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George Michael dies


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Old 26-12-2016, 12:24
James30
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Bit of a ridiculous overkill on Radio 2's part. Paddy O'Connell asking people to contact them with their memories etc. Yes, George Michael was a major artist in the 80s and early 90s, but the fact is that he hasn't made a song that most people cared about for over 20 years. It's very sad for his family and friends, but the for most of the rest us, we just heard the news, thought 'oh that's sad' and got on with our day.

When Frank Sinatra died in 1998, arguably an even more significant artist for the Radio Two of that time, it was commented on in the media how Radio Two dealt with it with restraint and without overkill, simply playing a Sinatra track at the top of every hour. Why make this a bigger deal now?
That's what the BBC does now, they bang on about something/someone to the point where you lose interest.
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Old 26-12-2016, 12:51
TUC
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Such a terrible terrible loss.

Radio 2 will have to interupt their pre recorded marathon this year, surely??
Why?

Do some people here-and some radio stations apparently-really think that Christmas has stopped in people's minds just because George Michael has died?
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Old 26-12-2016, 13:15
abertom
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Heart appear to have his greatest hits on repeat!
About 1 in 3 songs seem to be a a George Michael song which is on brand for zheart. Guess will get reduced later on
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Old 26-12-2016, 16:20
Mark C
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When Frank Sinatra died in 1998, arguably an even more significant artist for the Radio Two of that time, it was commented on in the media how Radio Two dealt with it with restraint and without overkill, simply playing a Sinatra track at the top of every hour. Why make this a bigger deal now?
Probably because George Michael was only 53, Sinatra was 82.

George Michael is probably on a par with Sinatra in terms of musical significance.
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Old 26-12-2016, 17:31
lundavra
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Probably because George Michael was only 53, Sinatra was 82.

George Michael is probably on a par with Sinatra in terms of musical significance.
Hardly on a par with Sinatra.
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Old 26-12-2016, 17:44
Mark C
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Hardly on a par with Sinatra.
As a much bigger fan of Sinarta, than GM, I'm not sure I agree
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Old 26-12-2016, 17:51
Seagull259
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Wave 105 devoted their Golden Hour at 09.00 to him. A lot of Wave's output over Christmas has been live, listeners even turned up at the station yesterday and were put on air.
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Old 26-12-2016, 18:44
p_c_u_k
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Radio station bosses really can't win, can they? Before a tribute show, there were demands that Radio 2 had to come away from automation and must do live programming. They do it, it's overkill.

It's a tricky one to get the balance right. It's a huge, huge name which goes across generations and he will remain influential way past his death. At the same time, plenty of people will be getting on with their days and will not want semi-obituary procedure.

For me, Heart handled it quite well overnight and into this morning, peppering in George Michael tracks throughout the hour mixed in with a slightly toned down playlist. I suspect the guiding hand of Richard Park may have been involved as he was up there paying tribute very early on. I suspect they may have handled it differently were we not in the middle of the holidays (trying to keep a bigger audience onside and local variations to instruct), but it really worked for me.
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Old 26-12-2016, 18:53
Thine Wonk
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Probably because George Michael was only 53, Sinatra was 82.

George Michael is probably on a par with Sinatra in terms of musical significance.
George Michael is certainly more mainstream and appeals to such a wide range of ages, and had a career which spanned from Wham in the 80's right through to late 2000's, so 30 years of people in their 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's have all tracked his career and listened to his songs frequently on the radio.
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Old 26-12-2016, 19:03
Mark C
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George Michael is certainly more mainstream and appeals to such a wide range of ages, and had a career which spanned from Wham in the 80's right through to late 2000's, so 30 years of people in their 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's have all tracked his career and listened to his songs frequently on the radio.
Sinatra appealed to people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, back in 1940s and 50s. He doesn't appeal to present day 20/30 year olds, and nor will George Michael for future 20/30/40 etc somethings.

You have to assess the impact of performers on the generations and cultures of their time
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Old 26-12-2016, 19:04
Shimano
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I think Heart are having laugh the just played Carleess Whisper twice in a space of 20 minutes?
About as crass and unimaginative as their usual output then........
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Old 26-12-2016, 19:19
Thine Wonk
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Sinatra appealed to people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, back in 1940s and 50s. He doesn't appeal to present day 20/30 year olds, and nor will George Michael for future 20/30/40 etc somethings.

