Controverial Statements about 9/11

I’m writing this off-topic because I need to get away from George Michael for a while. So here it goes…

Here in America, September 11 is the most holy of national tragedies. Two people of some notoriety in their respective fields, however, have come out with similar statements about the event that were considered blasphemous and insensitive. Below are the quotes:

"I had not the slightest emotional reaction. I thought, 'This is a really strange art project.' It was the most amazing sight in terms of sheer elegance. It fell like water. It just slid, like a turtleneck going over someone's head."
– Elizabeth Wurtzell, American author of “Prozac Nation,” a book about her experiences with depression.

“The thing about 9/11 is that it's kind of like an artwork in its own right ... Of course, it's visually stunning and you've got to hand it to them on some level because they've achieved something which nobody would have ever have thought possible - especially to a country as big as America. So on one level they kind of need congratulating, which a lot of people shy away from, which is a very dangerous thing."
-- Damien Hirst, English artist, on September 10, 2002

Both comments were met with a storm of disbelief and rage. Both people had to pay a heavy price for their honest opinions. Elizabeth Wurtzell did the interview to promote the same-titled movie based on her book, which, because of her comment, was shelved indefinitely and only later quietly released on DVD. Damien Hirst had to immediately issue an apology for his comment.

What do you think of these comments and do you think public reaction was justified? Remember, these two people are only expressing their honest opinions and reactions aloud.

George Michael on THIS IS YOUR LIFE

Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself ...

From “Willhare” on the forums of the Official George Michael Site (with his permission):

AN OPEN LETTER TO GEORGE MICHAEL

George, I know you are ramping up for the new tour. I have read lots of posts on here, I've been to other chat rooms, I've talked to a lot of my old friends, and I have heard a lot of the same things. I wanted to let you know that I will have a great time at your show, and many others will, but my fear is that there could be a lot of uncomfortable silences in your shows if you rely too heavily on your newer stuff. And if the audience as a whole is not into it, it would lessen the impact. The crowd's energy makes or breaks the show, you know that. I know I sound like a casual fan, but I am far from that. At this moment, I am shaking with excitement at seeing you (I feel that I hit the lottery because I have a FRONT ROW seat for the Phoenix show, and I only paid face value!) because I never saw you in 88 or 90. You defined my teenage years, as Faith came out when I was a senior in high school. Through and John and Elvis are Dead give me chills every time I hear them. But even as a huge fan, I became a devoted follower because I loved and still love I Want Your Sex, Monkey, One More Try, and Battlestations. I know many American fans feel the same way. But I worry about the crowd's reaction if you don't change too much from your UK tour.

One of the reasons the UK crowds got into everything was that they knew most of the songs and were singing along with everything, which afforded the opportunity for you to turn the mike to the audience so they could sing along, too. Nearly everything you've recorded since 2000 has (sadly) been ignored stateside. People can't sing along to songs they don't know. And American audiences are strange. I keep bringing this up in other posts, but Queen came here after a 24 year absence, and even though they played many, many huge hits, the audiences still didn't sing along to "Love of My Life," a song that everyone else in the world knows to sing along to, but in America they didn't. And no one did the hand-clapping for "Radio Ga-Ga," another thing that is done everywhere else in the world. They had to work very hard to get the audiences on their side. If they decided to not play their hits, their tour would have sunk. It is an apt comparison because they sold out their UK tour, just like you did. The UK is where you still reign. America is not the same for you. Many still love you, but in a way, you have to remind America why they bought millions of your records. Of course, we will sing every word of Faith and Father Figure and Careless Whisper, but not Flawless.

I was looking at some of your set lists for the UK tour, and of the songs you played, 7 or 8 songs out of 22 were hits that Americans would know. Not a good ratio for a tour that is to be a retrospective of your career. Only 2 songs from Faith? TWO SONGS??? It was that album that allowed you to do whatever you wanted. There will be many, many, many fans who will leave very disappointed if that's all you do. And only three from Prejudice? All that's needed is two more songs from each album instead of four unknown songs and you'd have a nice mix. You very well might do that, I have no idea. But recent interviews haven't given me any hope.

