Faith

It has its moments, but mostly not my taste

I'm sorry this is just a bit too horny for me. And the songs don't need to be 5+ minutes long. Why is it that faith, the best song on the album, is fucking 3 minutes long when I want your sex is 9 minutes long!!!! Fav songs: - Faith - One more try

Very few images are so burned into my cultural memory of the 80s more than a cut man with a stubble beard shaking his ass in skinny jeans sporting an acoustic guitar slung on his back that he NEVER PLAYS. A pop masterpiece.

Title track is certainly well known, but I can't say it appeals, and nor does anything else here.

My exposure to pop in the late 80’s was limited to MTV, And George Michael (and this album) was certainly a fixture there. But familiarity does not equal fandom. My impression at the time was that he was following in the Madonna mode, pushing the envelope on overt sexuality, being “edgy”. But not straying from a very safe musical style / production. Very polished, but probably spent more time on the videos than the music. So, on to the listen: this is certainly well put together, very hook-y, well produced and performed. I can understand why it was popular. That said, it’s not really my “thing”, late 80’s pop. I don’t own (nor want) anything from this album. In 1987, I was listening to Roseanne Cash, The Desert Rose Band, Linda Ronstadt/Dolly Parton / Emmylou Harris’s Trio, Nanci Griffith, Kathy Mattea, New Grass Revival, Dwight Yoakam. Pop simply wasn’t holding my attention at the time. Not exclusively. I was also listening to REM, The dB’s, Def Leppard. A little Bon Jovi, Bruce Hornsby. Point is, my interests were elsewhere. I certainly heard this (George Michael) music…. It just didn’t appeal to me. It’s still a 3/5 for me. Well done, effective at what it is.

6.5/10 despite being a UK born citizen, i know nothing about england's music scene outside the super mainstream stuff. so george michael was a new name to me. turns out he was the lead singer of WHAM! and was also the biggest UK popstar during the 80s. but ngl, im kinda struggling to believe if that's even true the first half of this album suffers in being in this pop r&b limbo, where everything sounds hollow and almost soulless. the opening track faith has over 300 million streams on spotify and my main question is why? this song feels so boring and weak, the instrumental could've used a lot more. im not asking for grandiose types of production but the guitar just by itself is very lacklustre - could've used some help. this problem carries on for the next two tracks; father figure had me feeling like i was being edged in the worst way possible. the hook was really catchy and i though michael would build off on top of that but apparently not. i want your sex is probably my most hated song on here. i do not think this track needed two parts whatsoever, the point was already made very clear after the second chorus. after that it was just massively overstaying its welcome. these three tracks also suffer from some questionable lyricism. it goes from average pop lyrics that will get you by to classic 80s misogyny which yeah ok it's a product of its time but it's still weird. after that snoozefest however, i do think the album grows in quality. hard day was a decent enough song, it was definitely more attention grabbing with the electronic groove elements scattered here and there. hand to mouth was a fantastically written song, the introspective lyrics were so refreshing to see after a leg of mundane-ity on the previous songs. the same lyrical quality is kept up on look at your hands and monkey. both of the tracks also hold my fave production pieces. it was very upbeat and lively, something i was craving since the opening track. kissing a fool was a typical pop ballad, but i have no complaints really. and tbh i dont even want to acknowledge the closing track, i didn't need a part three thank you very much. i think this album is very much a mixed bag with some nice lyrics and fun sounds and then the most sleep inducing tracks known to humankind. i don't really see myself revisiting most songs which honestly is fine by me!

There is no subtly on this album, you know what he is singing about along with some bopping melodies. Really loved dancing around to music my sister and fam introduced me to long ago.

I'm about a 3.5 with this. The hits are great and the rest are ok. His voice is soooo smooth and silky. And I like that he ends the album with a timeless beautiful piano song.

This album ages like the finest wine. Every song hits that perfectly produced 80’s sweet spot by avoiding drum machine/keyboard cliches that were oh so popular at the time in favor of a timeless bass/keyboard urban production that feels organic. While listening to this recently I realized that it just might be a concept album which starts with having faith that the right person will maybe eventually show up, to going through the beginning, middle and end phases of a toxic relationship. George: Thank you for creating a perfect pop album that still sounds relevant and modern nearly 40 years later. My opinion states that this album and Madonna’s “Like A Prayer” are the two best records of the 80’s.

The music gods have smiled on me this week. Love this album, such an 80s throwback and so many classics that are still as great today as they were then.

Mi è piaciuto parecchio, molto anni 80 ma spacca

che voce, che voce. mi ricordo quando ho visto per la prima volta il tributo a Freddie Mercury dove George ha cantato Somebody to Love e mi sono messa a piangere. la sua voce è proprio qualcosa di speciale. poi, questo album non è proprio un cinque, ma quasi. splendido.

Questo album gronda anni Ottanta da tutti i pori.

Mooolto bello. La sua voce è da sogno e c’è una bella alternanza tra canzoni d’amore/vulnerabilità e canzoni più irriverenti. Non mi sento di dargli 5 ma ci è andato vicino. Rest in Peace George🩷

So sad that he is gone, super super talented. I knew a couple of tracks but man for a debut album, it is amazing! Especially knowing how much of the production he was in control of, shows that his talents go further than just his phenomenal voice. Also, I've never noticed this before, but his vocals in FAITH sound so similar to Freddie Mercury! Favourites: Kissing a Fool Faith Father Figure Hand to Mouth Look at Your Hands

Late 80s extravaganza!

I already knew and loved Faith and Father Figure and was eager to find out how the rest of the album would play out. As expected, the other songs were good, but not as good as tracks 1 and 2. Still a fun listen, and I enjoyed listening to George actively avoid using gendered pronouns. I see you, George!

Woooo boy… George was all in his feelings for this album. I understand why it was a hit even if I felt like done if the tracks were too long.

A bit... on the nose. In some places. It's a decent listen with a couple of well-known hits. Neither as amazing nor as trite as some opinions would suggest. Very mainstream, a little forgettable as an album, although some songs are undeniably fun. Hard Day is a bit dull. I agree with the reviewer on here who said that Michael Jackson did this kind of sexy/funky/R&B better. Percussion on Hand to Mouth is synthetics at its worst. The song is meh. Look at Your Hands: pretty cheesy music and forgettable songwriting. Decent R&B; a bit dated.

I have faith, sometimes

A lot of radio hits. Not my thing though.

Not really my thing, do like some of his other stuff

Very 80s. Not bad but not my taste. Stand-out: Faith

Oof. This is peak 80s and not in a good way.

I was kinda on board with the first few songs, but it fell off pretty quickly.

Bro needs to get laid. Its ok. I think I’m supposed to like it more. I thought I’d like it more from the few songs I’ve heard before.

I never liked Wham!, and I never really listened to George Michael's solo work, other than the inescapable singles. On playing this album, I found it an excellently produced record - very slick soul-influenced pop music, but it really failed to grab my attention. I couldn't really see why it makes it into this list of albums that must be heard. So I get that it was popular and why it was popular, but it left me a bit disinterested.

Começa jogando lá em cima o clima dos anos 80 com os hits, depois fica cansativo.

Hard

This one goes back to just before I really started listening to a lot of music. My brother had it in his cassette collection. I can still along with almost all the songs.

Great debut from George, not his strongest record but still a killer entrance into his solo career

Never noticed the symbols at the bottom before. The cross, a bass clef, British Pounds, star of David, and a heart with an arrow through it. I guess these are the things George has faith in? I ended up listening to this on headphones and it sounded great. Somehow avoided the horrible production style of the 80s. Was seriously impressed to learn George produced this himself. Super talented musician. The title track gives The Cure's "Close To You" a serious run for the money in the Best Bo Diddley Beat of the 80s category. He's a great singer but most of the rest of the songs are not very interesting to me. Some make me cringe a little. I picked up my Mom in my car with this playing and I felt compelled to turn down "I Want Your Sex." In all fairness, there is a jazz ballad at the end that floored me.

