George Michael loved The Beatles, especially John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Their music inspired him so much that he wrote songs just for them. On his 1990 album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, he made one song to show his love for Lennon and another for McCartney. He once said he was a big fan of Beatles albums like Abbey Road and Revolver.
George showed his admiration in other ways too. In 2000, he bought John Lennon’s famous Steinway piano, the one used in the “Imagine” video, for £1.67 million. He was thrilled to own something so special to a songwriter he looked up to.
In 1999, George performed at a concert to honor Linda McCartney, Paul’s wife, who had passed away. The event, called the Concert for Linda, was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. It celebrated Linda’s life as a photographer, animal rights activist, and loving person. Other singers like Tom Jones and Sinead O’Connor were there, singing Beatles songs and Linda’s favorites.
George sang “The Long and Winding Road,” a beautiful Beatles song. This performance was very personal for him. He told the audience that his mom had also passed away from breast cancer, just like Linda. George’s mom, Lesley, died in 1997, and he was still feeling sad. Singing that night was his first time performing since her death. Every word he sang felt like it came from his heart, connecting his loss to Linda’s memory.
After his mom passed, George spent time making music to help him feel better. Performing at the Concert for Linda was a brave step. It was his way of saying thank you to Linda and his mom, and it touched everyone watching.
Years later, George and Paul worked together. In 2005, they performed at Live 8, and then they recorded a song George wrote for Paul called “Heal the Pain.” George was amazed that Paul sang it, saying it sounded like a real Paul McCartney song.
Many singers, like Aretha Franklin and Tony Bennett, have sung “The Long and Winding Road,” but George’s version is special. He didn’t just sing it—he poured his feelings into it, making the song feel like his own story.
