» George Michael Interview «
Capital FM, Leicester SQ, London WC2, 21st December 1999, 1800 - 1940 hours

Interviewer: Neil Fox, AKA Dr Fox/Foxy
Interviewee: George Michael
NF = Neil Fox     GM = George Michael     CF = Caroline Feraday


['Fastlove' playing in the background]
NF: George Michael, Merry Christmas! Welcome to Capital.
GM: Merry Christmas, Foxy!  How you doing?
NF: Well, fantastic and... um... what a thrill to have you finally here in person, not on a telephone or recorded message. [George laughs] It's really lovely to have you in.
GM: Finally got in here!
NF: Yeah, you're finally in! Oh, boy! We're going to get you to do some stuff now you're in here!
GM: I'm trapped, trapped!
NF: But, anyway, you're looking... um... healthy, and well, and tanned, and annoyingly fit, and cool as ever!
GM: Thank you, thank you!
NF: That's quite a... I think that was a really good compliment! I didn't know it was. You're looking very good. So, we just want to play some music, have a chat about this and that. The album 'Ladies and Gentlemen' has now sold a million. Congratulations on that!
GM: Thanks.
NF: It's not bad, is it?
GM: It's not bad at all, is it, for, what, I think, four/five weeks it's been out. I'm thrilled!

[Prolonged playing of 'Fastlove']
NF: So, eight solo number ones, George Michael, and also a further ten top tens. Number one albums back to back. It's ... it's been an amazing career! But they always say that twelve months is a long time in pop music, and for you this must have been one of the longest ever, I would have thought.
GM: Er... I guess so, in terms of pop music. It certainly hasn't... I mean, it's been a lot more fun than many years I've known recently. So it hasn't actually gone... gone slowly. It's kind of whizzed by! But... um.... yeah, I guess, twelve... twelve months could have been a very long year this year.
NF: Yeah, it could have been. And... and, are you... I presume you must be happy to be back in London again, after... er... having been away in L.A. for a bit.
GM: Oh, yeah! I'm... absolutely... pfff... I can't... I mean, put it this way - I... the... um... I just finished my community service over there, and initially, I guess, I would have been able to do it over the course of about three months. Um but the judge, having seen the video [laughs] that I made recently, and not taken very kindly to it... um... made sure that I couldn't get an extension. Which, actually, did me a favour, because it meant I had to do everything... um... before Christmas. So now it's all done, I'm home, I'm a free man, and I'm really going to enjoy my Christmas... so...
NF: So, you're back in London. 'Cause I know you... you do love London. This is... this is your home, isn't it, although, obviously, you do have a home in L.A.
GM: Oh, yeah, yeah! People... people assume because, you know, the press write about the other places that I'm lucky enough to have homes...
NF: Sure...
GM: ...but this is my home, very definitely. I spend most of my time here, I could never leave Lon... um... I don't think I could ever really even leave London, but, definitely, I could never leave England!
NF: Really! Is it very different over here that the way, say, I mean, our press over here are pretty bad sometimes, let's be honest, but what are they like in America? Have they dealt... have you been fair over here or over there.  Where do you think's been...
GM: Um... well, no... to be honest, the... the difference is that the kind... the kind of rubbish that we... um... [Concert version of 'Outside' begins playing in the background.] ...buy in newspapers over here, they stick it on TV over there. They have, like, more tabloid television, which is almost worse, really...
NF: Right... um, you tend to believe the TV more, sometimes, don't you?
GM: Um...
NF: ...So they have... that's why they... it's easy fodder, isn't it?
GM: Well, I think it's all becoming very similar, isn't it? It's all, you know, the... the TV and radio seem to have picked up on the whole tabloid way of dealing with things, so I think people are becoming healthily suspicious of most of what they read or watch, actually, in certain, kind of, sensational areas. Um... but, yeah, I suppose... and, at least everybody knows exactly what The Sun is...
NF: Yeah...
GM: ...whereas, with TV shows you're never quite sure, you know.
NF: Sure. OK.
GM: So, I think I'd prefer it the way it is here, to be honest.
NF: Well, now, this we're playing here, and, I have to say, well, the Parkinson interview, I thought was just a... a roaring success for you. I mean, you looked Mr. Confident when you came on, and you cracked the gag to start with. I don't know whether that was in your mind - I've got to do a bit of an ice-breaker here, and get this off my chest and get it out in the open.
GM: Er... yeah, I guess so, I guess so. I mean, I was... I was nervous, but not too nervous, because we had met before, and, er, he seemed a very... um... pleasant man. So... and he was, very. I mean... and I thought he handled the interview really well. Um... I was nervous as hell because it was live, and I haven't done anything on live TV, or even on English TV, I don't think I'd done anything for about eleven years...
NF: Right...
GM: ...so, I guess it had to go well, and I was... I was pleased, I thought it... it went really... really well. It was kind of conversational.
NF: 'Cause the reaction from it was really good for you. I mean, everyone said - Blimey! George Michael. What a funny guy! What a... - you know, how personable you seemed and how well you came across. Now, you laughed at the whole thing, really, which was probably the only thing you could probably do with it.
GM: Well, yeah. And... and also, to be... to be perfectly honest, you know, I... er... in a way, part of... um... what's happened this year has been positive, just in the sense that I kind of lightened up about... about the press and... and have been forced to lighten up about certain things, you know. Which is not bad, because it's, kind of, let people get to know me a little bit better...
NF: Yuh...
GM: ...which, I suppose, I... whilst I was hiding... um... my private life, or, at least, guarding my private life... um... I didn't realise what else it was making me guarded about. So, I guess, I'm just more relaxed at the moment.
NF: Yeah, that's it. You just seem a lot more chilled out about everything, really...
GM: Yeah...
NF: ...which is, in a way, it may have done you the biggest favour ever.
GM: Well, to be honest... um... as I've said before, you know, the... the biggest reason for my change in attitude is... is just... um... I've been through some really heavy stuff personally, and it's made me realise life is too short to ... to not ... not lighten up, really.
NF: Sure...
GM: You know, I've just been having a better time in... er... in the last year, simply because I'm... I'm over some of the worst of it, and... and, really, it's, kind of, almost as though, you know... the way things have turned out, it's almost been - even though it was a humiliating, horrible experience - it's been a positive year.
NF: Sure has.
GM: So... um... I... I mean, I like to think maybe my Mum's got something to do with that.
NF: Sure...
GM: You know, she, kind of, got rid of a few cobwebs for me.

