Big Noodle Lou’s Top 5 All-Time George Michael Moments!

The world is still buzzing at the news of George Michael passing away yesterday at the age of 53. Such a GREAT songwriter, vocalist, performer, video artist, simply a POP ICON.  It gave me a chance to reflect on his massive career, in which I was able to come up with my Top 5 All-Time George Michael Moments. It wasn't easy narrowing them down, but here they are.......

6) George Michael: "I Want Your Sex". I told you this was going to be difficult! So much so, that you're getting a BONUS moment here. Anyway, this song stirred up quite the controversy when it was first released. In fact, the radio station where I was working at the time wouldn't play it! So, I brought my own copy in and played it ANYWAY! (I'm such a Maverick, I know) :-)  I remember that Casey Kasem wouldn't even say the title of the song when it was played on his American Top 40 program. In any event, the song wound up winning out, and MTV played the crap out of the video. Check it out!

5) Wham: "Last Christmas". It's no secret, (especially if you've been reading this blog), that I LOVE this tune! Simply, one of my FAVORITE Christmas Songs EVER! It's been covered by folks like, Taylor Swift, Hillary Duff, Ashley Tisdale, Cascada, The Cast Of Glee, Billie Piper, and many others. The original has still not been surpassed, however...

4) George Michael: Freedom '90 Out of all of George Michael's solo material, this one is still KING as far as I'm concerned! This takes me back to when I first came to Tuscaloosa, and started working at The Legendary Z102! We played THIS song EVERY hour! And for good reason, too! It had thought provoking lyrics, an infectious GROOVE, and a video full of 90's SUPERMODELS! To this day, whenever I hear the lyric: "But when you shake your ass, they notice fast, and some mistakes where built to last", I start TWERKING like a Pole Dancer at Sammy's Nightclub in Birmingham! Think I'll play the video now, because I feel like TWERKING!

3) Wham: "Everything She Wants".  Boy, this was a TOUGH one! So many stellar tunes in their catalog: "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "I'm Your Man", "Wham Rap", "Careless Whisper", etc. However, the ONE that won out is "Everything She Wants". For me, it's the PERFECT pop tune!

2) George Michael/Elton John: "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me". Easily one of THE GREATEST DUETS EVER! And when George announces to the crowd, "Ladies & Gentlemen, Mr. Elton John!", I still get GOOSEBUMPS! 

And, Drum Roll Please.....1) Queen & George Michael: "Somebody To Love". From April 20th,1992, at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert For Aids Awareness. Such an AMAZING performance! Which clearly shows that Queen should've just hired George as their Lead Singer and carried on! I can picture Freddie & George singing this duet in Heaven right now....

And there you have it, My Top 5 All-Time George Michael Moments. The world lost a True Musical Giant yesterday, who will LIVE on through generations with his music. RIP, Mr. George Michael.