"I Can't Make You Love Me" - Part I
"I Can't Make You Love Me"
MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged
"I Can't Make You Love Me" is a two part series which provides some background information on the respondents in our upcoming interview series "Desafinado". The Lovelies profiles who will be featured in the series are furnished anonymously and will be presented in the order in which their interview is published. The responses provided in these series are from women you all may refer to as: friends, Lovelies and even GM sisters.
Lovelies from diverse backgrounds, spanning the globe bound together by one common thread which is their mutual appreciation of pop music icon George Michael. Their voices are as rich, vibrant and powerful as their individual personalities. Please read what they have to say and reserve judgment for their participation was in fervent hope of having their voices heard in a way that they had never been before.
Lovelies from diverse backgrounds, spanning the globe bound together by one common thread which is their mutual appreciation of pop music icon George Michael. Their voices are as rich, vibrant and powerful as their individual personalities. Please read what they have to say and reserve judgment for their participation was in fervent hope of having their voices heard in a way that they had never been before.
It is this blog author's pleasure to present Lovelies I, II & III
Blog Author: What Country are you from?
Lovely I: Poland
Lovely II: I live in the U. S. A
Lovely III: I have lived in different countries inEurope in all these years.
Blog Author: How long have you been a George Michael fan?
Lovely I: I have been a fan since he started out in Wham!
Blog Author: Does George Michael’s music receive frequent radio air time there?
Lovely I: Sadly no.
Lovely II: No, not in my opinion.
Blog Author: Have there been any recent television programs, movies etc. that have featured his music?
Lovely I: Not that I have seen or heard news of.
Lovely II: Other than 'Deadpool' I can’t think of any.
Blog Author: Is his music relevant or popular among centennials there? (born 1996 +)
Lovely I: Not particularly no but as a fan I share his music with my children, friends and family from all generations.
Lovely II: I don’t believe it is unless they have been exposed to it by their parents.
Lovely III: No, my impression is that he isn’t. Some know his name but definitely not his music.
Blog Author: If, from the U.S.A please explain how your fan experience differs from your European counterparts.
Lovely I: Being from a European country perhaps, as a fan, meant he was more accessible for us not just logistically but in commercial presence: whereas in the United States he did not tour beyond 2008 nor did he regain his 'Faith' era momentum.
Blog Author: What’s your favorite Wham! and/or George Michael song?
Lovely I: Difficult question, for me personally, as I adore all of his music but if I must choose one it is "Father Figure" and for Wham! it would be "Careless Whisper".
Lovely II: That is a really hard question! I love: "You Have Been Loved", "Careless Whisper", "Edge of Heaven", "Kissing a Fool" and "Last Christmas!"
Some of the covers he did were amazing too! "Let Her Down Easy" is absolutely beautiful. I really wish he had recorded "Baby Can I Hold You Tonight". I love the song but he only performed it one time at a benefit. Of course "Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me" and "Somebody To Love" ... that performance was absolutely amazing.
Lovely III: That’s a very difficult question. It depends on the moment, as for most of us, I guess. Immediately after his death I went on to listen to the songs which brought me back to the early stage (early for me) of my love with him and his music. The beginning of his solo career with "A Different Corner" and the "Faith" album. It was very painful but I needed this hard impact: I just felt as a kind of inner need to face reality. After that, there was a 7-8 month long period when I only listened to the 'Older' album on a daily basis. It was about processing my grief, I guess. Then I discovered in George’s last interview that the album had this sort of effect on others, too.
Blog Author: What Country are you from?
Lovely I: Poland
Lovely II: I live in the U. S. A
Lovely III: I have lived in different countries in
Blog Author: How long have you been a George Michael fan?
Lovely I: I have been a fan since he started out in Wham!
Lovely II: I was a fan from the age of 14 through teenage years. I rediscovered him in my 40’s
Lovely III: I’ve been in love with his music from the first time I heard it in 1986. It was the year when "I’m Your Man", "The Edge of Heaven" and "A Different Corner" came out and I was twelve.
Lovely III: I’ve been in love with his music from the first time I heard it in 1986. It was the year when "I’m Your Man", "The Edge of Heaven" and "A Different Corner" came out and I was twelve.
Lovely I: Sadly no.
Lovely II: No, not in my opinion.
Lovely III: In the country where I live now, he comes on the radio sporadically and the song broadcast is almost always "Careless Whisper" without including "Last Christmas" in the Christmas season.
Blog Author: Have there been any recent television programs, movies etc. that have featured his music?
Lovely I: Not that I have seen or heard news of.
Lovely II: Other than 'Deadpool' I can’t think of any.
Lovely III: There have been only a couple of programs since his death and not on main channels.
"Father Figure"
Blog Author: Is his music relevant or popular among centennials there? (born 1996 +)
Lovely I: Not particularly no but as a fan I share his music with my children, friends and family from all generations.
Lovely II: I don’t believe it is unless they have been exposed to it by their parents.
Lovely III: No, my impression is that he isn’t. Some know his name but definitely not his music.
Blog Author: If, from the U.S.A please explain how your fan experience differs from your European counterparts.