[Prolonged playing of 'Outside']
NF: If you've just joined us, this is Foxy and it's Drivetime at the world-famous 95.8 Capital FM. George Michael... er... special guest and it's twelve minutes after six now. In a way, I... I think so much has been said about... er... that small incident, but there's one e-mail. I don't know if you want to read that one out, 'cause I know you were laughing about it earlier on [George laughs]. It'd just, kind of, knock the whole thing on the head, really, wouldn't it?
GM: Yeah, I must... I must, I mean even though I am perfectly ready to stop talking about this [laughs], I really am...
NF: [laughing] It's quite funny...
GM: There... there is something here I really like. It's... er... it's part of a fax from somebody called Nancy Godinho. And she says, amongst other things (she's got a couple of questions for me) and the second... um.... paragraph says - The other thing I wanted to ask was: How do you feel about the fact that, instead of admiring all the great things you have done, the press seem focused on one, little, insignificant thing! [they laugh]. It's like, who's she been talking to?
NF: Yeah, I know. It's the magnifying glass one, isn't it? It's that one again, George, let's be honest!
GM: [laughing] Oh, well! No, I think... I don't think I should take that too seriously.
NF: That's the lovely thing about e-mail and fax, obviously, people can... er... have access. I mean, here's one - Please can you ask... (this comes from... er... tom.bates@virgin.net - Hello, Tom!... er... from Ilford) - Please could you ask George what his parents thought when he first told them that he wanted to go into showbiz!
GM: Er... they were horrified, basically.
NF: Really?
GM: Yeah. My... my... the first time I ever stood up to my parents in any way was when they wanted to send me... er... they wanted to send me to private school, 'cause I went to a comprehensive, and... um... my father had, basically, saved... saved enough money for me to go to private school, and... um... I had no intention of going to private school, 'cause I knew I didn't want to go to a university.
NF: Right...
GM: And that was when I was, like, about twelve, I guess. And I refused point blank to take the entrance exam to a very posh school called... er... Haberdashers.
NF: Right...
GM: Um... and... um... I think once they... once they realised that I really didn't want to go to university, and that I was dead serious about being a musician, I think... er... all their hopes for my academic future crumbled. You know. So, it was pretty tough at the beginning. They weren't happy.
NF: Well, what age did you get... er... your first musical instrument?
GM: [mimicking 'train-spotter' type voice] Er... I was eleven, Foxy...
NF: [also mimicking same voice] Yeah...
GM: And I had a ukulele.
NF: [laughs] And were you good on the ukulele?
GM: I was... the best!
NF: [back to normal voice] Lovely!
GM: [back to normal voice] I was amazing! My sister put her elbow through it!
NF: Nice!
GM: That was the end of my ukulele career!
NF: Really?  So, it... I mean, I'm just trying to think, you know.  Did you think when you were a real little kid - I want to be a singer!
GM: Um... I... I... I wanted to be a pop star.
NF: Right...
GM: I wasn't sure what I was going to be. I started out playing the drums... um... and then, I think I gathered somewhere along the way that drummers ended up sitting at the back the whole time...
NF: Yeah...
GM: And... er...
NF: And you wanted to be in the front... And you wanted the glory.
GM: And I wanted the glory... Yeah, definitely. I definitely wanted the glory big-time. So, the... apart from the fact that my parents refused to buy me... er... an... a full-scale drum-kit, because obviously they knew what would ensue [Foxy laughs] ...um... yeah, I just decided... I think probably by the time I was about sixteen I decided I wanted to be a singer. But all I knew before then was I wanted to write music and... and be successful with it, you know.
NF: OK.

[complete playing of 'Too Funky']
NF: Right, George Michael, 'Too Funky'. This is Foxy and it's Drivetime at 95.8 Capital FM.  By the way, we'd... er... like to do some phone calls... er... live with George. You're up for that, aren't you, after seven o'clock, or so?
GM: I'm very up for that, yeah.
NF: Ready to take anyone on?
GM: Absolutely, anyone...
NF: Take 'em on the chin? [George laughs[]) Pardon the expression!
GM: Absolutely anybody!
NF: Hang on! 0171 4848 958. Give us a bell, and... er... have a chat with George after seven o'clock. If you' re a fan, what a great chance this is! So, now, when you go, and as you look towards 1999 now, as we're nearly there. I mean, what do you want to achieve in '99. Because... musical goals, probably, you've pretty much achieved now, I would have thought.
GM: Um... yeah. I mean, I... I... to be honest, for the first time in years I'm going to try and... er... do a bit of relaxing, you know. Actually try and... take a little bit of time off.
NF: George, are you sure... you OK?
GM: Well, I don't know, I'm going to try.
NF: OK.
GM: I'm going to try, and... but, apart from that I've got nothing really that I... I... you know what, the one thing is quite tempting is to try and write something for... I'd like to... to try and write something to be the number one over the year 2000. That would be great!
NF: Isn't every one going to try and do that?
GM: Yeah, everyone's going to try...
NF: That's the big Millennium song!
GM: Yeah, but they won't all have a whole year to get it together [both laugh].
NF: That's all you're going to do? You've got twelve months - This is my goal!
GM: I think so!
NF: Oh, crikey!
GM: [laughing] If I come up with something really lousy for that then you know I've really hit a brick wall!
NF: [laughing] Yeah, you know you've had a bad 1999!
GM: I'd have had... I'd have had bugger all to do all the rest of the year!
NF: Someone sent in an e-mail, and they said that you seem so good now, you know, the music's so good, is there... is there anything that you haven't done yet?  Your videos, you obviously seem to like to act and what have you, and... um... Ever... ever thought of doing that?
GM: Er...
NF: A nice movie role?
GM: To be really honest, there are two reasons I don't think it's... it's likely. One, is that I still have such a phobia about cameras that I can't really imagine... [laughing] ...I don't really think...
NF: You have a phobia? Really?
GM: I don't... and I don't think the director would... um... would be... take... any director would take too kindly from... from... you know, to filming me from one angle for... [laughing] ...for an hour and a half. It's... er...
NF: Which angle do you hate?
GM: Er... Oh, I hate most of them.
NF: Really?
GM: I like the one that you normally see everywhere! [laughs]
NF: [laughing] Right, OK.
GM: That's the one that I can bear! Um... And the other reason is... um... just, it's such a cliché! So many people in my position have done it badly, you know.
NF: Sure...
GM: And I'm not really interested in being just, kind of, good enough. I'm... I'm interested in doing something and... and being special in that field. So I can't... can't really see it. I'm very tempted, because I'm, you know, a born show-off, so... um... And... and it was the only other thing I could do at school, was act. But... um... no, I think unless... I think if I do it, it'll be a long way... long... long way down the road.
NF: Right, OK...
GM: And I can't see it!
NF: All right. Well, look! Um... If you're a George fan, why don't you give us a call now: 0171 4848 958. We've got an absolute gem coming up! George Michael from... er... 'Ladies and Gentlemen: The Best of...' with Mary J. Blige, which comes out next year. Must check up on the traffic first! Six-twenty now!

[Traffic news given by Caroline Feraday of the Flying Eye - then Complete playing of 'As']
NF: George Michael and Mary J. Blige. Old Stevie Wonder song. That is beautiful, isn't it? That will be coming out next year sometime?
GM: Yeah, that's going to be the next single. I'm just... um... I'll be going into the studio and trying to rework it... um... But I'm not sure whether that'll be the seven inch... that'll be the, you know, version that goes with the video or not.
NF: Right...
GM: I've some great ideas for the video, so I'm going to...
NF: See now, how do you end up, for example, choosing Mary J. Blige? How does that happen?
GM: Well, it's not a matter of choosing. She's got the most amazing voice, and... and there are very few people that I... that I really think - I've really got to work with this person! - you know.
NF: Right...
GM: Um... and she was one of them. Er... I think she's an amazing singer, she's underrated... well, not underrated, but under-recognised over here, I think. Um... does a lot better in the States! But she just has an incredible voice! ['Fantasy' begins playing in the background] She reminds me of Aretha, you know.
NF: Who else would you like to work with?
GM: Um... My only... at the moment, the person I'm desperate to work with, but I don't know... er... they said that obviously she's really busy - she's just had a baby - that's Lauryn Hill.
NF: Oh, I thought you were going to say Billie! No!
GM: [laughing] No, no! I don't think so! Not yet! Not yet! I don't want be... I don't want to dismiss the poor girl, but... but not yet!
NF: [laughing] All right...
GM: Um... And... anyway, it's illegal, isn't it? Er... But... um... No, I'd really love to work with Lauryn Hill, so... er... they said it was 'cause she couldn't... she was having a baby, and she couldn't do anything right now. So, I'll get back onto them later in the year and see if they were... agreeable.
NF: Now, she also has a brilliant voice, though.
GM: She's... she's... I think she's going to be the biggest... um... definitely, the biggest R&B star of the next ten years.
NF: Really?
GM: Yeah! I do, yeah! It's just that people are a little slower catching on to her here, 'cause she's based in hip-hop.
NF: But the whole Fugees project was... was incredibly good. I mean, three very talented people working together there.
GM: Yeah, I'm not... I'm not... that mad about some of the other stuff that the other two of them have done, but... but she... I mean, the... her... her solo album, I think, is the best soul album that I've heard in many years.
NF: Really?
GM: So, I'm... I'd really love to work with her.
NF: OK.  Well, this is another track from the... the one For the Feet on the double-album, which... which has now sold a million, actually, and I think that's... that's something of a record: a double-album. It's the fastest double-album that's ever sold ever.
GM: That's what I hear!
NF: At five weeks, a million. That's staggering, isn't it, really?
GM: It is quite... it's quite staggering!
NF: Has it blown you away, I mean, literally?
GM: It's... it's the best Christmas present I could have. I mean, you know, I mean, I'm... I... I just, you know, it's... it's... I can't tell people... I can't thank people enough, basically, for their support this year. It's been absolutely incredible!
NF: What I find is amazing, that people... people do really love you, and they love your music. And I don't know whether it's... I think it's a... I don't know whether it's just a London thing, I think it's a British thing actually, that really, deep down, although newspapers feed us a load of drivel about people's private lives, I really don't think people care a monkey's.
GM: I don't think they... I don't think they really care, and I... I think that people... um... you know, I think a lot of these songs have become part of people's lives, just because I haven't... maybe because... er... there's been... there's been no real break in my output. Even though I had the court case, there were still things coming out ...
NF: Sure...
GM: You know, like Elton, Sting and... um... and I think because I've been, kind of, there through the last fifteen/sixteen years, I've become really part of people's nostalgia.
NF: Yeah, sure.
GM: So, I think people have a... have affection for the... for the pleasure that I've given them, hopefully, and... and that shows itself in... in... in terms of the way they... they deal with me, which is great.  I'm really, you know, I'm... I love London, I love... um... the fact that I have such a close connection with London, I love the fact that it seems to be my strongest... um... support, you know.
NF: Sure.  I mean, it's amazing looking at the... the... um... the votes coming in for the Hall of Fame, and how many people still vote for 'Careless Whisper'. I mean, it's... it's unbelievable.
GM: Mmm... I'm just... it's always a thrill, you know, it's always a thrill...
NF: Yeah, sure...
GM: ...to see it up there.
NF: It's amazing. Well, look! Here's a little bit more of 'Fantasy'. Is it ever going to come out as a single, this?
GM: Er... I doubt it, no.
NF: OK.
GM: But it was a nice one to put on the album.
NF: Good fun!

