So being stuck in the Great White North, I did not get a chance to catch the
Euro
Awards, but I did run home and log on to UK chat to find out what
happened. All I managed to find out from some nice Oasis fan
was that he
thought George had one the award for best male artist. And of course I know
he "sang" Star People. But
more on these in future YOGMAIL's. For now, my
congrats to George, and I'm proud he chose that song to perform!
OK, more of
your comments on The Big Issue.
AND AWAY WE GO...
*****************************
Stephie70-at-aol.com writes:
-----------------------------------------
Amanda
and everyone.
Well I must say I am pretty upset about Georges revelations regarding the
drugs.
I am 26 years old and am
very anti drugs. I also hate cigarettes and don't
drink. I accept that drinking is a part of many peoples lives but I have
always
thought people who feel the need to smoke pot and or cig's were pretty
pathetic. You don't need drugs to be happy!
(I'm
fairly anti-drug too, I smoke maybe one cigarette every 3 months, and
even though I do drink, I rarely have more than one or two.
AG)
I have been a huge George fan for 12 years and now I honestly have to wonder!
I'll always love the music of course but
I always admired George so much as
a person and I don't think I can any longer. No wonder Older isn't nearly as
good as
everything else he's done (IMOPO). Sorry George, I don't think the
pot helped you. I always thought he was so intelligent but
intelligent
people dont smoke!
(I would be inclined to agree that some of the songs sound a touch
disjointed. AG)
Obviously
he is screwed up emotionally whether he thinks so or not. That he
admits
to having been a pothead makes me physically ill!!! I
f***ing hate potheads
and here a man I have loved and looked up to for so long admits to being one.
I do not know
how I am
going to handle this! I agree w/everything you said Amanda.
(It's kinda hard to deal with George the pot head. AG)
Think
I'll go listen to the Pet Shop Boys instead of George for a while.
Stephanie :(
(I took a while off too--and listened to a
lot of Duran Duran, especially
White Lines, and Too Much Information--but don't reject him totally. AG)
*****************************
shandrew-at-indiana.edu
(shelly renee andrews) writes:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay. I've
been quiet for a while so Amanda could catch up a little. To those
who left, It's okay, we all get pissy sometimes.
The
drugs, the drugs, the drugs! For all of you who don't remember or if
you're new...I like Bob Dylan A LOT. So pot smoking does not
cause me to
abandon an artist. Good for George. I was pretty confident before, what with
Clinton and the upcoming generation,
but now... Legalization in our
lifetimes, kidos. Three cheers! It isn't a bad drug, paper, rate of
photosynthesis, medicine,
ect..you've all heard the spiel.
I am now wondering...what this self-declared pot head's favorite episode of
Beavis and
Butthead is. Also, he once spoke of Dylan as a person being "what
a waste" (if you can believe what you read in the
Times) but said "he writes
good lyrics still though"... Perhaps they are too close to one another to
appreciate each
other? (As Dylan has picked on George before...during the
celebrity loathing period)
To those of you enraged, enough with
this puritan attitude. So you know
people who have suffered mercilessly at the hands of drugs? I know people who
have lived an
enriched life of moderation. It is the law, but what was it
that the great philosopher Thoreau said about laws we don't like? And
for
those of you who will never be convinced, that's okay, your entitled... do
try to remember that piece about it being his
preferred medicinal option?
A final tribute to altered consciousness:
"Take me on a trip upon your magic swirlin'
ship,
My senses have been stripped, my hands can't feel to grip,
My toes too numb to step, wait only for my boot heels to be
wanderin'.
I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade
Into my own parade, cast your dancing spell my way, I promise to go
under
it...
Then take me disappearin' through the smoke rings of my mind,
Down the foggy ruins of time, far past the
frozen leaves,
The haunted, frightened trees, out to the windy beach,
Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow.
Yes, to
dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free,
Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands,
With all memory
and fate driven deep beneath the waves,
Let me forget about today until tomorrow.
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for
me,
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to.
