Even though I wasn’t in the right demographic for Wham’s cheesy teeny-bop pop in the early 80s, they were the soundtrack to many of the school discos that I went to, although I’m still not sure about the financial viability of Club Tropicana. I wasn’t expecting to hear from George Michael again after Wham split up which made this album from 1987 something of a revelation. From the striking cover art and the video that accompanied the breezy title track it was clear that he was now a long way from the world of wise guys realising the danger in emotional ties. This is an album about exploring love (and sex), taking chances and the risk of being hurt in the process. It’s all the more poignant because we know in retrospect of his struggles to come to terms with his sexual identity. George Michael may have had his inner turmoil, but he didn’t deserve the gleeful monstering that he suffered at the hands of certain tabloid newspapers when he came out in the 90s. In spite of this, he stayed true to himself and it was only after his untimely death from heart disease in 2016 that his numerous quiet acts of charity and generosity came to light. This still probably isn’t the sort of album I would listen to on a regular basis, but the honesty and humanity of George Michael shines through in a way that is clear to see.
