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Thu 24 Apr
1997
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excerpts
from the chat with George, which was broadcasted by London's
Capital FM Radio as a part of US Pepsi Charts.
"The
Pepsi Chart with George Michael live from Los Angeles..."
George Michael:
Over
here in America it's really exciting, and this generation of
Americans does seem really excited about English bands, backs
the right horse, and actually backs things that are really
creative and things that only, you know,... as a society
different kinds of music ... and different race music, and I
really think we got (...) and I hope to God that the record
industry understands that Americans want their chests with no
hair on them basically.
The Spice Girls are a phenomenon. I love the Spice Girls, I have
to say, much as I thought I never would ... [channel cut out]
...a phenomenon and I really hope they get sidetracked by that,
because they really are a one-off, they really are a one-off.
Because America is buying Boyzone, it doesn't mean it's gonna
buy any number of things hat are successful in England. Really,
what America is listening to for us is the ... [very hard to
transcribe - help!]
DJ: Well, George Michael is back on the line from Los
Angeles. So George, Star People number 17 this week on airplay,
which is pretty good, and of course, released tomorrow, and here
we are talking about another single you're involved with. I know
it has been played before but obviously this is the edited,
final cut-down version. It's strange to have two singles out at
the same time, isn't it?
George Michael:
Under
different circumstances it's something that wouldn't happen, but,
I mean, I didn't know that what happened to my mother was going
to happen at this stage, so it's really a coincidence, and by
that strange coincidence I have two records on the radio within
a couple of weeks, yeah.
DJ: Now, this is all part of you getting involved with
you launching your own record label. So what's that about?
George Michael:
It's
really about trying to have a corner in the industry where
artists know where they come if they want to kind of, you know,
respect any freedom to do what they...it's really about 50-50,
it's I'm having to do our best work, and them having to do their
best work, and being free to leave if that doesn't happen. The
success of the label will really depend on my decisions, on my
choices, so if I think they've got the talent to do this. So if
I fail miserably, it will all be down to me, and I realise that.
DJ:So tell us about Toby Bourke...
George Michael:
Well,
he's a perfect example of what I mean. He has the kind of voice
that's everything that mine isn't, you know, it's kind of ... [raw
?] and very kind of spontaneous, and I just love it, so that's
the sort of thing I'd like to help.
DJ: Well, I think it's time we played it, so if you'd
like to introduce this song, and tell what it means for you.
George Michael:
Yeah,
I'd love to. It's a song written by Toby Bourke, with a couple
of additional verses written by me. What I would like to say is,
if you listen to the record in the context of Toby's parts being
my father, and my parts being me, then, you'll guess what the
record is about. I'd just like to say that I hope it helps my
father, and anyone else who's lost anybody recently that's
having a bit of trouble believing that they're still there for
them, you know.
DJ: Okay. Thanks a lot for talking to us, George.
George Michael:
Allright,
thanks to everybody again, and I really, just hope they like the
record, because I'm really proud of it, and I know Toby's proud
of it, and I'm proud of him. |
