Freedom & Faith: George Michael with special guest Ammar Kalia

In this episode of The Dead Divas Lounge we celebrate the life and legacy of the iconic George Michael. Our special guest is Ammar Kalia, a seasoned journalist, author, and broadcaster with a wealth of experience across the media and music landscape.

Ammar is currently Global music critic and a features writer for The Guardian as well as writing for some of the most prestigious music publications including Crack, Downbeat, Apple Music, Hyphen, Jazzwise, Composer Magazine, The Economist, Mixmag, Vinyl Factory, WePresent, The British Library, BBC Proms, Huck, Dazed, Beat, M Magazine, The Times Literary Supplement, Clash, TANK and The Quietus.

Ammar is also the author of the poetry collection, Kintsugi: Jazz Poems for Musicians Alive and Dead and the stunning new novel 'A Person Is A Prayer' published by Old Castle Books.

In this episode, we explore the many facets of George Michael's life—from his early days as one-half of Wham! to his evolution into a solo superstar with hits like "Faith" and "Careless Whisper."

We dive into George Michael’s battles with fame, his struggles with personal identity, and his courageous journey as an LGBTQ+ icon who used his platform to advocate for equality and charity. Together, we reflect on his profound influence on pop culture, his complex personal life, and the timeless music that continues to resonate with fans around the world. Don’t miss this in-depth conversation about one of pop music’s most enduring and beloved figures.

We also discuss the broader themes within Ammar's new novel, 'A Person Is A Prayer', of death, legacy, strong women and the men who hold them dear.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Clapping

06:43 Introducing Ammar Kalia and His Work

12:52 Reflections on Death, Legacy, and Art

19:52 Blending Autobiography and Fiction in Writing

28:56 Choosing George Michael as the Diva of Focus

32:52 The Emotional Power of George Michael's Music

33:12 The Art of Making Covers Your Own

37:13 Emotions and Moods in George Michael's Music

41:07 Challenging the Perception of Divas

44:23 The Lasting Impact of George Michael's Music

53:46 The Timelessness of George Michael's Songs

01:18:56 George Michael: An Unapologetic Gay Artist

01:19:26 The Comparison: George Michael vs. Freddie Mercury

01:20:08 Masculinity and Sexuality: George Michael's Authenticity

01:21:08 The Surprise of George Michael's Coming Out

01:22:07 Societal Expectations and the Idea of a National Treasure

01:22:29 George Michael's Unapologetic Authenticity

01:23:25 The Changing Perception of Messiness and Sexuality

01:24:03 Surprising Differences in Monthly Listeners

01:26:46 George Michael's Memorable Quotes

01:39:05 Ammar Kalia's Upcoming Projects

Find out more about Ammar Kalia here: ammarkalia.com

Order 'A Person Is A Prayer' here: https://bit.ly/3Zzypee / Amazon: https://bit.ly/3Vhe6j5

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