You have to assess the impact of performers on the generations and cultures of their time
Not in deciding what coverage to give them at the point in time we're comparing. When Frank Sinatra died he was over 80 and his songs were already only played on a few oldies stations. It is very different for George Michael as he still had more than 50% of the population as fans from his 30 year career in their 20's,30's,40's and 50's, it is also within the scope of Heart's playlist, Magic, Gold the lot.

If there was a popular appeal figure to guide stations now on what their listeners would be interested in for a cross section of the UK population, George Michael would be more than double Frank Sinatra in appeal.
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Old 26-12-2016, 19:42
Mark C
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Not in deciding what coverage to give them at the point in time we're comparing. When Frank Sinatra died he was over 80 and his songs were already only played on a few oldies stations. It is very different for George Michael as he still had more than 50% of the population as fans from his 30 year career in their 20's,30's,40's and 50's, it is also within the scope of Heart's playlist, Magic, Gold the lot.

If there was a popular appeal figure to guide stations now on what their listeners would be interested in for a cross section of the UK population, George Michael would be more than double Frank Sinatra in appeal.
Oh, I agree. I wasn't suggesting otherwise, just how history will record the two them, in years to come, after we've all passed on

Although don't take what radio stations are playing, as being a definitive indicator of what people are listening to. I know plenty of folk who simply don't consume any music from the radio, because no UK station caters for their musical taste.

Out of 60 years of 'pop music', we only hear the same very restricted selection on the radio
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Old 26-12-2016, 20:36
Marksw76
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Why?

Do some people here-and some radio stations apparently-really think that Christmas has stopped in people's minds just because George Michael has died?
No, it's because his music is bang on with the Radio2 demographic and therefore it would seem very, very strange for it to not be mentioned. They have a duty to pay a tribute to him.
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Old 26-12-2016, 20:41
lundavra
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Sinatra appealed to people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, back in 1940s and 50s. He doesn't appeal to present day 20/30 year olds, and nor will George Michael for future 20/30/40 etc somethings.

You have to assess the impact of performers on the generations and cultures of their time
Sinatra also made some very successful films, he was at a completely different level to Michael with many appearances at places like Las Vegas and worldwide recognition.
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Old 26-12-2016, 21:13
bluesdiamond
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Not had much chance to be by the radio.
Wondering if Radio 2 remembered Rick Parfitt?
Really doubt Heart would touch Status Quo with a barge pole.

For Radio 2 many of its older listeners would be as much Quo fans as George Michael.
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Old 26-12-2016, 22:13
stesul63
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Sinatra also made some very successful films, he was at a completely different level to Michael with many appearances at places like Las Vegas and worldwide recognition.
That's true, but George was a better song writer than Frank and sold more of his own compositions
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Old 26-12-2016, 22:28
Bollard
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Hardly on a par with Sinatra.
Indeed. Micheal was an accomplished songwriter & record producer, unlike Sinatra.
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Old 26-12-2016, 23:38
Hitmusic
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Hardly on a par with Sinatra.
You for real?!
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Old 26-12-2016, 23:45
lundavra
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I see there are reports tonight that, as many suspected, his death is quite likely drug related.
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Old 26-12-2016, 23:51
paulx23
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I see there are reports tonight that, as many suspected, his death is quite likely drug related.
So what?
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Old 27-12-2016, 00:19
Colin_London
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I see there are reports tonight that, as many suspected, his death is quite likely drug related.
And is that a strange scenario for a pop / rock star? Remember Amy Winehouse? Prince?

Doesn't make it any less worthy of retrospectives and tributes.
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Old 27-12-2016, 00:25
Colin_London
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Caught a bit of the Sean Gerard show on Dragon radio earlier. Despite generic talk about Boxing Day no mention of George Michaels death, even after playing 'Last Christmas'.
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Old 27-12-2016, 08:27
pjex
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And is that a strange scenario for a pop / rock star? Remember Amy Winehouse? Prince?

Doesn't make it any less worthy of retrospectives and tributes.
Ironically Amy Winehouse's death was probably the result of stopping taking drugs, as a result she switched to drinking and died after a drinking binge.
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Old 27-12-2016, 09:11
Colin_London
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Ironically Amy Winehouse's death was probably the result of stopping taking drugs, as a result she switched to drinking and died after a drinking binge.
I wasn't distinguishing - it's a strange British attitude that dying in a drinking binge is somehow 'less worse' than dying from a heart attack potentially brought on by damage due to drugs.
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