George Michael
Desert Island Discs: Archive 2005-2010
BBC
4.4 • 804 Ratings
🗓️ 30 September 2007
⏱️ 36 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Kirsty Young's castaway this week is George Michael. 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 | Hi, it's Nicola Cochlin. Young people have been making history for years, but we don't often hear about them. My brand new series on BBC Sounds sets out to put this right. In history's youngest heroes, I'll be revealing the fascinating stories of 12 young people who've played a major role in history and who've helped shape our world. Like Audrey Hepburn, Nelson Mandela, Louis Braille and Lady Jane Grey, |
| 0:24.7 | history's youngest heroes with me, Nicola Cochlin. |
| 0:27.8 | Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:30.3 | Hello, I'm Krista Young, and this is a podcast from the Desert Island Discs Archive. |
| 0:35.3 | For rights reasons, we've had to shorten the music. |
| 0:38.4 | The program was originally broadcast in 2007. |
| 1:12.3 | Music My castaway this week is George Michael. For more than 25 years, he's been an international star. More than 100 million records sold, countless number ones, armfuls of prestigious awards, and an army of loyal fans. His ability to write, produce and perform perfect pop songs is unquestioned. But along with the career highs, there have been lows too. |
| 1:17.7 | He lost a long wrangle with his record company, faced bereavement, and for years his sexuality |
| 1:21.8 | was a matter of intense newspaper speculation until he was spectacularly outed a decade ago. |
| 1:28.3 | Within a few years, he said, he lost his lover, lost his mother, and lost his dignity. |
| 1:33.7 | Just because you're rich and famous, he once said, doesn't mean your life is problem-free. |
| 1:37.8 | My problems are not any greater or lesser than when I was 17. |
| 1:41.5 | They're just different. |
| 1:42.9 | So, George Michael, we're about to cast you away on this imaginary desert island. |
| 1:46.1 | Would you welcome the solitude? |
| 1:48.2 | Right now I would, actually. |
| 1:49.8 | Right now I would because I've obviously just done a year's touring, |
| 1:53.2 | which was closely followed by some community service. |
| 1:55.7 | So I'm quite ready to be on my own for a while. |
| 1:58.9 | I mean, it's been an extraordinary 12 months. |
| 2:01.3 | You finished this tour, which was a sellout, was a smash hit, got great reviews. |
| 2:05.3 | You opened the new Wembley Stadium. |
... |
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