Driving through a rainy night with the radio on...


It was when I was in upstate NY staying with my Dad in the country, after my Mom had died. I was driving back home after a night at Borders where I went just to be with people and books for an evening. The car FM radio was on and tuned to a station that played jazz and blues; really one of the best radio stations I've ever run across in my travels. They played the best selection of songs; all the greats from the past and a lot of new people I'd bever heard of, but really good. For some reason, I couldn't get the station in my Dad's house, only on the car radio. I found myself driving a lot, late at night. Well, on this particular night, they played this incredible version of "Roxanne" the song by Sting. It was so sweet. And so gay...

The song ended and the announcer said "That was George Michael from his new CD Songs From The Last Century"


It was startling! I hadn't really paid all that much attention to pop during the time that Wham! was around, or during his career following that. I mean, I knew he was a cute young thing with a lot of popular hits. I thought the videos on MTV were interesting. I was sure he was gay. But I never really listened to the music, I just noticed it; good to bop around to when it came on in a bar. And here was this really intelligent, talented and very gay interpretation of a song. I got the Songs From The Last Century CD and really liked it. There are these great songs and the focus on them is all man to man. "Liz Taylor is not his style, and even Ricky Martin's smile... is something he can't see.... My baby just cares for me."

I got a laptop when I realized that I would be "up north" for longer than I had first anticipated and it came with a DVD player and three free DVD's. There wasn't the greatest selection, but one of them was "Ladies and Gentlemen: The Best Of George Michael". It had all his videos with the option to see the lyrics on the screen, like subtitles, and I found the lyrics rather engaging. I realised that he wasn't just a pretty pop person; he could actually write a great song with some depth.

My favorite, I think, is "Kissing a Fool".

You are far, when I could have been your star
You listened to people
Who scared you to death, and from my heart
Strange that you were strong enough
To even make a start
But you'll never find peace of mind
Till you listen to your heart

People, you can never change the way they feel
Better let them do just what they will
For they will, If you let them
Steal your heart from you
People,Will always make a lover feel a fool
But you knew I loved you
We could have shown them all
We should have seen love through

Fooled me with the tears in your eyes
Covered me with kisses and lies
So good-bye, but please don't take my heart

You are far, I'm never gonna be your star
I'll pick up the pieces and mend my heart
Maybe I'll be strong enough, I don't know where to start
But I'll never find peace of mind, while I listen to my heart
People, you can never change the way they feel
Better let them do just what they will
For they will, If you let them, steal your heart

And people, will always make a lover feel a fool
But you knew I loved you,
We could have shown them all
We should have seen love through

But remember this, every other kiss,
That you ever give, long as we both live
When you need the hand of another man
One you really can surrender with
I will wait for you, like I always do
There's something there, that can't compare
With any other

You are far
When I could have been your star
You listened to people
Who scared you to death, and from my heart
Strange that I was wrong enough
To think you'd love me too.
I guess you were kissing a fool

You must have been kissing a fool

O.K. He was in the closet for a long time, but when he got caught, he came out with a vengeance; the video "outside" is an example. The gay text was always there, and who knows how much pressure there was from the record company...

I think he's really great.






BTW, have you seen my monkey?