Just a word from the website owner... (written around May 2001)
It's been a couple of months since I last updated my homepage, but honestly, what's happened since the last time? The "Pavarotti & Friends" CD was released, George bought John Lennon's Steinway upright, got a parkingticket, had surgery on his back, got nominated for a Grammy (for "Songs From The Last Century") and didn't show up at the ceremony. Did I forget anything? This is since, when, September? Apart from this and a handful of pictures of Kenny and Geri in "OK", "Hello" etc, there hasn't been helluva lot to update. I do admit, though, I should have had his article from "The Sun" on here... Hopefully I won't get sued for © if I do put it on "Chez Nobby".
I do have a couple of thought I'd like to share. Not that I think anyone cares, but you're on my website and you're still reading this so you're obviously interested - or maybe just curious. Either way, you're still reading, so here we go.
Who's Selfish?
It's a question I've been asking myself. Who's being selfish, George or his fans? George for not getting his tempo up when it comes to making a new CD, or his fans for expecting, demanding and screaming for new material? When it comes to touring, is he selfish for not touring, or are his fans selfish for expecting him to go through agony to please them?
Some facts:
George:
- is a multi-millionaire. As a matter of fact, he doesn't have to lift a finger the rest of his life. He can basically sit on his ass for the next 40 years and not do anything. But he doesn't, he's in process of making a new CD - 5 years after "Older". Ok, so he released "Ladies and Gentlemen" and "Songs From The Last Century", but as much as I know (most of) his fans have enjoyed both of these albums, they're not "real" albums. They're real enough, cause if they hadn't been we wouldn't been able to play them, would we? ;-) Anyway, it's been 5 years since the last original George Michael album, and of course his fans want something new. But the thing is, his fans want new material once they've listened to the new album enough times. He could have released an album a year, and his fans would still go, "I wonder when his next album is coming out" after a month. The thing is, this is obviously the time it takes for him to complete a great album. As the perfectionist he is, I'm sure he has countless lyrics labelled with "shit" hidden away somewhere.
Speaking for myself, I'd rather have one good album every 5th year than one crap album a year. Personally I think he's doing the right thing by not releasing a crap album just to give his fans something while he's working on the real masterpiece - even though I know many people (not necessarily fans) think that's what "Songs From The Last Century" was all about.
- hates touring. He can't write, he can't concentrate, he doesn't feel good about it and the list goes on. He simply doesn't want to tour, but his fans are expecting him to. Do we have the right?
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George's fans:
- are using ridiculous amounts to get all his CD's, albums, singles, videos, books and other merchandise they come across. I'm one of them - as you can see if you take a look at "my humble collection" (which has grown by like 50 items since I last updated my site...) So, they want something in return. But he's already given us something - his music. He's not forcing us to buy anything, he makes a record, releases the singles and the videos and says, "This is what I have to offer you, buy it if you want." He's not holding a gun against anyone's head, saying, "Buy all my records and spend your hard earned money on George Michael and Wham! merchandise or I'll blow your f***ing brains out!!!" We choose to buy what he offers, and if we don't like what we get, we can stop buying it. Or if we don't like waiting, we can start admiring someone else instead - even though it's not as easy as it sounds...
- want an album every year and a tour, basically. Something tells me he can't give both - and something else tells me that the man is never going on a tour again. I can't blame him, I wouldn't want to face 70,000 screaming fans at the age of 37. Remember the hysteria around the guest-appearances he's done? Fans travelled from all corners of the world to hear him perform 2 songs. Then imagine what it would be like if he decided to do, say, a small tour in Europe and a couple of shows in the US. There are only a limited number of seats in an arena, he has more fans and admirerers to fill Madison Square Garden 50 times and there would still be many fans who wouldn't be able to see him. So I can imagine people killing for lousy seats, hanging from a lamp for 3 hours - whatever it takes to be there. Would I be up for it at 37 and after a decade away from it all? Hardly. It's different with, say, Elton John cause he loves touring, and he's done it for 30 years in a row. He would probably go nuts if he DIDN'T tour - George would probably go nuts if he DID tour.
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I've done a lot of thinking about this, and I wouldn't want him to go through hell to please me. I know a lot of fans don't agree with me, and by all means, expect a tour, but personally I think those who hold their breath is in for a huge disappointment. It's better to think, "Fine, he's not touring again" and be in for a pleasant surprise if he DOES decide to tour again, than to think, "He'll definitely tour again" and be in for a HUGE disappointment after 30 years of no touring...
Honestly, why waste a huge amount of time and energy getting annoyed about these things? It's not helluva lot we can do about it, so the easiest way is to accept it and move on - or move away.
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PS: I completely forgot, something else has happened aswell! George and Andrew had dinner ;-)