George Michael’s music continues on
First of four new songs set for release is in the new movie Last Christmas
The first George Michael single released since his death will not be his last.
The song This Is How (We Want You To Get High), out now, is one of four songs by the late singer that will be made public, producer James Jackman told London Daily Telegraph.
Although the former Wham! star had been working on an album before his death in 2016, his family is said to be determined to release only songs Michael himself felt met his own high standards.
Jackman, who worked with him for 19 years as a programmer, engineer and co-writer, said: “There is fantastic material but it’s not finished.
“They were sketches, lyric ideas, parts of verses and choruses. His family want to honour George’s memory so they won’t be pulling half-finished demos out of the vault.”
The four tracks, he said, would have become “the backbone” of the new album.
The songs will “all see the light of day, but in what form we don’t know yet.”
“They were made with great care, when he was at the top of his game, and it was incredible to be a part of. He was one of the greatest singer-songwriter’s (the U.K.) has ever produced,” Jackman said. “This stuff is as good as anything he ever recorded.”
The new single touches on issues surrounding cycles of drug addiction and violence within families.
The recording, written, produced and mixed by Michael, looks at how parents can unwittingly influence their children into adopting unhealthy lifestyles. It refers to a “daddy” who is a “drinker” and “toker” and touches on wife-beating and bullied children.
Jackman insisted these are not autobiographical references.
Michael died at his home west of London on Christmas Day in 2016.
He was 53. A post-mortem found he died from natural causes due to heart and liver disease.
His career was punctuated by a series of arrests for drug-related offences.
This is How will also be featured at the end of the new movie Last Christmas, starring Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding and Michelle Yeoh.
Jackman said the four songs could have heralded a resurgence in Michael’s career.
“They are great songs,” he said. “George was in a good space, excited about the future, confident that he was going to come back with a bang. It would have been an upbeat, positive album, a 21st-century Faith (his 1987 debut solo album). It’s a shame it wasn’t finished.”
London Daily Telegraph