George Michael became one of the greatest singers in the world very quickly. But guess what? He had a secret about how he wrote his first big hits. He said he had “no shame at all” about it. Michael told a magazine in 1985 that most of his early songs were copied from older music. This sounds like a problem, but he said it was normal for great songs.
He was not trying to trick anyone. He just wanted a song to have a special “feel,” like a dance beat or a smooth rhythm. For his Wham! album Make It Big, he wanted the music to sound like the “black sounds of the late 60s and early 70s.” This meant borrowing from famous Motown artists. “Make It Big” became a worldwide smash hit because of this.
George Michael – Freedom! ’90 (Official Video)
One song that shows this best is “Wham!” hit “Freedom.” It uses strong brass instruments and a fast beat, just like the old Motown groups did. Fans loved that big sound. One viewer wrote, “This song just makes you want to get up and dance every time!” Another comment said, “The energy here is just perfect and timeless.” People agreed that George Michael took that Motown style and made it new for the 1980s, and they love him for it.
That soul influence did not stop with “Freedom.” Michael also used it to create songs with a heavy, layered texture. He knew he had many influences he needed to use up before he could find his own unique sound. He loved many different types of music and was open about letting them guide his pen.
Wham! – Everything She Wants (Official Video)
Another Wham! Track, “Everything She Wants,” proves this. This song is slow and dramatic, but its vast, full sound comes from the famous “Wall of Sound” production style of the 1960s. Fans felt the depth of the song, even with the new 80s synth sounds. This careful borrowing helped him write the biggest songs of his career.
George Michael’s journey shows that borrowing can be beneficial. He turned his love for older music into massive hits that sounded fresh and new. Follow George Michael’s official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to hear the magic of a star who was not afraid to learn from the best.