Musical history of George Michael electrifies Berko
The Celebrating George Michael show electrified a singing and dancing audience as the musical history of the singer who blended pop, soul and R & B evolved, Lyn Drummond reports.
As Steve Mitchell started to sing at Berkhamsted’s Civic Centre on 19 April, there was an audible gasp at how much he sounded and looked like the late singer.
From poignant ballads like Careless Whisper and A Different Corner to the upbeat dance anthems such as Faith, Freedom! ’90,’ and Outside, every George Michael hit was performed with the passion and precision that made the original songs timeless classics.
Adding authenticity to the production was Dave West, former Wham! bassist, who joined George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley on the very first recordings of Wham Rap, Careless Whisper, and Club Tropicana, created in demo sessions at Andrew’s house in Bushey.
‘With this show, celebrating his music allows me to help celebrate George’s life in music with so many of his fantastic fans. It really is a special show, with a great band and of course Steve is really something special,’ Dave said. ‘George was a really nice guy, he cared a lot about people, had a way of testing an emotional pulse.’
Steve founded his tribute band, Celebrating George Michael, with Dave four years ago after a live stream during Covid. ‘It went so well that we decided to create the show and take it on tour,’ Steve said.
Steve was 14 when he discovered George Michael as his girlfriend was a fan. ‘What started as simply singing along to his songs for hours soon grew into a lifelong passion,’ he said. ‘I was instantly drawn in by his incredible voice, songwriting, and stage presence.’
This concert was not only a story of George Michael’s life from his early days with Wham! but one where he was also a social activist and philanthropist, using his platform to campaign for various causes close to his heart.
When Wham! separated in 1986 after releasing a farewell single called The Edge of Heaven, which gave the band their fourth UK Number 1 single, George was quoted as saying that he wanted to ‘write to more honest emotions’, adding that he wished to create ‘songs that people could personally relate to’.
This tribute band audience agreed, voting resoundingly for an encore of Freedom.
Because of its urge to just sing and dance?
Or to hear the lyrics once more.
Which yearn to break free from what others expect of you?
The most truthful tribute to George Michael.