[Prolonged playing of 'Fantasy']
NF: Right.  George Michael's our guest on Drivetime. This is 95.8 Capital FM. It's half-past six. Now... er... George, it's a bit of a task for you - we want to play three of your favourite songs, and then we can have... er... a glass of vino in-between those.
GM: All right.
NF: So... er... and line up some phone calls. 4848 958 - that number, if you're a George fan, you want to ask him a burning question. Whatever you fancy.
GM: Or even... even if they're not burning questions! [laughs]
NF: Oh, really. You... you're game on tonight, aren't you? You're game on. This is the new George Michael - fresh and funky for '99! Er... three favourite songs in the Hall of Fame! Something Christmassy. Favourite Christmas song.
GM: Er, favourite Christmas song... um... erm... that... that guy... Greg Lake, Greg Lake. The one...
NF: 'I Believe in Father Christmas'?
GM: Yeah, 'I Believe in Father Christmas'. I love that. It always reminds me, for some reason, of being on the... on the school bus.
NF: Lovely! OK. One for the school bus! And then... er... favourite all-time song. That's a tough one!
GM: Favourite all-time... you'll have to come back for me... to me for that in a minute, I think.
NF: OK. And... er... do you have a favourite hit of 1998?
GM: Er... of '98, I would say, probably... de bru bru... [sort of a thinking noise] ...Lauryn Hill - 'Doo Wop'.
NF: OK.
GM: I think!
NF: Those three songs coming up on a Hall of Fame.

[Capital FM/Dr. Fox jingle begins]
NF: It's Drivetime. This is Capital FM, London. Feel free to sing, George, if you want!
GM: Er... not right now!
NF: OK. [Jingle ends] Well, now! Here's a tough one. Erm... crikey! ['Spinning the Wheel' begins playing in the background] Ask one of the biggest stars in the world - What's your favourite all-time song? - and... pfff...
GM: I think...
NF: It must be thinking three minutes now. It's still tough, isn't it?
GM: I think... um... you're talking about all-time favourite song, not of mine, right?  Of someone else's.
NF: Yeah, not of yours, yeah.
GM: Yeah, I guess it would probably have to be... er... it's a close call between: Aretha Franklin - 'Say a Little Prayer'
NF: Or?
GM: And... Elton - 'Someone Saved my Life Tonight'. I would say. Those two.
NF: OK.
GM: So...
NF: Which one's it going to be, George?
GM: Oh!...
NF: Come on!
GM: Ooohhh.... I'll go for Elton, just 'cause he's a mate, you know!
NF: OK, there you go!  Is Aretha Franklin not a mate?  Brilliant duet, it was.
GM: Oh, she is! Yeah, she is!
NF: But not as much so...
GM: It's just... it's just she can't... she doesn't listen to Capital, so I wouldn't have to explain it to her (they laugh).
NF: Oh, I see! " He's off my Christmas card list!! "  There you go!
GM: There you go!
NF: Right!  So here we go.  These... this is the Hall of Fame. ['I Believe in Father Christmas' begins playing in the background] Christmas song, which was... er... Greg Lake - 'I Believe in San... in Father Christmas'...
GM: ...in Father Christmas...
NF: ...which is lovely. And a bit of Lauryn Hill. Then we'll finish off with Elton John. Lovely!
GM: OK.
NF: So this is school bus, is it?  What sort of year would this be?
GM: School bus, that I would have been, like, eleven.
NF: OK.
GM: Yeah. Miserable school... school morning. I just remember somehow listening to this on the school bus on the way.

[prolonged playing of 'I Believe in Father Christmas']
[complete playing of 'Doo Wop']
[complete playing of 'Someone Saved my Life Tonight']
NF: This is George Michael's Hall of Fame. If you've just joined us, this is Foxy on Drivetime, 95.8 Capital FM, and it's thirteen to seven.  George, our special guest, wants to take some calls after seven: 0171 4848 958.  Nice song, eh?  What kind of memories does that bring back?
GM: Er... funnily enough, you know the memory that brings back most strongly is... er... again, the... the... um... Capital Hit Line in the'70s.
NF: ...right...
GM: This was in the big race...
NF: Roger Scott.
GM: Yeah... the big race was between this and... er... 'Bohemian Rhapsody', I think it was.
NF: Right...
GM: Um... it was either that or another Queen song. But there were... I... I was such a big Queen fan and a big Elton John fan that I didn't... I never used to know which one of the two to vote for. So I'd vote for them alternately [both laugh].
NF: What? Come home from school and phone out every night.
GM: Absolutely, yeah.
NF: OK.  They... they ran that between five and half-past, didn't they?
GM: Yeah. Yeah, I think so, yeah.
NF: I remember coming home from school just for that. Absolutely! Have you always listened to Capital, ever since you were a kid?
GM: Well, I mean, it wasn't... I... I was... when did it start? When did Capital start?
NF: '73.
GM: '73. So, I was ten. Yeah, I would have listened to it from day one, you know!
NF: Wow!
GM: Here I am!
NF: And here he is, still here! So the next song we're going to play, actually, is... um... the... 'You Have Been Loved', which is ever such a lovely song! And... er... I remember when... er... you were talking at the Help A London Child lunch that, you know...
GM: Uh-huh.
NF: And you were... oh, my goodness! That was such an emotional thing you were... when... when your mum had passed away, and you were talking about, you know, how she used to keep in touch with what you were doing by listening to us...
GM: To Capital.
NF: 'Cause we'd play your songs and what have you.
GM: Yeah. My... my mum used to listen to Capital constantly. Absolutely constantly.
NF: Wow!
GM: My mum was actually, when... when the first Wham! records came out, she used to call up the Hit Line and do different voices, you know.
NF: Really?
GM: [laughing] She'd... and she'd call... she'd call up again and again. You know you're only allowed to vote once [Foxy laughs], and when the Hit Line was still going when we started. So she used to call and do different voices.
NF: [laughing] What? Your mum?
GM: [laughing] Yeah, my mum used to do that. Yeah [Foxy continues laughing in the background]. And she'd get all her friends to do the same thing, so... A little... a little helping hand like that.
NF: A little bit of loyalty here and there...
GM: Absolutely!
NF: Never goes astray!

