Another 80s star in jail (yawn)

Back in the 80s, when I was suffering through the grating but necessary initiation we call "journalism school" at the University of Florida, I worked the cops and courts beat for a short time for the student newspaper. Who knew that'd be such good training for this blog. Yeah, another 80s celeb has been thrown in the pokey again. Who's it this time? Boy George again? Nah, too obvious. Madonna for beating up Guy Ritchie? No, just wishful thinking. Styx for criminal impersonation of a musical act, forcing them to take back Dennis DeYoung? No, no, no.

No, this time, it's our old buddy George Michael. The Brit singer was found slumped over unconscious in his car in a London park Sunday morning, according to media reports from the U.K. He was arrested for suspicion of possession of marijuana and liquid Ecstasy and booked under his real name, Georgios Kyriacos Panayitou. (Gaylord Focker has nothing on Georgios.)

In a statement to the media Monday, Michael said the arrest was "my own stupid fault, as usual." He didn't deny the charges or begrudge the arrest. "I was in possession of class C drugs, which is an offense, and I have no complaints about the police who were professional throughout."

Michael, 42, is semi-retired from music these days (in the same way I'm semi-retired from my pursuit of becoming an Olympics pole-vaulter). But he still finds his way into the tabloids from time to time. Eight years ago, he was arrested in L.A. for "gross indecency" in a public toilet. Despite his recent attachment to a more private life, Michael remains one of Britain's wealthiest pop stars. (Good, he may need the money for lawyers.)

A little G.M. trivia

While we ponder the future of our razor-challenged popster, how about some trivia on his career? Good luck with these gems.
Question 1: George Michael penned his first song at age 17. Can you name it?
Question 2: What's ironic about the title of his second album, "Listen Without Prejudice"?
Question 3: He doesn't appear in the video for his tune "Freedom 90" -- who does?
Question 4: Which two cover songs sung by George Michael were worldwide hits after their release? (Hint: both were live performances.)

Comments

[Skippy]

Question 3: He doesn't appear in the video for his tune "Freedom 90" -- who does?A: Lots and lots of supermodels. mmmmm...Cindy Crawford in the tub....arrrggghhh

[mellohush]

Recovering GM addict here.1) "Careless Whisper" -- too easy!2) Hmm, the irony with "Listen Without Prejudice"... He wants to shed the insanely successful, leather-jacket-wearing "Faith" and "I Want Your Sex" image. Wants to be more serious, rather than pop-sexy. But the public still wants a peek of his bum in those tight jeans and depressed with new songs such "Praying for Time," so they diss George Michael and the album kind of flops, despite being freaking brilliant. I dunno.3) Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, some random hot guy who doesn't hold a candle to Georgie.4) "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (yum). The second one is tough: I'm thinking "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," "Somebody to Love" with Queen, and "I Can't Make You Love Me."

[80sfan]

What's with the "semi-retired" comment? GM released a new CD last year. Granted nothing could live up to Faith but it was new material nonetheless. And maybe someone can explain the recent download popularity of Father Figure all of a sudden. I was suffering through iTunes last night and noticed that it was #56 of the day's popular downloads.

[Anonymous]

Answer for 80s fan:Last week on American Idol, one of the contestants sang Father Figure, so all the little girlies are probably downloading it

[Six]

The problem with having the kind of money GM has is - it isolates you from everyone and everything that used to inspire you... if you let it, and it certainly sounds like GM is letting that happen. It sounds like he's terribly depressed and obviously has turned to drugs to give him the satisfaction he doesn't get from his career/personal life. He has so much money, that you can't tell him anything, like, "Dude, you're sick and you need help!" (sounds like another celeb by the name of Michael, doesn't it?). He needs to get over himself though, because even David Bowie had a few albums that didn't go anywhere, in fact, a lot of big artists have had that happen to them (The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, to name a few). Who is he, he can't have a few flops? If music history has taught us anything, it's that everything comes around again. Fads die out, new ones roll in, people get played out, then suddenly, they're back in the limelight again - bigger and better than ever.Here's what I'd say if I knew George Michael: "You need to end the pity party, GM, and get your act together (pun intended). You're way too talented to be wasting your life away like this." Then, I'd probably kick his ass and drive him to a rehab center.

[Joe Mayo]

Like him or not -- it's undeniable that George Michael's Unplugged album received the absolute least credit during MTV's series, and probably deserved some of the most. Grunge bands remain today the staple of that phase of music television, and it's sort of sad. Not that STP, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, etc. didn't do an amazing job -- but it's a shame that those groups' popularity shadowed other, slightly more gifted, acts (Maxwell, George Michael - to name a few). George Michael is a dude who likes to party - his only mistake is that he has an uncanny ability to get caught! So the guy took E -- look out! It's better than being a heroin junkie like some of his former unplugged competitors, whose names need not be mentioned.

[Mirrorball Man]

I've always liked GM with Wham! or solo.Gay or straight(who cares really?).The problem with George as it was said is his uncanny abbility to get caught?!?So they found E in his car,while we all know drugs can only bring problems instead of get you out of them, I can think of alot of worse things that were done by many other celeberties. With all the money he has you'd think he'd have someone looking out for him. It amazes me that he was by himself. No Kenny,no body guard,no friend, no escort.Nothing.Its obvious GM is unhappy with his life professionally and/or personally.I hope he has people around him who love him enough to help him through this.GMs problem with his professional life is he insists on being taken as a serious artist at all times and not all "serious" artists got their credibility overnight. It took him practically 8 years to put out Patience. It is a great album but not as accessible as his previous ones.He needs to lighten up a bit and just do what he does best and thats make music,forget this semi retirement business.BTW the UK version of Patience includes "shoot The Dog" with samples from ABC and Human League which was not relased on the US version because of its commentary about Pres. Bush. That and I think the 2 other track are left out of the US version which I think is a shame because I would not have bought the CD without those tracks.Speaking of cover songs that GM did, if you can find them check out his version of I cant Make You Love Me (If You Dont)originally done by Bonnie Raitt. That and his version of the BeeGees Jive Talking, both are sweet.MM

[Steve Spears]

The answer to #2: The irony of Listen without Prejudice is that it was also listed as "Vol. 1". There was never (to date) a Vol. 2.

[Mirrorball Man]

I think youre reading too much into it, its just the title of the album. I don't think he intended for there ever to be a Volume 2.MM

[Steve Spears]

Sorta like Mel Brooks' History of the World, Part 1? Actually, I didn't write that particular question. I snagged it off a G.M. fan site. I'll admit that my 80s oriented life doesn't make much room for Mr. Michael.