Ugh. Too bad this isn't Michael Cera's George Michael (Bluth, that is)... :) It's hard to not just pass by this album, having heard too many of the songs on the radio back in the day, but I guess even this album is worth listening to, and hearing songs that didn't make it on the radio. (I guess.) I hadn't realized until now that he actually wrote and produced nearly all of the album, nor that he actually *did* play multiple instruments on most of the songs (although his guitar "work" in the "Faith" video is supremely annoying, as he's not even trying to pretend that he's strumming anything like what the music is playing). That said, the music is so...blah...and was even then (to me), and some of the songs are just painful to listen to ("I want your sex" is a prime example, as it always seemed like he tried so hard to be manly in a very hetero way). But given its massive popularity, then and even now, that's a very minority opinion. I feel a little guilty giving this a 2-star rating, as it's not really fair to George Michael's legacy, but I really didn't enjoy listening to this album. And I really enjoyed reading somewhat recently that he and Andrew Ridgeley were avid Scrabble players, but it still doesn't make this album easier to listen to. Sorry, George Michael!

the music shines, crackles, pops and Michael's voice is fab if only if only if only the lyrics were stronger. A George Michael / Robyn collab would've been amazing. And is Robyn on this list? WTF?

Just a breathy George Michael going on at length about how he wants to have sex with everyone

For some reason, I get the feeling that I don’t believe him when listening. He’s a good singer and there are good beats, but emotion is lacking for most of these tracks. There exceptions, “One More Try”, for example feels like it has true passion to it and “Kissing A Fool” is a lovely slower song. For the most part, though, I doubt I’ll find myself to listening to most of this again. 3/5

What a voice this man had

If you hear 'I want your sex' but you didnt want to listen to it, does that qualify as sexual assault?

Solid work here. Top line melodies beautiful. Beats and arrangements do them justice. Beautiful vocals.

Better than I had remember it to be. Was never a fan of GM or wham but there are tracks on here that still sound quite fresh today

Is this not a gay man?

I will openly admit to being a massive George Michael fan. I bought this one as a kid on cassette and then promptly lost it at school so I’m guessing that was fate telling me to knock it off and chill out lol. While it’s a great debut album it’s not as deep as Listen Without Prejudice BUT! this is the ultimate GM sound. All that 80’s goodness and Wham! fun but the slow jams are a look into his lyrical style and ugh I cannot love this enough. I cant remember if he was Out at this stage or if that came later but once you look at his actual life the songs kinda make more sense. Dude was going through it for a long time and that pain comes out for sure. Fortunately he did it sexy as hell so it doesn’t drag, and is an honest to goodness great record. If you can get past the kinda corny production you’ll really like this one. Literally everything else except for underground music that came out in 1986-87 had this sound so deal with it lol because the heart and soul of his words far outweigh the cheesy music.

Again, I'm not sexy enough for this.

Hated this when it was released. Haven't changed my mind in the slightest almost 40 years later. Crappy danceable canned rhythms? Check. Grossly overused synth-imitated instruments? Check. "Controversial" lyrics about fucking that will garner some media attention? Check. This is formulaic, throwaway, '80s pop music-industry garbage.

A lot of bangers, could've done without the weird ass sex-ed song.

I always thought this album was alright. Not a favorite but definitely notable and worthy of being in this list.

Wait? What? He was gay? 5.0

I can respect that this is a good album. It's catchy and well-produced. But it is not really my cup of tea. Some songs, namely I Want Your Sex, are a little too over the top for me. I don't see coming back to this one.

If I was a teenage girl in the 80's I would have rated this higher, but I wasn't

Incredibly polished sound, a handful of great singles and, in retrospect, insightful into his personal life. Songs like ‘Hand to Mouth’ also hint at a recognition of the inequalities experienced at the end of the ‘greed is good’ decade. Stands up well and resonates today 35 years on.

80s chav sex music, but I’ll give it an extra point as Faith is a decent tune.

Very poppy but suppose that's the plan. Don't mind the occasional GM song but whole album is ott. Extra point for stoned ramming of snappy snaps.

Nice 80s pop with some variety throughout. Faith is a banger but overall the genre is not my favorite. But I appreciate it. Very strong 3 but not quite a 4.

Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 is definitely better than this. This was just so boring the whole time. I don’t like George Michael much but I don’t dislike him either. This album was very irritating though, and I kept pausing it to go listen to something else. Still, it’s not actively bad enough to be a 1 star album.

solid 4.5

Oh fuck yes!! This was such a sensation when it came out. So many good pop songs. Everyone my age knows every word to Faith. Still holds up. This bitch could sing.

I've never really liked the song "Faith," and since this album opens with it, this didn’t start so great for me. I kept my expectations low for the rest. However, I was pleasantly surprised and ended up liking everything from track 2 onwards. I see why this is one of the best-selling albums ever. I liked "I Want Your Sex (part 1)" the best but it was all pretty awesome.

This man wants your sex. If you thought "I want your sex" was getting the point across, he is going to hit you part two and then for good measure, end the album with "A last request (I want your sex)." Sprinkle in "Father figure" and it gets really fucking weird.

Only got through this once due to being Ill as heck, but this cyberpop was edging into the top tier for a while until a late record slump into jazz pulled it down; even then, Michael’s vocal charisma carries it. Will return to.

Another one assimilated into my chromosomes (local boy done good!). A quotidian delight throughout 1987-1988, which still slaps today. I retain my pre-teen discomfort with "I Want Your Sex", and it's obvious now how much he wanted to become Prince (and more than succeeded). Lots of bangers, although a bit more of-its-time than other favorites from the era, with some lyrics well over the "creepy" borderline; also, why is he smelling his armpit on the cover? However, I'll always have a soft spot for George, and for this - subject of the peak of my (very limited) TV career.

Strange as it sounds, I think that George Michael is *still* the most underrated recording artist of the 1980s and 1990s. Despite all the retrospective positivity of the last few years. This is *such* an album. Pop music at its very best.

Great jams. Some songs I hadn't heard before. Classic 80s synth and drum machine.

A surprising debut at the time, coming out of Wham!. It stands the test of time. A great opener, followed by 9 more mature tracks, strings and horns backed-up by the 80s drum sound.

One classic, one classic that I find questionable, and the rest just generic music for the era.

Pretty great

Faith alone ensures that this will never be less than 3 stars. Jackson and Prince most likely did music better. Morrissey most likely did gay better. But there's still Faith.

C’mon this is good!

This album had me smiling all the way

For a record from a massive pop artist at the time, the album is remarkably stripped down and simple. Each song is really only a few tracks put together, which shows you that it doesn't take a billion dollars and all the musicians money can buy to make a great record.

I can’t listen to George without thinking about that sketch in Dead Ringers or Star Stories or whatever it was without remembering that scene where Boy George goes up to George Michael and says, “I put it to you, George Michael that you are a gay” and George is all like “nuh uh, no way, I like girls and everything”. And then my mind wanders to the sketch from the same show about Catherine Zeta Jones and when she met Mick Hucknal who is portrayed as this scary goblin like creature, “I’m Mick Huckkkk-naaaaal”

I vividly remember this being a big deal in the fall of 1987 when it came out. Videos with such memorable butts! It was one that I listened to quite a bit at the time, even if I didn't own it. I quite enjoyed it still today!

I could hear almost every minute of this album in my head from memory. Lots of fun!

An old friend. A favorite of favorites.

This was an album that I became very familiar with back when it was released. I snapped it up the moment it was available from Columbia House Records and Tapes. I found the listen today wonderful, familiar, and welcoming. Beautiful album.