[Traffic news given by Caroline Feraday of the Flying Eye]
NF: What's your favourite George Michael song, Caroline?
Caroline: What's my favourite George Michael song? Freedom!
NF: Why?
Caroline: I don't know! I just love it. It's a real feel good... it makes you feel good!
NF: OK!
Caroline: Is that all right?
NF: That'll ... that'll do for me, thank you very much indeed!
Caroline: Good! [in cockney accent] Is that all right with you, George? ['Father figure' begins playing in the background]
GM: That's fine with me!  This is one that doesn't ... won't make you feel quite as up!
Caroline: OK.
NF: We're... we're going to play... er... yeah, 'You Have Been Loved' in just a minute.
Caroline: Lovely!
NF: All right, Caz. You have a good night and we'll see you tomorrow.
Caroline: Cheers.
GM: Excuse me!
Caroline: Yeah?
GM: What's the traffic like over Regent's Park?
Caroline: Nightmare! [all laugh]) Busy, busy, busy!
GM: OK.
NF: You'll... you'll have to go up through Camden high-street on the way home, George.
GM: OK, OK.
Caroline: All right, then.
NF: And Belsize Park. And you'll be all right that way. Lovely! So we like to be of service, Caz, don't we? That's nice.
Caroline: Yeah, pleasure!
NF: All right. See you tomorrow. Ah! There's an interesting e-mail just come in here. It's nice, of course, the thing with e... with... er... internet is that people around the world are listening right now.
GM: Uh-huh.
NF: And I know we've had so many over the... since we announced it on Friday that you're going to come in. So, here's one from Dallas. And it says... er... - "How do you feel about the fact that... er... in America your music is not as recognised it is... as it is in the UK. They're not as fanatic about your music." So this guy sits at work and he tunes into Capital.
GM: Is it from Dallas? You said it's from Dallas?
NF: Yeah!
GM: [laughing] Are you sure it's not my boyfriend? 'Cause he comes from Dallas.
NF: If he's called Betrand...
GM: No, no it's not that...
NF: No, no. It's not, though. It isn't at all!
GM: No, no, sorry! No, it's definitely not him!
NF: No, it's a different one!
GM: Um... how do I feel about what? The fact that they're not playing them...
NF: Yeah, about... about the American... how they react to your music.
GM: Um... I don't really think Americans react any differently to anyone else. I think it's just that the radio programmers don't play me over there anymore.
NF: Right...
GM: Because, I... I don't... I don't do... you know, in America you really have to do the rounds. You have to be on TV all the whole time, you have to do all the kinds of promotion that I decided years ago I wanted to stop doing.
NF: Right...
GM: Um... And in... in all honesty I'm not really that... um... bothered about it. 'Cause it... it actually gives me... because I have a house in L.A. it's great to the... to the... um... extent that it means that I can relax there. Because even though I'm still very well-known in America, because I'm not on TV and they don't have tabloid press... um... people just don't recognise me.
NF: Right...
GM: You know, a... a lot of people don't recognise me. So I can walk down the street there, or walk into a restaurant and really feel a lot more relaxed than I can in most places in the world. So, ...
NF: Right...
GM: Even though, obviously from a commercial point of view, yeah, wouldn't it... wouldn't it be wonderful to be selling the way I used to in America. But, as far as I'm concerned, not if it meant... um... you know, making my life more difficult.
NF: Right...
GM: And... um... so it's been... it's actually, even though I... I... I have... I have some objections to the fact that my records don't get played - obviously, as an artist, that hurts a little bit. In reality, I know it's better for me. So ...
NF: Sure...
GM: So, I'm perfectly happy to... um... have my loyal following, you know, here at home. And... er... and... and take it easy a bit when I go to America.
NF: Do you ever think that you should perhaps... or should have done some more promotion?
GM: Oh, you mean...
NF: Um... I mean, for suppose, if you're bringing out records, if other people are doing it, then perhaps you should too?
GM: Well, I... I do think, you know, even though there obviously would be good reasons to do it... um... I think the most important thing is that I... I live my life in a way that I find acceptable. So that - one, I think I have a right to do that...
NF: Sure...
GM: And - two, because that way I can keep making music that... that... that makes people happy, that does something for people. I think when people start to behave... er... to... to look for... for business rather than looking for the next great... great record they can make, then that's when the music starts to go a bit pear-shaped, you know.
NF: Right, OK.
GM: And I'd like to think that... that some of the things that people object to me not doing... um... or things that people would like to see me doing... er... I like to think that... that... that having stood back from a lot of that has... has saved my music to some degree.
NF: Sure. ['You Have Been Loved' begins playing in the background.] Well, now, from the... er... the million-selling 'Ladies and Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael' - we were talking in-between records, and you said this was one of your favourites from the, sort of, ballad section of it.
GM: Uh-huh.
NF: 'You Have Been Loved' - why this one?
GM: Um... I think it's... probably this and 'Praying for Time' are probably the two best lyrics I've ever written - in my own opinion, anyway. ...um... and I just think it's very... I wanted to do something that was... reminded you a bit of those old Burt Bacharach records...
NF: Sure...
GM: With a... with a... a, maybe a slightly more... more... um... personal lyric. So...
NF: This, like, French horn at the background, it's just...
GM: Yeah...
NF: Oh, it's so lovely...
GM: Steve Sidwell is the name of the player. There you go - plug for my... my horn player - Steve Sidwell.
NF: Things like that, I can imagine how there are people sitting in jams, you know, and the traffic is pretty horrendous tonight - and the nice thing about this is, it's like a real chill-out on a Monday, isn't it?
GM: Yeah.
NF: Listening to something like this - it's very lovely.
GM: And I also, I... I... I'm very pleased that people... um... attached it to... um... Diana, because, you know, she was very... a very special person, and I... I think the record does her justice, you know.

[prolonged playing of 'You Have Been Loved']
NF: Oh! What a chilled-out record that is! It's lovely, isn't it?
GM: Thanks.
NF: Just a quickie here, just to make you smile, OK. ...er... this is from Lina. I think this is coming from elsewhere in the world. "Why so nasty towards Gary Barlow and do you fancy Robbie Williams?" [they laugh]
GM: Er... well, I can answer the second question immediately - which is a 'No!'.
NF: Right, there you go.
GM: No, Robbie doesn't have to worry! Doesn't have to watch his back! [they laugh] ...erm... Gary Barlow: I can only say - I have to say, this is... actually, I'm very glad this question was asked, because it's an opportunity for me to apologise to him publicly.
NF: Right, OK.
GM: Unfortunately...
NF: This is humble pie ...is.... is this a big portion of humble pie?
GM: Well, the thing is, you know, I... I've never in... in... in sixteen years I don't remember ever criticising anyone openly that... that way.
NF: Yeah.
GM: And... and the guy called me on a bad day - I was having a really, really bad day.
NF: Who called you?
GM: Er... not called me - I mean, the guy... the guy that interviewed me.
NF: All right, OK. Yeah.
GM: Um... I was not really enjoying the interview and it, kind of, came out, and I wish to God it hadn't! Of course, me being the person that normally gets slagged off by everyone and never meeting them, right...
NF: Right...
GM: I have... I... the... the magazine comes out and THE NEXT DAY I'm standing in the same room with the poor sod!! [laughing] You know. [they both laugh] And... er... and... er... and I just couldn't believe it - it was like my instant karma. I am not supposed to... um... I am definitely not supposed to criticise others. And I don't, normally, I was really out of order and...
NF: I've never heard you do it before, I have to say.
GM: No. It was really, really out of character. And... erm... I'm... I... I'm... I apologise to him profusely - it was really out of order. So there you go!
NF: Thank you.
GM: Public apology!
NF: Blimey! That was a big one. That was a bit, bold one! Right, well, look, we're going to go to the phones in just a minute. Check up on the news first. 0171 4848 958 - if you have anything that you would love to ask George Michael, or say to George Michael, about whatever - he's game for anything - 0171 4848 958. And choose one of your favourite George songs as well and we'll crank it up on Capital after seven o'clock for you tonight!

