Reviews (page 6 of 9)
Faith and Father Figure are both huge and an incredible way to kick off the album, but it’s a bit middling as it progresses. There is some really bad production in places, most notably on Hard Day, and I Want Your Sex is just very cringe, not at all sexy, and far too long at 9 egregious minutes. It gets better towards the end though, with the very silly but very fun Monkey and then the genuinely beautiful Kissing a Fool. Overall a very mixed bag, and not as impactful as Listen Without Prejudice, but still with some mega highlights
Wham! was college for George Michael. Faith was his mission statement.
Faith is one of those amazing Thriller like albums where most of it got released as a single, so all these songs were hard to avoid in their day. Thank God every song is amazing! This is another 5 star album for me. Everything about it is perfect. And not just for its day - and in its day, it was already hailed as a masterpiece - but because it has aged so very well. The songwriting has a maturity to it and songs that could easily have become saccharine and stupid are injected with heart and soul by both the arrangements and OF COURSE the flawless vocal performances. That’s the biggest thing I get every time I listen to George Michael. I just cannot believe that the vocal is this pristine. Everything about it - the pitch, the tone, the inflection, the dynamics, the girth and power, the delicate nuances of expression - everything about it is exactly what it needs to be. I’ve read from the engineer on this album that when George was recording vocals he always wanted the vocal effects dialed into his headphones the way they would sound on the album and that he would use the sound of the compressor or the reverb or the delay to influence the way he sang in response to it. Now that’s a level of vocal mastery I can’t help but look at with awe and wonder. And all of this before any of the pitch correction tools everyone can reach for these days. This isn’t my favorite George Michael album - that honor goes to the follow-up, Listen Without Prejudice - but it is a masterpiece and now I miss George more than ever.
Stone. Cold. Classic.
A bit same-same after a few tracks. But I’ll have faith stuck in my head for a good week. thanks.
I expected a boring pop record, but this was great.
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🩷
YESSSS
This is top-tier pop, wow - love the funky sound, melodies and longer song length. Some of the lyrics feel overtly sexy but sonically this is a great listen
His hits were good. The others were ok.
This was far from the genre of music I listened to at the time but as the years progressed I listened closer and now appreciate this work much more.
I wasn't super familiar with George Michael's work post-Wham, so I was pretty excited to hear what he did. I was pretty damn impressed! Really well written songs with some super groovy production. He's clearly going for a Prince sorta sound and vibe, but that's alright, I love Prince! Nothing absolutely groundbreaking, but a really fun listen with some ultra catchy songs.
A fantastically made album that shows George Michael as the butterfly emerging from the cocoon.
A nearly flawless classic.
Listen to the title track and you’ve heard the whole album.
1.5 way too 80s. Faith is the only song worth listening to
Great
Ja klassiker.
It's aged so well. All 8/10 or higher apart from I want your sex, which was and still is rubbish.
Another okay album by George Michael. Don’t really vibe with it. I Want Your Sex part one brings down part two, which is better. Don’t really care for the Garage Band kind of sounds used throughout the album. His singing isn’t as good as in Listen Without Prejudice, but the songs are a bit better. Standouts: One More Try, Kissing a Fool, A Last Request (I Want Your Sex).
Sweet and gentle.
Nope
Wow, I didn't realize how many well-known songs came from this album.
4.25
The voice on this guy.
Some fun tracks on here, including some that I like a bit more than I did when this first came out. I'm less keen on the ballads, on the whole. Also, is he sniffing his oxter on the album cover?
Iconic George Michael album! Very good.
Typisches George Michael Album mit den Klassikern „Faith“, „Father Figure“ & „I want your Sex“. Insgesamt ist mir das Album zu stark R&B gefärbt und irgendwie assoziiert mich die Lead Stimme an den ewigen Weihnachts-Repeater. Ganz gut gefällt die Ballade „One More Try“. andere Titel sind einfach schwach als wären sie mit der C64 Drum-Mashine gemacht (z.B. „Hand To Mouth“ oder „Monkey“).
This brought me back to my Grade 9 year. I hated my Grade 9 year and this album. Nothing's changed. Blech.
Gave it a chance thinking he was a target of toxic masculinity but his music is actually just bad
Amazing voice, solid 80s pop senses, and a nine minute song about wanting sex. What more does one need in life?
Gear: Hifiman Arya Artwork: 👉👌👍 Mix (2010 Remaster): 👉👌👍 Musik: 👉👌👍 Wertung: 👉👌👍/5
Starts off with three back to back great and varied songs. Then the rest is fine. Those three songs do a lot of the heavy lifting though.
