The Videos of George Michael's Faith

The story is as old as the music business.  Group becomes famous.  Tension grows as egos get bigger.  Group breaks up.  One or two members try to strike out on their own and inevitably fail. 

On very rare occasions, an artist comes along from a group and becomes a true global superstar on their own. In the 1980s, that artist was George Michael.

The Throwback takes a look back at the videos of Faith, Michael's first solo album, in two parts:


Click here for "I Want Your Sex" and "Faith."

Click here for "Father Figure" and "One More Try."

"I Want Your Sex" and "Faith," George Michael

George Michael began his career as part of Wham! – a duo that was best known for teenybopper pop like “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.”  In 1987, Michael released his first solo album, Faith, which he sang, wrote, and produced.  Michael announced to the world that this was not Wham! with the first single, “I Want Your Sex.”

“I Want Your Sex” was considered so controversial at the time that many radio stations refused to play it.  (A version entitled “I Want Your Love” was sometimes played instead.) Even MTV, where just about anything goes these days, refused to play it during the daytime.  Naturally, the controversy surrounding the song made it even more popular, and it would become Michael’s first solo hit.   

Rewatching the video now, it all looks rather tame.  The images today – including the famous scene where Michael writes “explore monogamy” on a woman’s back in lipstick –seem more suggestive than explicit.  The video also establishes the look Michael would use throughout the Faith years – the silly costumes of Wham! were replaced with jeans, leather, and, in later videos, aviator sunglasses.  He looked more rock star than teen star.

A snippet of “I Want Your Sex” begins the next video, “Faith,” perhaps the most iconic Michael video there is.  The look is early rock and roll – with a jukebox centerpiece and Michael dancing around in a “USA” leather jacket, strumming a guitar.  The lighthearted video and pop hook disguises the song’s sad tone:  “Oh but I need some time off from that emotion/time to pick my heart up off the floor/And when that love comes down/without devotion/Well it takes a strong man baby/but I’m showing you the door.”     

Click here for second part of our Faith throwback.