[Break for news and advertisements]
[Capital FM jingle]
NF: Right. George Michael - our special guest on Drivetime. If you want to give him a bell - 0171 4848 958. We're just going to go back to the Faith days now. ['Faith' begins playing in the background.] The bum-wiggling of the video. [George laughs] Historic moment, there!
GM: Oh, back in those day!
NF: Whatever happened to that jacket?
GM: I thought you were going to say - "Whatever happened to that bum!" [both laugh] 'Cause I always... I always ask myself that question!
NF: It was a bit pert in those days, George, wasn't it?
GM: Yes, it was a little bit more... um... what's the word? Younger, I think is... is the word! It still looks pretty good, I've got to be honest!![they laugh]
NF: Stand up!
GM: No! No, thank you!
NF: Oh, wow! Look at that.
GM: Not right now! [they laugh]
NF: Very pert, tonight!

[prolonged playing of 'Faith']
NF: What did happen to the leather jacket, then? ['Spinning the Wheel' begins playing in the background]
GM :...erm... I think I auctioned it off, actually. I think it was probably auctioned off. You... they were cheap old things - you could get them down the King's Road.[they laugh]
NF: Oh, don't tell me that! I thought it was a really flash, expensive one!!
GM: No, no, no, no, no!
NF: OK. And the sunglasses... you did seem to spend the most of that decade in those glasses, didn't you?
GM: Yeah, I know. I was hiding from the world behind my... behind my aviators. I don't do that anymore!
NF: Does it make you... um... does it make you feel very insecure - that job?
GM: What?
NF: Well, being a superstar!
GM: Er...
NF: You know, with everyone snapping you the whole time, wanting to chat with you the whole time...
GM: Er... No, I don't think it makes me feel insecure. I think I'm [laughs] ...I'm a past master of that, anyway! I think... er... I don't know! It's too hard to say. It happened so gradually over the years, you know...
NF: Right...
GM: That... that things change. No, I definitely wouldn't say I'm insecure about it. I think it's probably been good for my sense of security...
NF: Sure...
GM: Just to know that people like what I do. Um... but I could definitely do without people... er... surveying me the whole time. You know, I guess. But, you know - it's part of the job, isn't it?
NF: Yeah, I suppose it comes with the territory, doesn't it? Right, let's take some calls - here we go! Ray, good evening - how are you? - from Hemel Hempstead.
Ray:Good evening, Fox!
NF: Are you well, Ray?
Ray: I'm not so bad!
NF: Well, you're not on for me, you're on for George. So... um... have a chat!
GM: Hi, Ray! How you doing?
Ray: Hi! I'm... I'm fine, mate.  I'm honoured - not only do I get to talk to you, I get to talk to you first!
GM: GM :Absolutely!
Ray: Ha, ha! Now, the question I've got - very simple one to start you off. I'm sure it's one that thousands upon thousands would want to ask.
GM: Yeah?
Ray: And that's - when's the next tour?
GM: Er... I wish... I wish I could answer that for you...um... accurately. I really am not sure, right now.
Ray: No?
GM: Er... there are several reasons that the tour next year didn't actually go ahead. Some... but some of them are personal, some of them, I... I... I actually think it would be the... a bad thing for me, and some of them are professional...
Ray: Right...
GM: And I can go into them in detail at a later date. But... um... it was... um... I... er... you know, I... I... I think most of my fans know that I love to play, I just hate to actually tour.
Ray: Yeah. Well, it's nice to see new material coming out.
GM: Thank you, thank you. And... er... there'll be... there'll be more of that... er... I'm sure. I'll do a couple of new B-sides next year as well. So...
NF: I take it, Ray, you...
Ray: It must be encouraging, the sales of the... um... of... of 'Ladies and Gentlemen'.
GM: I'm just blown away by it.
Ray: Yeah.
GM: I think it's just, you know... I mean, I was expecting it to do well because I think I'm the kind of artist that's had... probably had some people that aren't necessarily... um... my album buyers that have liked the occasional song. And I think Greatest Hits always are good for, kind of... um... getting those people's attention. But I... I really didn't expect it to sell like this. This is absolutely phenomenal!
Ray: I think Parkinson might have helped!
GM: [laughs] I think it probably did, yes.
Ray: I think people had the wrong impression of you.
GM: Er... I think maybe I've... I allowed people to have the wrong impression of me for quite a while.
Ray: Yeah.  But the media portrayed the wrong impression.
GM: Yeah, well [laughs] they did a pretty good job of that!
Ray: They did that already!
GM: Yeah, they're very good at...
NF: Are you quite happy to... to allow that image to go on, though?
GM: Well, I mean, I don't think it really will go on now, because I think the fact that I've now talked quite a bit this year, and the fact that I did the Parkinson thing etc. etc. ...um... I think people have got a fairly... [laughs] I don't know whether 'rounded' is the right word. But, I think people have more of an idea of who I am than... than probably I've allowed them to have.
NF: I think so!
GM: And... er... and I suppose that's a good thing - that can't be anything but a bad thing, really.
NF: Sure. Right, Jacqui from Eltham. Hello, Jacqui.
Jacqui: Hi, Foxy!
NF: You're through to George.
Jacqui: Hi, George!
GM: Hi, Jacqui! How you doing?
Jacqui: I'm fine, thank you.
GM: Where abouts are you in London?
Jacqui: Er... I'm in Eltham, in South East London.
GM: Ah!
Jacqui: Um... the question I'd like to ask you, actually, is: I wondered if you kept in contact with Andrew Ridgeley.
GM: Um... I do. I don't see very much of him because he... he lives down in Cornwall now, and... and Andrew doesn't really like being in London very much.
Jacqui: Oh, right!
GM: And... er... obviously, I'm a fairly busy boy most of the time. So we... I don't see much of him, but... um... we do still... stilll keep in contact.
Jacqui: Right. And, also... um... if I could quickly ask this one as well. Who would you most like to sing a duet with, that you haven't actually sung with, so far, through your career?
GM: Er... to tell you the truth, I think I... I answered it a bit earlier on. Right now, the only person I can think of that I'd really like to sing with it Lauryn Hill.
Jacqui: Right...
GM: Um... I think she's the greatest, you know, new singer for a long time.
Jacqui: Yeah.
GM: Um... Not that she's actually new anymore. [Jacqui laughs] But... er... no, she's... that's an ambition of mine at the moment - just 'cause I'm currently obsessed with hewr latest album.
Jacqui: Yeah. And also - I know it's a cheek, but would it be possible if I could have your autograph, please?
GM: Of course. Look, if you... actually, if you listen hard, right, they've got me... they've got me here signing...
NF: Signing video slips. So this one's to... er...
GM: Almost... almost in between calls. Now, listen to this, if you don't believe me.
NF: Jacqui, there we go. It's the gold pen. Shake the pen!
GM: Right, listen to the... [shakes the pen next to the microphone]
NF: There you go - gold pen.
GM: This is... this sound, right... [loud sound of a pen squeaking on a photograph]
NF: This is yours being signed!
Jacqui: Oh, brilliant!
NF: That's a NICE squeak, George!
GM: Oh! I'm... I'm a master with these!
NF: That is beautiful, that is! Masterly, the way you did it! We'll get that sent off - if you hang on the phone, Jacqui, we'll get...
Jacqui: Thank you very much.
NF: No problem at all! Early Chrimbo present!
Jacqui: Thank you. Happy Christmas to you, as well.
GM: Happy Christmas, Jacqui!
Jacqui: Thank you!
NF: Right! Karen Nortom from Reading. Hello!
Liz: Um... it's Liz from Reading! [all laugh]
GM: Hello, Liz!
Liz: Hello, George!
GM: How you doing?
NF: Hi, Liz!
Liz: Hi!... um... my question was, I just wanted to ask you how you intend to celebrate the Millennium.
GM: Um... I... I've been thinking about that. I mean, the... the way they're... they're... the kind of picture that's being drawn at the moment is that [laughs] on the stroke of midnight everything's gonna go dead, isn't it?
Liz: (laughing) Yeah.
NF: Exactly.
GM: So, I... I guess it would be... I... I... I plan on being somewhere that they don't have... use a lot of electricity, I think. But... um...
Liz: Surrounded by candles, then.
GM: Yeah, something like that. I... I'd actually like to be somewhere that I've never been - I'd like to wake up on... on, you know, the first day of the next Millennium somewhere completely out of my... my normal experience, you know. So...
Liz: Ah!
GM: [laughing] In an igloo or something!
Liz: Yeah.
GM: I don't know. Somewhere... somewhere exotic, somewhere that I've never been before - I'd like to do that!
Liz: Yeah.
GM: So, I'm sorry... so, I'm sorry, but don't wait for your... your invitation to my New Year's party! [all laugh]
Liz: Oh, damn! Well, can I be cheeky as well, then, and ask for the vid... er... signed signature as well, please.
NF: Cor! Let's go for the video now, aren't we?
GM: Of course! Of course, yes!
NF: No problem at all, Karen. You hang on the phone and we'll get your address, no problem.
Liz: Thank you.
GM: So, that's video... one video to Liz.
NF: One video to Liz, there, if that's OK. Right, lovely job. Actually, about... about the live thing, I have to just... just ask: Don't... don't you miss being on stage, and doing the live performance?  Because you seem to be very much at home there, when you do it.
GM: Er... I do miss it, to some degree. But... but the... but I have to weigh that up with what my... my normal state of mind is when I end up... um... touring, you know, being away from home.
NF: Right...
GM: I'm certainly... I'm pathetic! I'm such a home-boy! [they laugh] It's like, I... I need to be surrounded by, you know, my own things and the people I care about, and stuff. And I... I really get very lonely on the road.
NF: What do you really miss? What... I mean, is there anything really stupid you miss?
GM: Oh, Eastenders! [they laugh] You know, I actually had Eastenders... I had Eastenders flown... cour... How... how 'rock-star' is this?
NF: OK.
GM: I had Eastenders couriered out to me, last week, 'cause I wanted to know... she'd just been thrown down the stairs [Foxy laughs].
NF: Tiffany?
GM: I'm sorry. I'm not... I'm not supposed to know whether she's been thrown or not, am I? ...er... well, she'd just... made her way down the stairs...
NF: Right...
GM: Before...
NF: Gradually, with a little help from Grant!
GM: Before I left the country. Yeah, exactly. Before I left the country. So I... so I just... er... so I just got it couriered out. I'm really excited, 'cause my friend, Martin's gonna be in Eastenders as of Boxing Day. So...
NF: How about a...
GM: That's a big deal for me this Christmas!
NF: Have you ever thought, like - "God, wouldn't it be great just to do an appearance in Albert Square!"
GM: Well, I did ask! I have asked. I... if I can't get on there in some kind of little... if I can't nudge my way into the picture somewhere, I'm just going to make Martin wear some of my clothing [he laughs).
NF: It seems a really odd thing, doesn't it? I mean, you... I suppose it's quite unlikely, isn't it? Sort of - "George Michael's doing a gig down at the community centre in Walford!"
GM: Yes, I know!
NF: It's not normally going to happen, is it?
GM: No... no, I can't picture it! Or I could always ask if I could just wander in and ask if I can use the bog! [they laugh]
NF: What a classic that would be!!!
GM: I don't think... I don't think... I don't think that would go down too well! [they laugh]
NF: Let me be cheeky, 'cause everyone's on a cheeky thing. I... I... I know what you... what he answer's gonna be, but: if you don't like going away from home, then... then next July 4th, why don't you come to our Party in the Park? It's like 120,000 people. You don't even... look, I'll even pick you up on my bike. I'll bring you down. No traffic problems, all right? ['Freedom' begins playing in the background]
GM: Tell you what - it depends on what's for lunch, OK. And how the weather is.
NF: What do you want?
GM: What do I want?
NF: Yeah.
GM: I'll let you know while this is on.
NF: OK. Seems pretty well sorted. It'll probably be something really stupid now, won't it? [they laugh]

