The late George Michael photographed at the Berlin Biennale in Germany in 2005. The singer continues to have a big following. Image: Getty Images
Still saving us from tears: Remembering George Michael this Christmas
The late singer’s family have thanked fans for their kindness since the death of George’s sister Melanie, and to remind fans to remember the good times.
The late George Michael photographed at the Berlin Biennale in Germany in 2005. The singer continues to have a big following. Image: Getty Images
Christmas day marks the loss of George Michael, the legendary singer, songwriter and record producer who died in 2016 as a result of natural causes at age 53. Sadly, in a devastating blow for the star’s family, it was also the same day George’s sister Melanie Panayiotou died in 2019.
Born in Britain to a Greek Cypriot family, George Michael rose to fame as a member of 1980s music duo Wham! before embarking on a solo music career.
Up to his death the much-loved musician had sold more than 115-million records worldwide, making him one of the top-selling music artists of all time. Wham! sold more than 28-million records between 1982 and 1986. The duo was best known for their hit singles such as Wake Me Up Before You Go Go and Last Christmas.
ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST MUSIC ARTISTS
After Wham! split up, George’s debut solo album, Faith, sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. He went on to sell more than 80-million records, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time.
He achieved seven number one songs on the UK Singles Chart and eight number one songs on the US Billboard Hot 100.
GEORGE MICHAEL’S HIT CHRISTMAS SONG
Christmas would not be Christmas without that famous Wham! hit Last Christmas. The music video features George and then musical partner Andrew Ridgeley on a trip in the winter wonderland of a Swiss ski resort.
The song was released in December 1984 and reached number one on the musical charts in Denmark, Slovenia and Sweden, and number two in nine countries: Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, New Zealand and the UK. Wham! donated all of their royalties from the song to relief efforts for the famine in Ethiopia.
KEEPING GEORGE MICHAEL’S LEGACY ALIVE
George’s sister Melanie Panayiotou had kept her brother’s legacy alive by communicating with his fans on social media after his death. George had a close relationship with Melanie, who used to cut his hair and travel with him on his music tours.
Melanie was found dead at her home on Christmas day 2019, exactly three years after her famous brother. She had gone into a diabetic coma.
Their older sister Yioda took to social media this Christmas Eve to thank fans for the kind messages and thoughts sent to the family.
Read the family’s message here:
“Hello Everybody, Lovelies and Friends everywhere,
“At this time last year Melanie was writing to you, as she had done so beautifully since George passed away on Christmas Day 2016, to thank you all for the love and good wishes you had sent to the family in 2019.
“Melanie loved to communicate with George’s fans and Lovelies all over the world, but when she wrote… We will be swerving the bad and enjoying the good as much as we can this coming year… None of us could have known just what a tough year 2020 would turn out to be, and none of us could have known that within a few days she would be taken from us so suddenly.
“We want to thank all of you who sent us your thoughts and love last Christmas when Melanie passed away; we read every message, and your words and love were a huge comfort at a time of terrible sadness.”
The family wished fans “a peaceful and loving Christmas break however you will be spending it” and signed the message off as follows: “With love Yioda, Jack and David xxxx”.
WATCH the video for ‘Last Christmas’ here:
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