3 Eternal Songs by George Michael that Have Stood the Test of Time

In the 1980s and ’90s, British-born pop star George Michael had swagger. He was one of those types of people you either wanted to be or wanted to be with. With slick sunglasses, stubble on his face, coiffed hair, and leather jackets for days, Michael—whether he was performing with his band Wham! or as a solo artist—just had that, as the French say, je ne sais quoi. That’s special something.

As a result, during his lifetime, he created and recorded some of the best pop songs of all time. And here below, we wanted to dive into three of them. A trio of tunes that still enliven music listeners and find themselves all over the radio waves. Indeed these are three eternal George Michael pop songs.

[RELATED: The Story and Meaning Behind “Everything She Wants” by Wham! and How It Served as a Springboard for George Michael’s Solo Career]

“Faith” from Faith (1987)

Outside of Elvis, there may not be a song more famous for swinging hips. Michael, who is clearly a very handsome man, took advantage of this for his several iconic music videos (another of which we will discuss below). And in the video for this 1987 song, Michael swung his hips while playing a rhythmic acoustic guitar, draped in denim and leather. But outside any visual qualities, the song, raspy voice and all, was one that dug quickly into your soul and stuck there with pop song hooks. On it, Michael sings,

Well, I guess it would be nice if I could touch your body

I know not everybody has got a body like you

But I gotta think twice before I give my heart away

And I know all the games you play because I played them too

Oh, but I need some time off from that emotion

Time to pick my heart up off the floor

Oh, when that love comes down without devotion

Well it takes a strong man, baby

But I’m showin’ you the door

‘Cause I gotta’ have faith

I gotta have faith

Because I gotta have faith, faith, faith

I got to have faith, faith, faith

“Freedom! 90” from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990)

Speaking of beautiful people, the music video for this song in many ways invented the super model. Of course, models existed, but they had rarely if ever been turned into celebrities before. But thanks to video visionary and future standout film director David Fincher, Michael’s music video for “Freedom! 90” created a whole new paradigm. The song itself bridges percussive drums sampled from James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” with a catchy piano riff that swirls around your eardrums, climaxing with an undeniable chorus. On the song, which you could play over and over especially in these bright summer months, Michael sings,

I won’t let you down

I will not give you up

Gotta have some faith in the sound

It’s the one good thing that I’ve got

I won’t let you down

So please don’t give me up

Because I would really, really love to stick around

Oh, yeah

Heaven knows I was just a young boy

Didn’t know what I wanted to be (Didn’t know what I wanted to be)

I was every little hungry schoolgirl’s pride and joy

And I guess it was enough for me (And I guess it was enough for me)

“Careless Whisper” from Make It Big (1984)

This song features perhaps the most memorable saxophone solo in history, leading to this funny YouTube video. Played by Steve Gregory, the sax line is somehow as famous or maybe even more so than the song itself. That aside, however, “Careless Whisper” was originally from the group Wham!, from which Michael rose to fame, but it also marked his leap into his solo career. It was the bridge that took him to personal stardom. A breathy love song, Michael sings,

I feel so unsure

As I take your hand

And lead you to the dance floor

As the music dies

Something in your eyes

Calls to mind a silver screen

And all its sad goodbyes

I’m never gonna dance again

Guilty feet have got no rhythm

Though it’s easy to pretend

I know you’re not a fool

I should’ve known better than to cheat a friend

And waste the chance that I’d been given

So I’m never gonna dance again

The way I danced with you

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