Happy 25th Anniversary to George Michael’s third studio album Older, originally released May 13, 1996 in the UK and May 14, 1996 in the US.
Writers, myself included, are in a never-ending search for words that not only describe what we hear, see or touch, but words that convey an emotion or moment in time for our readers to revel in. A single word on its own is incredibly powerful, multiple words compiled together and they tell a story. Stories of love and loss, joy and despair, hearts broken and hearts healed. Whatever the topic may be, storytellers have the power and responsibility to impart so much. They share their stories on paper, on film, in theatres and via one of the most beautiful forms of storytelling to have ever existed: the art of song.
One such storyteller with an incredible gift for constructing some of the most heart-wrenching music to have ever been created was singer-songwriter George Michael. From humble beginnings as the voice of pop duo Wham! to the uber chic, dark and moody solo artist who set a new precedent for his male counterparts, Michael never stopped incorporating elements of his own life experiences to his music, as subtle and hard to read as they may have been for most.
After the success of his first two solo outings, 1987’s Faith and the groundbreaking Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990), it would be Michael’s third LP Older that found the vocalist in a more serious and reflective mood for a number of reasons, both professional and personal. Michael allowed himself to deep dive into an emotional whirlpool of experimentation, where new sounds were implemented and his artistry was challenged.
Following his multi-year legal battle with Sony that came to an end in June 1994, Michael also endured the loss of his late partner, Anselmo Feleppa, in early 1993. With a nearly six-year gap between Listen Without Prejudice and Older, it is abundantly clear that not only was the singer recovering from the painful loss of a loved one, but he was also healing in the best way he knew how: by writing music.
Debuting the album’s lead single in late 1994 at the MTV European Music Awards, “Jesus to a Child” was a then secretive love song and homage to his late partner. The song set the tone for the album that was to come, the creation of a man who was taking his music and craft more seriously and exercising some of his best and most profound songwriting. Although still in the closet, Older was to be a cathartic experience for Michael, something that fell on deaf ears to most critics.
Watch the Official Videos:
Although this album was a departure from the upbeat pop/dance vibes that both Faith and Listen Without Prejudice expertly offered, the album’s second single “Fastlove” returned Older to the dance floor, even if it was only for an abbreviated five-and-a-half minutes. The song debuted at number one on the UK charts and was accompanied by a video that was not only forward-looking for its time with its usage of CGI, but was quietly opening doors (and minds) with respect to sexual freedom.
The aforementioned change in sound on Older was due in large part to its jazzy feel, a perfect sound for the album’s deeper messages. “Spinning the Wheel,” the third single released from the album, epitomizes this sound whilst addressing the fear of contracting HIV, something that was not just affecting Michael personally (Feleppa and Freddie Mercury), but also the gay community at large. It was a pandemic of epic proportions that was myopically labelled the “gay disease” and stigmatized all gay men, whether positive or negative. Torn between a homophobic world and the need to speak on something so devastating, Michael straddled a very fine line with his activism.
Other tracks on the album embody Michael’s mood at the time with “The Strangest Thing” bringing the singer’s vulnerability front and center. Nine out of the eleven tracks were written solely by Michael with the other two co-written with Jon Douglas (“Spinning the Wheel”) and David Austin on one of the album’s most heartbreaking and painfully personal love songs, “You Have Been Loved.” Michael’s well-known controlled vocal prowess and clarity have never sounded as close to perfection as they do on this album. Devoid of any kind of exhibitionism, his vocality was entrenched in emotion and sadly, pain.
The album’s final single “Star People” spoke to the fakery and greed that consumes many in the entertainment business, making reference to damaging childhoods and insecurity as some of the possible causes. Rooted in a soul, funk sound with splashes of disco, “Star People” yet again elevated Michael to the top of the charts.
Older is one of—if not the—greatest and most accomplished albums in his esteemed repertoire. His ability to translate a level of grief most could not comprehend into song makes this album incredibly deft and authentic. At the time of Older’s release, many critics naively labelled this album as “boring” and “pretentious,” which highlights how far we have come with respect to looking at things with less of a one-dimensional view and an even greater understanding of the suffering that some in our communities face, whether out loud or in silence.
Older is a true masterpiece.
LISTEN: