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George Micheal Last ever Live Shows on Bank Holiday Weekend
After 25 years and seven UK No 1 albums, George Michael claims he is bringing his live career to an end. He has played the first of his final major farewell concerts in London on Sunday and Monday.
His two Earls Court dates, labelled The Final Two, have been billed as the last arena-size shows the singer will ever play. Fans had travelled from as far as field as the US, Australia and Mexico for the concerts. But he will also play another gig billed as the "Final One" in Copenhagen on Saturday. Saturday's show in Copenhagen will be the last of the 25 Live Tour, which started in Barcelona in September 2006. Many suggested that he is not ready to retire from singing.
In the 1990s Micheal turned away from pop music, favouring instead a muted, melancholy strain of sophisticated soul. His confessional earnestness has made him an arena-filling star who can rival Elton John for sentimental chart-toppers but who is a lot less fun than Robbie Williams as a live performer.
He has been on the road for almost two years with his 25 Live world tour - which was his first outing for 15 years. At the first night at Earls Court he played a mixture of hits and rarities for the loyal crowed. Michael started the night with Fast Love, telling the audience: "It's good to be home." Graphics flowed behind and beneath him on a curved, cascading screen. He seemed to enjoy the reaction from the party crowd. Alone in the spotlight, he was continually criss-crossing the stage to work the crowd, pointing, waving, clapping and indulging in some funky dancing to the delight of his delirious fans.
The first half of the show included favourites such as Father Figure and Too Funky as well as lesser heard tracks such as First Time I Ever Saw Your Face, from the album Songs From the Last Century, and Hard Day, from Faith. The second half of the night was packed with solo hits, including Faith, Flawless and Careless Whisper.
Michael donned a camp US police uniform for Outside. The track he wrote about being outed and arrested after propositioning an undercover officer in a public toilet in Los Angeles officer in 1998.
He also sang a cover of Feeling Good, made famous by Nina Simone, which Michael has recorded for the US TV show Eli Stone. He said the song had not yet been released, but that fans would be able to download it free from Christmas Day. It would be released "along with a new Christmas song that I wrote", he added, without revealing any details.
Michael returned for two encores, ending with Freedom '90, which became an arms-in-the-air celebration among the crowd. At the end of Sunday's show, Michael thanked the fans for "25 amazing years". Leaving the stage, he added: "See you next time."
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