George Michael once picked “the best produced song in the history of rock”
George Michael crafted some of the finest pop music in history. Both in his solo career and with Wham, he played a significant role in shaping the sound of the 1980s, seamlessly blending pure pop melodies with polished production excellence. He held a deep reverence for the art of songwriting, evident in his meticulous approach to crafting each track. Moreover, his music appreciation extended beyond his own genre, as he readily shared his admiration for songs that resonated with him across various musical styles.
Sometimes, it can be hard for artists to keep up with the times. As the rock and pop of the 1980s began to give way to the darker sounds of grunge or Britpop, George Michael could have grown bitter. Instead, he embraced the modern music world, expanding his eclectic tastes to include newer artists.
On his Desert Island Discs episode, Michael proved himself to be a keen music fan as well as a musical legend in his own right. He selected works like Amy Winehouse’s ‘Love Is A Losing Game’, alongside hits from Pet Shop Boys, Goldfrapp, Rufus Wainwright and Kanye West.
Clearly, his idea of what constituted a ‘good’ song had no parameters, and his tastes would never be boxed in by ideas of genre or what people might expect from the pop leader. When it came to considering great production especially, he picked an unlikely choice from the grunge world.
It’s hard to imagine George Michael rocking out to some heavier sounds, but it turns out he was a tremendous Nirvana fan. One of his essential tracks was ‘Smells Like Teens Spirit’, claiming he was absolutely floored by the song when it was released, and Nirvana smashed their way into the music world.
While it might not be anything like Michael’s own music, he clearly had an ear for well-made songs that pricked up when he heard Kurt Cobain, labelling the work “the best-produced rock record in the history of rock,” he said. Usually, Nirvana are praised for their rock spirit and raging attitude, but for the Wham musician, he instead honed in on the actual craft of the track. When listening back, it’s easy to see what he’s getting at. Even in moments when the track reaches its peak racket, the balancing of parts is perfect. It never becomes too much or descends into nothing but noise; instead, it sits as a satisfying headbanger that remains timelessly great.
Michael could easily have put his blinders on and ignored all other goings on in music history. When you reach the level of fame and success that he managed, it would be easy to exist solely in your own bubble of notoriety and wander down your own golden path. It’s nice to know that the musician never did that and remained just as passionate about music as he was when he was driven to make it.
“It changed everything in America overnight because it’s a phenomenal record,” he said of the song, sharing the love to an unlikely favourite artist of his.