Prolonged playing of 'Freedom'.
NF: There was that great story going around when the video to this one came out, George, that... that you sacked the... er ... the director of this one, and decided to do it all yourself - when you're making the video - and you didn't want to be in front of the... and all that stuff.
GM: No, no, no, no, no, no! Wrong... wrong one. Not this one, no. No, this was... this was directed by a man called David Fincher... um... and this was fine. I wasn't involved in this. I was there watching him filming, but I deliberately, you know...
NF: Right ...
GM: He's a brilliant director, and I wanted him... I didn't want to do the work, basically [they laugh]. So... er... he did... but it the... it was 'Too Funky', which was the other one...
NF: Oh, sorry, yeah.
GM: With all the models in it.
NF: Yeah, yeah. OK.
GM: There was quite a lot... um... of backstage aggro!
NF: Hoo haa!
GM: Hoo haa!
NF: Hoo haa! A technical word there!
GM: Hoo haa haa!
NF: Mind you, we're all, sort of, sickly jealous, thinking - "That's the great thing about being, like, a world superstar." You can think - "Who would I like? I'll have her, her, her, her and they all come!
GM: Yes. It's kinda like that, yeah. It's kinda... kinda like that. But they don't come that easily! [they laugh) You have to coax them!!
NF: Oh, dear! So what do you want for Christmas, George?
GM: Oh....
NF: I mean, what would someone buy... not just, actually, just... er... yeah, for present-wise. Do you make lists?
GM: No, I... to be honest, I...
NF: Are you impossible to buy for?
GM: To ...to be honest, I'm fairly impossible to buy for.
NF: Yeah.
GM: I really am! I don't... I don't really, you know... I feel guilty about the fact that people agonise over what to buy me, 'cause I'm really not... you know, I'm not concerned with presents, you know.  I'm not that kind of person, really. Erm... I think I've already got my best birthday present - the album's number one, you know.
NF: Sure...
GM: Everything's kinda hunky-dory, really!
NF: I have to say, we're still staggered about, you know, Christmas number one on the album chart, you know. So, I know when it first came out and it went to number one...
GM: Yeah.
NF: Erm ...
GM: I'm pretty amazed! I mean, people were telling me they thought it would be number one for Christmas, but I'm pretty amazed it just came in and stayed there! You know.
NF: 'Cause there's some big stuff around at the moment. And, obviously, this time of year as well, it's... um... it's... it's a busy time of year - all common singles was the biggest every sale.
GM: Yeah...
NF: Two and a half million in the last week. It's been amazing!
GM: Yeah, yeah.
NF: And album sales have been phenomenal.
GM: Yeah. They... the... um... I can't... like I said, I just can't...
NF: Yeah...
GM: I'm, you know... I'm totally... er... overwhelmed by it. It's an amazing show of support.
NF: Is it important to you to ... to be number one?
GM: Oh, yeah!
NF: Would you be gutted if you weren't?
GM: Oh, yeah! I'd be gutted if I wasn't. I think, you know, greatest hits... er... I... the amount of time I've waited to release it, and the number of tracks that are on it... er... I would have been... I mean, I'm not gutted if there's something... like, for instance, the Cher record came out...
NF: Right...
GM: Right? And who could have seen that record coming? You know.
NF: I'm amazing.
GM: And if... and if you come up again a HUGE pop record that's undoubtedly a great pop record - you know, huge pop record - then it doesn't really gut you because, you know, you're like - "Well, you know, there's a fairly logical reason that I didn't make number one." But with this album, I think, because it's a collection of all my favourite stuff, I would have been very disappointed, you know.
NF: OK.
GM: So, it's... it's... it's not looking like it's slowing down for a while yet, so I'm pleased.
NF: We've had loads of e-mails saying - "Can we play Father Figure?" - seems to be a really favourite one as well. And... er... obviously when they sent over the two tracks you did live for Parkinson...
GM: Uh-huh.
NF: They sent 'Outside' and... and your version of 'Father Figure', so I think we'll play that next, if that's all right with you!
GM: Wasn't it 'Different Corner'? [George laughs]
NF: Oh, hang on, hang on. I thought it was 'Father... - Oh!!!
GM: No, I didn't... I didn't... I did... did 'Different Corner'.
NF: Right, I'll just go then, now! I'll go!
GM: Yeah, you just leave now!
NF: I'll leave now! [hysterical laughter from what is obviously the radio crew]
GM: For God's sake! Who've they go in?
NF: I had too much... sorry. Anyway...
GM: What was your name again?
NF: Erm... [George laughs] Shall we play 'Different Corner' then, next?
GM: Er... yeah, 'Different Corner' would be nice!
NF: You like 'Different Corner'?
GM: You mean... you mean the version off Parkinson?
NF: Yeah, the version from Parkinson.
GM: Are you allowed to play things from the BBC here?
NF: Well, we're very happy to. They've sent it over - we're happy to play it!
GM: [laughing] OK.
NF: Although it's very nice! Right, then. So, it'll... 'A Different Corner' it shall be then! Lovely!

