George Michael

A Life

By: James Gavin

Narrated by: Paul Bellantoni

Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

George Michael was an extravagantly gifted, openhearted soul singer whose work was both pained and smolderingly erotic. He was a songwriter of true craft and substance, and his music swept the world, starting in the mid-1980s. His fabricated image—that of a hypermacho sex god—loomed large in the pop culture of his day. It also hid—for a time—the secret he fought against revealing: Michael was gay. Soon his obsession with fame would start to backfire. As one of the industry's most privileged yet tortured men began to self-destruct, the press showed little sympathy. George Michael: A Life explores the compelling story of a superstar whose struggles, as well as his songs, continue to touch fans all over the world.

Acclaimed music biographer James Gavin traces Michael's metamorphosis from the shy and awkward Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou into the swaggering, dominant half of the leading British pop duo of the 1980s Wham!; he then details Michael's sensational solo career and its subsequent unraveling. With deep analysis of the creative process behind Michael's albums, tours, and music videos, as well as interviews with hundreds of his friends and colleagues, George Michael: A Life is a probing, definitive portrait of a pop legend.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 James Gavin (P)2022 Tantor

"Outside"! Of this read I was a bit overwhelmed!

This Read or Listen is Socially Climatic , but uncertain about those small narratives surrounding these certain undertones of sounding as if this Author actually knew George? The read was or is a vast origin of all talk; with little overtures to be 100% convincing struggling to know at what time during the Authors research on Yogg did it come so naturally for him to make quotes that seemed to me to be far reaching enough to allow this Biography to mean true. Somehow it's parlayed with layers of "News Worthy", rather reading at times as if I was reading a Murdoch splash to his "Sun Times" Gossip Newsy that Londoners seem to grasp on and believe all of that garbage to really ring True! Other than those aspects of this Biography of my Idol George Michael only those parts created pause for me. Over All- Good Enough!
For Paul to James!

Sadness Within

Never realized the struggles he fought with such bravery and grace. A hero.
Such talent from youth. Fame destroyed him.

A Definitive Biography

This book was extremely well written and performed. If you’re looking for a one-stop bio on George, this is it.

If you’ve read up on George before, you’ll be familiar with the progression the book takes on his life/career events. But, the author went further by including many small details which brought new light on familiar subjects.

I really enjoyed it! Thank you for all of your hard work, James and Paul.

a beautiful man

George is missed so much. I do hate he went through so much. great book

Well Researched, Fascinating, Comprehensive

I enjoy biographies that are well researched, in-depth, and written objectively. George was a complex human being with God-given gifts, but he was not without flaws (and none of us are). I wanted a biography that told his story, flaws and all, and this was it. James Gavin writes with balance, and is not afraid to present the good, the bad, and yes, the ugly when it comes to George.

If you are a fan who believes GM was a perfect human being and don’t want to know anything different, this bio is probably not for you. But if you, like me, are a lifelong fan who is curious about all the complexities of George and how/why his life took the path that it did (and ended so many years before it should have), then you will learn a lot about the man and his choices. Warning: this is far from a lighthearted story. Be ready to hear some hard truths. But it does give a well-rounded picture of the man, and shines a light on many of his wonderful attributes and triumphs as well.

Note: Gavin interviewed over 250 people during his research. As you might expect, he could not get to people in the inner circle such as George’s close family members (his sister and father), Shirley and Martin Kemp, David Austin, Kenny Goss, or Andrew Ridgeley. But it’s a given that none of those people will ever say anything too negative (at least publicly) about George. They are longtime friends who want to protect him even in death, and I can’t blame them.

this was a super great listen well broken dow

loved it written really well and narrated was accurately broken down by the timeline as well great read

Amazingly written and performed!

Terrific book/performance that does George Michael’s complex life and legacy proud. 10/10 recommend.

Disappointed in the author

The author’s opinion and many blatant prejudices take over this book. I was hoping for a well researched account without constant opinions. I’m not even halfway through and find the constant judgment absolutely exhausting.

Enquirer 2.0

This is not for me. It's like picking up an old school Enquirer paper; I didn't even finish it. I can't finish it! There were so many things mentioned that were just pure tr*sh! Whether they were true or not. who knows, but this thing shouldn't even be called a book.

WHAT?

This Author, is obviously not a GM fan. He's basically taken Yogs life and turned it into a fucking fiasco! You're so wrong, on so many levels! George Michael was a very devout philanthropist, and an awesome friend! You, make him sound like a fucking, FREAK! I hope no one else ever buys this shit you've now demeanered as basically calling him a FAGGOT! I hope you never make another dime on this trash you're spewing out of your big fat mouth!