Complete List Of George Michael Songs From A to Z

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George Michael was raised in the London suburb of East Finchley, the son of a Greek Cypriot restaurateur and an English dancer. Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, he grew up immersed in music and pop culture, developing early aspirations of stardom. His musical partnership with childhood friend Andrew Ridgeley led to the formation of Wham! in 1981, a project that would launch him into global fame within a few short years. The duo’s infectious energy, danceable hooks, and Michael’s undeniable charisma quickly made them pop royalty, beginning with their debut album Fantastic in 1983.

The commercial explosion came with Wham!’s second studio album Make It Big (1984), which delivered four massive hits: “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” “Freedom,” “Everything She Wants,” and “Careless Whisper.” Although the latter was credited as a Wham! track in some territories, it was actually Michael’s solo debut, offering early evidence of the artistic independence he was preparing to assert. Wham! disbanded in 1986 at the height of their fame, a mutual decision that allowed Michael to pursue a more mature, soulful direction.

His official solo debut Faith, released in 1987, became a defining moment in late 20th-century pop music. The album sold over 25 million copies worldwide and topped charts across multiple countries. Its title track, along with “Father Figure,” “One More Try,” and “Monkey,” all reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Faith earned Michael the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and established him as an artist with range, depth, and staying power. His look, sound, and attitude helped reshape pop stardom in the late 1980s, balancing commercial appeal with a deeply personal songwriting style.

Michael followed with Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 in 1990, a stark departure from the glossy production of Faith. It showcased his desire to be judged on musical merit rather than celebrity image. The lead single “Praying for Time” topped the U.S. charts, while “Freedom! ’90” and “Waiting for That Day” emphasized his evolving lyrical themes. The video for “Freedom! ’90” notably featured supermodels lip-syncing the lyrics, while Michael himself stayed off-camera—a visual metaphor for his rejection of fame’s trappings. A long and very public legal battle with Sony Music over artistic control followed, stalling his output during the early 1990s.

Despite the challenges, he returned with Older in 1996, an introspective and jazz-tinged album that reflected his experiences with grief, loss, and love. The death of his partner Anselmo Feleppa in 1993 from an AIDS-related illness profoundly shaped the tone of the record. “Jesus to a Child,” “Fastlove,” and “Spinning the Wheel” marked his return to the top of the UK charts, and Older became one of his most critically respected works. In 1999, he issued Songs from the Last Century, a collection of cover songs that paid tribute to classic jazz, blues, and pop standards.

In total, George Michael released five studio albums as a solo artist: Faith (1987), Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990), Older (1996), Songs from the Last Century (1999), and Patience (2004). Patience, his final studio album of new material, debuted at No. 1 in the UK and included tracks like “Amazing” and “Shoot the Dog.” Over the course of his career, he sold over 100 million records worldwide, won two Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, and was honored with the Ivor Novello Award multiple times for songwriting.

Michael’s voice, often described as one of the most technically gifted in pop music, gave his songs emotional clarity and richness. From gospel-inspired ballads to dance-pop anthems, he brought a distinctive tone and phrasing that few could match. His duets—most notably with Aretha Franklin on “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” which reached No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic—further demonstrated his versatility and collaborative spirit. Other high-profile pairings included Elton John (“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”) and Mary J. Blige (“As”).

Outside of his musical achievements, George Michael was known for his immense generosity and quiet philanthropy. He supported numerous causes, often anonymously, donating proceeds from performances to HIV/AIDS charities, children’s hospitals, and disaster relief funds. He famously gave away royalties from his 1991 single “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and funded local schools, homeless shelters, and free concerts for NHS nurses. After his death, numerous stories emerged confirming the extent of his private giving, often carried out without fanfare or public credit.

His personal life, especially during the 1990s and 2000s, was the subject of intense media scrutiny. His arrest in 1998 in Beverly Hills led him to publicly come out as gay, sparking a broader cultural conversation about sexuality, privacy, and the right to self-identify. While the event was tabloid fodder at the time, Michael responded with honesty and humor, using it as a catalyst to embrace openness about his identity. This transparency earned him greater respect in the LGBTQ+ community and endeared him further to fans who appreciated his authenticity.

George Michael passed away unexpectedly on December 25, 2016, at the age of 53, due to natural causes related to heart and liver conditions. The shock of his death on Christmas Day—after years of using his music to uplift, challenge, and console—reverberated around the world. Tributes poured in from fans, fellow musicians, and global leaders alike. His influence, both musically and culturally, continues to be felt through reissues, documentaries, and tribute performances celebrating his enduring legacy.

In the years since his passing, retrospectives and unreleased material have continued to affirm the breadth of his talent. The 2017 reissue of Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 topped the UK charts again, and the accompanying documentary George Michael: Freedom offered rare insight into his creative process and personal struggles. His catalog remains timeless, and the messages woven throughout his music—love, freedom, vulnerability, and defiance—still resonate across generations.