Talk about squandered talent.
George Michael’s first two solo albums were about as good as anything coming out around that time. Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, in particular, was an elegant collage of danceable pop and heart-wrenching acoustic ballads. It was hard to believe the guy from Wham! was capable of such resonant art.
And you know the rest of the story… forgettable music and memorable bathroom arrests galore.
As much as I love Listen Without Prejudice, my favorite George Michael song is the closing track on his first solo album, Faith. ‘Kissing a Fool’ is a beautiful, jazzy love ballad unlike anything else on that album.
I consider this the ultimate heartbreak song. It’s so passionate and sad, the aching lament of the dumped turned into four and a half minutes of exquisite, beautiful pain. All set to a torch-y bed of piano, strings and horns.
This is what popular music can do.
When I could have been your star
You listened to people
Who scared you to death, and from my heart
Strange that you were strong enough
To even make a start
But you’ll never find peace of mind
Til you listen to your heart
People
You can never change the way they feel
Better let them do just what they will
For they will, if you let them,
Steal your heart from you
People
Will always make a lover feel a fool
But you knew I loved you
We could have shown them all
We should have seen love through
Fooled me with the tears in your eyes
Covered me with kisses and lies
So goodbye, but please don’t take my heart
You are far
I’m never gonna be your star
I’ll pick up the pieces
And mend my heart
Maybe I’ll be strong enough
I don’t know where to start
But I’ll never find peace of mind
While I listen to my heart
People
You can never change the way they feel
Better let them do just what they will
For they will, if you let them,
Steal your heart
And people
Will always make a lover feel a fool
But you knew I loved you
We could have shown them all
But remember this
Every other kiss
That you ever give
Long as we both live
When you need the hand of another man
One you really can surrender with
I will wait for you
Like I always do
There’s something there
That can’t compare with any other
You are far
When I could have been your star
You listened to people
Who scared you to death, and from my heart
Strange that I was wrong enough
To think you’d love me too
Guess you were kissing a fool
You must have been kissing a fool
Meet Me In Montauk 
I haven’t listened to this song in ages. What a beauty it is. Of course, you could have chosen “Faith” off of that album, and I would have appreciated watching the accompanying video even more 🙂 Yes, he was (is?) an incredibly talented singer. When he launched his “comeback” tour of America on American Idol at the end of last year, it was a sad and unsatisfying moment. In poor voice from a cold, he croaked his way across the stage. I certainly hope and expect that he has another few chapters to add to the inevitable lurid biography that will be written about him.
THIS is what popular music DID in 1990. I suspect this track would not be played on any top 40 station now, and only made it as far as it did even in 1990 based upon the residual popularity of Wham from the 80’s and the first single Faith.
Anyway, an excellent song from a talented artist. I’m with Amy, hoping that he has more left in the tank (that he hasn’t left on the bathroom floor:) to make another great album, that will be loved by 50,000 people across the world:)
Well, it wasn’t a top 40 station, but as a matter of fact, I heard this song just about a week ago on a local station that plays “the best of the 80s, 90s and today…” I hadn’t heard it in years and was so pleased to hear what was one of my favorite songs “back in the day.” I actually went to the Faith concert in Miami (Scott was a good sport and took me) and I think there was only one song on that album that I didn’t really love. The videos were pretty great, too.
Poor George…it’s a shame he’s had such trouble staying in the spotlight for the right reasons. In 1996 he released another single I loved, Fastlove, from his album Older. It was a catchy pop number that was huge in Europe during one of my summers in Italy. The rest of the album didn’t do much for me, but I was happy to see him still working. I don’t think I’ve heard another new song from him since then and I agree that it is truly squandered talent. Here’s hoping he can get back on track someday soon.