Freedom '08: George Michael at Verizon Center
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IMAGINE IF GEORGE MICHAEL had been granted the opportunity to become popular. Let's put that another way: Imagine if George Michael had been granted the freedom to detach himself from a record label that exploited him (Sony), so that he could become a prolific songwriter rather than a novelty act.
Tuesday's sold-out performance at the Verizon Center chronicled more than just the former Wham! frontman's musical maturation and hairstyles. It presented a living — albeit abbreviated — history lesson on the fickleness of a music industry intent on treating its talent like professional slaves.
After Michael's wildly successful album "Faith," released in 1987, he went on record stating his reticence to be a puppet for his label. As a result, his next studio recording, "Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1," was perhaps the crooner's flashiest work, and probably his most modest. Shrugging off the status of a preening sex symbol, he refused to appear in the now-iconic music video (featuring a bevy of bathing beauties including the supermodels Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford) for his song "Freedom 90." Michael got little airplay in America after that, and his creative output was stifled by lawsuits and frustrations.
That was then; this is now.
Michael is no longer the gangly lad with a thick, pomaded coif and a five o'clock shadow at 8 a.m. He's less energetic; there's very little flounce in his step. In fact, since he came out in the '90s, his onstage antics are decidedly less flamboyant than when he was a supposed rake.
"Who remembers the '80s?" he shouted at the arena teeming with every demographic, many of whom were clad in the (unfashionably fashionable) "Choose Life" tees that were popular for an endless summer. It hearkened back to a decade during which Michael seemed happy and hopeful. "Faith" used to be a theme of his career. Today, it could be interpreted as his anthem.
Last night marked the tour's 100th show. Michael employed a breathier tenor for ballads like "One More Try," a triumph of risk over heartache. His backup singers neatly rounded off the edges, though they could have been subbed with synthesized vocals in almost every instance other than the gospel-inflected "Father Figure."
And his band looked especially impressive positioned on six recessed levels. A pair of guitars — one acoustic, one plugged in — dueled playfully during "Faith" and the resident saxophonist provided studio-professional brass for the quintessential slow song, "Careless Whisper." But the live instrumentation didn't always present flattering embellishments.
Michael brought the concert to a grinding halt with the inclusion of a few covers — none of which enhanced the originals — and his band struggled to find the proper arrangement and tempo. The Nina Simone standard "Feeling Good" felt like little more than an excuse to display footage of Dita Von Teese, the professional enthusiast, slinking and sliding on giant video screens above the stage. And a sleepy rendition of The Police's "Roxanne," while expertly sung, cast the gray pall of a quiet storm onstage.
Michael roused the audience into a veritable frenzy with stomp-thump catwalkers like "Fastlove," "Everything She Wants" and "Too Funky," the latter studded with those long-stemmed dress forms Tyra Banks and Beverly Peele in Thierry Mugler on the big screens. When the enormous set, made entirely of tiny bulbs that curled from the rafters into the audience like a catwalk, wasn't projecting girls, girls, girls, its cascading images suggested an enormous screen saver.
Although he appeared to be having a fine time, Michael's pelvic pumps and fist gesticulations gave the impression that the audience was attending a dance club where only he was allowed to feel the funk. An arena of the scale and scope of the Verizon Center may be the wrong venue for a performer who — in spite of the throb of drum machines and digital orchestrations behind him — performs with such intimacy and sincerity.
"Spinning the Wheel," a disco-twisting song about sex and deception, didn't really need the computerized film reels scrolling images of troubled couples, from Frank and Ava to Sid and Nancy to Bill and Monica. "Outside" brought out the kitsch (and a strangely absent sense of humor) in him. An unqualified classic that hints at the public scrutiny of celebrity as well as the performer's own runs-in with Johnny Law, the compressed beat and ripe vocals gained a wink and a smile thanks to Michael's quick costume change into a police uniform (that could have been pawned at a garage sale at the Village People compound) replete with silver-striped tuxedo pants and a glittery badge.
For the second encore, Michael indulged the crowd with the song they seemed to have been waiting all night, if not 17 years, for. The bongo-busting introductory vamp set girls and boys squealing, and the familiar (though unrecognizably performed) guitar riff exploded into the evening's audience participated raison d'etre.
To wit: "All we have to do now / Is take these lies and make them true somehow / All we have to see / Is that I don't belong to you and you don't belong to me." "Freedom 90," while the climax of a concert 25 years in the making (and nearly two decades since his last American tour), was not the most affecting moment of the set.
Michael opened with "Waiting (Reprise)," whose lyrics sharply set the tone for the tour and for George Michael himself: "Well there ain't no point in moving on / Until you've got somewhere to go / And the road that I have walked upon / Well it filled my pockets and emptied out my soul."
Written by Express contributor Christopher Correa
Photo by Andrew MacPherson
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I strongly disagree. This was one of the best concerts I have ever experienced, and it beautifully showcased Michael as one of the greatest singer/songwriters of our generation.
By Veronica , Posted July 30, 2008 3:40 PMWere we at the same concert??? Last night was an amazing showcase of what's so great about George Michael: rousing dance music, ballads sung in such a beautifully pure voice that you want to cry, and an enthusiasm that wasn't faked. And the reason he wore the cop uniform during "Outside" is because he is self-aware and DOES have a great sense of humor!
By Tina , Posted July 30, 2008 4:30 PMIt's obvious the writer was already biased from the beginning because there is no way that this article is a valid synopsis of that concert. George Michael is terribly underrated and he is a true talent.
By Amy , Posted July 30, 2008 4:58 PMOh really? Best concert ever? It was pretty great at many different moments - the cop costume change for Outside was priceless, Faith was dead-on, but the covers? Really? Were you standing up and screaming for more after Roxanne? I seem to remember the crowd falling into a lull at that point.