Break for advertisements
Capital FM jingle.
NF: Good evening. It's Drivetime and it's 95.8 Capital FM. Seven twenty-two. George Michael is... er... still with us, tonight, which is a... a real treat. 4848 958 - that hotline. Now, ...er... 'A Different Corner' - beautiful record! The Park... Parkinson mix. The Parky mix, we'll call this one. [George laughs] Oh, no! He'll get the wrong ideas upstairs! Right, anyway. So... um... tell us the story behind this! It's always nice to know the story behind a song.
GM: Behind this song?
NF: Yeah.
GM: Um... phwoar, let me see... let me... Well, it's fairly miserable, isn't it? [Foxy starts laughing] So I think we can fairly safely assume that I was in a fairly miserable state of mind, when I wrote it!
NF: Right.
GM: Um... I think... I think it's just about the first time you actually start feeling like your heart's been broken, really. And when I look back on it, the rela... the... er... relationship I wrote it about was absolutely nothing. Really. [he laughs]
NF: Right.
GM: Erm... but at the time, when you're young - I mean, I... I... when did this come out? This came out '84?
NF: No, eighty... '86.
GM: '86.
NF: Yeah.
GM: '86. Right. So I was, like... pfff... twenty-two when I wrote this.
NF: Right...
GM: Something like that. Erm... but, yeah, I was kind of heart-broken for a couple of weeks and stuck it into this song.
NF: OK.
GM: And you'd thing I'd been suffering for years! [they laugh] The sound of it.
NF: The angst, the angst! ['A Different Corner' begins playing in the background.]
GM: And this is the Michael Parkinson mix!
NF: OK. Thank you very much. Where do you normally write your songs? Do you find yourself... you know - Do you do them at night, in the morning? Do you find... when's the best time?
GM: Erm... Kind of, before I go to sleep and just before I wake up is when lots of ideas come to me.
NF: OK.
GM: Subconsciously.
NF: So, you've got, like, a Dictaphone next to the bed or something?
GM: No, no, no! I don't do any of that stuff.
NF: OK.
GM: Too much of a cliché.

