Olly Alexander and more to cover George Michael’s hits for Pride

Olly Alexander, MNEK, Billy Porter, and more stars join forces for a George Michael tribute in honor of Pride.

Michael’s death shocked the world when he died at home on Christmas Day 2016 at the age of 53, but his music still lives on.

Apple Music has now announced a special playlist that coincides with Pride Month, titled George Michael Covered, which is the Wham! star’s hits.

In honor of his legacy, the streaming service has asked some of the most exciting and diverse artists in music today to reimagine songs from his iconic catalog.

Each artist was chosen because, in addition to great Michael fans, they reflect his groundbreaking work and songwriting excellence.

The artists involved are: Years & Years, MNEK, SELF ESTEEM, Jake Shears, Billy Porter, Pale Waves, Calum Scott, Tiana Major9, and Serpentwithfeet.

The covers – all available in Spatial Audio – include personalized interpretations of tracks, including the classic songs Faith, Careless Whisper, Fastlove, Outside, and more.

It’s A Sin star Olly from Years & Years covers Outside as part of the project, and shares that one of the things he liked most about the late musician was ‘his ability to own his story’.

“He was a big, big star. I’m sure he struggled with some of the attention and issues associated with worldwide fame, and he still remained so iconic, so true to who he was. He still had fun with it. “He always tried new things and took risks and shamelessly himself,” Olly said.

The Starstruck singer added that he personally ‘draws so much inspiration from it’, continued: ‘He was arrested in 1998 – I think the terminology is to’ recruit a police officer in a public toilet – and then sing a song write about it. And it’s such a scare. Wow! I just think it’s so amazing for him to just own that narrative and really say, “Yeah, I like having sex outside.” And it’s such a bop. ‘

Meanwhile, Who You Are singer covers MNEK Fastlove and takes inspiration from Michael because he is an ‘amazing songwriter’.

‘I do not think anyone ever really realized that he was writing and producing his own material, and he was a genius. There was no one who made music like him, “he said.

MNEK added that ‘George is just the epitome of the white man who can really just change that and have respect for him as a guest in R&B and dance and electronics and black music, of which he was clearly a fan and just a lot good with that. ‘

As for American star Billy Porter, who covers Monkey, he considers Michael “a white boy who really had soul, but he did not try to be Black.”

“It was as if he was subliminally speaking to us all through his music. There was an inherent frenzy in it that not many men did, ‘he said.

Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears covers Amazing, and he gives the honor to Michael for “giving him a license to have fun with music” while remembering that he Wham! ‘s faces’ grew ‘everywhere’ after the release of the smash hit Wake Me Up Before You Go- Go, when Jake was just four years old.

I added that songs like Enjoy What You Do? helped him form early Scissor Sisters songs, which allowed him to “get a little stupid with the writing.”

The pop-rock singer said it was an ‘honor’ to be part of the project and he hopes Michael himself ‘will be somewhere to dig it’.

Now listen to the George Michael Covered playlist on Apple Music.

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