THE Concert

Ahhhh, George.

I was fortunate enough to attend the George Michael show in Chicago 2 weeks ago. And as many of you know, just typing that sentence makes me swoon with some kind of unearthly pleasure. George has been my heartthrob and musical muse for so many years, the idea of me being able to go see him in concert after this many years? ~sigh~

It’s been 17 years since he’s toured the U.S. It’s been a little longer than that since I saw him (yeah, I was 13 and a crazy wacked-out-on-the-80’s school girl) . And as much as George has been lambasted in the press over the years (and rightfully so because can someone fuck up more than him? Oh, thank you Amy Winehouse for taking over that label *sigh*), I’ve still held a special place for him in my mind because I knew his talent was just that good.

So….the concert? Was it everything I hoped for and more? And more! Absolutely! And the whole evening was interlinked with being able to see one of my dearest friends, Susan, who I haven’t seen in almost a year. We met up at the train station and proceeded to have a faboo dinner at Adobo downtown (curse the parking!) and oh how I can’t imagine a better person to spend this whole evening with. We were silly, crazy, and soaking up every minute of it. Well, me more so than her – Thank you Susan for sharing this experience with me and letting me absorb all there was to absorb, and feeding off my frenzy accordingly! I’ve truly missed our lunches, our walks, our everything!

Our seats were much better than I thought – just a bit up from the main floor on the left of the stage. And Susan got her bald fix as we sat right next to a cute gay couple, one half of which was bald. Nothing like chatting up perfect strangers at the GM concert. Of course! That’s part of the fun, right?!

We were at the United Center, a decent venue for this – George’s show was appropriately saturated in the multimedia way he does so well – 40 foot video screens behind him showing reminiscent clips of Wham! Videos and other visual eye candy that really enhanced the music that much more. Plus shots of him strutting around during I’m Your Man and Flawless….oh boy – it was hot to say the least. And the main stage was just an extension of the screen, so that the footage would roll up under the floor of the stage to the screen behind him – a cool effect for sure.

But in the end, it was all about the consummate performer that George is. He hit every note spot on – he let the crowd feed off his energy and vice versa – he was so in tune with us, it felt like he’d been performing like this since he was born.

He opened with Waiting (Reprise) which was a strange choice, but oh so appropriate. Not a very well known song, surely, but him singing behind the stage with the lights down low and the screens just vibrating with vivid colors and graphics….and when he sang “You once said there’s a way back for every man, Here I am!” he comes out through the middle of the stage wall at that point and the whole place went beserk.

Including me. =)

His set list was pretty much spot on. I already had prepped myself for not hearing a few of my faves (No “I Want Your Sex” no “Praying for Time”) but everything he did play was pure magic. I haven’t had that much adrenaline-pumping fun in such a long time.

And as soon as Susan sends me her videos/pics, I’ll share with y’all some of the fun we had that evening. *hint hint* Alas, no videos/pics from the concert itself but you will hopefully get back into the groove of 30 Seconds with Susan vids that have been long missed and needed, right?

His last number? “Outside” – ever seen that video? Youtube it – it’s such a nice sexy farce on his arrests, etc. And he left the stage for just a minute, and came back in this sexy policeman outfit from the video. I about swooned and fell over. Damn, that man knows how to PERFORM! May I look and sound HALF that good at 45. Sheesh.

And he came out for TWO encores, one a slow one featuring Carless Whisper and another one playing Freedom 90 to bring the motherf*ck*ng house DOWN, I’m telling ya! Sheesh, the place was totally on fire.

I’m one sated fan, I’ll tell you that. *grin*