George Michael, pop superstar, dies at 53

[Surfcrest]

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George Michael, pop superstar, dies at 53

https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...tar-dies-at-53

[frequent]

The lyrics of my favourite George Michael song are something about "your son going down on me"

[francois]

Passed away peacefully, a euphemism for OD.

[gerefan2]

Agreed same same so many. Why do they do it???

[fountainhall]

In GM's case, assuming the suggestion above turns out to be correct, he seems to have found it extremely difficult to handle what we'd call "fame". Perhaps with the added problem of failed love affairs. He seems to have been someone who just wanted to be a regular guy. But when you have all his wealth, popularity and talent, just being one of the boys is not an option. Some pop stars can handle it; others can't. Drugs become a release. Eventually the ultimate release. Very sad!

[frequent]

In GM's case, assuming the suggestion above turns out to be correct, he seems to have found it extremely difficult to handle what we'd call "fame". Perhaps with the added problem of failed love affairs. He seems to have been someone who just wanted to be a regular guy. But when you have all his wealth, popularity and talent, just being one of the boys is not an option. Some pop stars can handle it; others can't. Drugs become a release. Eventually the ultimate release. Very sad!

Rather a lot of sanctimonious twaddle I'm afraid, if you read some recent interviews that have been republished. There was one rather interesting passage, in a 2009 interview in The Guardian, where he showed his contempt for exactly that attitude which had been reported as being expressed by Bono to Elton John. His cottaging and cruising on Hampstead Heath are an inspiration to us all, and something he discussed at length. He's quoted in that interview as saying "I'm surprised I've survived my own dysfunction"

[frequent]

Mind you, his followers are at least members of a personality cult where the object of adoration is known good and bad, and are free to make criticisms and even leave the cult of their own volition

[Surfcrest]

I think he made a lot of beautiful music, music that has enriched some of our lives and undoubtedly the culture of our time...but he has also been very generous with his time and money to some very good causes over his lifetime. He lived a good life.

Surfcrest

[fountainhall]

Rather a lot of sanctimonious twaddle I'm afraid, if you read some recent interviews that have been republished. There was one rather interesting passage, in a 2009 interview in The Guardian, where he showed his contempt for exactly that attitude which had been reported as being expressed by Bono to Elton John. His cottaging and cruising on Hampstead Heath are an inspiration to us all, and something he discussed at length. He's quoted in that interview as saying "I'm surprised I've survived my own dysfunction"

I fail to understand the connection between it being difficult to handle wealth and fame with cottaging and cruising! And taking an excerpt from an interview from years ago doesn't make it true today. Two days ago the New York Times reported -

Once an indisputable sex symbol of the peak-MTV era, Mr. Michael appeared overweight and nearly unrecognizable in photographs, reportedly from September, that the website TMZ published on Monday. News media attention also fell on a 2015 tabloid interview with a relative claiming that Mr. Michael was abusing drugs and putting his life at risk. And after years of arrests related to drug use, as well as confessional interviews and health scares, the singer had largely retreated from the public eye, while his creative output had all but ceased.

I doubt either interview tells the whole story, so take your pick!

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/26/ar...struggles.html

[frequent]

I fail to understand ...

No surprises there then