OK, so not the usual concert you'd find me at. In fact, I'm not entirely sure how I ended up there. Somehow, Mrs D appears to have conned me into this soemhow. But at George Michael I was, and determined to enjoy the show, hoping for something along the lines of the experienced and professional performer much like when I went to see Madonna, being of the same era. However, the overall stage show, albeit entertaining, seemed to lack the flair and showmanship of Madonna.
George has enjoyed (well, perhaps not) a lot of media attention recently. His continued Cannabis use, his inability to drive whilst on said substances and his supposed quit from the music business. He also closed his own fan-forum at georgemichael.com due to fans "slagging him off", stating there was enough of that going on in the media and he hadn't started the forum to further this. He also shocked many viewers of his somewhat-none-flattering documentary
"I'm your man" by lighting up a joint and telling viewers it keeps him "sane and happy".
Now George is back on the road, with Manchester MEN starting the UK leg of his
25 Live tour that marks 25 years of George Michael music (joy). And as I have already said, I was determined to enjoy myslef. Now the key to a concert of this size is not in the music itself, but in the showmanship. Good music is good whether it is live of not, but people who go to a concert are after something else, charisma. A performer who can entertain their fans is charismatic, one that can entertain a sometime listener is a showman, and the one that can convert the none believers is evangelical. Of course, I wasn't expecting to be converted to George Michael by the show, but I was expecting something in the middle. That's not to say that the prformance wasn't good, and many of the fans appeared to be thrilled by the whole performance. But due to my lack of love for George Michael and his music, I had a unique perspective on the gig. Perhaps this was also due to the poor seating we had, but many of his fans remained rooted to their seats rather than stand and dance to the opening number 'Flawless'. Personally, I wouldn't have expected this from such an upbeat, dancy number.
We progressed on through the first set, which alternated between fast upbeat songs and slower ballads, with the ubiquitous stool seeming to appear from nowhere right on cue. This seemed to spoil the feel and flow of the concert, leaving you sitting, then standing, then sitting once again. Personally, I'd have prefered sections of fast paced, then slower sections of music, but hey, I'm not a performer. Although, the first set didn't seem to win over the crowd that much, even though it included such classic tracks as, "Fast Love", "Too Funky" and the Wham! classic "Everything she wants". The set finally ended with the political message of "Shoot the dog", and a giant inflatable George Bush.
During the Interval (how long has it been since I've had an interval during a concert?) The Wiki came to my rescue, when my girlfriend (Mrs D) insisted that the opening to the single "Faith" opened with an organ rendition or "I want your sex", when I was sure it was a rendition of the Wham! hit "Freedom" - Faith being George's first reinvention. A couple of clicks on the phone and I was wearing the smart trousers. I know it's a small victory, but I'm not the Geroge Michael fan, and that makes it feel good....
The second set was a different story, the crowd appear a lot more behind the music. Perhaps the alchohol had kicked in by then. The effects of which could be seen in the man standing next to me. Who seemed to have gone from sitting stoney faced throughout the first few songs, to the top buttons of his shirt unbuttoned and his arms waving in the air.
the second set did appear to be overall more enjoyed. Starting out with the classic "Faith" - and finally sealing the arguement (as she still contested, truthfully and correctly, that the Wiki has been wrong before) about the opening organ sequence. Many more of the fans, now having taken a toilet break and possibly more booze, now behind George and the music. All too little too late, as most of his classic songs were in the first set...
. Oh well. There was, or course, the enevitable encore of "Freedom '90" to come, and George didn't upset his fans. First coming on for a "Careless Whisper", then a second encore with "Freedom '90" - possibly the only song I really like.
My overall opinion of George Michael hasn't changed, even after I've seen the man at work. You can't deny, the man has a fantastic voice and he is a very talented performer. But he seems to lack a lot of the charisma of other performers from the same era, that remain as current and credible performers (namely Madonna). He flails around on stage as possibly the worst dancer in the world. His arms cartwheeling from side to side like a tall, lanky gay-man (which is ironic really, as so many seemed genuinely surprised to find out he was gay). His antics on stage aside, the overall experience was not unpleasant, but not as enjoyable as I was expected to be surprised about.
For those who care, here is the setlist...
setlist:
* Waiting (reprise)
* Flawless
* Fast Love
* Father Figure
* Star People
* The First Time Ever
* Praying for Time
* Too Funky
* You Have Been Loved
* Everything She Wants
* My Mother Had a Brother
* Shoot the Dog
* Faith
* Spinning the Wheel
* Jesus to a Child
* Easier Affair
* A Different Corner
* Amazing
* I'm Your Man
* Outside
* Encore: Careless Whisper
* Freedom '90
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George Michael - Manchester MEN arena 18/11/2006
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