How George Michael turned a bitter legal battle into his most introspective musical masterpiece
In short: After a grueling six-year hiatus caused by a failed lawsuit against his record label, George Michael returned in 1996 with Older. This album marked a profound artistic shift, trading his signature upbeat pop for a somber, jazz-infused sound that served as a deeply personal tribute to his late partner.
Released in May 1996, Older represented a significant departure for George Michael. Following a protracted and unsuccessful legal dispute with Sony Music, which had stalled his career since 1990, Michael spent two years crafting a record that prioritized artistic maturity over commercial trends. The result was a melancholy, organic soundscape featuring brass and strings, heavily influenced by the Brazilian composer Antônio Carlos Jobim. This transformation extended to his public persona; Michael adopted a buzz cut and leather attire, signaling a more serious, introspective phase of his life.
The album was deeply rooted in personal loss. Michael dedicated the work to Jobim and to Anselmo Feleppa, his partner who had passed away in 1993 due to complications from AIDS. In interviews, Michael explained that the album’s somber tone and explicit male references were his way of coming out to his fans. While critics were divided—some praising his newfound craftsmanship and others finding the ballads overly earnest or joyless—the public response in Europe was overwhelming. In the UK, the album became a massive success, producing a record-breaking six top-three singles.
Despite its European dominance, Older faced a cooler reception in the United States, where it peaked at number six on the Billboard 200. The album’s commercial longevity in Britain was bolstered by a sophisticated marketing strategy, which included releasing singles as EPs containing previously unheard material. This approach kept the album in the UK top 200 for 147 weeks. By February 1997, global sales were estimated at five million copies. Decades later, the project remains a testament to Michael’s resilience, proving that even after a period of professional silence, he could redefine his sound and secure his place as a singular, evolving artist.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Older (George Michael album)
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