George Michael's magical fluidity: Remembering the pop icon's modern and progressive sound
On Christmas Day, '80s pop icon George Michael, who found fame first with Wham! His manager, Michael Lippman, told the magazine he was "devastated," a sentiment Michael's long-time friend and sometimes collaborator Elton John echoed on Instagram: "I am in deep shock. People testifying about Michael's talent in "Freedom: George Michael" include Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Mark Ronson, Mary J. Blige, Tony Bennett, Oasis' Liam Gallagher and late night host James Corden. Michael doesn't receive nearly the respect he deserves for his songwriting prowess, but he's a prodigious talent who wrote "Careless Whisper" at age 17 and the bulk of Wham! And Frank Ocean's genre and sexual fluidity, as well as fiercely independent artistic vision — as heard on his beloved 2016 LP, "Blonde" — also nod to elements of Michael's career.
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