Lovely I: Being from a European country perhaps, as a fan, meant he was more accessible for us not just logistically but in commercial presence: whereas in the United States he did not tour beyond 2008 nor did he regain his 'Faith' era momentum.
Lovely II: It differs considerably. George basically dropped off the face of the earth here and I honestly thought he had retired. I had no idea he was still making records and videos!
Lovely III: N/A
Blog Author: What’s your favorite Wham! and/or George Michael song?
Lovely I: Difficult question, for me personally, as I adore all of his music but if I must choose one it is "Father Figure" and for Wham! it would be "Careless Whisper".
Lovely II: That is a really hard question! I love: "You Have Been Loved", "Careless Whisper", "Edge of Heaven", "Kissing a Fool" and "Last Christmas!"
Some of the covers he did were amazing too! "Let Her Down Easy" is absolutely beautiful. I really wish he had recorded "Baby Can I Hold You Tonight". I love the song but he only performed it one time at a benefit. Of course "Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me" and "Somebody To Love" ... that performance was absolutely amazing.
Lovely III: That’s a very difficult question. It depends on the moment, as for most of us, I guess. Immediately after his death I went on to listen to the songs which brought me back to the early stage (early for me) of my love with him and his music. The beginning of his solo career with "A Different Corner" and the "Faith" album. It was very painful but I needed this hard impact: I just felt as a kind of inner need to face reality. After that, there was a 7-8 month long period when I only listened to the 'Older' album on a daily basis. It was about processing my grief, I guess. Then I discovered in George’s last interview that the album had this sort of effect on others, too.
"Father Figure" - MTV Unplugged
Blog Author: For you what is ‘it’ about George Michael that distinguished him from other successful artists?
Lovely I: Certainly his talent and vocal prowess but beyond that as a 'person' it was his humanity. He cared about people and causes long before it became fashionable or trendy among other contemporary artists/celebrities of his time. His heart was pure.
Lovely II: Well, other than his fabulous looks ... he had a vulnerability to him. I remember thinking as a teen, even though I loved him, that he was conceited; but I’ve come to realize wasn't it. He was just extremely honest. To him when he said he wrote great songs or he was one of the best songwriters of his time: he was just telling the truth.
Lovely III: His multifaceted talent, his capacity to rise from the ashes and reinvent, renew himself; but most of all his absolute honesty and faithfulness to his own principles.
Blog Author: How has Michael’s death personally impacted your life?
Lovely I: His passing was shocking and was really eye opening for me. Now in my fifties, I no longer put off reaching out to people to tell them what they mean to me as life is fragile and our length of time on this Earth is not guaranteed. He was a major part of my life and I miss him like I miss family and friends that have passed away because in my eyes he was like both for me.
Lovely II: It hit me like a ton of bricks. I just cried for about ten minutes but kept thinking “this can’t be true! They made a mistake.” His passing was like the start of a midlife crisis in a way. This beautiful, talented man never got the chance to have that next come back! To me he was still the beautiful young, vibrant man that I saw on the Faith tour. I've always said it was the best concert I’d seen. He put everything into his performance and it was fantastic.
When he died, I would break down and just cry for hours. I couldn’t understand why I was reacting this way. I realized he was the first celebrity that I had adored, loved and dreamt of that had died. I felt like I was 17 again ... all those memories of listening to him and waiting for his videos. Even though I figured from the start he was gay, I still dreamt of being married to him! Losing him was like losing a period of my life. It was a difficult time.
His death impacted my life enormously, yes, as it has changed my mindset and consequently my actions in a positive way. It's made me more conscious, more determined, it gives me every day the strength to go ahead and carry on things I believe in ... to change things and situations I’m not satisfied with. To not surrender to resignation as I often did before.
Lovely III: His death impacted my life more than any other loss before including friends and family members. I’ve gotten use to the thought, by now, that he’s not here anymore but there are moments of sadness and pain that bring me straight back to Christmas 2016.
His death impacted my life enormously, yes, as it has changed my mindset and consequently my actions in a positive way. It's made me more conscious, more determined, it gives me every day the strength to go ahead and carry on things I believe in ... to change things and situations I’m not satisfied with. To not surrender to resignation as I often did before.
Blog Author: Do you feel that the needs of his fans have gone unrecognized or ignored by his family, Estate and or Representatives?
Lovely I: I understand the family's grief: I have felt my own grief for loved ones. When someones loved one is a public figure someone outside of the family must carry out the 'duty' of preserving who and what he was in the public forum.
Lovely I: I understand the family's grief: I have felt my own grief for loved ones. When someones loved one is a public figure someone outside of the family must carry out the 'duty' of preserving who and what he was in the public forum.
With respect, I say my opinion which is that I don't believe that his family wishes to share their son, brother, and family member with us, the fans, any longer. That desire to keep him for themselves now is erasing him from the public domain and it's a shame.
Lovely II: Honestly, yes I do. I realize they lost a son and brother. They needed to grieve the way they needed to but as time passed they just didn’t seem to want to acknowledge his fans. I believe George loved his fans. I’m glad they allowed people to place tributes at Highgate and Goring but knew it wouldn’t last. Fans now have nowhere to go to leave a flower or a note.