I read the USA Today article where you talked about hating to tour and hating hotel rooms, and how he dislikes singing "Careless Whisper," not to mention refusing to sing two huge hits because he's "too old." 44 is not old, and all we're asking as US fans is for you to sing his hits one last time. You have 21 dates in North America. That's only 21 times to sing songs you may not like to sing. This is not a case of you promoting an all-new album, this is a GREATEST HITS tour. To leave out so many hits in that type of tour is a recipe for a lackluster tour. You have toured only three times in twenty years. The least you can do is pull out just a few more hits, that's all. Make it a 13-10 or 12-11 split. 10 or 11 new or lesser-known songs give you a lot of wiggle room. The Stones are ancient, but they sing Brown Sugar and Satisfaction, and many other songs that they've played thousands of times, and they tour constantly.

George, you shouldn't rely on the fact that your die-hard fans will love you even if all you did was sing the phone book (which we will). But there are still lots of tickets out there, waiting to be bought by a fan base that is unsure of what you're going to do. Rightly or not, Youtube showed us what you did in the UK, so some might be asking themselves if that's the kind of show they want to pay a week's pay to see. The Internet is an unforgiving medium, so expectations have been set for you even before you sing one note in front of us.

I know you know this, but in addition to the hits, you need to get out and promote POSITIVELY, not complain about how much you dislike doing the thing that we are paying to see. Get on shows and do some live songs, like on Letterman or Saturday Night Live. You hate promotion, I know, but I'm sure you would hate a cold audience FAR more. Don't fight the audiences that love you, George! Show the skeptics that you want to rock us, to entertain us, that you want to be dancing on the stage. I can see it in your face that you enjoyed the shows while you were doing them, but the recent words in print conflict with the joy you experienced on stage in Europe.

Please, George, I hope you read these posts. I love you and love your music, but I want the American masses to re-embrace you, to remember the days when you drove Americans crazy. You can show us that you are a serious artist, because you are a serious artist. Not too many people can write over 13 #1 songs. That takes a genius that nearly no one has. You can't grow in the future if you don't embrace and incorporate your past. Just because you wore certain clothes or danced a certain way doesn't mean that the music was bad. Quite the opposite. You are the most talented solo artist I have ever heard. So don't be embarrassed by your earlier fame and music. It rocked, as does your new stuff, but they all must be a part of you. You are one of the best songwriters ever, be it Precious Box or Hard Day. They are both brilliant, and they both could and should be played on your tour.

You've said that this is your last big tour. So make it a big, big tour. In the USA Today article that you want to give us the best show that we've ever seen. I know the light show will be brilliant, and your voice is the draw, but we want the "party" atmosphere that you apparently didn't like in the UK. This tour should be a party, a celebration, so celebrate with us, give us the strong memories along with a glimpse of the future. You can still groove and be serious at the same time. I know you don't belong to us, but you also said that we don't belong to you. So meet us halfway. We will be there to meet you.

I love you and wish you nothing but the best.

See you soon,

An American Fan

Season Finale of ELI STONE

Wow, that was a GREAT finale. Nice way to wrap up a show whose future is uncertain. You can watch a clip of it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjwAFo4OErc. George just swings in it.

For those wanting to sign a petition to have the show renewed for the next season, go to: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/save-eli-stone. The petition is going straight to the President of the ABC network.

Ciao.

New Art on George's Wall?

This is art done by the graffiti artist Banksy, who was recently approached by a certain George Michael to paint some of his walls in his London home. Banksy is to be paid in the realm of $2 million and will paint the place under the condition that nobody be around, including George. Looks pretty cool doesn't it? You can catch more of his work at his website at: http://www.banksy.co.uk/menu.html

Get Psyched!

Isn't this the coolest picture?! This is Emily meeting George Michael right after the taping of the Oprah show in May, 2004. She waited behind the tv studio and got to catch his limousine leaving the place. Smart girl!

GEORGE MICHAEL TICKETS for the North American Tour go on sale this weekend (possibly today) for the public. Be sure to catch him while you can! This is his last major tour and the first visit to America in 17 years. He's only playing one venue for one night in most cities, so tickets are sure to sell out fast.

I already got my tix from the fan club. San Diego (opening night) and Chicago. I am so excited!!!!!!!!