This is my revisit this week, although I found it extremely difficult to choose one of George Michael's old songs, mainly because there has been so many. I chose this one because I actually think this song is amazing, even if it is a cover version. This was definitely an iconic duet at the time, and it works so well. It's such a shame that George Michael has passed away, but his many hits will live on. Watch George Michael and Mary J. Blige perform in a club surrounded by doppelgängers, which version of themselves is actually them? This "As" music video is brilliant.
George Michael, real name Georgios Panayiotou, unfortunately, passed away on 25 December 2016. I reviewed "December Song (I Dreamed Of Christmas)" as a tribute to him, but thought I might as well review another of his as I have the chance. He's recent releases have done all right, but haven't been as much as a success as his early career was. He didn't release quite as much or as often as he used to, which is why I never really got into his music, you could say he was before my time. The same goes for the person who he collaborates with on this track; Mary J. Blige has had a lengthy solid career and is another star who has proved herself within the music industry. Much like George Michael, her recent releases haven't faired so well, although she has released a lot of music recently, which is a contrast to George Michael. This song was originally a Stevie Wonder song and first appeared on his album "Songs In The Key Of Life". It only charted in the US. It was this collaboration that brought the song success worldwide. It was written by Stevie Wonder.
Directed by Big TV!, which consists of film directors Andy Delaney and Monty Whitebloom. The video is amazingly thought out and must've taken quite some time to edit and create.
It's a performance based music video with a running narrative throughout. The start sees George Michael walking into a club. When he finally gets there, we see many doppelgängers of himself. This is my kind of club, I'd so be chatting up myself throughout the night.
When Mary J. Blige comes in, there is also a lot of doubles of herself too. It's impossible to keep track of the original them as they all each take a part, even in the background.
It's a total clever music video, especially as the dancing kicks off and with them sitting down. It's one of those videos you're more than likely going to miss something, and so on second watch, you see something new. There's not enough going on, they could've made it a little more interesting and relatable to the song, yet, visually wise, this is amazing!
It's so sad to have heard that George Michael has passed away, on Christmas Day too! Unfortunately, I have already reviewed Wham!'s "Last Christmas", where George Michael was one-half of the duo, in my Christmas Special 2012. So I googled to see if he had released another Christmas song to finish off my Christmas Special 2016, and this one came up. It's a great vocal from George Michael, and it's sad to hear that this legend of a voice has gone from this world. He was also a brilliant gay idol and LGBT activist. This is the second George Michael animation music video; "December Song (I Dreamed Of Christmas)" easily represents the festive date as well as love and lights from a child's perspective.
George Michael, real name Georgios Panayiotou, is one of the biggest male artists in the world. Not only has he had his singles and albums in his duo Wham! but he also did amazingly solo and quickly became a legend. So many people know his songs that it's difficult just to think of one favourite from him. This song was another Christmas song he released recently, then he later performed it on The X Factor. The song was planned for the Spice Girls, but personally, I believe, it sounds so much better from George Michael himself. It charted at number 14 in the UK, but shops sold out of the physical CD so it could've charted higher if they had stocked up more. "December Song (I Dreamed Of Christmas)" was written by George Michael and David Austin.
As previously mentioned, the music video is George Michael's second animated music video, after "Shoot The Dog". It depicts George Michael as a child, who walks through a TV.
It describes a child's representation of Christmas, all wrapped up in quite a sad and lonely way. Since there is only a mother in the whole video, maybe he is thinking of his dad? Who knows?
Inside the TV, we watch him have a snowball fight with a panda, and ride some light bulbs that have wheels on. All the while, his mouse or hamster follows him with every step; mainly in a comedic way.
Towards the end, the child falls from a great height, but luckily he wakes up in his bed; there are presents under the tree, and his mother gives him a cuddle. It's quite dreary, and sad, although the reason why isn't clear. However, it's still quite adorable.
Wham! was a band consisting of four members back in 1981. They were George Michael, Andrew Ridgeley, Pepsi Damacque and Shirlie Holliman. They gained a lot of success, but disbanded in 1986, however their reputation and their hit singles still live on.
"Last Christmas" was written by George Michael. It managed to chart at number two in the UK Singles Chart, being beaten by Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" However since 1984 it has charted during various other years. It charted in 1985, 1986, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 at positions of 6, 45, 14, 26, 34, 57 and 26. The song has been covered by a number of artists who have also been included in my blog, these are: Cascada's "Last Christmas" and Joe McElderry's "Last Christmas". I don't doubt that their will be more in the future.
This music video is another top music video, and reminds me a lot of Justin Bieber's "Mistletoe". It has a similar Christmas-esque to them both, which makes them similar.
This is narrative based, with a few performance bits. The story is that George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley meet up at a ski resort with their girlfriends. It becomes evident that Andrew's girlfriend used to be with George and this song is aimed at her.
I like the flashback, it's extremely inventive and shows what happened last Christmas. The backing singers Pepsi Damacque and Shirlie Holliman appear in this video alongside Martin Kemp (who was Shirlie's boyfriend and her future husband).
Overall this is one of my favourite songs. The video isn't my favourite, but I think that is due it being an old music video (older than me). On the other hand I have nothing to complain about and nothing against this video, and so I have no choice but give this top rating, because this video does deserve it.