My first thought was, “Cool. I’ve never listened to a whole George Michael album.” My second thought was, “I know most of these songs.” So I guess a good exercise in understanding that certain pop idols are famous for a reason. Still, though many of these songs were nostalgic and enjoyable for me, I don’t think that George Michael is necessarily somebody that I’m going out of my way to listen to. I think I might equate him to Harry Styles as a contemporary analog. Musically competent, important for pop cultural reasons, but not necessarily somebody that I am looking to have more of in my canon.

[interior: The 23rd Annual Lizard Person Convention. New Port Richey, Florida, USA 1986] Supreme Leader of the Lizard People: “Greetings and welcome to the 23rd annual Lizard Person convention. It’s wonderful to be here in New Port Richey…how about that humidity? Hot enough out there for ya?” [audience groans] “Hehe…of course not…we’re all cold blooded here…Well, we’ve got a lot of activities planned for this weekend, including some stand-up comedy, featuring yours truly, tomorrow night at the lounge, but before the fun and games can begin we have some very important business to discuss… [the supreme leader’s voice takes on a more ominous tone] Our efforts to assimilate humanity, of late, have not gone well. An abject failure, if I am being honest. We need to do a better job. We need fresh ideas…We need to entice them, distract them so we can strike when it’s least expected. In that spirit, I’ve asked my advisors to devise plans to help us better influence the average, unsuspecting human and distract them from our plans. Let’s see… [The Supreme Leader scans the table where his advisors sit, eventually zeroing in one] You! What is your plan?” [one of his advisors, The Minister of Lizard Person Arts stands up and walks towards a microphone at the center of the convention hall] The Minister of Lizard Person Arts: “Greetings, Sir. As you know, we achieved moderate assimilation success a few years ago in the realm of human music with the hit song “The Safety Dance”. I suggest that we once again attempt to assimilate humanity through one of their most beloved art forms…music!” Supreme Leader of the Lizard People: “Ah yes, “The Safety Dance”! What a wonderful song! It was quite a success wasn’t it?” The Minister of Lizard Person Arts: “Verily, sir and I am happy to report that our songwriting technology, though still somewhat rudimentary, has improved tenfold in the intervening years. We may even be able to craft an entire album with multiple hits to assist in our conquest!” Supreme Leader of the Lizard People: “Wonderful news! However, I am concerned about the lyrical content of any future attempts. ‘The Safety Dance’ was a bit…obtuse. We need lyrics that are a bit more relatable to the humans, so I’d like to turn to our attendees for suggestions. After all, you are the ones down in the trenches, interacting with the humans on a daily basis. What should these songs be about? What do the humans talk about, what do they like?” Lizard Person # 1 [shouting from the crowd]: “Sex! It’s all they talk about!” Supreme Leader of the Lizard People: “Excellent! We will appeal to their carnal desires. What else do they like?” Lizard Person # 2 [also shouting from the crowd]: “Religion! My neighbor, every weekend, it’s all he talks about…’Jesus this and Jesus that’…I get it already.” Supreme Leader of the Lizard People: “Wonderfully insidious! We will taint their beloved religion with overt sexuality. We will create an album’s worth of highly sexual music and infuse it religious overtones. Then, using a shell corporation, we will pay our contacts in the recording industry to have a human sing these songs, so as to give them appearance of genuine humanity! This will surely cause controversy and distraction among the humans! What say you, fellow Lizard People? Is it decided?” The entire audience, in unison: “IT IS DECIDED” [end scene] (This might be the dumbest thing I ever wrote.)

This was probably my mom's jam back in the day. I dig the middle eastern-sounding synths on "Father Figure". "I Want Your Sex" made me cringe and made it hard to keep a straight face at work. The sound effects in "Monkey" had me dying too. Overall though, this album is filled with quality, unapologetically 80s pop songs. It's a fun listen. -1 for not having "Careless Whisper" though. Favorite tracks: Faith Father Figure Hard Day Look at Your Hands Monkey

I liked this album more than I thought I would. I like a lot of disc 2 more than disc 1. George has the spunk of Michael Jackson with the horniness of Beyoncé. I only ever knew Careless Whisper so only had good things to say of course but this album solidifies it. Favorite Song: Fantasy 7/10

This feels very horny. The backing tracks is very 90s, I feel like I'm in an aquarium. The backing track for "hard day" feels like a SNES video game and I am vibing. The mix of sex lyrics and nostalgia music is making me slightly uncomfortable. The lyrics for "I want your sex" are hilarious, I feel like I'm having a fever dream what is happening. The Micheal Jackson style "Ow!" is really something. I can't tell if I love or hate this. "Sex is natural, sex is good, not everybody does it, but everybody should". Like go off king. Definitely made me smile so that's a plus. His voice is impressive, but I don't love the boyish Micheal Jackson tone he sinks into sometimes. The lyrics are often the worst part, but there is a weird campy charm to them. I've learned he is gay which is iconic I fear. Top songs: Faith I want your sex (Ironically?? Unsure) Hard day Kissing a fool

Another day another diva. This album is so 80’s it’s comical, but you won’t catch me laughing at George Michael. His voice is so stellar. ALSO this album is a great example of how artists should never be boxed into genres, as part of the reason it even sounds the way it does was because WHAM! was (wrongfully) relegated to teeny-bopper status and Michael wanted badly to move away from that space. Then he created this for his solo debut, and it contains inspirations from so many genres. Well done, George Michael.

We need more men in pop. Bangerz all around

George Michael has a powerful voice that can definitely carry a song. And the production was good even if that distinct 80s sound makes it feel a bit dated. But it was a little too horny for my Christian sensibilities. 3 Fav Songs: Faith Father Figure Hard Day

George Michael walked so Kim Petras could hit 120mph on the highway. Highly recommend watching the music videos for I Want Your Sex; it really ties everything together. 8.8/10

From Father Figure to Hard Day I fucking hated this album. The synths sound cheap like stock sounds off a Casio, and the lyrics are sexually aggressive and infantilize their subjects in a way that make George Michael come off as a pedo. The rest of the B side was much better, with Hand to Mouth in particular going pretty hard. There are some great bass tones here. It's unfortunate I had to slog through some miserable shit to get to it.

Decent, pretty typical 80s pop songs but pretty sexual. Didn’t really hold my attention too well, right down the middle 3/5

This was a formative album for young 10- year old me in 1987. My family still teases me about singing along while walking around the house with my Walkman…his voice is awesome, the beats slap in that seriously 80’s synth way, and I think he intentionally pushed the envelope of what’s commercially acceptable/appropriate as it relates to sexual content in pop music.

Possibly the best 80s album, GM was untouchable here.

💖 father figure 🗣️ 6️⃣

Mmm Fav songs: Faith Hand to mouth ^-^

Thoughts before listening: I never thought I would listen to a George Michael album, but here we are. The title song is a great 80s hit and I remember liking it as a kid. I know this album has gotten more respect over the years than I remember at the time. In the late 80s/early 90s this was the pop music on MTV that soon became the antithesis of everything I became interested in as I entered my teenage years. In general I'm able to appreciate this type of pop music more as an adult than I would have back then, so perhaps I'll enjoy this. Review: "Faith" the song is still great. "Father Figure" has an incredible chorus, but the rest of the song falls victim to cheesy 80s ballad production. In general this reminds me as a lesser version of what artists like Michael Jackson and Prince were putting out in the 80s. There are some catchy songs here ("Hand to Mouth" and "Monkey" are my favorite deep cuts), but its just not for me. 2-stars.

3 great songs. 1 decent song and a bunch of filler. 4 stars?

i don’t know man

Amazing singer! I know every word, ihad this album on dubbed cassette, bought cassette, CD, minidisk. The opening of Faith gives me the shivers every time. Have spent hours and hours listening to this; it always takes me back to the hot summer days doing chores & dreaming of growing up.

pretty solid dance music.