Prolonged playing of 'A Different Corner'
NF: I have to say, that is a... a staggeringly beautiful version of that song, isn't it?
GM: Thank you.
NF: Would... would you ever release it... the... the arrangement... the arrangement as well of 'Outside' as well, that we played earlier one, I think, was brilliant. ['Father Figure' begins playing in the background]
GM: Well, I think it might be nice... I might make them available maybe on... on the new singles. You know. Or one or two of the new singles that are coming out.
NF: 'cause...
GM: The stuff from the greatest hits. 'Cause... er... people seem to want to hear them again so...
NF: You've been pioneering as well... people buying records through the net and hwat have you, haven't you? With your record company. I mean, do you... is that going to be big, do you think, in the new Millennium.
GM: I... I think it will be big. I don't think it's going to be big yet.
NF: Right...
GM: I think people are not quite used to... um... laying down their credit card information onto a...
NF: Yeah, it's a whole trust thing, isn't it?
GM: I mean, I understand that. I totally understand that. I think that's the biggest problem with the internet is the privacy, you know.
NF: Yup...
GM: Erm... But people like me who have no privacy [he laughs] It doesn't really matter anymore.
NF: We've all got your credit card number anyway!
GM: Yeah, exactly! So... no, I think... um... I think that'll be big, but not for a while yet.
NF: OK. Well, let's take more calls, because... er... I think that's a brilliant idea at the moment. Andy. Merry Christmas! How are you?
Andy: Merry... Merry Christmas, Foxy!
GM: Hi, Andy.
NF: You're through to George.
Andy: All right... all right, George?
GM: Andy.
Andy: I'd just like to say, it's a great honour for me to speak with you tonight.
GM: Oh, thank you.
Andy: Um... thing is, I'm looking for a bit of advice, really. Um... I'm really into singing...
GM: Uh-huh.
Andy: And... erm... I think... I think I've got quite a good voice.
GM: Ah.
Andy: I'm always singing the old George Michael love songs to me girlfriend. [George and Foxy laugh] But the thing is, she doesn't seem to appreciate me vocal talents.
GM: Oh, really.
NF: Oh.
Andy: Well, you know, it's terrible! ...er... the thing is, I keep saying I'm really serious about it, you know. I really wanna get, you know.
GM: So, what... what kind of advice are you looking for? You want to know what booze to give her first, or... [George and Foxy laugh]
Andy: Oh, no, no. I've tries that. I don't work. [they laugh] That makes it worse! No, really, what should ... 'cause she said, if I'm really serious about it I should do something about it. But where... where do I start, really?
GM: Where do you start?
Andy: Yeah.
GM: Um...
Andy: I mean, obviously, opening me mouth and the... the words come out, but you know [George and Foxy start laughing] in the, sort of, the... er... the... the...
GM: To be honest, if you really want... I mean, if you want to know what I did...
Andy: Yeah.
GM: [laughing] Although it didn't get me anywhere. Erm... what I did when we... when... when Andrew and I started out, and actually even before I was working with Andrew, ...er... [laughing] what we used to do - we used to come up to London, and we used to walk... walk into each record company... um... office, and just swear blind that we had an appointment [laughing], right. And, you know, kind of bawl at the girl... the poor girl that was sitting behind reception until she thought it was actually genuine what she'd made a mistake! And at least fifty percent of the time we got in!
Andy: Oh, right.
NF: You're joking!
GM: Yeah, yeah, we got in! 'Cause... I guess, 'cause they thought... I... I suppose if a couple of kids came... came and... and did that... erm... and I was working... you know, I was an MD at a record company, or an A.N.R. guy, I suppose I'd think - "If they've got the bottle to come in and [laughing] ...and give up this load of bullshit just to get an interview, then we might as well see what they've got!" And that's what we did. So, if you... if you get yourself together a good demo tape.
Andy: Oh, right. Yeah.
GM: One that your girlfriend can... can bear to listen to [they laugh] then... er... then... then just go and blag your way into a few record companies.
Andy: Oh, right. And, also, on a... on a quick side thing - I've been trying to get hold of, like, a fan-mail address, like a postal address. But I can't seem to pick one up anywhere. I wondered if you...
GM: You mean, for me?
Andy: Yeah, yes, yeah.
GM: Um ... well, actually, we have, like, an official ... er ... website.
Andy: Yeah, I... yeah. The thing is I don't have a computer, that's... that's the thing.
GM: Oh, well, then. What's the point? [he laughs]
Andy: Oh, well, yeah...
GM: But I see what you mean, a... an ordinary fan-club postal address.
Andy: Yeah, that's right, yeah.
GM: I... I stopped that because I found that every single... um... organisation that we went to, or... or people that try and organise the... the fan-clubs... postal fan-clubs - they seemed to be ripping the kids off.
Andy: Oh, right. I see.
GM: So, the... the... so, basically... um... now the... the only official fan-club that I have is on the Internet.
Andy: Oh, right.
GM: Outside of that, I'm afraid there's nothing, really, I can do.
Andy: I'll have to go and get myself a computer then, I think. he laughs
GM: Oh, well. That MIGHT be a bit expensive, just for me!
Andy: Oh, that's all right. [George laughs] It'll be used for other things.
GM: I hope so.
Andy: And, also, could I have a couple of autographs, if possible?
GM: Yeah, of course. Who do you want them for?
Andy: Oh, just me and me girlfriend, Helen. If... could you say "hello" to her, by the way, 'cause she'll probably be listening.
GM: Of course, sure.
Andy: Cheers, George!
NF: Thanks a lot, Andy. Wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Andy: Thanks.
NF: Lovely.
GM: Hello...
NF: Oh, crikey.
GM: You cut her off!
NF: Oh, did I? I'm sorry! Oh!
GM: You cut her off!!
NF: Sorry, Helen.
Andy: No, no, no. Sorry, she's not here.
NF: [George and Foxy laugh] Oh, I see. Just thought I'd say "hello".
Andy: No, I mean, on the... on the radio. Sorry.
GM: [laughing] Hello, Helen! Happy Christmas, Helen!
NF: [laughing] Oh.
Andy: Cheers, George.
NF: Imran, hello. You're on the radio. How are you tonight?
Imran: Hello!
GM: Hi!
Imran: How are you?
GM: Who's this? Anne?
NF: Imran.
GM: Imran. Hi, Imran.
Imran: Hello. How are you?
GM: I'm fine, thank you. How are you?
Imran: I'm such a big fan of yours - I can't believe I'm on the radio. I'm shocked!
GM: Oh, thank you. Thank you.
Imran: Anyway... um... my question is - If you were allowed to relive a part of your life...
GM: Uh-huh.
Imran: Which part would you relive, and why?
GM: If I could relive it?
Imran: Yup.
GM: Um... phwoar, that's a difficult one. I think, probably, ...er... 'The Final', actually - the... the last Wham! show. I wish I could go through that day again, because I was... it was all such a blur. [Imran laughs] It was such a... it was such a big deal, you know. It was such a big thing to... to... to try and do at the time.
Imran: Yes.
GM: You know, stadium to say "goodbye", you know. I... I wish I could go through it again and... at... at the proper speed, 'cause it felt like it went past in, you know... in an hour.
Imran: Yeah.
GM: And I just really... I don't really remember much about it. I was so, kind of... it was such a mixture of being sad that it was over and excited that that many people were... were there to see us, you know. Um... so I kind of wish that I could go through that again. And maybe I'd like a slow-mo... slow-mo version of singing with Aretha again. That would probably be nice.
Imran: Definitely, definitely.
NF: What's your... what's your favourite George song, Imran?
Imran: My favourite George song? I would have to be 'Cowboys and Angels'.
NF: Ah, yeah.
GM: Oh, thank you.
Imran: It's just... it's really emotional and very nice. And I love it.
GM: Oh, thank you. Do you like jazz music? Or do you...
Imran: I do. I... I've gotten, sort of, into it at the moment.
GM: Oh, good. I hope... I hope I helped to convert you.
Imran: Could I please have your autograph?
GM: What was that?
Imran: Could I please have your autograph?
GM: Of course.
Imran: Thank you.
NF: If you hang on there, Imran, we'll get your address, and no problem at all.
Imran: Thank you.
NF: Thank you. And one...
GM: Happy Christmas.
NF: One thing you said you just wanted to mention. I do think it is funny, actually. 'Cause 'Ladies and Gentlemen' - you were saying that the title of your 'Best of' album.
GM: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
NF: And some people were going - "George, that was very clever! 'Ladies and Gentlemen'. Very smart. Very good one."
GM: Yeah. Very clever, yeah. No, I just wanted to make a... this is a point I have to make this evening 'cause no-one else is taking any notice of it. I did not call my album ' Ladies and Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael' [laughing] with... in any regard... er... concerning, you know, the... the old incident. It was just that I'd actually decided on that name... name for the album in February, so it was just a complete... and maybe it was a premonition. [they laugh]
NF: Exactly.
GM: But... er... but... er... no, no. It was... I just wanted to let people know that I'm not that [laughing] proud of... er... of that moment that I would actually name a greatest hits album after it - which is a complete coincidence. It was called 'Ladies and Gentlemen' because it was written about and for ladies and gentlemen, so.
NF: Thank you. And we've cleared that point up.
GM: Thank you.
NF: George Michael.
GM: Thanks very much.
NF: Now, what I was going... we're going to finish off with 'Careless Whisper' which we have to. And it's amazing when you see the votes coming in for the 'Hall of Fame' - and this year we've had a record number of votes. And we've really been going for it - and it's incredible how many are voting for 'Careless Whisper'.
GM: Uh-huh.
NF: I know you wrote it when you were very young, and... er... it's... it almost seems that... er... at the time... you'd never have had any idea at the time the effect it would have had on people.
GM: Uh-huh.
NF: That must be the lovely thing about writing a great song, is the... is the effect it has on people.
GM: Well, it is... um... you know, I have to say, from... from my own point of view, I... I really... I do take... er... the... the way a... a song is received by the public very much to heart, you know. So I... I... I have no problem in saying that I enjoy listening to the ones that I know people love.
NF: Right...
GM: Um... and they... they do say... it does something different to me to hear a record that I know has done really well on the radio, 'cause it means that you've... you've communicated - and that's really what I want to do. There are a lot of people that, I think, make music in a... er... a more introverted way, and I think that that... they... that makes for some incredible music. But I think my talent is... is about communicating with people. And if you have a huge record it means that you have made that connection.
NF: Sure...
GM: So, yeah, I'm... I'm... I'm constantly amazed by... um... people's response to... to 'Careless Whisper' and... and constantly... um... grateful for it.
NF: 'Cause New Year' Day we'll be counting them down, and, you know, it's going to be up there, isn't it? I'll be pleased to see if it's number one.
GM: I'll be sitting there... sitting there with my ear... ear stuck to the... to the old transistor radio... the wireless.
NF: It's been an absolute pleasure having you in. I've got to say that. I'm so glad you have come in. You know I... I love your music, and... er...
GM: Thank you.
NF: And... and so many... everyone... you know, so many Capital listeners... I don't know - it's something like you are almost... Capital's part of London, right, and I genuinely think that so many Londoners think that you are part of London and Capital and... and part of growing up.
GM: Well, I think... I think, you know, if I... I would agree - I think that I... I have, without question, ...um... my relationship with London... er... is very strong. Er... my relationship with Capital has made my relationship with London even stronger, which I'm very grateful for, and... and I think the fact that I grew up with Capital radio, listening to the same types of music that people in London have ... er ... have been listening to, has influenced that whole relationship.
NF: Sure...
GM: You know, I think we listen to the same music. I grew up with a whole generation of people who grew up with Capital. And... er... so it's very special to me. You know, the station's very special, London's very special, and... and the fact that London seems to have taken my music... um... er... to heart, as it were, ...um... is fantastic for me. It's... that's why I think I'll always live here, you know. ['Careless Whisper' begins playing in the background]
NF: Well, what can I say, apart from, I wish you a really Happy Christmas.
GM: Thank you. You too. And thank you so much for all your support on the show.
NF: No, I tell you - it's... um... when you hear a beautiful song - your songs are the kind of records that move people, and they affect people, and I think that's really nice, so.
GM: Thank you so much.
NF: I'm glad you could come in and I wish you a very Happy Christmas. I'm glad... er... all the bad stuff' s gone now in '98 and you can look forward to a really Happy Christmas.
GM: [laughing] Roll on... roll on '99!
NF: [laughing] Yeah, I think so.
GM: Happy Christmas to everyone.
NF: Thanks, George.

Prolonged playing of 'Careless Whisper'
NF: It's got to be the ultimate perk working this business - that you not only get to meet George Michael, I get to sit and talk to him for an hour and forty minutes! Oh, my God! What a charmer! Will it be number one on the 'Hall of Fame'? You can still vote - it's up to you. Carphone warehouse, pick up a form and do it really quickly visit our website on capitalfm.com or you can fax us - 0171 766 6958. It's twenty to eight. This is Foxy - Drivetime - 95.8 Capital FM.

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English Archive 1998 ~ TV & Radio