George Michael’s “Fastlove” was the second single released from his 1996 album, Older. It came out almost six years after the release of his sophomore album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. Older moved away from the previous reliance on synthesizers and joyous pop to be replaced with live instrumentation and a moodier sound. Michael was inspired by Brazilian musician Antônio Carlos Jobim, jazz, and his usual palette of Black music. He co-wrote “Fastlove” with the album’s producer, Jon Douglas, who he had worked with in the past. “Fastlove” pleaded for a casual relationship with a groove infused with Patrice Rushen’s “Forget Me Nots.” The music had a melancholy to it, which was a reflection of Michael having lost his lover, Feleppa Anselmo, to AIDS, and he subsequently dedicated the album to him.

Michael also used Older as a way to passively come out to his fans by donning what he called a “gay look,” which consisted of short black hair, a mustache, a goatee, and leather. “Fastlove” was a hit and the video earned an MTV Europe International Viewer’s Choice Award. Older became Michael’s most commercially successful album and was re-released in 1997 as a two-gold-CD box set called Older and Upper. A remastered and expanded edition was released in 2022. 

Missy Elliott, DJ Kool Herc, The Spinners, Chaka Khan, George Michael, and Don Cornelius were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Elliott is the first female rapper to have the honor. Queen Latifah introduced Elliott before she performed a medley of her hits onstage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn during the induction ceremony on Saturday, November 4th. Jazmine Sullivan introduced Khan, who performed “I Feel For You” with Common rapping Melle Mel’s part. H.E.R. and Sia joined her while she sang “Ain’t Nobody,” “Sweet Thing,” and  “I’m Every Woman.” Khan brought Tony Maiden from Rufus after she accepted her award. New Edition put on a well-choreographed show in tribute to The Spinners, while a Soul Train scenario played out in the background in honor of Don Cornelius. LL Cool J inducted Kool Herc, who accepted his award with his sister Cindy. Andrew Ridgeley, who was one-half of Wham with Michael, inducted his later former bandmate. Miguel, Adam Levine, and Carrie Underwood performed some of Michael’s classics, including “Careless Whisper” and “Faith.” 

Missy Elliott, Chaka Khan, DJ Kool Herc, George Michael, The Spinners and Don Cornelius are 2023 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The new class was announced today on the Rock Hall’s website. Herc will receive the Musical Influence Award and Khan gets the Musical Excellence Award. Soul Train founder Don Cornelius will receive the Ahmet Ertegan Award posthumously. The induction ceremony will take place on November 3rd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The full list of inductees can be found here. 

The 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees were announced yesterday. The White Stripes, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, A Tribe Called Quest, Kate Bush, Warren Zevon, The Spinners, Rage Against The Machine, Sheryl Crow, Joy Division/ New Order, Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden and Iron Maiden are all of the candidates. Fans can vote on their choices until April 28th at rockhall.com The class will be announced in May.