As much as Joyce was loyal and a massive (competitively #1 in her mind) fan of The Monkees and maybe equally Michael Nesmith (Michael Nemith), as I came to learn not too long after being around her, she was super obsessed with George Michael aka “Jorge Miguel.”
His work with Wham! of course, and then his solo career. As she told me when she was a kid in the 80’s (pre-High School based on the years), “You were either a Tears for Fears fan or a Wham! fan. I was Team Wham!”
When Joyce and I met in 2011 though, George Michael’s career had been somewhat quiet for several years. He did perform at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London though (and didn’t sing with Queen, but instead Jessie J did). And he released a new track titled “White Light.”
But he had had some health issues I guess including a stay in a Rehab center I recall not too long before that. However, he was looking to eventually make a new album as his previous record “Patience” was released in 2004.
And eventually he made what became a famed appearance on James Cordon’s The Late Late Show doing the 1st “Carpool Karaoke” with Cordon. Which went on to become a big segment on that show.
So, early 2016, the music world was shocked to lose David Bowie in January. And then fast forward a few months in April, Minnesota’s own Prince also was tragically lost as well. 2 of the biggest music icons lost in such a short window of time.
And while Joyce was a pretty big Prince fan (but not much of a Bowie fan though), what came towards the end of the calendar at X-Mas, really broke her heart.
George Michael was found dead in his residence on Christmas Day in 2016. I remember a couple of things about it. For 1, the news came while or maybe just before Joyce started making her Macaroni and Cheese. Something she would make periodically, and with a protein like chicken, or more likely around X-Mas, Ham.
I remember her crying that night saying she was going to always make Mac’n’cheese for Jorge Miguel on Christmas.
And of course, Wham! had the famous hit “Last Christmas” which has since become a staple to be played around Christmas and the Holidays now. Many inferior covers of course included. I’ll confess, I don’t think I’d ever heard it before meeting Joyce. But heard it (when she would play it) a ton before he died around X-Mas time every year, and then since even more.
There had been reports the day or 2 before about Carrie Fisher being hospitalized after flying home from Europe. And Joyce even said “I wish it had been Carrie Fisher instead” or something to that effect (“I wish the lord had taken Carrie Fisher instead”). Which Carrie Fisher did die herself on the 27th of December, just 2 days later from having blood clots.
George Michael had been looking to make a new album with Nile Rodgers right around the time he passed away. It was going to be a dance album. But it didn’t happen. I guess he had gained a lot of weight, but was trying to lose much of it, and his heart wasn’t able to handle it.
Joyce after that was talking about all the 80’s icons from her childhood were gone. Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Prince earlier in 2016, and now her beloved Jorge Miguel.
Joyce and her friends did get to see George Michael live once at least. Much of it is actually on YouTube. Here’s 1 clip, of her favorite song of all-time “Everything She Wants.”
Everything She Wants 7/7/2008
She had her friends all go to different Ticketmaster locations to make sure they got the best seats. And this was in 2008, when Ticketmaster sold tickets at stores like Mervyns California and other “Ticketmaster Outlets.”
So, at least she did get to see him. George Michael did come to St.Paul at least 1 other time, on September 13, 1988 which was on a Tuesday Night when she was 13 and in 8th grade. Just 11 days before my brother and I’s bnai-mitzvah in fact, lol. But I don’t believe she was able to go to that show. I cannot imagine Joyce’s mom allowing it.
On Sunday night, I attended with Joyce’s friend Rhonda, “The Life and Music of George Michael” tribute performance at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis. Joyce had reservations about tribute performances/bands, and this group had come to Minneapolis I believe in 2024, and she wasn’t interested. But when I saw they were coming back again in May, I asked her if she wanted to go and she reluctantly in some ways said sure.
The show was pretty good. They had 2 different guys singing and telling George Michael’s story and dressing the part. And they played most of the “hits” per say. Songs people knew from Wham! his solo career, duets and even a couple of his famed covers (Queen’s “Somebody to Love,” Stevie Wonder’s “As” and Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”)
But I will admit, music has been very hard for me to listen to without getting grief triggers, and this show on Sunday Night was very much a struggle for me. There were at least 7 or 8 songs they played, that just got me thinking of her throughout them being played. “Everything She Wants” and “Carless Whisper” especially. And actually they give me earworms for hours or even days after. Most memorable songs do. And this being just a couple of days after, I’ve heard George Michael and Wham! songs in my head constantly the last couple of days.
And thinking of Joyce of course.
I do think while she may have appreciated seeing and hearing his music played live again after 17 years. She would still have had reservations about this show. “Father Figure” of course she never liked, and even “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” I think she got sick of like “I’m a Believer” and “Daydream Believer” (and even say “Pleasant Valley Sunday” to an extent).
But, thinking about George Michael, and its been almost 9 years since he passed away. And it was not long after we got married in 2016, I suppose seeing this show still would have meant something to her. Although to see like Mariah Carey or someone she liked and respected as a singer do it would maybe have meant more (even say Ricky Martin perhaps. Or Elton John? who was just in town last night for a Starkey benefit in fact).
But, it was still fun and good to see. Maybe a little cathartic even. Would I go again? I’m skeptical, especially for the price of even a tribute show. But I guess I wouldn’t rule it out. I do hope and feel Joyce was with me there.
