George Michael, July 26, Wachovia

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George Michael, July 26, Wachovia

POSTED: Monday, July 28, 2008, 9:58 PM

Filed Under: Music | Dance | Show Blast from the Past

"But Mr. Officer, I was just ... "

Photo | Deesha Dyer

"I know that being a George Michael fan hasn’t always been easy, but I assure you — around 11:30 tonight, it’ll be the easiest thing to be." –Mr. George Michael

The time between when I bought the ticket in March and when I saw the George Michael this past Saturday have been the longest three months of my life. OK, maybe that is a bit dramatic — but is there another way to be when we're talking about Mr. Wham himself?

Even with two days to organize my thoughts, I’m still a bit scattered. There he was, right in front of me doing the same side-to-side ass-shaking dance that made me fall in love with him when those tight pants were huggin' his legs back in the '80s. This was George, my dear George. When the stage opened up at 8:45 p.m., and he walked out and started "Fastlove," I looked like a lunatic, really. Jumping up and down, screaming, taking pictures and singing every word. GEORGE MICHAEL!!

He looked and sounded fantastic. He had his signature sunglasses on, a suit jacket over top of a shirt tucked in to some snug but hip pants. He had six backup singers who were all full of soul and harmony; also had a six-piece (I think) band providing him with the instrumentals.

Among the songs he belted out — "Amazing" (dedicated to his longtime partner Kenny), "Father Figure," "One More Try," "Star People," "Kissing a Fool," "Praying for Time”, "Too Funky," "Flawless" (he said that this song has been called the "gayest dance song ever," to which he replied by saying it’s just "the f*ckin' best dance song ever"), and "Spinning the Wheel." There was a 20-minute intermission, which was welcomed since my feet and my voice needed a little rest. I’m sure George’s did, too.

"Faith"

Photo | Deesha Dyer

As expected, he did a costume change for "Outside." If you aren’t familiar, the song is making fun of the bathroom/ undercover cop incident from almost a decade ago. No need to go into it, really — who cares? — but he came out in a police shirt and smiled and laughed through the whole song. We all know, he knows — and it just made it all the funnier. The classic "Faith" was sprinkled somewhere in there, too. The highlight for me was "Everything She Wants," which is now the song on My MySpace (ha). I almost jumped out of my dress ... really.

George (I feel like after spending the amount of money that I spent, we are friends and I can call him that) talked only a bit, but over and over thanked everyone for being fans for more than 25 years.

He also laughed at some of the criticism on his looks that he’s been getting, noting that one review said his vocals were in "top form," but he was not looking the part. His response: "If my voice sounds great, and I’ve got a double chin — f*ck it." I think I’ll start taking up that philosophy.

Oh, he also had interesting backdrops playing. Some of his earlier days, and others of Ms. Dita Von Teese wearing pasties in a champagne glass … wow, she’s beautiful (all set to a big band jazz version of "Feeling Good"). He said that the latter was for all the guys that were dragged to the concert by their girlfriends, in which one guy stood up and yelled, "That's what I'm talkin' 'bout."

There were two encores. One was "Careless Whisper," which everyone sang along to, and the second was "Freedom," which, as you can guess, everyone also sang along to.

Thank you, George, for giving us an awesome show after 17 years of not touring the US. While he gives the tabloids the fuel, his laughter and talent seem to contain the fire that is the power of the indestructible George Michael.

Children of the 80’s represent!

Click here for more pictures!

Valerie

Posted 2008-08-06 10:35:24

OMG! I was at this concert and it was beyond spectacular! George Michael was in TOP form. I have been a huge fan since highschool. This concert totally exceeded my expectations and they were pretty high! I hope all the die hard fans won't need to wait too long for another concert!!!!

Posted by deesha dyer @ 9:58 PM Permalink | Post a comment

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Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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