George Michael: Arab world pays tribute to a pop superstar

JEDDAH: Pop music lovers have lost an icon. George Michael, who has died aged 53, was a singer whose voice accompanied those who grew up in the 1980s, when he started to shine as a star.
I was introduced to George Michael’s music when I was a child in the 1980s; my sister, four years my senior, was a big fan and collected all his albums on cassette tapes. She used to listen to his songs over and over and I slowly fell in love with them too.
While living in Michael’s home city of London, it was my ritual when taking the bus at night to sit in the upper deck and listen to his music while looking at the city through the window. I always wanted to see him perform live but unfortunately never did. I tried to secure a seat at his London concert as part of the Symphonica Tour in 2012 at Royal Albert Hall, but the tickets were sold out within minutes, such was his popularity.
Anti-war stance
Not only was Michael a great musician, he was also an anti-war activist. Many Arabs respected his stand against the 2003 Iraq war. In the musician’s satirical song “Shoot the Dog,” he strongly criticized the former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair for joining former US President George W. Bush in supporting the Iraq invasion.
When the song came out in summer 2002, Michael said in an interview with the BBC: “On an issue as enormous as the possible bombing of Iraq, how can you (Tony Blair) represent us when you haven’t asked us what we think?”
He added: “And let’s be honest, we haven’t even begun to discuss it as a society.”
The news of Michael’s death affected many Arabs who grew up listening to him on cassettes in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s. Many remembered how his music affected them.
Teenage memories
Songs of the former Wham band member resonated with Arab listeners; in the 1980s and the 1990s, George Michael — along with the late Michael Jackson and Madonna — was among the most popular Western musicians in the region.
“Growing up in Syria in the late 1980s, the great music of George Michael and Wham was a memorable part of my teenage years — from his pop hit “Wake me up before you go-go” to his iconic “Last Christmas” song,” said Shady Alkhayer, 33, from Syria.
Sarah Abourayan, who grew up in Jeddah, said George Michael’s songs were the reason she grew a passion for music. “I remember I was 9 years old when I first heard George Michael’s voice singing Careless Whisper coming from my dad’s red cassette player on the kitchen floor. I believe it was the first English song I listened to.”
“I liked the tune and I was listening to it on repeat. There was something magical about that song that kept me hungry for more,” said the 32-year-old.
‘A painful loss’
Many Arab musicians and singers paid tribute to the late British singer, who passed away peacefully of a heart failure on Christmas Day, according to his publicist.
Lebanese pop singer Ragheb Alama tweeted saying George Michael’s death “is a painful loss at the end of the year.” Egyptian singer Angham posted a photo of him on Instagram and wrote: “One of the most wonderful voices. Goodbye.”
Michael dedicated decades of his life to music, starting with Wham, and later rising to fame as a solo singer, selling over 100 million records worldwide.
He gave the world timeless songs, reflecting emotions that many could relate to in their daily lives — whether turning up the volume for “Freedom”, slow dancing to “Careless Whisper,” or the calming mood of “Jesus to a Child.”