Classic Desert Island Discs - George Michael

Desert Island Discs

BBC

Society & Culture, Music Commentary, Music, Personal Journals

4.4 • 13.7K Ratings

🗓️ 22 May 2022

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is George Michael, in a programme first broadcast in 2007. As a singer and songwriter he has enjoyed massive global success for a quarter of a century. He's sold more than 100 million records, won two Grammy awards and notched up countless number one hits. His ability to write, produce, and perform perfect pop songs is unquestioned. But along with the career highs, there have been lows too: he lost a long wrangle with his record company, was crippled by bereavement and for years questions about his sexuality were a matter of newspaper headlines until he was spectacularly outed a decade ago. In a rare interview, George Michael talks candidly to Kirsty Young about how he regained his emotional and professional confidence - and is now a happier and more peaceful man. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Love is a Losing Game by Amy Winehouse Book: Any book of short stories by Doris Lessing Luxury: DB9 car.

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds Music Radio Podcasts
0:04.7	Lauren LeVernier, we're taking our Easter break, so until we're back on air, we're showcasing
0:09.3	a few programs from our archive, as usual the music's been shortened for right reasons.
0:14.8	This week's guest is the singer and songwriter George Michael.
0:18.0	He was cast away by Kirstie Young in 2007.
0:37.2	My cast away this week is George Michael.
0:39.5	For more than 25 years he's been an international star, more than 100 million records sold
0:43.9	countless number ones, armfuls of prestigious awards and an army of loyal fans.
0:49.5	His ability to write, produce and perform perfect pop songs is unquestioned.
0:53.7	But along with the career highs that have been low too, he lost a long wrangle with his
0:57.7	record company, Faced Bereadment, and for years his sexuality was a matter of intense
1:01.9	newspaper speculation until he was spectacularly outed a decade ago.
1:07.3	Within a few years he said he lost his lover, lost his mother, and lost his dignity.
1:12.8	Just because you're rich and famous he once said, doesn't mean your life is problem-free.
1:16.7	My problems are not any greater or lesser than when I was 17.
1:20.4	They're just different.
1:21.9	So George Michael, we're about to cast you away on this imaginary desert island.
1:25.0	Would you welcome the solitude?
1:27.3	Right now I would actually.
1:28.8	Right now I would because I've obviously just done a years touring, which was closely
1:32.9	followed by some community service, so I'm quite ready to be on my own for a while.
1:37.7	I mean it's been an extraordinary 12 months.
	...

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