Pop / Soul / Dance-Pop · 1980s Career
George Michael moved from the bright pop of Wham! into a more mature solo career built around songwriting, production and a strong connection to soul and R&B.
Wham! and global pop
With Andrew Ridgeley, Michael became one of the decade’s most visible pop stars through songs such as “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” “Freedom” and “Last Christmas.”
Faith
The 1987 solo album established Michael as a major adult songwriter and producer, moving easily between pop, soul, funk and rockabilly influence.
Voice and control
Michael’s warm baritone and increasingly self-produced sound gave his solo work a stronger sense of authorship than the teen-pop image of his earlier career suggested.
Why he matters
George Michael became one of the decade’s clearest examples of a pop star successfully growing into a serious songwriter, singer and producer.