Cool

ágæt lög inn á milli. nokkuð óvænt. 3,5

The front half of this one is great. I remember when the single for Faith was released and it was a massive hit. You can hear the strong Prince influence on the front half, which is probably why I like it. Then, the back half hits. Seems like they lost steam and ideas. Also, essentially 14 minutes of this thing is devoted to \"I Want Your Sex\". Catchy tune, but c'mon.

A great album, my mom used to play this a lot so brought back some ace memories <3

There is so much good in this music. GM's step away from Wham was welcome and unexpected. He was a music story teller, and I still enjoy this album. But then came Listen Without Prejudice, and I was blown away. Hope that album is on the list...

George Michael! Fun pop stylings and some great high notes on One More Try. Monkey is fun. A Last Request is real creepy.

- „Faith“ ist natürlich ein Hit, wobei ich das Limp Bizkit Cover nach wie vor lieber mag… - Den Refrain von „Father Figure“ kannte ich - Alles andere war für mich eine ziemlich langweilige Suppe tbh - Schätze George Michael trotzdem dafür, dass er ein krasser Sänger ist Rating: 2,25/5

- George Michael - Ikone, ich weiß, aber das war mir leider eine dicke Spur zu kitschig - Faith cooler Track. Der Rest leider wirklich seeehr ähnlich. Konnte, vllt auch weil ich nicht zu 100% fokussiert zugehört habe, ausmachen, wann ein neuer Track angefangen hat. 2/5

I Want Your Sex being 9 minutes long is a goddamn crime. Otherwise this album is peak 80s. Honorable mention of Father Figure - best song in this album.

I want your sex is very cringe. If not by it i would give it a 4

I don't like George Michael's music

I don’t this album is very good, but I enjoyed parts of it.

Clean 80s pop production to let George Michael’s soulful voice soar. But second half seems to drag for me Highlights are Faith and One More Try

Not a big fan of the vocals, which is kind of a make or break thing for pop music (for me, at least). The ballads are all skips. The hits have been over played as hell for me as well. It's not the worst or anything, but I really don't think I'll ever want to listen to the whole thing again. Gonna call it an interesting artifact of 1987 and continue living my life lol. 2, mayyyyybe leaning 2.5.

George Michael proves he’s so much more than half of Wham!. Pulsing club bangers meld seamlessly with heartfelt ballads.

I actually really thought I was going to love this album. George Michael songs you here are just such classics. Unfortunately this album fell into my pop album nightmares. The best song first and then just some honestly forgettable or slightly lyrically annoying songs. I enjoy this sort of music to an extent but these songs just dragged. Feels really harsh because there is no doubt he has created some of the best songs of this era/genre. But this album just was not it for me. A harsh 2/5. I couldn't even pick a 3rd Stand out song: Faith Look At Your Hands Quick side note hand to mouth sounded very very similar to The Offsprings "Come Out and Play". Obviously this came first I just could not get it out my head.

Well it’s a classic. Doesn’t mean it’s any good. 2 stars

80s pop goodness

This album has a surprising amount of singles, which I guess makes sense considering the timeline of this album releasing after the commercial success of Wham! There really is quite a fusion of musical genres here, with rock, funk and even some soul mixed in throughout. Very... sexually-charged too, if that wasn't already a given with George Michael.

Pretty dull for the most part.

I've always loved "Faith", the song, but two listens deep, I can't say I care for Faith, the album. The production is dated, and the themes range from sleazy to disturbing (what are these teachers and father figures up to?) The music often reminded me of what 90's boy bands would have produced had they hit the scene a decade earlier. It's just not for me. Still though, 3 stars for the title track alone!

Time and a place. Some bangers for sure. George Michael has a genuinely great voice. This style of music is just a bit too heavy 80s for me.

I've already heard most of the album; it's good, Michael was a real talent

AWESOME ALBUM I LOVE IT SO MUCH

Nice, great energy

Just like the previous George Michael album on here, I just don't think I'm the target market for it.

horny guy huh

La canción del single, bien. El resto del disco, intranscendente.

A little too dramatic, over-sexed, and not super intriguing album. I do have to say that George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” from later on in his career is an absolutely smashing song. Two stars for this album.

This was okay. Nothing really stood out to me but the song I want your sex was super vulgar and off putting. may 2.5 stars. If I wanted to listen to 80's pop I'd just listen to the far superior Phil Collins.

Great album. Very much enjoyed

oh no i dont like this i fucking hate the 80s. wtf was going in on the 80s ok so "kissing a fool" is pretty good

Legendary album from an absolute legend. Gone too soon.

First time listening to these songs as an album. Smooth transitions 7/10

Lifetime achievement for this man! Easy 5 stars

In 1987 it was fun to see how long I Want Your Sex could play on the radio in the family car before your mom lost her shit over the smut and changed the station. George went from day-glo shorts to international sex symbol with this album. So much that it almost overshadowed his immense talent. The passion and sincerity in his soulful voice, the honest vulnerability in his writing, his masterful production skills, exceptional musicianship…this album showcases it all. George Michael was leading the charge for equality by singing about communication, sexuality, abuse, recovery, and change.

Gonna have faith this album is good.. it wasn’t

This very 80s-sounding pop album is not for me. The opening track, “Faith”, is decent enough and pretty catchy…but then it’s downhill from there. The 9 minute “I Want Your Sex” was kinda cringey to me (“I’m not your father, I’m not your brother”) and ran on very long. Monkey was a ridiculous song. He’s a good singer and the music is decent, but doesn’t really hold my attention. I have no doubt that George Michael is very talented, just not very entertaining to me.

I feel like George Michael had sex with me on this record and then left in the morning before I woke up just to never contact me again. I Want Your Sex was a little much with the grunting and stuff. Honestly I did not like this album and it's not just because I'm not really into this genre. I feel like he's just trying to rip off Michael Jackson but make it more sexual? It was a pretty sleazy feeling record.

Holy shit. How did this album get created? Did George Michael really have THAT much game? I can't tell if this album is bold, arrogant or the confessions of a sexual predator. Really not sure, but damn. He made an 9 MINUTE SONG ABOUT SEX. 9 MINUTES!?!?! PART 1 & 2??!? Admittedly, George Michael has not been in my repertoire of music. But damn, I gotta respect a 9 minute boner ballad. Also, lets not ignore 'Faith', which yes, overtly sexual, but still really really good. That song is fantastic. It's fun, its creative, its vibey. It riffs that old Bo Didley tune. Just great. But then its followed up with 'Father Figure'?!? WTF is this song? I don't wanna yuck on someones yum, but personally I don't don't want daddy role play as the second song on a sex album. Wow. Did not need that one. However, as soon as you stop feeling weird about Father Figure, ol George drops a 9 minute sex song. How many people on earth have boned through the entire duration of this song? Foreplay to completion with George in the bedroom. What a guy. This song is a gift. After sex, George has to let us know that he's deep, mysterious and actually a bonafide sad boy. So as soon as he's done boning our brains out, he cranks out 'One More Try'. Which is a ballad for the saddest boy ever, but he really wants us to know he's more than just a simple fuck boy. 🥹 However, as to be expected. He bones, lamments, smokes a cigarette and then spends the next 45 minutes playing absolute garbage. Meaningless, pointless, music. How can such a passionate lover be so empty??? The next 5 songs are skippable and forgettable. Did you even spend the night with George Michael? I can't decide if this record is a masterpiece or a complete dumpster fire. I can say that this would fit perfectly as the background music for the Snake Hole Lounge in Parks and Rec.

Not a big George Michael fan when he began his solo career but listenjng to this album really shows him at the height of his powers. His voice is amazing and I forgot about One More Try which is one of the best ballads of all time imho.

