Throwback Thursday: A discussion on George Michael's "Faith"

Chris DeMakes A Podcast

Chris DeMakes

Music History, Music Commentary, Music, Music Interviews

4.9 • 923 Ratings

🗓️ 6 November 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week’s Throwback Thursday episode revisits Episode 118 from August 29th, 2022, where the spotlight is on George Michael’s genre-blending smash hit “Faith.” With its unmistakable Bo Diddley beat, cheeky lyrics, and a leather-jacketed swagger, “Faith” became the second single from Michael’s solo debut and ultimately the #1 Billboard song of 1988. Chris and Chris dig into what made this track so irresistible, exploring its bold musical choices, clever arrangement, and the artistic statement it made as Michael stepped out of Wham!’s shadow and into pop superstardom. Chris DeMakes A Podcast is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at ⁠http://distrokid.com/vip/demakes For bonus episode of The After Party podcast, an extensive back catalog of past After Party episodes, early ad-free releases of new episodes of Chris DeMakes A Podcast, full video versions of episodes, and MUCH more, head to the Patreon at ⁠http://www.ChrisDeMakes.com Follow Chris DeMakes A Podcast on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chrisdemakesapodcast/⁠ Join the Chris DeMakes A Podcast community on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/2643961642526928/⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Distro Kit. Adobe Acrobat Studio so brand new. Show me all the things that PDFs can do. Do your work with ease and speed. PDF spaces is all you need. Do hours of research in an instant. Key insights from an AI assistant. Pick a template with a click. Now your Prezo looks super slick. Close that deal. Yeah, you won. Do that, doing that, did that done.
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0:28.6	It's time to do your best work with your new Adobe Acrobat Studio.
0:32.6	Hey, everybody, Chris Fafalius here, bringing you another throwback Thursday episode.
0:46.0	This week, we're throwing it back to August of 2022 when Chris and I dove into a song by an artist who's no longer with us, George Michael, and his massive
0:55.7	1987 single, Faith. Now, Faith went to number one on December 12th of 1987, stayed there for four
1:03.3	weeks, and went on to become Billboard's number one overall song of 1988, but what else was
1:09.6	happening around the time that Faith first hit the top
1:12.0	of the charts? On December 1st, American novelist James Baldwin passed away at age 63. On December 9th of
1:20.6	1987, Larry Bird ended his streak of hitting 59 consecutive free throws. On December 11th, Wall Street, starring Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen, was released.
1:32.2	On December 23rd of 1987, Nikki Six of Motley Crew overdosed on heroin.
1:37.8	He was clinically dead for two minutes before paramedics were able to revive him with adrenaline,
1:42.2	and this was the turning point in Nikki's life and also the inspiration for the song
1:47.4	Kickstart My Heart.
1:49.8	What was Faith above on the charts when it was at the top?
1:52.9	Some other popular songs in December of 87 were Belinda Carlisle's Heaven is a Place on Earth.
1:58.9	Richard Marks should have known better.
2:02.7	I've had the time of my life from Bill Medley and Jennifer Warns. Is this love from White Snake? George Harrison's got my mind set on you,
2:09.9	and REM's the one I love. Also, since this was almost Christmas time, I wanted to find out what
2:16.0	toys were popular in 1987, and I couldn't find an exact time, I wanted to find out what toys were popular in 1987.
	...

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