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me,
In the jingle jangle
morning I'll come followin' you"
Okay...no room for the full brilliance here... everybody has their own
Tambourine
Man, I'm glad George found one appropriate for himself...here is a
great link to get more Dylan. If you should have any questions
about which
songs are drug influenced, and which are not... a good rule of thumb is: the
good metaphorical ones are. Or you
can email me. Send all hate mail to me at
shandrew-at-indiana.edu :)
http://fciav3.bsd.uchicago.edu/~jrr/dylan/5mr__ta.lyr
(tambourine man)
complete index here: http://fciav3.bsd.uchicago.edu/~jrr/gbob/bob.html
What is an email family without a
little loving abuse?
Love,
Shelly
*****************************
CU RALPHIE-at-aol.com (Matt) writes:
------------------------------------------------------
Amanda,
I
have to ask you a question. I want to know why you and others seem so
concerned with the sexual preference of George. Number one:
when I listen to
his music, I'm not concerned with who he is sleeping with. I like his voice
not his sex organs, so where and
into whom he puts them is not important. He
should be able to have a private life. As far as drugs go, believe me he
could do
much worse than pot. If it helps him with his music, FINE, LET HIM
BE!!!!!!!!!
(OK, so on behalf of the women here, a lot
of us have that deluded dream of
shagging the man, it's as simple as that. I guess we had a little concrete
proof it wouldn't
happen. AG)
Maybe George has worked out his demons in an attempt to clear his head, at
which point I'm sure his music will
become more upbeat and optimistic.
Regardless, we all
have bought his music anyway so in the end I'm sure George does not care
what
you guys think because he is POCKETING OUR MONEY REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE THINK
OF
HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I feel justified in making these comments due to the fact that as of tommorow
I
will be 30, and even though I'm not world famous, I've still dealt with
many issues simular
to George. It takes a true fan to
LET HIM BE.
Thanks,
Matt Ward Washington D.C. USA
*****************************
its156-at-freenet.mb.ca (Kinga
Pawlaczyk) writes:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Everyone....
I'm wondering
at this point if your inbox is bursting with comments, Amanda.
(It's a touch filled, yeah... AG)
I found out the
news during the weekend and was quite shocked by his honesty.
I really found that to be the most shocking thing: here we have Mr.
Privacy,
who gives away nothing, who does not give interviews for ages and
ages, and who all of a sudden goes..."Hey, here's all I
have been keeping
inside of me since about 1985 or so!". He's just soooo...HONEST! I was
really not expecting this from
him...I expected another fluff piece of the
usual sort (You know: you said you wouldn't give interviews, why are you in
your
own videos again, what's it really like to be free...etc...). The
sexuality bit does not bother me...it never really did and I
think most of us
knew that he was not 100%
straight.
(He's only been holding back since about 1988 I think, but yeah,
the sudden
about face to Mr. Honesty was a shock. AG)
Yes, the pot smoking is something I was not expecting. Not something
I
necessarily approve of, but having had friends who partake in such "hobbies",
I can accept it. I wish he hadn't
used it to write "Older" cause I love the
record. I really do. The lyrics, the music and the atmosphere is brilliant.
It's
rather disappointing that he felt he had to smoke pot. But he is
human. If anything, this interview brings that fact out into the
open. He
does what he wants, he is free, he is an adult and he can make whatever
choices he wants to. He has no
responsibilities; he's got no kids, no
wife/husband, nothing as concrete as that. Sure, he's got Hippy, but it's a
little bit
different. So, he
smokes pot. Such is life and it's a part of him that's there...whether we
accept it or not. I'm still a
little surprised, but what really makes my
eyes pop wide open is the openess with which he spoke. Maybe it was the
pot...>;>.
(Kidding!) But I really think he's wrong in stating that he
does not wallow...please, he seemed to wallow in his "drunken
stupor
year" following Wham!'s split and the heartbreak that the suffered. I
think he's a "wallower". :)
(The
wallowing comment caught my eye too, and I ended up cutting an initial
response to it, along the lines of "OK stop, George
doesn't like to wallow?
Hmmm...." AG)
Anyhow, so that's my 2 cents in. Sorry if it was too long, but I couldn't
resists
the chance... If you want to discuss this further with me, feel free
to e-mail me (although, don't expect an e-mail back very
quickly :)).
