The much-missed George Michael was a stunning vocalist, and a one-of-a-kind performer. An artist who broke countless records, he was also a devoted student of music – even if he was confident enough to poke fun at some of his heroes.
Take 1990 solo album ‘Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1’. His second full length solo statement, it marked a period of evolution, moving beyond his pop roots to fully embrace different forms of songwriting. In the process, George Michael would cite – but also subvert – some of the biggest names in music history.
Dropping in a few bars of The Rolling Stones’ ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ into ‘I’m Waiting For The Day’, George Michael also absorbed the influence of The Beatles on his song ‘Heal The Pain’.
A mature offering from the star, the chords have a real Beatles-esque quality, in particular recalling the vivid way with melody that Sir Paul McCartney has made his own. Reviewers at the time noted the link, and it was said to be a personal favourite of George Michael, regularly appearing in his titanic live shows.
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Paul McCartney was hugely flattered by the song, and the comparisons made by fans. Indeed, the two hit the studio in 2005 to record a new version of ‘Heal The Pain’, which went on to be released as part of the following year’s George Michael compilation ‘Twenty Five’.
The singer told Chris Evans during a radio interview in 2005: “I made one record to show how much I loved Lennon [‘Praying For Time’], I made another record to show how much I loved McCartney. I didn’t dream McCartney would ever sing it. And actually when he sings it, it sounds like a Paul McCartney record!”
A moment to cherish between two undeniable icons of British music, you can re-visit that recording below.
