Page 31 - ARUBA TODAY

PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 27 december 2016
A31

Pop superstar George Michael dies of heart failure at 53

GREGORY KATZ car’s steering wheel, not
Associated Press moving.
LONDON (AP) — George Some made jokes about
Michael’s moment of lib- his erratic driving, but the
eration followed what underlying problems were
seemed at first to be a time serious.
of deep humiliation. In 2010, his driver’s license
He was blessed with sen- was finally revoked for five
sual good looks and an ex- years after he drove his
quisite voice, attributes he Land Rover into the side of
used to become first a tee- a Snappy Snap photo shop
nybopper heartthrob and with so much force that his
then a mature solo artist vehicle dented the wall.
with videos that played up A witty passer-by remem-
his considerable appeal. bering Michael’s early ca-
He kept his own sexual ori- reer wrote the word WHAM
entation private, until he on the spot his SUV had hit.
was arrested in 1998 for He was arrested a second
lewd conduct in a public time in public toilets — this
toilet in Los Angeles after time in North London in
being spotted by a male 2008 for drug use, an inci-
undercover police officer. dent that prompted him to
In an earlier era, that might apologize to his fans and
have doomed his career. promise to get his life in or-
Instead of retreating, how- der.
ever, he made a single In this Sept. 9, 2012 file photo, British singer George Michael performs at a concert to raise money He seemed to sense that
and video — “Outside” — for the AIDS charity Sidaction, during the Symphonica tour at Palais Garnier Opera house in Paris, he was wearing out his wel-
that ridiculed the charges France. Associated Press come with the public, of-
against him and mocked fering an apology to every-
the Los Angeles police of- duo WHAM! and moved him several years to recov- higher marks. His first solo body “just for boring them.”
ficers who busted him. smoothly into a solo career. er. album, 1987’s “Faith,” sold He said at a press confer-
The memorable image of It was a classic showbiz “I had my very first relation- more than 20 million cop- ence in 2011 that he felt
the two uniformed police- story — a lad named Geor- ship at 27 because I really ies, and he enjoyed sev- he had let young people
men kissing in the video — gios Panayiotou with strong had not actually come to eral hit singles including the down with his misbehavior
both funny and outrageous Greek Cypriot roots takes terms with my sexuality un- raunchy “I Want Your Sex,” and had made it easier for
at the time — helped the name George Michael til I was 24,” he said. “I lost which was boosted by a others to denigrate homo-
Michael come out as a and forms a band with An- my partner to HIV then it provocative video that sexuals.
proud gay man. He was drew Ridgeley that brings took about three years to received wide airplay on By that time, many of his
unashamed, unapologetic him wealth and worldwide grieve; then after that I lost MTV. songs had become popu-
and ready to poke fun at fame. my mother. I felt almost like The song was controver- lar gay anthems, including
himself even as he pro- Photos and videos from I was cursed.” sial not only because of those written and released
duced a steady stream of that era show Michael with He was unsettled and un- its explicit nature, but also before he revealed his sex-
hits. long locks, piercing eyes happy and, at the same because it was seen as en- ual preference.
But Michael, whose death and a show-stopping smile. time, became that rare art- couraging casual sex and Despite these personal set-
from heart failure at 53 was He was made for MTV, ist who enjoys both chart promiscuity at a time when backs, Michael’s musical
announced Sunday, strug- which was emerging as a success and tremendous the AIDS epidemic was at performances remained
gled in his later years, fight- dominant force, and he respect from his peers. He its height. strong even as his mate-
ing health issues and sub- had a powerful video pres- sold well over 100 million Michael and his manage- rial moved farther from the
stance abuse problems. ence, borrowing some of albums, walked away from ment tried to tamp down teen tunes that first brought
His voice remained golden his dance moves from Elvis awards dinners weighed this point of view by hav- him to stardom.
— at times it seemed there Presley and sometimes styl- down with trophies, and ing the singer write “Explore The Telegraph newspaper
was almost no limit to his ing himself as a motorcy- recorded duets with the gi- Monogamy” on the leg in 2011 described a London
range — but his behavior in cle rebel who would have ants in his field. and back of a model in the concert appearance as an
public became ever more made James Dean or Mar- The long list of people video. impressive event, calling his
erratic. lon Brando proud. who recorded with Mi- His career was peaking, but voice,
Despite his great talent, He seemed to be on top of chael includes all-time a protracted legal dispute “A rich, soulful instrument,
he never found a niche for the world when he gradu- greats: Aretha Franklin, Ray with his record company, it’s capable of serious emo-
himself as a senior states- ated from WHAM! and Charles, Luciano Pavarotti Sony, took a toll. tional heft, expertly match-
man of the rock world. His started scoring his own hits, and Elton John, for starters. As the hits slowed, he be- ing the confessional tone of
fans stuck with him despite but later said he was strug- Their willingness to share the came better known for his own material.”
it all, and many expect- gling with his sexuality and spotlight was a sure sign of health scares and brushes He was straightforward
ed one more comeback. remembers his late 20s as a the way Michael’s talents with the police. He was about his reasons for first
People rooted for Michael, very depressing period. were appreciated by fel- fond of marijuana and pre- starting a ska band with
even as they felt he was The AIDS crisis was hitting low musicians. scription sedatives, a dan- Ridgeley and later forming
slipping away, giving in to the gay community ex- Critics generally viewed his gerous combination that WHAM!
his torment. tremely hard at the time, WHAM! songs as catchy had an effect on his driv- “I wanted to be loved,” he
Michael shot to stardom and he lost one partner to but disposable pop and ing. Several times he was said. “It was an ego satis-
at an early age in the teen the disease. He said it took gave his solo efforts far found slumped over his faction thing.”q