(This is too big of a news item, even if we only consider it's his first
interview in a while, to limit
opinion on, don't worry about it. AG)
He did provide us with one heck of a great quote..."I spent almost an entire
year
in sunglasses...I think I even went to bed with them." Almost as great
as the "I had the earring surgically
removed" from the MTV interview! ;)
(The man is developing--or at least showing that he has--one hell of a sense
of
humour. AG)
I hope the press will be nice to him...
Kinga
:-o
*****************************
starnoir-at-earthlink.net
(Rene') writes:
-----------------------------------------------------
Hi Amanda,
Just thought that I would drop you a
note (like you would get lonesome only
receiving 100 emails/day!). Hope that you are well.
(Well, let me say that I have
been getting my mail every two hours, and
there's at least 4 each time. AG)
My anxiety quotient is growing by the minute:
the EMAs will be airing in just
short of 48 hours (Am I a fan or what?!!). I had some pangs of conscience
recently. I keep
telling myself "at least I will always have Yogmail." The
follow-up being: "God am I selfish or what? Would I
really have Amanda work
herself to death just because I insist on having my daily George-Fix? Am I
_really_ that far
gone?"
(I run YM, so I'm pretty sure I am that far gone... AG)
Well, it's quiet and I've thought about it.. _Never_
would I want you to
risk your grades, friends, or health JUST so I can get the latest news on
George! I think it's great what
you've done, but remember..we aren't all
*That* important! So, take some time out for yourself.
(My grades are fine, my
friends have begun to embrace George like never so
before, and as for my health, well, I'm still young... AG)
--- That
being said, I will ramble on about something else..*smile*. Just (Got caught have you? I think I wrote ANGEMAIL during a sociology lecture. I can say that I will attribute my next
two sigs to you {excerpts from (Whose was this again? AG) SLEEP
is for Wimps! (True credit to MuchMusic VJ Steve Anthony. AG) Two questions: (I stopped using them to expediate catching up on old postings. And now that 2. Did you say that the male-model the
Fastlove video had "Mr. Ward" tattooed (That's
him. AG) A Short Rant: (In retrospect, I should have reversed them, but I just thought I'd get right Of
course, we all do what we must when our backs are against the wall, But I (Hmmm...George
TEST us? You think? O.K., Now something for the kiddies... For anyone who wants to see the videos for Fastlove or Spinning the Wheel http://www.beatuk.com/WEEKLY/MOVIE/fastlove.mov Also,
you can view a movie of the remake of George's Freedom Take care! Again, you are appreciated! Thanks for being here! (Anytime. AG) --R. how creative he could get on that. (I
had similar thoughts on that myself. AG) Are we to believe that he was also high when he wrote Faith and LWP? If he And it makes me furious that he cares so little about preserving his great (I think we can now understand why
the vocals on Older are so "breathy". AG) My final thoughts? He can smoke pot until his throat is eaten up with (My thoughts exactly. AG) Alan My head is still spinning from all this
'enlightenment' on the part of (Agreed. AG) What
I'm upset about - and I'm sure there are plenty others - is the drug What happened to his strive for
credibility? Doesn't he care what the people (Open season on Yog. AG) I am very disappointed. I really like Older,
and thought it his best work. I'm not ashamed to admit that I've never experienced drugs.
