"As the history of popular music develops, one fact shines through: talent wins. You can't cheat and survive for any length of time. You can't hype and fool people more than once. You can't hide behind image makers, or alluring videos, or the cut of this season's clothes. Or you can - but then you die. To survive you must evolve, improve, have faith, still thrill. Longevity depends on making the best music.
George Michael has never thought of popular music as a career: it's far more personal - more precious - than that. But he has always taken the long-term view, that ultimately an artist's achievement will not be judged in terms of number one singles, or magazine covers, or prestigious awards, but by a large body of work, a collection of albums over time, a lifetime's development in an artform that no longer depends on shock or rebellion or the quick burn-out to make a mark.

In 17 years, and at 36 years of age, George Michael can already look back on more than 67 million record sales worldwide. He's notched up six US No.1 singles from his debut album, eleven British No.1 singles and six No.1 albums to date. He has also played at some of the biggest and most important concerts in history (Live Aid, the Nelson Mandela Freedom Concert, the Freddie Mercury Tribute), all in front of capacity audiences at Wembley Stadium and in front of many millions watching throughout the world. But that was the beginning, an early phase or two."

www.georgemichael.com
www.virginmusic.ca/artists/george_michael/george_bio.html