George Michael on His Challenge as a Solo Artist

Quote from the 1988 article “Michael in the Mirror: Singer Molds New Image to Gain Some R-E-S-P-E-C-T’

The young star is taking the success of “Faith” (he has now written, produced and performed more No. 1 hits — six — than any other performer in the ’80s) with ease.

“The one thing that frightened me when I was making this album was that people expected me to move into a middle-of-the-road bracket right away. They expected that two years ago after Wham! broke up, and for a 22-year-old, that was really frightening. So I wanted the album to be more representative of what I am.”

He folds his big, surprisingly rugged hands on one knee and goes back to staring at the toe of his boot I ask him what he sees, and he responds evasively. “At 25, I still need challenges, apart from the main challenge of just writing better music. Being successful has to be something you earn, and my challenge now is to have my music heard above people’s perceptions of me. So this is a new beginning, this is a new me.”

Similar Posts:

• “Michael Unmasked:” George Michael Interview in Chicago Tribune (1988)
• Michael in the Mirror (Atlanta Constitution, 1988)
• An Audience with George Michael: Interview with Chris Evans (1996)
• George Michael’s Oprah Winfrey Show Interview (2004)
• “George Michael Keeps The Faith’ Interview in US Weekly (1988)