Call me what you (That
has always been the one reason I've never gone near drugs, and always Please forgive my rantings. ttfn, I'm
a relatively new reader of YOGMAIL, and I must say it's my favorite piece (Glad I can help. AG) And while I don't have anything pressing to say, I just had to comment about And I agree with you about the pot thing, but how did you know he didn't need And one little business point. I'd like to send a contribution, but at the (I have no idea. Maybe you should bug a US pal. And thanks in advance. AG) Thanks a lot
for all your hard work. Wish I had something fun to share, but (Then we'll just have to keep her informed won't we gang? AG) Margarette I wish he
didn't have to light up the spliff's to get some stimulation (My thoughts exactly. AG) and his sexuality is probably something we all really knew, but just
didn't (I can name a handfull of people who have
said the same thing. AG) actually no, I'm not, I have the CTC tour tape from the Chicago concert at (I believe she was referring to the term we have previously
spelled as I have never cared what George's sexuality was, but now that a
definition "Bi's
are the best lays". Forgive the bluntness, but that's a quote. (I'll have to bear that in mind for future reference, I
suppose... AG) wubba wubba wubba. "And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be
lifted-nevermore!" E.A. Poe How's school? Good I hope. So are we making the Dean's List? (Oh sure... AG) I'm still catching up on
Yogmail....I saw in Issue #33 your list of remixes (Sure. AG) When
I saw "Nikita" it made me laugh. Back in highschool everyone would say (I initially thought your
name was Nikita when I looked up and saw it. BTW, I almost forgot about "Wrap Her Up"... I'm sure you have it but I didn't see (I thought that was on the list? Oops... Oh well, I've got in on a
various My mom's favorite singer is Aretha
Fraklin so I owe that George single to (My mum is quite the George fan, and while only slightly cyber, she has "A Different Corner" is my favorite Yog video! (That
whole song depresses me, to the extent I honestly can't watch the vid, I didn't mean to ramble but let me know If I need to purchase more than two (OK, I assume that whole list will eat 2 90 minute tapes. If you send the Maxell XL II's though--I'm just used to them and know the best
recording (Yes mummy, of course it is... AG) YM family: Regarding George and Sexuality: (So now you know where I get it from... AG) I was not surprised about his sexuality, though. I had a feeling that he (As I once said in a play I did regarding the wonderful
world of dreams we Love
and Kisses -- Debbie The picture was from one of the gossip mags: I read (No worries. We were just wondering. AG) Also those three doinks who quit
are missing the point. It is the rambling, (Doinks?
I hadn't thought to use that term. I guess you all are indeed I am a great fan of the Little River Band and if any
of our Aussie members (The Australia gang's at about 20,
so I'm sure someone can help you. And Nuff. Love ya - thank you - THERE ARE THINGS I DON'T WANT TO LEARN! (I know I still care too, it seems we all do, and are just concerned for his More More More to post on The Big Issue in forthcoming editions... Listen without prejudice...
spent the last few hours catching up on all my Yogmail since
Oct. [Hey, I
have a life!..I just like to savour some things..]. Besides, I've learned
some important things since Oct. 1:
Calculus professors _really_ don't like
it when you read your Yogmail during lectures!
AG)
previous Yogmail editions}:
There's sanity in numbers (?!)
1. What happened to the lyric quotes in
Yogmail? You know, the ones before
each person's letter to you. (I would send in my own, but my memory is only
great when
people remind me :)
I'm caught up, I'm being
bombarded by the Big Issue. But don't worry, I'll
get back to them in a while. AG)
on his chest? Is this the guy with the blow dryer and blond spiked hair?
I agree with your comments about George and drugs from his interview in "The
Big
Issue". I sort of wish that Yogmail parts 1 & 2 were switched: I was so
disappointed in George's comments, I had to pull
myself together! We're all
adults here, but the fact that George would take the "easy way out" when the
lyrics come
sparingly was hard to take.
to it. AG)
assumed he'd take the higher road {excuse the pun; I'm
a bit punchy
Still, I love him just the same. Sometimes I _swear_ that he's testing his
fan's loyalty
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
*Hello
All!
yet, here are some movies you can download.
Note that the Fastlove clip shows
the "Fony" trademark on the headphones!
http://www.beatuk.com/WEEKLY/MOVIE/spinningthewheelg.mov
http://www.beatuk.com/WEEKLY/MOVIE/freedomr.mov
Rene'
```````````````````````````````````````````````
Amanda,
you can split this LONG note up as you see fit! I just thought that
only the last bit (about video) would be of interest to
anyone but yourself.
*****************************
AlanKHart-at-aol.com
writes:
-----------------------------------------
I don't feel George's sexuality is an issue, at least not for me. I'm more
concerned
with his pot smoking. I certainly don't begrudge his use of
recreational drugs, but I'm concerned that he feels it makes him more
creative.
