George Michael Is Dead

George Michael is Dead.

I won't pretend I am shocked.I loved what George Michael stood for.He came across as anti hero yet was a hero.I never liked popcorn music of Wham although they penetrated every summer party for years in the 80sThen when he revealed his real talent through his solo writings I wondered who would sit and listen to his never ending revealing actions through his words?His words revealed more than his music yet once his words were set to music they only expanded with emotion and drove the outpouring deeper into the heart of any listener willing to listen.His fame also revealed the nature of a creative. Once again loved by the manipulating media, hated by the same, loved by the same and hated and despised by the non achieving desk worker that despised the give and take glory of the famous at will.The media hated him and treated him like any other throw away commodity. They loved his stories of human failings only to measure his failings against their own self perceived perfection despite the reality revealing more than they could ever admit.The media love the new fame but if you last too long they turn on you like a starving pack animal thirsting for blood. They love the fame yet they love the death even more. The death of the famous is always the ultimate and best hoped for climax to any public figure. Hated in life, loved in death. It's the perfect story. It's the perfect ending.Fame is such an unnatural way for any man yet how can anyone one of any brilliance fail to be famous in a world devoid of true fulfilment that always looks for the next god like one to appear?How could a man like George Michael ever be at true peace? The escapist pursuit through drug use, sexual pleasures and an evident self destruct that appeared to feed a narrative of guilt.Religion was something he sang about, spoke about and wrote about.

Maybe his conflict with god and self was a conflict never to be resolved?

Either way I am grateful for his legacy. He leaves the most incredible music that is woven together with words that continually and easily bring tears to me eyes time and time again. The song 'one more try' where he sings he is looking out for angels and looking out for peace maybe tells his story in a single line.How can a man so estranged from a society that is so estranged from true humanity itself ever be fully accepted?For me.His writing was nothing short of musical genius.His attitude as the anti hero musician was heroic.He was a craftsman of thought into words.

Yet the reality is we make Gods of humans when no human can ever be a God.

Maybe the reality is that is a burden far to great for any mortal man to bear in a world where even man made machines non claim godly status.George Michael you were a genius in the most imperfect and very human sense.You will be missed.There will be tears for the man.Your legacy will stand.RIP63-16 AFS