Inspiration Series: George Michael

…Because you can’t be perfect in every way. Still selling out Wembley a few nights whenever he gets an itch to do so.

Deon Estus – Heaven Help Me

The bass player on many of my favorite songs

Party Like it’s 1985. And We Are In England.

If You Like 808s and Heartbreak…

You will likely dig…

Genesis

Tears for Fears (Top 10 band of mine, no doubt)

Culture Club

Wham! (My actual favorite band of all time)

And how soon people forget… before 3rd Bass, Vanilla Ice, Eminem, and Asher Roth, there was George Michael:

Christmas? Already? Just In Cases.

As of November 15th, I have already started to see holiday decorations start to go up. When it comes to retail, I can understand the motivation. But at home? One of my best friends put his tree up already (pictured above), and although I’m inclined to poke some fun at him, I have to say I actually agree with the move. Home is always super cozy and inviting. Well, putting up the tree… not so cozy. Taking it down… not so inviting. Everything in between… glorious!

And it goes without saying… this movie loops all xmas long!

and

And in the streets of West Kessler, you’ll the hear gayest Christmas song of all time:

I am already pumped about going home for the holidays – and I haven’t even gone home for Thanksgiving yet!

Seal – Future Love Paradise and Other Old Videos

Seal has a new album coming out next week – an album of soul covers. Not sure what to think about that, but I totally trust him because since 1991, he has been one of my favorite artists and will no doubt remain there. For years, I got shit for being a big Seal fan and I guess I still do. He had one obnoxiously huge hit that ruined the majority of the cred that he built up after his first amazing album. I have talked to numerous musicians – even some hardcore metal heads – who marvel at the musicianship, but the average Joe can’t get over Kiss From A Rose.

After many years of being a big fan, I finally got to meet Seal. He was incredibly kind and gracious. Cool dude.

I went and dug up some of his old videos. Some of these are classic. He is a capable designer, and you can see his brand being carefully managed to work holistically with each release. All the first album’s videos look similar, and the same is true with later videos.

Here are a few from his first album:

Seal – Crazy:

Seal – Future Love Paradise:

Seal – Killer (slightly off brand, probably due to a collaboration with Adamski)

And only after years of taking shit for being a die-hard Seal fan do I have the strength to post this video. George Michael performing Seal’s Killer mashed up with Papa Was A Rolling Stone. The extended intro is bad ass.

And for those Dallas kids reading… don’t forget that Dallas’ most talented drum export and all around musician, Earl Harvin, is a frequent Seal collaborator, when he is not making his own amazing music, or working with AIR, John Legend, Damien Rice, Pet Shop Boys, Psychadelic Furs, The THE, and others.

George Michael – Allover Print Pioneer (and Extras Cameo)

My old friends know that strange importance that George Michael plays in my life. Yeah, I know, cheesy. But at least I admit it. I could (and eventually will) go on about his continued influence on pop culture and eventual rise back to glory, but in the mean time, check out this example of George Michael’s influence on follower-wear – I mean streetwear. He was an allover print pioneer:

Check his brief, but brilliant cameo on the HBO show ‘Extras’. How could you not love a guy that takes a shot at himself like this:

Images courtesy of el Arab Parrot.