Lovely III: Yes, I do, absolutely.
Blog Author: What are your thoughts regarding the fan’s desire for some sort of permanent tribute site where fans can gather and pay their respect?
Lovely I: I understand it and believe it would bring great comfort and closure to so many. It doesn't have to be anything of grand proportion or formal just somewhere we're permitted to sit reflect and share if we choose.
Blog Author: How important is it to you that a formal tribute concert endorsed by the family be organized and be broadcast worldwide?
Lovely I: If, the family chose to go that route they could easily turn such an event into a charitable function in so far that charitable ventures is the 'private' aspect of his legacy that they have most interested themselves with.
Lovely II: I would like to see a tribute concert for him as he was always willing to do them and other charity concerts: many musicians have already said they would perform. I don’t really care if it’s endorsed by the family but I guess their permission would be needed for legal reasons. As long as it’s for charity I think George would love it and get a kick out of it!
Lovely III: A formal tribute concert would have been important as well, yes, not only because many fans would have loved it but also because it would have been an opportunity to give him and his musical impact a worldwide recognition. But my impression is that fans are considered uncomfortable for his family.
Blog Author: What does being a Lovely mean to you?
Lovely I: It's a honor to be in a fan base where the artist chose such a beautiful name for his fans who he adored. I carry my title as a Lovely with immense pride. I don't always agree with or am happy with what's happening within the Lovelies community but I think George Michael himself too felt much the same.
Lovely II: Honestly, yes I do. I realize they lost a son and brother. They needed to grieve the way they needed to but as time passed they just didn’t seem to want to acknowledge his fans. I believe George loved his fans. I’m glad they allowed people to place tributes at Highgate and Goring but knew it wouldn’t last. Fans now have nowhere to go to leave a flower or a note.
Lovely III: Yes, I do, absolutely.
"A Different Corner"
Lovely I: I understand it and believe it would bring great comfort and closure to so many. It doesn't have to be anything of grand proportion or formal just somewhere we're permitted to sit reflect and share if we choose.
Lovely II: I absolutely think there should be something. Whether it’s a stone placed somewhere or a park dedicated to him. He deserves it. He deserves to be remembered.
I read that his family is not going to place a headstone or anything at his grave because they don’t want fans to find it: that’s just sad. One of the greatest songwriters, singers and performers of his generation lies in an unmarked grave: no one should be left in an unmarked grave in my opinion.
Lovely III: I’m sure that a physical place where we could go and put a candle would be important for many of us but not for everyone. I think it’s very nice of the Highgate community that on specific occasions they allow fans to light candles in the church near George’s home and let fans remember him.
Lovely III: I’m sure that a physical place where we could go and put a candle would be important for many of us but not for everyone. I think it’s very nice of the Highgate community that on specific occasions they allow fans to light candles in the church near George’s home and let fans remember him.
Lovely I: If, the family chose to go that route they could easily turn such an event into a charitable function in so far that charitable ventures is the 'private' aspect of his legacy that they have most interested themselves with.
Lovely II: I would like to see a tribute concert for him as he was always willing to do them and other charity concerts: many musicians have already said they would perform. I don’t really care if it’s endorsed by the family but I guess their permission would be needed for legal reasons. As long as it’s for charity I think George would love it and get a kick out of it!
Lovely III: A formal tribute concert would have been important as well, yes, not only because many fans would have loved it but also because it would have been an opportunity to give him and his musical impact a worldwide recognition. But my impression is that fans are considered uncomfortable for his family.
Blog Author: What does being a Lovely mean to you?
Lovely I: It's a honor to be in a fan base where the artist chose such a beautiful name for his fans who he adored. I carry my title as a Lovely with immense pride. I don't always agree with or am happy with what's happening within the Lovelies community but I think George Michael himself too felt much the same.
There is both good and bad like in all aspects of our lives. If, we choose to look to the good we are part of something unique and together we could and do good things. But, if we focus on the bad we see each other's flaws and we recognize the disconnect between what we/they say and do. The outlook we share needs to be balanced out and that can only happen with honesty and trust: two aspects that are greatly missing in this fan base.
Lovely II: It means loving George, his music, his humor, his honesty and being respectful to each other.
Lovely II: It means loving George, his music, his humor, his honesty and being respectful to each other.
Lovely III: Now that he's gone, being a Lovely to me means keeping him alive in my own way most of all: not only by listening to his music but also by small acts of kindness, by giving concrete help to people in need, by planting plants for him in my garden, by speaking to him, by searching for him in the night among the brightest stars in the sky.
I still light candles for him not only on the 25th of every month but every time my mind is in a dark place or I just feel that I need to do it. He has become a part of me and now that he's not here anymore he's with me more than ever. On the other hand, to be a Lovely also means to me that I'm not alone, that I'm part of something important, that there are thousands out there who have the same or very similar feelings and that we all are responsible for carrying on his legacy as best we can, together.
"Careless Whisper"