Perfect timing in my life for me to to really appreciate this album. Numerous hits. In my opinion, it is George’s best work. Kissing a Fool is a beautiful piece. I’m not sure that I had heard it prior. I really like how the makes me feel.

First handful of songs are the popular ones for good reason. Too many love songs on the "B" side of the album. I don't understand why this would be on there.

While "Faith" is widely regarded as one of George Michael's best singles, the rest of this album is fairly unbeknown. This album oozes swagger and sexuality.

I am a little disappointed with the album. Faith is a great song, but everything else just feels like a low tier Prince song. Nothing bad, but I expected more.

Incredibly catchy and danceable pop with funk/disco stylings. The title track and Father Figure are absolute peak 80s pop, while the closer Kissing a Fool is beautifully sung and has a thoughtfully-arranged, melancholy swing feel that just works perfectly. I could absolutely see myself putting this record on when I need a shot of energy in my day.

I spent a lot of time with this among many 80's albums and there is nothing aesthetically quite like the pop tone of George Michael. He deftly switches between styles as easily as 80's Queen or Prince, but creating this elevated, refined, grown up departure from his identity in WHAM! These acoustic to electronic genre hopping provides a bedrock for his particular brand of sexuality-- and no I'm not talking about his queerness. I'm talking about his brand of sex positivity. The thirsty themes on the album are impossible to ignore-- I mean looking at the album cover, the sexuality so visceral you can practically smell the combination of male pheromones, leather, and armpit. Despite not being able to be out as gay for his career, however, he became an advocate for openness to everyone else, suggesting a positive frankness about what can be a difficult and shameful topic. Terms are come to, however, with his closeted lifestyle and you hear it across the album as the genres flip. From the synth-driven minimalist belter-ballad "One More Try" to the heavily-lyrically-coded "Father Figure", using the Jewish 'Ahava Rabbah’ scale on the lead synth line (also used in traditional Jewish song "Hava Nagila".) It's not hard to see that he couldn't help but hint to his true identity, but did so in the most diverse & musically-informed way possible. Ultimately whether you're into him or not, this album is impossible to ignore, which made him a superstar. It's the enduring musical brilliance and complicated sensual depth, however, that make this album last forever.

Ugh! Awful synth pop with a pervasive drum machine providing a very dated 80s backbone to some pretty dire songs. There's only so far breathy vocals and uninspired R&B can get you. Nothing here to push this above 1 star.

George should have just called this album Songs About Fuckin' A very appropriate album to get on Valentine's Day

An uneven album. Faith, Father Figure and Hard Days are all great but Monkey and I Want Your Sex (part 2) really drag things down. I did love how playful Michael is throughout but I don't think I'll listen to anything but the first two tracks again.

Sadly no zero score option.

ООооо, жорж майкл корж вернулся! Я готов слушать jazz for your soul. Хм. Отрастил голову, голос стал более "лёгким" и сладким, хотя, казалось, куда. Но раньше был мощнее. Но в целом мне норм, мне нравится. Хоть и саксофон сочный потерялся где-то по дороге. Три звезды

You can't have lived through the 1980s without hearing the title track "Faith" at least once. Apart from the title track, the rest of the album is nothing special as far as I'm concerned.

Great solo album after Wham. "Faith" is a classic song, that continues to be played. The rest is definitely 80s pop music. But an excellent example of the time.

Oh fuck yes!! This was such a sensation when it came out. So many good pop songs. Everyone my age knows every word to Faith. Still holds up. This bitch could sing. Father Figure is still weird. Once watched a carny play it for a 13yr old girl. She loved it. Following that track with I Want Your Sex was a choice. I miss this golden-voiced weirdo. Forgot how much of this record was played on the radio. It was everywhere. The whole sound is emphatically 1987. Hard to hate. His stuff was always fun to sing along with. Wish he was still making records.

George Michael was always a head scratcher to me. When he was with Wham! I thought he was just some goofy pop artist. When he released Faith, I was a teenager, and really confused. This is an intense album, and I've come to terms with the fact that Michael was an incredibly attractive man, and that even though I'm cis, I can admire and enjoy beautiful men.

Sublime.

Well I guess it's at least better than showing your pecker to an undercover cop in a public washroom.

Huge start to his post-Wham era, great songwriting that still holds up today.

Not good

I forgot how nice Kissing A Fool is. I'm not a fan of the lyrics of Father Figure and I Want Your Sex. Especially the latter could have been more subtle. But other than that they don't sound bad at all. Good vocal dynamics to fit the songs. I especially like the airy vocals. Some songs are kinda silly sounding.

Other than Faith, which is a great tune, this is not something I'll come back to. I think it is very reflective of the music happening in that era, it's just not for me.

I've heard of this musician before, and I have heard parts of some songs from this album, but I never knew the two were associated—I say this only to illustrate that I came into this with zero expectations. Now that the stage is set, I can say that this starts as a pretty good pop album and kind of transforms to become also decent modern-jazzish album. What struck me in the first, poppy-half was how incredibly well produced it is. Everything is crisp and clear, there's no stage noise or ambient hiss in “sight,” and the instruments, vocals, and synth all pair together in perfect balance. The mix is tight, with an almost mechanical precision, but not inhuman—just superbly done! I know many people might call this over-produced, but I think there can be a fine line between the two sides, and I think for this type of album it works really well in complimenting the artists without trying to cover flaws or lack of skill or anything. This quality, tied with the frequent “signing into the bottom of a steel drum” reverb added to the vocals made me think immediately of some Michael Jackson albums. I wonder if there are some common technicians between the two... The jazzy second half is just as fine, and a little more akin to my tastes than the first. This would be a 4 or 5 on the mastering alone, but combined with the music I think it's a high three—its just not the type of thing I would put on frequently to enjoy, despite its quality. The track 'Hard Day' is freaking incredible! That bass bit is... Oooo, yeah. 'A Last Request...' is also a nice piece, reiterating selections of 'I Want Your Sex' that I do like musically, unlike that other 9min piece I spent just waiting for it to end. Insert desired innuendo here.

As far as 80's pop goes, this was better than some but still not my jam; I didn't like it but it could have been much worse. 2.5.

It was well made, but not the style that I would typically go back to.

I get it why this album was Album of the Year, it sounded so good for 80s, don't give me wrong, it sounded so easy to listen, but i wouldn't give this album 5/5, i'm just gonna give it 3/5, somewhere in the middle. Whole album was one good experience, where guy really want to have sex with me.

Fun album, like his solo better than Wham

t a bueno

Two albums this week that were huge when I was a Senior. Other than the hits, I've never listened this one. I didn't like Wham and I didn't like this back then. Now it's just nostalgia.

Zoinks! I can only see supermodels. I wonder how many people had this on cassette? One of the better albums on this entire list.

Really impressive and enjoyable release. Faith, Father Figure and One More Try stand high above the remaining track and only Monkey serves as the track i need to skip. It has a touch too much 80's synth on it, but his soulful and passionate voice and ability to craft some great pop songs make it easy to enjoy.

Very easy to listen to. I didn't know all the songs but I knew most of them.

First listening to complete album. Some songs have held up well, others not so much.

I didn't want to like this album but it really wasn't so bad. Really dancy and good mood music somehow

Not a fan. The singles come off strong but the rest of the album really takes a dive.

Likte han bedre i Wham!

So the first two songs are really good, obviously. and then there’s 1 other song i really like, but the rest was just meh for me ngl, but my scoring system has been kinda all over the place, i’ll say this has two iconic songs and then some other boring things but maybe innovative for the time… so let’s go with a 3.

Bangers from front to back!

ugh no

Fantastic and fantastically horny (in both senses of the word)

Day13 - maybe it’s not perfect but it’s close six great songs on one album and it’s not even a greatest hits album

Another album that I had low expectations but found myself really enjoying. I forgot how good a song 'Faith' is, and the album keeps going from there. Lots of songs I recognized from the radio at the time this came out. I'm not rushing out to buy this, but I wouldn't complain if someone put it on.