By Kelly , Posted July 30, 2008 5:09 PMDid you really attend this concert. Here we go again with another critic who can't let go of the past. I could have written this review for you. At least it would have been fair. George gave his audience what they wanted. A kick-as-s show. I was on the floor, where were all these choose life Tshirts you mention. I saw many tshirts but they were ones bought at the concert and they all did not have choose life.. I even saw some with BSA. The people were so loud that by the time he sang Roxanne I heard people shushing each other because they wanted to hear him sing every word.He sang Kissing a Fool after that. He had the whole audience singing along. You had your mind made up about what type of review you were going to write before the show ended. All you negative critics are following the same script. People were singing his songs all the way to their cars because they enjoyed it so much. I saw security singing and dancing. George also danced quite a bit and has only gotten better with age. Hope he continues to do small venues in DC in spite of your article. The fans aren't taking this type of crap anymore from critics who want to just pic at George. Guess you see that judging by the replies to your article.
By Deb , Posted July 30, 2008 11:40 PMIt's obvious that the critics lacked much love and attention when they were kids. How the hell can you find fault with a PERFECT concert. You say George lacked energy?? Why don't you try singing in front of a sold out crowd and work the stage the way he did only to see how fast you'll resort to Britney Spears tactics. You, the critics, are incapable of recognizing a professional at the top of his game. Some artists are like wine, as they age they get better. Artists like George Michael and Sting are two of plenty. I suggest you go out and find something to be happy about. We all know you need it. Or as George Michael said, go and get yourself some. Maybe then youll be able to recognize true talent.
By carlos , Posted July 31, 2008 8:32 AMThe concert was FANTASTIC!! I am so happy George came out to thank his fans, and his voice is still BEAUTIFUL. I agree with the other posters; if you are not a fan of George, that is fine, but please stop being biased in these reviews. People on the metro BACK HOME were singing...next time, try to really capture the crowds reaction. The concert was flawless.
By Arcee , Posted July 31, 2008 8:36 AM"try to really capture the crowds reaction." The people next to me sat down the entire time, never sang along, looked bored except when he sang the biggest hits. And I was in the most expensive section. Obviously most people loved it, but it wasn't a flawless, people-fainting-in-the-aisles show.
By Liz , Posted July 31, 2008 9:43 AMThe concert that I attended Tuesday night was fabulous. I was on the floor surrounded by other fans just like me who were on their feet nearly the entire night dancing and singing along with Mr. Michael. His voice, I was so thrilled to hear, was just as strong as it was during his first concert tour I was fortunate enough to attend years ago in Orlando. His stage presence was everything that I had hoped it would be and more. His music was right on mark and he sure could still move! True, it was not a "stage show" that boy bands and other younger singers put on nowadays to cover the fact that they need visual aids to shadow the fact that their voices may not be as strong as they should be. It was a pure performance that showcased a talent that has been sorely missed but never forgotten. Sure, we would all love to hear the exact same covers of all famous people's music each time we go to see them in concert but the mark of a true performer is that he or she stretches themselves and creates new music. This is what Mr. Michael did and continues to do. The stage set up was great and not distracting one bit. I loved that the band was in full view but not crowding the stage so that we could concentrate on watching the person we had come to see. I appreciate that Mr. Michael not only showed up to the show but seemed to truly appreciated all the people who showed up to see him as well. The reviewer did hit one fact on the head, if not for the Sony conflict, we would have most likely had much more wonderful music to enjoy these years from this fine performer. The only consolation is that he is in control of his music now and we can only benefit from this fact going forward. Thank you so very much George Michael for a wonderful show! Here is to hoping that, even though this may be the last "big venue" concert tour from this highly talented performer, more smaller, more intimate shows will still come in our future.
By KAM , Posted July 31, 2008 10:08 AMChris Correa is a fraud. Another hater and George did sing a song about the haters. Get a life already! I would have paid another $250 if there was a second show. Live 25 was an awesome show and for his fans...we were truly blessed to be a part of it. We love you GM, hurry back and we'll be there for another era of 25 years of music.
By Lynnette Roberts , Posted July 31, 2008 11:43 AMIt just so happened that Mr. Correa was seated behind me at the concert. He didn't seem to be having a great night, and in fact, as we sat down I heard him mutter under his breath "this is annoying". Despite our attempt to liven his mood, it seems Mr. Correa committed his time jotting down ”witty„ quips for his less than positive "review". Frankly, I feel sorry his head was lost in his notebook all night. As an original fan of George Michael, one might be inclined to assert that I’m being defensive. Not the case. If my bruised and swollen palm, caused by clapping too hard while wearing large jewelry, is any indication, the concert was extraordinary and needs no defense. I drove in from NYC specifically to experience this concert with 5 of my closest childhood friends, and I know I can speak for us all when I say - George Michael fulfilled all of our expectations and more. Thanks George!
By Laura Dahl , Posted July 31, 2008 12:51 PMShame on you Mr. Correa! This was the absolute BEST concert I have ever been to! GM was fantastic! I have waited many years to see him live and I was not disappointed. No other concert comes close to this one.
By Torre Parra , Posted July 31, 2008 2:25 PMI'm with everyone who agrees that this was a truly great show. I am so so glad that I went. And yes, I was singing all the way to the car! Love you, George!!!
By Nancy , Posted August 2, 2008 1:00 AMI was there are you kidding me. People need to let go of the past. I have been a fan of his since the first time i saw him with wake me up before you go go. I have stayed a true fan for over 20 years. I think he put on a very good show I think he is the best and always will be.
By Lisa , Posted August 3, 2008 9:49 AM