I personally think that's a load of crap...nothing more than an
excuse to rationalize him overusing it. He's basicly saying that
he can't
write well without it, and that scares me. What's next? Heroin? Just think
was,
then perhaps his creative argument might hold true; but if he wasn't,
the great songs on those two albums are proof that he
doesn't need pot to be
creative.
voice that
he also smokes cigarettes. Is he fooloish enough to think it's
cool? or that it isn't harmful? or that it won't affect his voice?
If
that's the way he thinks, then perhaps he needs to go back for more
counseling.
cancer,
if that's what he chooses, but don't endow it with magic qualities by
using it as a creative crutch. It may have loosened him up
enough to get him
under the shower in the "Fastlove" video, but I will never believe it made
the difference between
his writing a good song versus a bad one.
*****************************
yoglover-at-cris.com
(Kelly) writes:
------------------------------------------------
Hi, Guys-
George's. You mentioned that the subject was open for discussion concerning
his sexual
preference. I'm fine with that. As long as he's happy and
careful. That's all that matters on that front.
angle. Let me get this straight. The same man that stated
that he wanted to
leave something behind and felt he could with his songwriting has admitted
that he sits down and smokes a
joint before writing a song. AND that he
doesn't see himself giving this practice up.
out there think anymore? Isn't he worried about what the press - and his
critics
- are going to do with this lovely bit of info?
I really feel foolish right now.
will. Just explain to me what the 'stimulation' does for him. Is it still
George? The Control Freak himself?
get incredibly mad at myself when I realize I have gone and
gotten myself
drunk...I'm too much of a control freak to not want total control of my mind.
But truth be told, the last time I
got drunk was because of George--recall
the infamous MTV Awards party... AG)
Kelly
*****************************
engl1016-at-fujens.fju.edu.tw
(Margarette Connor) writes:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Hi Amanda--
of mail. You do an amazing job--keep of the good work!
I'm an American fan
from waaaay back (I'm technically older than George, but lie and say I'm 28)
currently living in Taipei,
Taiwan so I'm out of the loop. Little
English-language Press, and MTV in Chinese (and I don't have it anyway). You
keep my
curiosity sated.
"The
Big Issue" (in more than one sense--eh?). It seemed to me that George
did not say he's gay--he said he had a struggle with
his sexuality. He
sounds bisexual to me. Speaking as one who knows, this is a lot harder to
admit in our society because gays
tend to thing we're cowards and they tend
to think we're experimenting. He says, "To me it
has always been about finding
the right person." Gender, either way, doesn't
seem to be one of the requirements for "right" So females needn't
despair.
Besides, as the man himself points out, it's just fantasy. I know there's
no serious chance of shagging him, but it
beats thinking about bills.
it when writing
"Careless Whispers"? He didn't say that this was a new
thing. I hate seeing artists rely on drugs, but as it's nothing
new I can
just shake my head and mutter.
moment
I'm fresh out of US or Canadian dollars--does your local bank exchange
New Taiwanese dollars? If not, I'll bug a friend in the
states to get a few
shekles.
as I live on the fringes of civilization so to speak I'm
empty-handed.
*****************************
asweet-at-beta.loyno.edu
(Alexandra Sweet) writes:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regarding the Big
Issue....well it's very nice to finally hear George utter
something about the subject we all seemed so interested in..his
sexuality!!
As long as he is finally happy with his life and the direction it's going,
then good for him.
(ahem!), because it only seems to lessen the ability of his real
talents. I
know we all know he is the most
talented man on earth, but it would be nice to know that it comes naturally,
without
any extracurricular help!
want to believe because we have hopes of someday "shagging" the man!! I know
I did and I occasionly joke with
my friends saying he is just playing around
with the boys to get it out of his system so he can settle down with ME!!
ahhh,
it's nice to dream isn't it? well, that's all I have to say. I'm
shutting up now.
the Rosemont Horizon if
anyone wants me to dub it for them, as I saw someone
was interested in it. Take care and keep up the good work!!
-Alex
*****************************
ravnwolf-at-earth.inwave.com
(Drew&Chase) writes:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just a bizzare question in
regards to Nitika Steverson in issue #47. What's
a nubbie?