I liked this more than I thought I would

I'd give this album a 3.5 if I could. While it does sound a bit dated by today's standard, "Faith" and "I Want Your Sex" are fantastic songs.

Would rather listen to the Limp Bizkit version

It’s ok. Faith is good, but the rest is take it or leave it

A well produced album that just isn't really my thing. Admittedly this is my first time listening in it's entirety. Faith is a catchy single, easily the strongest song on the album. Father Figure is a boring and forgettable ballad. I Want Your Sex is trying so hard to be a Prince song, and it falls short. One More Try is a solid 80s ballad and does a good job of showcasing George's voice. Kissing a Fool is decent, and shows what could have been if he hadn't gone the pop route. The rest of the album is pretty bad and forgettable.

This one exceeded my expectations. The other George Michael album on this list (Freedom) sucked and Wham! sure did suck but this had a couple decent songs. I'd give it a 2.5 but it gets a 3 for being better than expected

At its best, this album reflects Prince, which I’m not complaining about. At its worst, songs drag on just a bit too long, like I Want Your Sex. Yeah, it’s a two parter, but the last half of the track just meanders on without much consideration or direction. Michael’s lyrics even get about as blunt as they can with “have sex with me.” But I did like this more than the previous Michael record, which would come out a few years after this.

Faith shows Michael's willingness to evolve past his Wham! days and explore more sophisticated terrain in a solo debut rife with hits for both the streets and the sheets.

Really not my style, I got pretty bored

Faith the track is a 4, but it’s only a few minutes of nearly an hour. I had never listened to the rest so I had high hopes but I wasn’t as impressed.

excellent album - like it very much

1. faith - 1.5 2. father figure - 1 3. i uuant your zez - 0 4. one more try - 1.5 5. hard day - 0 6. hand to mouth - 1 7. look at your handz - 0 8. monkey - 0 9. kizzing a fool - 1.5 10. a lazt requezt - 1

I want sex - The musical

George Michael war noch nie einer meiner Favorites. Die Hits sind phantastisch, für den Rest bin ich nicht Fan genug.

Most songs were released as singles. So I heard most of this from radio.

I know this album was huge when I was a kid, but I never really listened to it because it wasn't what my friend group was into. So it was a bit of a surprise when I played it and knew the first 3 tracks. It's amazing what you absorb from the radio without realizing it. I find it funny that he left a boy band and made something different with this, only for future boy bands to copy the style.

Was looking forward to this album based on what I know about George Michael. The first few songs rip as expected, but man this album gets down in the dumps. The crazy song about how good and natural sex is, just reminds me of some foreign creepy guy trying to convince me to have sex with him because "animals do it". Anyway, I can forgive weirdo tracks like that on a good album, sometimes they even enhance my enjoyment, but it just gets bland after a little while. Fine album.

(min första text försvann, igen) Man vill ju inte vara homofob. Men detta är inte bra musik. 80-talet från sin sämsta sida. Syntar och saxofoner. Jag tycker inte ens faith är särskilt bra.

Hann inte lyssna på denna så mycket som jag hade velat. Aldrig förstått storheten med Faith (låten alltså) och det fortsätter jag vidhålla med bestämdhet. Finns dock en del andra bättre låtar på den här skivan. George har potential, men de helt enastående åttiotaliga produktionerna (och då gillar jag ändå åttiotalet) håller nere betyget.

Faith is killer song. The rest isn't great

I like this more than i thought i would!!

I hated it so much.

Bit of a wannabe Michael Jackson vibe here but George does a good job of defining his own take on the genre. If you have a chance, watch the videos for this album. They provide a nice snapshot of 80's musical art and a layer of narrative that supplements the vinyl well.

I’m just not a fan

man, i did not care for this album. it felt too harsh to give it one star but there's just not anything interesting going on here. faith is a solid single but it all falls apart after that. the lyric writing is so clouded by utter horniness that it manages to say nothing at all. all the music sounds the same, that late 80s/early 90s peppy but a bit sleazy pop sound, and I'm just not into it. favorites: faith

Not aged well at all

After conquering the world with Wham!, George Michael wanted to prove that he could conquer the world on his world and, on Faith, he basically did just that. What most fail to take into account is that George was a student of music and that kind of level of attention in regards to how a song should work was what enabled him to not stick out like a sore thumb across various genres and styles, bringing his own brand of rock and roll on the title track, blending with the dance sojourn on I Want Your Sex and Monkey and perfecting the R&B ballad on Father Figure and One More Try. Faith is as perfect of a mission statement as one can make and George Michael had to be the one to take it to the top.

This album is better than I remembered.

I feel like this is betraying my fellow people… please forgive me 🙏🏻

Diverse sound with a distinctive glamour. Music from a man who has faith in himself.

Lekker 80s

Pretty cool guy. First half of album is nice to dance to. Thanks George! 3.8

First for songs are absolute bangers. Rest of the album meh

Ruined my drive home.

Liked almost all of it.

Faith is brilliant as a single, but I preferred Listen Without Prejudice v1 when we had it a while ago, think that did his voice more justice and was a more refined than this 80s-heavy sound. A proper legend though.

This is quite full on... astonishing that he didn't have to come out until ten years after this was released really. His voice is incredible, the songs are a bit too 80s in style for me really, but the voice makes it more than tolerable. Faith is pretty much the perfect 80s pop song, but everything else on the album drags a bit (Faith is the only track under 3 and half minutes, and most of them are pushing 5). Father Figure is the only one that really justifies being a bit longer. Hope we get some of his later stuff, think that's a bit less kitsch than this. 3/5.

This album is very weird and creepy. I have no idea why Father Figure is so popular. Faith is boring and repetitive. The album has amazing production values, and honestly the music is pretty solid. But the lyrics and vocal accompaniment kills anything good here. Fav track: Hard Day

Musically is what I like about it, and the guy sure can sing. But some of the themes and lyrical directions were a bit cringe for me. Still, one of the great pop icons and for sure an album I would never put on if it wasn’t for this project! 7 out of 10

how can an album be so sexual and yet so boring

It's a real downhill after the title track. Fine voice, daddy fixation, sort of bland arrangements. Was hoping to enjoy this more than I did.

This one was so disappointing to me. I had high hopes from the first track. If he kept with the acoustic-funk type sound, I would've enjoyed this a lot more. But nope, he goes right into the 80s pop Walmart brand Michael Jackson shit.

Really really not my thing, didn’t even get through the album

This is spectacular. I love that there’s a 9-minute song about wanting to have sex and it has absolutely no subtlety or innuendo. Honestly, it feels very earnest. “Faith” is a classic and I might like “Father Figure” even more. Great song. Love that rhythm in the beat. The rest of the album doesn’t quite live up to the fun of the opening three tracks but George Michael’s sexy, sultry vocals carry the other songs. (“Monkey” is hilarious and awesome though.) Everything is well produced too.

"Faith" is so good. I love the country western guitar solo, and the church organ intro. The instrumentation throughout has lovely little mixes of other genres, like synthetic tom drums but then it'll hit you with a lively bass line. My biggest gripe is when George Michael strains the hell out of his voice. It borders on unlistenable for me when he has these moments and I always found it to be totally unnecessary for his sound. The chorus of "I Want Your Sex" is great, it's his soft voice and it has so many good characteristics that make it nice to listen to. But then the verses are this Michael Jackson-esque scrunching of his voice and it really hurts the song. I will say that I like "Part 2" of this song a lot more. The mix is way better with the more live instrumentation. "Kissing A Fool" is fantastic. Sounds oddly Christmas-y to me though? Not sure if that was the intention, but this might get added to my ever stretching Christmas playlist. Solid album. I'm probably rating it a little low with a 3 because I think it can easily be a 4.

