen to that. He was ultra-talented -absolutely, positively

Agreed. I really liked Wham a lot but I was into British bands in the 80's, especially if they were good looking. I loved his solo music as well.

My favorite songs were Freedom & Faith.


I liked Faith, Father figure and Don't let the sun go down on me duet with Elton John as Egghead had mentioned! ;)


I liked Wake me up before you go go too! It was a fun catchy tune! :)

Regardless what the man died from it is awful that he did pass and on Christmas Day even. That would have to be horrible for his family I imagine although they were most likely seeing him slipping away before Christmas Day. 53 is way too young. Heck my Mom is 47 and I can't even imagine her passing in 6 years.


I know! Exactly! :(

It is possible...John Candy died peacefully of a heart attack.

But...No matter...Bye, George Michael...
Yep, and John Candy was only 43

John Ritter also died of heart issues, and he was only 54

Oh stop about the AIDS stuff. It's ridiculous and stupid and NO ONE should be saying this. JUST STOP.

Anywho back to the thread topic RIP George Michael :(

Raunchiness has nothing to do with it, the lyrics to the song are way beyond stupid. I can actually listen to Culture Club's "I'll Tumble for Ya" , but "Karma Chameleon" is another matter entirely. :rolleyes:

Well it brings it back to what I said. I may not care much for the words of Karma Chameleon, but I think it is also a nice bouncy tune though I actually was never able to understand all the words.
Maybe you just think the song is stupid, but I think most people just prefer more overt vulgarity.


BTW, I was not a very big fan of George Michael. I liked some of his songs though.
I saw too many teen idols in the 60s and 70s to think that George Michael was anything more than just another one who followed those who came before him , but eventually he did become more of a respected musical artist.
In a way it is understandable that the label of "Teen Idol" is negative and undesirable, but on the other hand it is too bad that it is considered an antithesis to being a talented and serious performer.

Maybe you just think the song is stupid, but I think most people just prefer more overt vulgarity.

I can't speak for Zoneboy, but I'm pretty sure he's just saying that he prefers more serious and deep lyrics, not vulgarity.... not sure why you are bringing up "vulgarity." :rolleyes:

A message for y'all who loved him: The fact that you loved him before his going forward, be thankful that you at least have that. I didn't discover my newest favorite until it was too late, I love my late beautiful precious Billy Joe Royal SO much and I couldn't be anymore ashamed of myself for not being a fan of him sooner. :( :( :(

God bless you and his family and Michael's family always!!!

Holly

P.S. In other words, hang onto your history with all that you have because not everyone has one with their favorite.

not sure why you are bringing up "vulgarity." :rolleyes:

That one baffles me as well, there's nothing even remotely vulgar about "Karma Chameleon."

Lyrics.....


Desert loving in your eyes all the way.
If I listen to your lies,
Would you say I'm a man without conviction,
I'm a man who doesn't know
How to sell a contradiction?
You come and go, you come and go.

Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma, chameleon,
You come and go, you come and go.
Loving would be easy if your colours were like my dreams:
Red, gold, and green, red, gold, and green.

Didn't you hear your wicked words ever'y day.
And you used to be so sweet.
I heard you say that my love was an addiction.
When we cling, our love is strong.
When you go, you're gone forever.
You string along, you string along.

Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma, chameleon,
You come and go, you come and go.
Loving would be easy if your colours were like my dreams:
Red, gold, and green, red, gold, and green.

Ev'ry day is like survival.
You're my lover, not my rival.

Ev'ry day is like survival.
You're my lover, not my rival.

I'm a man without conviction
I'm a man who doesn't know
How to sale a contradiction?
You come and go, you come and go.

Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma, chameleon,
You come and go, you come and go.
Loving would be easy if your colours were like my dreams:
Red, gold, and green, red, gold, and green.

Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma, chameleon,
You come and go, you come and go.
Loving would be easy if your colours were like my dreams:
Red, gold, and green, red, gold, and green.

^^^ OMG, there should be a parental advisory for that song! :lol: :rolleyes:

Did you ever hear the song Learn To Say No? That's a fun duet George Michael did with singer Jody Watley on Jody's 1987 debut album and I'm surprised it wasn't a hit
Bestie

Rest in peace George Michael.

Did you ever hear the song Learn To Say No? That's a fun duet George Michael did with singer Jody Watley on Jody's 1987 debut album and I'm surprised it wasn't a hit
Bestie
George Michael's duet with Aretha Franklin was also terrific.

I am just reading on the internet that George Michael's estate is worth more than that of David Bowie's.

That is interesting because, though I don't mean to say anything negative , as talented and successful as George Michael was I think his place in music is not as legendary or iconic as that of David Bowie's.

I also was not particularly a fan of David Bowie's music but I liked some of his songs.

Of course, a performer's estate or the money s/he accumulates may not have anything to do with that performer's actual talent and creativity.
Some low talent performers became popular beyond their actual musical or performing abilities.

Alice Cooper became famous largely for his very theatrical stage antics and a very overt style in which he emphasized wildness and brought it out from his audience. Otherwise, his music alone was very much like a lot of rock stars were doing at the time.
Elton John had admitted in an indirect way that he dressed flamboyantly during his music shows at first because it was a vehicle for him to showcase his songs, but as time went by, and he already got a large audience, he did concerts in which he tried to emphasize his music, not circus-like showmanship.

I think it was either Ethel Waters or maybe Ella Fritzgerald or some other female Jazz legend who died poor and on welfare.

Yep, and John Candy was only 43

John Ritter also died of heart issues, and he was only 54


Davey Jones died of a heart attack. He was 66.

Mama Cass Elliot died of a heart attack at the age of 32 .

http://www.medicalbag.com/what-killed-em/mama-cass-elliot/article/486654/

I read that Elton John scolded him for his behavior, which allegedly involved drug use. This was a while back. So it wouldn't have surprised me.

In my nascent "return to metal" days back in 1988, I became a big fan for a while of both George Michael and Prince back then. Now, guess what--BOTH of them are gone this year. :(

Who can hardly wait for this year to be over??