It takes 72,000 people to fill Wembley Stadium. In 1992, every one of those people was waiting for a miracle during the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. Backstage, a man in a peach blazer stood perfectly still. He did not look like a pop star but a man carrying a heavy secret. The man was George Michael.
George wore dark sunglasses even though it was not sunny. He looked very serious and did not talk to anyone. Some people think he looked like he wanted to be somewhere else. Others say he was just taking a very deep breath. He was getting ready to do something very big.
George Michael backstage at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert in 1992
That quiet moment was just the start of the story. Once he left the shadows, he turned into a different person. He walked out to meet the members of Queen to sing a song in honor of their lost friend. The heavy feeling from backstage did not disappear. Instead, it turned into the energy he needed to sing a tribute no one would ever forget.
He stood with Brian May and Roger Taylor to sing Somebody to Love. He hit every high note with so much heart. He practiced this song more than anyone that day. People in the crowd started to cry because he sounded so much like Freddie.
Queen & George Michael – Somebody to Love (HD Remastered) (The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert)
Fans still argue about that look today. One viewer said he looked completely unimpressed by the noise. Another person wrote that he was actually bracing himself for an emotional night. But after the performance, everyone agreed that he put up a show to remember.
George Michael always used his voice to show his true self. He was a shy man who became a giant when the music started. Follow George Michael on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to see more of his legendary life. Hear his own iconic songs right here!