8/10 - bunch of bangers few slow but good great album - reminds me of Michael Jackson

There are so many great George Michael songs on this album, and his voice is fantastic. My biggest issue with this album is that most of the songs go on for like a minute longer than they really need to. But there are so many great, all time classic songs here it’s hard to be that annoyed by the song length.

Just a fun album. I was impressed to learn Michael wrote, produced, and performed multiple instruments on nearly every track. While not complex musically, it does the simple things very well.

Not for me

Super generic 80s pop. Real honk shoo stuff going on here.

Today I realized…George Michael just isn’t for me. Faith is by far the standout track, but otherwise the songs just aren’t that great? Not a fan of the Synth-Gospel vibe he’s got going. His voice is amazing and gets some points, but otherwise it just doesn’t do it for me.

Honestly outside of Faith it’s nothing special. Kind of generic and I’m not a huge fan of George Michael vocals. Also sexy baby

80’s music is literally the worst. I hate it. I hate George Michael, I hate Prince, I hate New Order, I hate Talking Heads, I hate Tears for Fears. For fucks sake! Please dear god give me something from any other decade! I was born in 1980. Thank god I wasn’t aware of popular music until about 1992. I got to hear Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Tool, Stone Temple Pilots, R.E.M. And do you know what? None of them wrote and performed fucking Father Figure!!!! This album is diarrhea for the ears. It’s so bad I am going to file a grievance against Carrie Underwood and the rock and roll hall of fame for including this abortion. I cannot stress to you enough how much I hate this self important, mewling, techno, whiny, grandiose, bullshit drivel. It is the antithesis of good music. Everyone who claims George Michael was some kind of musical genius and an influential artist should stop right now and listen to Monkey. Fuck you.

4/5

George Michael nunca decepciona. Então som é pedrada da boa!

Never been a fan of synth pop, or tht kind of funky, soul thing so in the begenning its not my kind. so Honneslty i listen to it a bit, not enterly but i don't apreciate it very much

Faith - 9/10 Father Figure - 8.5/10 I Want Your Sex - 8/10 One More Try - 7/10 Hard Day - 8.5/10 Hand to Mouth - 8/10 Look at Your Hands - 8/10 Monkey - 9/10 Kissing a Fool -8.5/10 A Last Request - 7.5/10 TOTAL - 82/100

Didn't enjoy any track off this album. Generally just slimy and creepy.

Despite the fact that I generally like that type of sound and era of music, I just could not get into this album. I think it’s Michael’s voice. The strings and background vocals detracted from my experience as well.

lækre produktioner men for lang, for samey, for horny

Justin Timberlake ca 2006 ville ønske at han lød lige så liderlig som George Michael gør her. Jeg var vild med det, produktionen havde aget bedre end jeg havde regnet med

Liderligt!

I'm sure this is for someone but that's not me. Everything feels designed to be on a radio and there's no feeling in it.

Faith is a solid jam but nothing else really did anything for me. Not a fan of this 80s sound.

Pretty boring but not the worst thing I’ve ever heard. I gave Bad by MJ a 3, so this has to be a 2

Hard to separate the quality of the music from the wonderful nostalgia. So many hits on this album - would they be as great without the memories that accompany them? I think so.

Fine funky album by GM. I like how he allows the tracks to become longer to express his music

Fun!

Now we're fucking talking. Jumping right in with Faith, what a start. Well I guess it would be nice if I could touch Wiggins' body. I want his sex - and I'd also want it to last 9 minutes and 17 seconds precisely. The album overall is relatively short and sweet - unfortunately it does dip a little towards the end but it's still amongst the best we've heard so far.

What a nice voice and what a nice man, I bet his nan was proud of him and hopefully was already dead by the time of the toilet incident.

if I had an ounce of this man's charisma I'd lead a much better life

not my jam

Such a goddamn perfect, beautiful pop album. It's a masterpiece, more on the level of Purple Rain than Thriller (and that's a huge compliment). Loaded with bangers, and not one snooze in the bunch.

Incredibly beautiful

A true breakout album. George Michael shows his pop roots but adds a perfect mix of rock and roll. And his passion for each song really comes thru.

George Michael whispering “sex is natural, sex is fun” over a bongo solo, is... not particularly sexy. 2/5

5/5 Perfection

So many mega hits.

80’s synth pop. Not for me. Top song: “Faith” Rating: 5/10

Aivan todella viihdyttävää ja kasaria. Miksi George haistaa kainaloaan kannessa? Ei jätä muita kysymyksiä, koska on suoraviivainen niin sanomaltaan kuin tyyliltään. Voisi kyllä lopussa revitellä enemmän.

Hyväsydäminen mutta vähän mielikuvitukseton johdannainen.

Love Georgie 💖

Pretty stellar album, and being one of the best-selling albums of all time, I think it definitely deserves inclusion on this list. There are some dated sounds/lyrics, which might be keeping me from giving this 5 stars (For real "I want Your Sex, Pt 1 & 2" is a ridiculous song, with some borderline cringe lyrics, but somehow it hangs together and ends in a joyous fashion) Still really strong album.

not my kind of music ...

Solid pop. Very well crafted bearing some 80s-isms.

Faith e banger resten e chill

Nowhere near as good as Listen Without Prejudice. There are some strong tunes and it opens really strongly - once you get beyond the slightly odd church organ intro Faith really kicks arse. And there are some half decent other tunes as well - Hand to Mouth I enjoyed (and is an excellent title too). But. It just doesn't all hang together as well as it could do. There's a song on each side for the Wham! audience and that doesn't help - fluffy ballads for children. And he'd clearly been listening to 1999 when I Want Your Sex was being developed. To lots of people that might be a good thing, but I found the 1999 album utter shite. So, there's some OK stuff, some blandness and one bit of horseshit. 2.5, but the horse has shat itself too much for me so it's a 2.

I'm intrigued by the cover artwork. Does GM have a BO problem? Or does his music just stink? (Ha-ha). The jury is out (buying some air freshener)

Got bored real easy I mean I guess it's Pop. Is this before or after he was Outed not sure? It could have saticral undercurrents of societal oppression. Or could be a relief from him finally being free but i didnt pick up on this and thought it was a bit meh. Weird how throughout history society decided that sexuality is a moral and a political issue, where does that come from? Its a bit like having a go at someone for preferring cheese and onion to salt and vingear, its just a prefrence surely? Still hats of to George im sure he had something worth saying, not on this album though.

'Faith' was a great track. Confused all us indie kids, everyone liked it but we were too cool to admit it. The rest of the album was pretty mediocre. The passage of time has done it no favours, lots of it just sounds creepy now.

The pop is strong with this one, hhmngh.

Faith was on regular rotation during my pre-teens - I was never quite sure who was the bigger fan, my mum or my dad. Re-listening today, while it still holds nostalgia, there are a few filler tracks, but overall a solid contemporary pop album.

I expected nothing less than the best from pne of the biggest pop stars of all time.

not my cup of tea

I was kind of surprised at how many songs on this album I remember being radio hits back in the day. However, this album felt very dated. I was kind of bored after a few songs. 6/10.

I was never a huge George Michael fan. I really like the singles and listening to him in small doses is fun. And I appreciated that this was great pop music. Apparently my view has not changed over the decades. The first couple of songs on here., I was gung-ho and excited and then my interest waned - possibly when smooth gave way to sleaze - but sort of picked up again towards the end. It’s probably a solid 3.5. I will give him his due, he knew how to compose a pop song: the melody, the hook, the structure, the production – it’s all there. Some days it’s great, somedays I’m happy to leave it alone.

I'm not sure how to comment on this album. I do like it and understand the controversy about it more so now being a parent. I have good memories of hanging with friends while listening to this album. Many favorites played on the radio and in the clubs.

