By George, I think she's got it!

There are a few things in my life that I proudly wear on my sleeve, in terms of my "nerd" status. One is Harry Potter (duh). Two is Star Wars. Three is X-Men. But something that transcends all of that at some level are my music tastes. I am one that must have music on at all times. But even when it's just for a few minutes in the car, or while bringing the groceries in the house, or something that most people probably wouldn't associate with a time to need music....I just do.

And one of the artists that has struck a chord (sorry, that pun is just unavoidable here) with me since I was a pre-pubescent school girl is George Michael. I've been infatuated, for lack of a better word, with him for the better part of my life. I took slack for this in the early 90's when it wasn't cool to like him. Yeah, yeah, he was gay and wouldn't come out. So what? He was a troubled soul, for sure. This made him a helluva songwriter. And then when he became the poster child for getting into trouble out of sheer stupidity in the late 90s and early 2000, I stood by him and still idolized him. He was still producing decent music, even if I had to order his CDs from the UK Amazon.com cuz American outlets stopped selling his stuff.

I learned something about George over the years. He has a helluva sense of humor. Just watch the video for "Outside" and see how he makes fun of himself and his "police/restroom" saga. Anybody who can laugh AT themselves with that kind of vim and vigor, they get huge brownie points in my book. His videos have become more out there in recent years, in terms of strangeness, or quirky-ness and I just eat that up.

His was the first concert I ever went to. 13 years old, summer before my 9th grade year, my dad took my best friend Jamilah and I to the Faith concert. Yup. The one with "I want your Sex". At the concert with my father. Talk about bizarre. *Shaking head*

George's entire persona, voice, and self has always been one I thought was larger than life. He could cover ANY song and do it justice. He could duet with ANYONE and hold his own, often times outshining the superstar he coupled himself with.

Not many folks know his later songs, but his Listen Without Prejudice Vol.1 is one of my all time favorite albums. And Jesus to a Child from "Older" is one of the most beautiful songs ever written and performed.

So all of this leads me to the drama in my life: They announced George was coming to the US for a tour - first time in 17 years. Is he coming to Detroit? No, of course not. But he's coming to Chicago. So I bought 2 tickets and am going to get myself to that show, come hell or high water. No WAY am I missing this opportunity. Do I have someone to go with yet? Nope, not yet. But a few friends are debating about it and I'm sure I'll get someone who can appreciate the concert, if not as much as me, then at least enough to enjoy themselves and not be a killjoy.

And this concert is a "Greatest Hits" concert so I'll get to enjoy all his fabulous songs live and in person. My seats are pretty good, actually (they better be for what I paid for them!) and I'm so excited about seeing him in concert, I get all animated and pathetic if you get me talking about it. He's just such a fabulous performer in person....I can't wait for July 9 in Chicago!