George Michael Live Review @ Evening News Arena (Manchester) - 18 Nov 2006
Photos:Shirlaine Forrest
Live Review
If you're gonna do it.. Do it right
Life's a game of numbers for gorgeous George. After a 15 year sabbatical he's still keeping us guessing, and waiting. Naughty, naughty, he's late -twenty minutes in fact. The 'big tease' knows what he's doing - so do we. He's also got a new album to plug - Twentyfive. There's the long-suffering fans to please as well. The numbers eventually whittle down - now there's only one man in town - George Michael, and he's all ours for an expected 2 ½ hours. The ENA is packed to the rafters, obviously. We're all excited. Who wouldn't be?
A little group of us is guessing what song will open the show. Fastlove? Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go?. Fastlove is favourite, but it's not the one. The never ending classical music is providing the perfect dramatic countdown. Lights go down, and he's still not there. He's singing a ballad off-stage. The set doors slowly open - its torture. He's on and we're up. The place explodes to a standing ovation. I've never seen this kind of thing before, ever. The noise is seriously deafening. Michael-mania's arrived - screams, flashbulbs engulf the arena. He's finally with us in a smart shimmering black suit, black shirt and shoes complete with shades, slicked-backed hair, and yes, designer stubble, which he created. Nice and lean, he looks great. Down to business we get, "Hey Manchester, how are you? It's Saturday night. Let's go... 1, 2, 3", and into Fastlove (we were nearly right). In seconds a pair white of knickers hit the stage, but he's unfazed and cruising the stage from side to side with a huge beam. He's happy, and so are we. His brilliant 15 piece band is rocking each side of scaffolding-like gantry. His voice is still sounding great, and he's out to show it off.
The set is simple, but groundbreaking. The visual effects are revolutionary but not OTT. This presentation is all about projection techniques. It's not flashy - it's cool. The constantly looping images cast hardly any shadows as he wanders around- it's remarkable. There's no sign of nerves. A quick glance at the big screen close-up shows he's sweating profusely. We get seated ballads from most of his albums - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Father Figure, Praying For Time, You Have Been Loved mixed with movers Star People and a thumping Too Funky. Before his well-deserved 20 minute break, we get some political satire- Shoot The Dog brings an enormous inflated caricature of George Bush and British bulldog up to no good. I think we're all shell-shocked as we try to take it all in. The projected countdown (more numbers) heralds his return - 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 we all scream. Next to me the Yorkshire lass struggles - she's lost her voice already - but still goes for it. He's back for more of the same. "You know the drill... don't be shy," as Spin The Wheel brings a sea of swaying arms, conducted by Georgie boy himself. Right now we're putty in his hands. Up and down we go again to An Easier Affair, Jesus To A Child, Amazing, I'm Your Man, and Outside. "Thank you Manchester and goodnight". We know he ain't finished just yet.
After "We want George, we want George, we want George" he's back for Careless Whisper, letting us do most of the singing. Cheers ring out as a couple snog on the large screen - they don't even know they're been watched by 15,000 people. He's gone again, but not for long. Respectfully he says, "Thanks for buying the new album. It looks like number one tomorrow. Give yourself a big clap". So we do. A rousing Freedom is helped along by us all, and I mean all. I look around and see us all at it. It's a sight to behold. As painful as it is, he has to go-go.He kisses the crowd goodbye and bangs his heart clench fisted and wanders into the night. And what a night.
GM fan Samantha Kirkham from York enthused," He makes people dance who can't dance, and people who can't normally show emotion - show it."
Profound, but true.
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