100 ESSENTIAL GEORGE MICHAEL SONGS. Today: #4. More: next week.

4 A DIFFERENT CORNER George Michæl 1986- Music From The Edge Of Heaven The transition from group member to soloist can be a daunting move because it is fraught with risks. Some of the successful examples in pop history tried to step out while maintaining their place within a group. These include Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and George Michael. The latter was still half of Wham! when he began itching to explore new musical horizons that would not fit within the bubblegum confines of the duo. “Careless Whisper” was a departure that in some territories was issued as a single by Wham! featuring George Michael. At least Andrew Ridgeley had contributed to its composition. By 1986, it was becoming obvious that George’s songwriting and production skills had developed much further than Andrew’s. At that time, Wham! was one of the most popular acts in pop music. Before severing ties with Andrew, George released another single. This was in every way, a solo effort from him. He wrote and produced “A Different Corner”. This ballad was a major departure from the upbeat pop of Wham!, filled with a rawness that had never been a feature in George's previous releases. The single reached #1 on the British, European and Canadian charts. Its Top 10 success in America, Australia and New Zealand proved that George could confidently terminate Wham! and pursue his solo ambitions.     Caffè Lattè presents a tribute to one of pop music’s greatest performers. In 2023, he would have celebrated his 60th birthday. A Netflix special looks back on his days with Wham!. Here are his best songs ranked in order of impact & quality - as a soloist and with Andrew Ridgeley….             THE 100 ESSENTIAL SONGS OF   GEORGE MICHÆL         Hear the songs on this countdown on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/76x5LEvMMiHkCHV6KebTCB?si=d4117e5ec7184cd3&pt=d3407dd39de41c44d1e6f43d49df2914