On what would have been his 54th birthday, Wet Thud takes a look back at the music of the great George Michael. Michael may seem like a more commercial pop act than is normally covered here at Wet Thud, but much like his popular contemporaries Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson and the like, there's no denying the broad reach of his influence, or the impact that his music has had on artists in his wake. When he suddenly and unexpectedly passed in December, entertainers ranging from living legends to indie upstarts paid tribute.
What follows here is a survey of Wet Thud's favourite forty songs from the former Wham! frontman, covering both his days in the pop duo and as a solo star. For the purposes of this list, cover versions (of which he did many) were disqualified, and only original compositions were considered. Some readers may be surprised to see some of his most popular songs are nowhere to be found on the list--"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," for example, despite being the song that introduced George Michael to most audiences outside of the UK (including myself), did not make the cut. Ditto for pop classics like "Monkey" and "Last Christmas." Instead, you'll hopefully find here a thoughtfully compiled list of favourites from the perspective of one lifelong fan. RIP George.
Look for a Spotify playlist of the full Top 40 following number one...
040. "A Last Request (I Want Your Sex - Rhythm 3)" (b-side from the "I Want Your Sex" single, 1987)
039. "Nothing Looks The Same In The Light" (album cut from Wham!'s Fantastic, 1983)
038. "Do You Really Want To Know" (from the Red, Hot + Dance compilation, 1992)
037. "Older" (single from Older, 1996)
036. "Club Tropicana" (single from Wham!'s Fantastic, 1983)
035. "Soul Free" (promotional single from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, 1990)
034. "Round Here" (single from Patience, 2004)
033. "A Different Corner" (single from Wham!'s Music From The Edge Of Heaven, 1986)
032. "Cowboys And Angels" (single from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, 1990)
031. "Waiting (Reprise)" (album cut from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, 1990)
030. "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do?)" (single from Wham!'s Fantastic, 1982)
029. "Young Guns (Go For It!)" (single from Wham!'s Fantastic, 1982)
028. "Heal The Pain" (single from Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1, 1990)
027. "Spinning The Wheel" (single from Older, 1996)
026. "Freedom" (single from Wham!'s Make It Big, 1984)
025. "Star People '97" (remix single from Older, 1997)
024. "The Edge Of Heaven" (single from Wham!'s The Final, 1986)
023. "Cars And Trains" (album cut from Patience, 2004)
022. "Battlestations" (album cut from Wham!'s The Final, 1986)
021. "Hard Day" (single from Faith, 1987)
020. "Outside" (single from Ladies And Gentlemen, The Best Of George Michael, 1998)
019. "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" [w/Aretha Franklin] (single from Aretha Franklin's Aretha, 1986)
018. "Amazing" (single from Patience, 2004)
017. "Happy" (from the Red, Hot + Dance compilation, 1992)
016. "Flawless (Go To The City)" (single from Patience, 2004)
015. "Kissing A Fool" (single from Faith, 1987)
014. "I'm Your Man" (single from Wham!'s The Final, 1985)
013. "Waiting For That Day" (single from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, 1990)
012. "One More Try" (single from Faith, 1987)
011. "Fantasy" (b-side from the "Freedom '90" single, 1990)
010. "Something To Save" (album cut from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, 1990)
009. "Father Figure" (single from Faith, 1987)
008. "Careless Whisper" (single from Wham!'s Make It Big, 1984)
007. "Fastlove" (single from Older, 1996)
006. "Faith" (single from Faith, 1987)
005. "Everything She Wants" (single from Wham!'s Make It Big, 1984)
004. "Too Funky" (single from the Red, Hot + Dance compilation, 1992)
003. "Praying For Time" (single from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, 1990)
002. "I Want Your Sex (Rhythm 1 - Lust)" (single from Faith, 1987)
001. "Freedom '90" (single from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, 1990)
***** text-only version of the list *****
###. "Song Title" (Album Title, Release Year)
040. "A Last Request (I Want Your Sex - Rhythm 3)" (b-side from the "I Want Your Sex" single, 1987)
039. "Nothing Looks The Same In The Light" (album cut from Wham!'s Fantastic, 1983)
038. "Do You Really Want To Know" (from the Red, Hot + Dance compilation, 1992)
037. "Older" (single from Older, 1996)
036. "Club Tropicana" (single from Wham!'s Fantastic, 1983)
035. "Soul Free" (promotional single from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, 1990)
034. "Round Here" (single from Patience, 2004)
033. "A Different Corner" (single from Wham!'s Music From The Edge Of Heaven, 1986)
032. "Cowboys And Angels" (single from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, 1990)
031. "Waiting (Reprise)" (album cut from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, 1990)
030. "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do?)" (single from Wham!'s Fantastic, 1982)
029. "Young Guns (Go For It!)" (single from Wham!'s Fantastic, 1982)
028. "Heal The Pain" (single from Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1, 1990)
027. "Spinning The Wheel" (single from Older, 1996)
026. "Freedom" (single from Wham!'s Make It Big, 1984)
025. "Star People '97" (remix single from Older, 1997)
024. "The Edge Of Heaven" (single from Wham!'s The Final, 1986)
023. "Cars And Trains" (album cut from Patience, 2004)
022. "Battlestations" (album cut from Wham!'s The Final, 1986)
021. "Hard Day" (single from Faith, 1987)
020. "Outside" (single from Ladies And Gentlemen, The Best Of George Michael, 1998)
019. "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" [w/Aretha Franklin] (single from Aretha Franklin's Aretha, 1986)
018. "Amazing" (single from Patience, 2004)
017. "Happy" (from the Red, Hot + Dance compilation, 1992)
016. "Flawless (Go To The City)" (single from Patience, 2004)
015. "Kissing A Fool" (single from Faith, 1987)
014. "I'm Your Man" (single from Wham!'s The Final, 1985)
013. "Waiting For That Day" (single from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, 1990)
012. "One More Try" (single from Faith, 1987)
011. "Fantasy" (b-side from the "Freedom '90" single, 1990)
010. "Something To Save" (album cut from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, 1990)
009. "Father Figure" (single from Faith, 1987)
008. "Careless Whisper" (single from Wham!'s Make It Big, 1984)
007. "Fastlove" (single from Older, 1996)
006. "Faith" (single from Faith, 1987)
005. "Everything She Wants" (single from Wham!'s Make It Big, 1984)
004. "Too Funky" (single from the Red, Hot + Dance compilation, 1992)
003. "Praying For Time" (single from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, 1990)
002. "I Want Your Sex (Rhythm 1 - Lust)" (single from Faith, 1987)
001. "Freedom '90" (single from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, 1990)
01 - 06, 08 - 15, 17, 20 - 22, 24, 26, 28, 31 - 33, 35, 38, 40 Epic Records
07, 25, 27, 37 Aegean/Virgin Records
16, 18, 23, 34 Aegean/Sony Music UK
19 Arista Records
29, 30, 36, 39 Innervision Records
29, 30, 36, 39 Innervision Records