Je ne comprends juste pas l'attrait de cet album. Pour moi ça sonne tellement pop générique des années 80. La chanson éponyme de l'album est tuojours aussi mooche que dans mes souvenirs. Beaucoups de paroles sont vraiment gênantes et ont mal vieilli. 4/10
A NOTE ON “FAITH”’S ASPIRATIONS TO BE “BLACK POP”: If you think George Michael was too white to write and record a song like “Faith”, just wait until you hear Louis Theroux’s attempt to cover it: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LhvHJD6ZOsg Fresh out the Wham!-mer in ‘87, George Michael took the leap and flexed his solo artist muscles with “Faith”. Plenty of people sat up and took notice (including my mother, who was obsessed with the man for many years) while plenty others continued to dismiss him as trivial, meaningless pop. But thirty-seven years on, there’s no denying that “Faith” cemented Michael’s artistry, integrity and especially libido as powerful forces in pop. The opening salvo of the record shimmers and sweats with confidence and excitement. The title track belongs on a list of iconic singles which began as a daft, throwaway exercise before the producers insisted it be fleshed out into a hit: it still works. “Father Figure” is more measured and introspective, but the wailing chorus (mixing holy and sexual imagery) is where the Prince comparisons start to lock themselves in. And then, I’d never realised what an absolute jam “I Want Your Sex” is: the first part is groovy enough on its own, but then the second part takes it to another level. Rollicking horns, gnarly funk guitar, softer vocal passages… it’s a real “switching into technicolor” moment, an inspired segue and the highlight of “Faith”. Throughout the rest of the record, there are some spotty moments which don’t quite land for me: it feels like Michael could have committed more to being wild and unburdened, covering as much ground as he could as a solo artist. Instead, “Hard Day” feels like an empty demo track and “Hand to Mouth” offers some toothless social commentary. Neither of them quite take off, staying safely in the lane of adult contemporary. And while Michael’s soaring vocal really elevates “One More Try”, at heart it's still a fairly bare-bones soul/gospel track. We pick up at the end, though, as “Look At Your Hands” and “Monkey” bring us back in the room with some much-needed energy (the former like a Rolling Stones “Some Girls” track, the latter hard-edged funk which became “Faith”’s fourth hit. “Kissing A Fool” is a refreshingly surprising note to end on: a swing into smooth, soulful jazz with honeyed vocals to close. Altogether, for me it’s not quite great but it is perfectly good. If my mum comes asking, tell her I gave it five stars.
There are some real classic hits on here - but it’s front loaded, and I get a little bored towards the end of the album
Some of these are pretty good but most are just not my style.
I remember hearing Faith on the radio and how different it was compared to everything else. There were a couple other hits I didn't know were on this album. All the rest was filler. I wouldn't consider this an album album, especially one that must be heard in its entirety. So....
1988 - Philadelphia, PA - Listening to this in my Aunt's living room
3+ Stars (9/15)
That wasn't as terrible as I was expecting, but I was expecting something horrendous tbf. Faith has been overdone so ignoring that. First half I didn't hate, I can see why he's popular with people with that particular taste in albums. By the latter half of the album I was lastine a minute or two then skipping. The actual music was boring tbh, beats were way too slow and soft. Nice voice, but not really my genre.
A complicated, tragic figure. But this man made some terrific music.
It's not really my thing, but I can appreciate it well enough. The content and lyrics are pretty weird, and it does sound quite 80's, but he's got a great voice and it's produced and put together well enough. I like 'Kissing a Fool' the most as it was nice and chilled.
It's good. I've heard a lot of it before, but was cool to hear all the songs. But not something I am dying to listen to on repeat.
Meh. Fun pop but kinda mediocre in retrospect.
1 great song the others were ok
Meh
The first 4 tracks - Faith, Father Figure, I Want Your Sex, and One More Try, are exceptionally good, the remaining 6 are just standard late 80s Pop. If the whole album would be like the first 4, it would be an easy 5/5, the other tracks are more like 3/5, so I'm making this a 4/5 and call it a day.
Did not finish...
Music to leave the movie theater to
too safe, radio sterile
In the last years of his life George Michael had become a bit of a punchline - being found passed-out in his car several times, crashing into a Snappy Snaps etc ... and then after his death stories started ro come out showing how he may have been one of the few truly good people in the music industry. I had never paid any attention really to his music, it wasn't my bag, but finding out what a kind, generous and humble man he actually was made me sad I never knew this when he was alive. The album is very mid, however, and there's a lot of filler.
Sounded like sonic the hedgehog soundtrack
Crap
Fucking awful.
Quality but not my thing.
I think Faith is a good song, and I think George Michael has a few solid tracks that put him above most of the similar 80s pop act. None of the other good songs were on this album though, this was mawkish crap. Think he really wants to be Prince, very similar cringey sexual lyrics and unmemorable music that seems to be forgotten in the aim to sound very emotional. Wouldn't recommend, wouldn't listen again, wouldn't put it on this list, 1.
Why is every song around 5 minutes long? Conceptually, they are incredibly thin. Stretching each one out with long intros, fades out, multiple repetitions of the chorus; all serve to make this album incredibly irritating. I'd wager that if each song was 3 minutes long, even that bizarre Monkey one, this album would creep towards listenable. Even Faith, at a bit over 3 minutes, overstays its welcome. Maybe a product of the times? That being said, I didn't mind Look At Your Hands.
Faith isn't bad but the rest of the album is pretty awful. I want your sex is hilariously bad. The monkey song confused me. Why can't I set it free? Sorry George
"Why do I have to share my baby with a monkey?" Was George ever spotted at Neverland Ranch?
Pretty much nothing but massive pop hits on this album, but I actually really like the few deep cuts too. I'm not crazy for some of the actual pop classics here (namely Monkey and I Want Your Sex), but still a very cool, well-rounded record with a lot of heat to it. 3.5/5
First two tracks are undeniably catchy. I had to dig a bit to remember why I know Father Figure so well; it's on the excellent soundtrack for Atomic Blonde.
This was catchy! I realized that I knew more than a couple of songs from this album purely from exposure to pop culture.
Not bad, George. Favourite track: Kissing a Fool.
Fucking terrible
Flamboyant. Faith is solid. Super sexual. Doesn’t deserve to be on this list.
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.