I didn't realize so many of George Michael's hits were a product of this album. He's an impressive vocalist, for sure, and he's an excellent producer and writer — this is a solid pop record. As a listener, I can only take so much before I'm ready for another flavor, and that's partly due to the '80s-ness sound of this record. So I guess, at the end of the day, I'm more impressed with this superbly crafted album than I am a fan.

I enjoyed this way more than I expected to, which is why this project is so much fun. The title track is such a banger and many of the other tracks were great, too. I would have given this a 4 but I think it's about 3 songs too long. Also, I Want Your Sex really didn't need part II. But thumb's up for this album. The '80s production actually worked in its favor, and the arrangements were, for the most part, pretty lean and awesome. He's a good singer and the harmonies were pretty tight and interesting. Glad I got the chance to give this a listen.

The first three songs just kill it, which I always thought was unfair to the other songs on the album. But those crooning songs that come later (Kissing a Fool, A Last Request) certainly show off George Michael's smooth vocals. While George Michael is no Prince he DID write, produce, and play nearly all of the instruments on this album. If you haven't watched the Wham! documentary, do yourself a favor. While it's a great story about the band and GM's musical evolution, it's an even greater story about friendship, love, and acceptance. My love for George Michael grows the older I get.

Starts off really strong but falls flat really fast. Are classic albums just albums with some hits on it? Because except for the hits this does not mean much as an album.

Really good

Amazing combination of dark and honest lyrical contentwith incredibly light-hearted, blissfully corny, and over the top songs. I only knew the hits coming into this, so am surprised at how deep the album goes and how wide-ranging it is. George Michael appropriates huge swaths of the 70s & 80s pop sound pallet: the kitschy achey breaky heart country sounds on Faith, the ghostbusters keyboard laying it down on I Want Your Sex, the Procul Harum-style organ vamp on One More Try, the Parliament space-funk bass on Hard Day; the minor-key Pet Shop Boys synth on Hand to Mouth; the Dire-Straights guitar/horns poprock of Look at Your Hands; the Peter Gabriel response song Monkey. He ends up creating some exuberant pure-pop that's moves across genres and styles - that mix keeps the album interesting from song to song. The coherent strand is his singing/lyrics that really sell it and mean it doesn't come across as ironic pastiche - he's having fun with it, but it isn't a joke. It's pop, so the vocal performance is the star: ranging with tight control from whispered intimacies to wailing lovesongs to anthemic affirmation. The songs are all maybe a minute too long.

George Michael was the horniest man I have ever listened to, expect for maybe Freddie Mercury. MAYBE.

Good set of songs. Shame we lost such a brilliant talent.

Really didn't know what to expect. Obviously I knew Faith which is great, and I do enjoy George Michael's voice other places as a guest vocalist. Overall this album was mixed for me. It was peak 80s, and not necessarily in the best way. I think it has aged a little rough. Some of the lyrics are actually interesting comments on society (Hand to Mouth), while some of just weird or overly sexually and seemingly trying to hard (I Want Your Sex), and some are somewhere in the middle (Monkey). Musically, it has a couple good songs, but other songs are kind of just there. 2/5 Favorite Songs: Faith, Kissing a Fool Least Favorites: I Want Your Sex, Monkey

Sleazy and uninspired lyrics over an OK accompaniment. Not shocking, just boring.

is this Christian pop? but about sex? I get tired of this sounds after a couple songs, it's kind of tinny and top heavy but I liked the slower/more vocal centric songs more

Brilliant grown up debut

was looking forward to this. did not disappoint!

As a man in his 40s, I'd be fascinated to hear a younger person's opinion of this. In places, it's great. Faith and Father Figure are two of the greatest pop hits of all time, and it has a variety lacking from a lot of pop albums of the era. George's voice is always incredible too. And yet... Some of the work that was so daring at the time now just sounds silly to me. I Want Your Sex is laughable. Equally, some of the lyrics have a very different edge since he came out. What had previously sounded innocent feels a little predatory. On top of that, the production feels massively dated, and not in a cool, retro way. As a person, I hugely admire George Michael. As a musician, I prefer his later work.

I was just thinking this list needed more straight up pop music, and here we go. I knew the hits, and some are better than others. I liked Faith and Monkey. Father Figure was OK. Didn't care for I Want Your Sex or One More Try (never knew the title of that one - it could have been called Teacher for all I knew. The non-hits were somewhat forgettable. In general, when George Michael uses his breathy vocals, it kind of creeps me out. I'd rather listen to Wham, actually.

Actually surprisingly a good record - good production, songs (except for the rambling about monkeys?) and length - it would be. 4 star if it’s my genre but it’s not.

Buena y sexy voz para canciones muy pop típicas de los 80. Algunos ritmos bailables. Algún que otro hit muy recordado

A bit corny and 80s as expected but the songwriting here is strong. I enjoyed it more than I expected.

2.8 Classic horny 80s album, nothing special faves: faith

George Michael isn’t my personal taste, but this is an album that deserves to be on the list.

Not my vibe. Airy bambasity.

"Faith" is the debut solo album by English singer George Michael. Michael wrote and produced every song except one in which he co-wrote with David Austin. He also played a lot of the instruments himself. He was tired of the bubble-gum pop reputation from Wham! and wanted more "black" inspired pop R&B similar to Michael Jackson and Prince. The lyrics were introspective and generally about personal relationships. The album was a massive commercial success hitting #1 in the US and UK and was the first album by a white artist to hit #1 on the Billboard Top Black Album Charts which Michael was the most proud. It also has sold roughly 25 million copies, won The Grammy for album of the year and had widespread critical acclaim. An church organ playing Wham!'s "Freedom" opens "Faith." It then turns pop rockabilly with an acoustic Bo Diddly riff. Michael goes soft with a whisper and then goes loud. Very catchy pop song. You have to have faith in something that's real. The end sort of reminds me of "Footloose." "Father Figure" is a soulful R&B ballad. Synths, a drumbeat. Michael goes soft and loud again. Solid gospel backing vocals. About a partner being older. The first single (of the seven) released was "I Want Your Sex (Part 1 & 2)." The first part is rhythm heavy with a synth melody. The second part has horns and is more club-like. I think we know what the song is about. "One More Try" is slower, soulful, a ballad. Michael is crooning, emotional-his best vocal performance on the album. A man who pushes a lover away and ends up with that person. The second side has a few funk songs. "Hard Day" is bass heavy with a clunky 80's beat. "Monkey" continues the 80's funk. Very 80's synths. Echoing vocals. A jangly guitar. About a relationship with an addict. And why not throw in some jazz which is what Michael does in the closing ballad "Kissing a Fool." A piano. A sax. He's describing a break-up. One of the strengths in this album is variety - funk, R&B, jazz, soul, rock and pop. There were a number of times I heard other artists including Prince, Bo Diddley, New Order and "Footloose" but the overall album is definitely Michael's. The synths and beat sounded very 80's on some of the songs especially on the second side. The first side is hit after hit. I don't remember even attempting to listen back in 1987 (I didn't need to with seven singles) but overall this is a very, very solid album.

This reminds me of Chip Skylark's My Shiny Teeth and Me for some reason. I can only really describe this as inoffensive '80s music. Not much more to say about it. It's alright, nothing really jumped out to me in a significant way. A sold 3/5

uhm…..wow. a breath taking pop masterpiece. i’d hate to have been the other guy. george’s voice is pure gold. the instrumental flawless. the songs are absolute classics.

There is an appropriately sexy time and place for listening to this album. Unfortunately, that time and place is not riding a city bus from downtown Seattle on the 4th of July. I wasn’t feelin’ it.

Good album.

An ok album, very front loaded with the well known stuff, it drops off in my interest as it started to sounds samey. still I didn't want to skip any songs.