Newbie, in that she's new to the family here. AG)
appears to have surfaced, I think back to a little advice a well cherished
friend of mine gave me in high school...
*****************************
jobesteve-at-hotmail.com (Nitika Steverson) writes:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey
Amanda!
and B-sides. I want all of it because I have none of it!
"Hey Tika George is singing your
song." My name is Nitika and but everyone
calls me Tika for short. I've gotten Nikita formost of my life because people
see
my name and just somehow transpose the t and the k. I had almost
forgotten about that song...
did I ever tell you guys about the Andrew Ridgeley clone I knew? His last
name
was Nika. Confession time 4 years later: I had a massive crush on the
guy, and during a party, my then best friend and I put on a
Wham! video and
forced him to do Andrew's guitar dance...Woah, that was a tangent...but such
a nice memory...Thanks for
reminding me Tika! AG)
it listed but
if you need "I Knew You Were Waiting" I have it.
tape and Aretha's recent Greatest Hits. George got me into Lady Soul... AG)
her. She likes George too. Her favorite Yog songs are "A Different Corner"
and
"Last Christmas".
requested that I adding
her comments on The Big Issue. She regularly sings
the praises of George to her friends, telling them how they just MUST hear
Careless
Whisper, Kissing a Fool, and Cowboys and Angels. She also enjoys
the occasional listening of Older, especially Move On. And is
the first
person to sing along with "Wake Me Up..." AG)
or hear the song without tearing up a bit. I guess I
relate a bit to well to
that track. AG)
cassetes
for the recording and if you prefer 60min or 90min and the cost of
course in US dollars. I didn't mean for this to be a posting
but you can post
if you want.
tapes, send me
$5 for postage and padded mailer. I do have a preference for
levels. If I provide the tapes, send $12. This is general info for
everyone. Anyone who wants anything, the best way
to really get results is
just snail mail me with the $ and a list of what you want. AG)
*****************************
LadyIbi-at-aol.com
(Amanda's Mum) writes:
-------------------------------------------------------------
Amanda:
YOUR HOMEWORK HAD BETTER BE
DONE!!!
```````````````
Regarding George and Drugs:
Tsk Tsk
Georgios. What must your mother think? I trust you got a slap round
the head...
It's OK
girls, you can stop saving yourself now. Move on!
*****************************
dsmiller-at-earthlink.net
(Debbie) writes:
--------------------------------------------------------
I absolutely agree with your
comments/feelings/concerns re: the BIG ISSUE
interview. I was a little disheartened by the admission about his marijuana
usage.
I, too, am a "say no to drugs" gal.
"went
both ways". That's ok with me, as long as I can still dream!!!
called Wonderland--just before slinking offstage with an attractive gent in a
tux:
"Honey, this is
wonderland, and and you can have ANYTHING you want!" Now
really, could you make your final exit any better? AG)
*****************************
SNAPPING-at-aol.com (Carolyn) writes:
--------------------------------------------------------
(Regarding
George in drag at his birthday party)
Enquirer/Star/Globe/Examiner
every week (and take the heat). Don't know
which one as I cut out the picture and not the header or date. DUMB - I
promised
never to do that after I did it once before.
uninhibited exchange of ideas that makes this so much fun. I am getting a
real
flavor of you and the other fans - and let's face it = people are
fascinating! Why else do I buy and read the rags?
getting to know me, scary aren't I??? We lost someone else today,
no reason
given, I hope it had nothing to do with the interview... AG)
know what they're up to I'd sure like to know. They were to appear here at
our fair last year but
cancelled. WISH I KNEW WHERE THEY WERE! Don't you
just hate it when your favs disappear?
yeah, I do kinda miss Andrew...something about those eyes...Keren you lucky
lady you!
AG)
*****************************
MEKAINC-at-aol.com
(anna k chalamidas) writes:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Amanda hi,
I didn't know
what to think when I read the interview, I felt so sorry and
upset.All the day I was lost in my world speaking to my self. I
thought that
he had faith in himself, in life , in God...but...I wish we could do
something!!! The only thing I know is that I
stll care.
best interests. AG)
*****************************
To
Wrap it Up: