George Michael parties the night away without his boyfriend

George Michael proved that age means nothing as he took to the dance floor in a trendy club in Melbourne.

George Michael’s mystery man sparks media frenzy over his identity

Speculation surrounding the identity of the mystery man caught in a passionate lip-lock with singer George Michael in Sydney this week is reaching fever pitch, according to reports.

Photographs of the former Wham! frontman’s tryst with his unidentified "pash pal" aboard a luxury cruiser in Pittwater, Sydney, were plastered all over Aussie newspaper The Daily Telegraph's Page 3.

Today, the newspaper reported that its Confidential section has been "flooded with tips as to his identity" and that a woman, calling herself Rachel, has claimed that she is the as-yet-unidentified man's estranged girlfriend and that he is the singer’s yoga teacher.

She is reported as saying: "Several people have called me… some of them wondering if he was gay and if he was some sort of boy toy [sic].

"Obviously, I find this very upsetting as it is patently not true. We are just taking some time out in our relationship."

The Daily Telegraph also reported that another caller had claimed the mystery man is "a local bodybuilder and celebrity in his own right" named James.

Meanwhile, back in the UK, the Daily Mail has been speculating how Michael's longtime lover of 14 years, Kenny Goss, would be taking the news.

 

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THE mystery young shipmate snapped being groped by pop star George Michael is actually a £150-an-hour RENT BOY, the News of the World can reveal.

The tattooed bisexual hunk is a 23-year-old Czech hooker who flogs himself as an escort on a website called Gay Romeo.

There is no suggestion George, 46, actually HIRED him for their naked romp on a yacht in Australia. But our revelation is likely to horrify the singer's long-term partner Kenny Goss.

The pair infamously have an open relationship allowing George to sleep with other men.

But last night a source said: "Sleeping with a prostitute is quite a different matter. There are the obvious risks and it just looks very mucky.

Poses

"What's even more bizarre is that George was happy to parade the guy so openly on a boat which was being watched.

"They looked like they were boyfriends in love rather than simply sex partners. And that's going to be difficult for Kenny to accept.

"He's been unhappy for some time. This could be the final straw for him."

George's new "for sail or rent" pal lists himself as hotmate24 on the Gay Romeo website, where he shows off his muscled body in a series of provocative poses.

Much of the information in his profile is too explicit to include in a family newspaper.

Milder passages include: "Originally from Prague. I am more than fluent in English and Spanish, have a friendly nature and assure discretion.

"Whether it is a quiet night in, a crazy evening out, friendly conversation or just wild times you're after. . . I'm the man who can.

"I can visit you at your home, hotel or travel internationally. Available for outcalls and overnights."

He describes himself on the profile as "bisexual" and says he is 5ft 11ins and weighs 12st 8lb.

His rates are listed at £150 an hour or £600 for a night.

Our source explained: "This is a very typical profile of a high-class gay escort looking for work from rich or high-profile celebrity clients.

"He stresses he's discreet which is something celebrities would definitely be looking for."

George was pictured rubbing suntan oil into the vice boy's arms and torso as they cruised aboard the luxury cruiser MV Enigma off Sydney on Monday.

Party

After mooring up they frolicked in the sea together and kissed passionately.

George even stripped naked revealing his buttocks to photographers.

The star - whose hits include I Want Your Sex, Careless Whisper and Faith - played some gigs Down Under earlier this month then stayed on for the famous gay Mardi Gras celebration.

He has been staying in a serviced apartment in Sydney and has also hired a car there.

He chartered the Enigma - whose owners charge at least £1,200 for three hours - to party with his new buddy.

In the past George has talked about his open relationship with partner Kenny, 48, and insisted:

"Gay relationships are a bit different. I'm sure we'll be allowed to roam if we want to. But we love each other dearly."

 

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But Confidential has discovered the swinging singer has been using the men-only dating website Grindr to meet buddies on what is becoming a never-ending Down Under holiday.

On the same day Michael was photographed frolicking on a boat in Pittwater with a super-fit mystery man, he was setting up dates with other men via his trusty iPhone.

At 10.16am on Monday, using the profile name Back for Wood, Michael used Grindr to send the message "Hi there" and a picture of himself taken in a hotel room mirror to someone he liked the look of , who happened to be just 185m away, according to Grindr GPS.

He then asked if the man was at the Hyatt, presumably the Park Hyatt near The Rocks.

The man replied that he was at nearby Circular Quay and then asked: "How you going sexy?"

A source told us: "He couldn't believe it when the picture of George popped up on his phone. They exchanged a few messages but they haven't met up yet."

 

The UK singer has been on one long holiday since arriving Down Under last month.

After sell-out shows in Sydney and Melbourne he was the star attraction at Mardi Gras.

Since then he has been spotted in numerous Oxford St bars. He's almost an app in himself.

Please kiss and tell

THE George Michael pash mystery took another twist yesterday when we had yet another call claiming to know the hunk's identity.

This time we were told he was a guy called Scott.

Alas, when we contacted "Scott" he made it quite clear he has never gone for a dip with Michael.

"That aint me, mate," insisted Scott when we called him. "I'm not gay."

Scott now joins a spoken-for yoga teacher, a servo owner and a male escort as people wrongly identified as that man.

 

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George Michael - George Michael Seen Kissing Man Down Under

George Michael Seen Kissing Man Down Under

'Careless Whisper' singer George Michael has been spotted canoodling and kissing a man in Sydney Harbour - despite being in a long-term relationship with Kenny Goss.

George Michael has been photographed kissing a mystery man.

The 'Careless Whisper' singer - who has an open relationship with his long-term boyfriend Kenny Goss - has been spotted canoodling with a shaven-headed hunk whilst on a yacht in Sydney, Australia.

The two men frolicked together on the MV Enigma boat - which costs £400-an-hour to rent - applied sun cream to one another and dived into the sea before locking lips whilst clutching onto the side of the yacht.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "George went cruising on Sydney Harbour with some of his new-found male friends. He chartered a cruiser on Monday and took the guys exploring the private coves. He has been in great spirits after some good reviews. He has been loving it Down Under."

The 46-year-old star has been holidaying in the country since he finished touring Australia three weeks ago.

He has been staying in a serviced apartment in the city and has also rented a car so he can see the sights.

This is not the first time George and Kenny's 14-year-long romance has come under scrutiny.

The art dealer is believed to have secretly dumped George in 2008, after the former Wham! singer was arrested in the public toilets on London's Hampstead Heath and charged with possession of drugs.

However, the couple have been pictured together many times since then and George has always been adamant Kenny doesn't mind having an open relationship.

George recently admitted he was frustrated that people judge him over his drug use and penchant for casual gay sex.

He said: "People want to see me as tragic with all the cottaging and drug-taking. I don't see them as weaknesses any more. It's just who I am."

 

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GEORGE MICHAEL has been enjoying himself Down Under again.

The pop star has been rumbled on a boat pushing the boundaries of his open relationship with long-term partner KENNY GOSS for the umpteenth time.

George was touring in Oz, but his last gig was three weeks ago.

He decided to stick around in Sydney a bit longer, making sure he was in town to savour all the Mardi Gras shenanigans.

And there I was thinking he was there for the sunny weather.

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But here is the former WHAM! star snapped on a yacht with a young fella, who George later had a bit of a snog with in the sea.

And some of the other pictures which I can't print suggest the voyage of discovery went a bit further.

A source said: "George went cruising on Sydney Harbour with some of his new-found male friends. He chartered a cruiser on Monday and took the guys exploring the private coves.

"He has been in great spirits after some good reviews. He has been loving it Down Under."

I'm sure George enjoyed exploring every nook and cranny.

It cost him a few quid too. The MV Enigma - which can cater for 20 - costs around £400 an hour on a minimum three-hour charter. He played sailors all day.

With the craft moored, George slapped some suntan lotion to his companion's tattooed torso before leaping into the water.

And I can tell you he's no Tom Daley... not even Arthur.

George has been settling in well in Sydney.

He rented a serviced apartment for a week and even hired a car to drive himself around the city.

The hire car company clearly haven't heard about his love of random naps behind the wheel when he's overcooked the funny cigarettes.

Last year Kenny got stroppy when it was suggested their relationship was in choppy water.

But surely this must get Goss's goat?

He must be a very understanding buoyfriend.

 

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George Michael - Michael Fuels Goss Split Rumours

Caption: George Michael (Picture) at Nobu restaurant London, England ....

Michael Fuels Goss Split Rumours

George Michael shows off his new friend

March 25th 2010
Now not only has Madonna got a young lover, but so has George Michael!

The singer has been seen for the first time with his new friend on a romantic yacht vacation in Australia - splashing, cuddling and smooching . Sadness is longer an issue for Michael . In the Christmas season of 2008 the singer was speculates as single again, after 13 years of relationship with his partner Kenny Goss .

It was not until the end of 2009 the separation was official, because George had previously hoped for more opportunities. Kenny should have ended the relationship after George Michael was arrested on a public toilet for drug possession.

The singer then pulled back from the public. "The separation hit him hard," says a friend. May all the more his fans after a successful musical comeback are now also on the new love and happiness of their stars. Hopefully that holds it....

George Michael is happy again. With his new, young friend, he shows himself on holiday.

 

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The pop singer, who cancelled his air ticket back to England to extend his post-Mardi Gras stay in Australia, was seen with a new unidentified Aussie friend making the best of the balmy weather on a romantic cruise around the waters of northern Sydney.

The pair chartered a 19.5m cruiser on Monday and explored the private coves of the sleepy waterway on a long and languid expedition.

The MV Enigma - which can cater for 20 - costs $890 an hour on a minimum three-hour charter and comes with its own skipper.

With the craft moored, Michael applied some suntan lotion to his companion's tattooed torso before leaping into the water.

Although he is usually more at home paddling about in the sea off the coast of France, he looked perfectly comfortable as he and his friend shared a kiss.

Michael was to have headed home a fortnight ago but extended his stay.

Sources close to the singer said he was delighted by the positive reviews for his tour.

He checked out of Sydney's luxurious Park Hyatt Hotel and rented a serviced apartment for a week.

He even hired his own economy car and has been driving himself around the city.

Although Michael has not commented on the status of his long-term relationship with sporting goods heir Kenny Goss, it is believed their "open" 14-year relationship means Michael has been free to date whoever he likes Down Under.

 

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He adores his Aussie fans and he's mad about our long summers, cancelling his air ticket back to England to extend his post-Mardi Gras stay.

And now, it seems, he has developed a little thing for a certain Aussie bloke.

The pop singer and his new unidentified friend were making the best of the balmy weather on a romantic cruise around Pittwater.

On Monday the pair chartered a 19.5m cruiser and explored the private coves of the sleepy waterway on a long and languid expedition.

Are you or do you know George Michael's new friend? Tell us below

The MV Enigma - which can cater for 20 - costs $890 an hour on a minimum three-hour charter and comes with its own skipper.

With the craft moored, the former Wham! star applied some suntan lotion to his companion's tattooed torso before leaping into the water.

Although the singer is usually more at home paddling about in the sea off the coast of France, he looked perfectly comfortable as he and his Aussie friend shared a kiss.

Michael was to have headed home a fortnight ago but extended his stay.

Sources close to the singer said he was delighted by the positive reviews for his tour and the huge reception he has been given by both Sydney's straight and gay communities.

Michael checked out of Sydney's luxurious Park Hyatt Hotel and rented a serviced Potts Point apartment for a week.

He thwarted the paparazzi by hiring his own economy car and driving himself around.

He ditched industry invitations on the night of the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade to visit Oxford St cafes and make new friends.

A week later, having performed at the Mardi Gras afterparty with US singer Kelly Rowland, he sought out more palatial digs and booked himself into the $4300-a-night royal penthouse at Sheraton on the Park in the heart of Sydney.

Although he has not commented on the status of his long-term relationship with sporting goods heir Kenny Goss, it is believed their "open" 14-year relationship means Michael has been free to date whomever he likes Down Under.

He is said to have dated up a storm with a series of men, even exploring online dating.

 

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He adores his fans, he's mad about our long summers, he cancelled his air ticket back to England to extend his stay following his national tour and now, it seems, he has developed a thing for a certain Aussie bloke.

The pop singer and his unidentified new friend were seen making the best of the autumn weather this week on a harbour cruise around Pittwater in Sydney.

On Monday, the pair chartered a 19.5m cruiser, MV Enigma, and explored the private coves of the sleepy waterway. Having moored their craft, the former Wham! star applied some suntan lotion to his companion's tattooed torso before leaping into the water.

Although the singer is usually more at home paddling about in the seas off the coast of France, he looked perfectly comfortable in his new southern environment as he and his Aussie friend shared a kiss.

Michael was due to have headed home a fortnight ago but extended his stay in Sydney.

After originally staying at Sydney's luxurious Park Hyatt Hotel, Michael checked out and rented a serviced apartment in Potts Point for a week, managing to successfully thwart the paparazzi by hiring his own car and driving himself around, effectively disappearing into traffic.

A week later he sought out more palatial digs and booked himself into the $4300-a-night royal penthouse suite at Sheraton on the Park.

Although he has not commented on the status of his long-term relationship with Kenny Goss, it is believed the couple's "open" 14-year relationship means that Michael has been free to date other men during his Aussie tour.

 

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Boy George - Georges Put Their Feud Behind Them After 20 Years

 

British gay icons BOY GEORGE and GEORGE MICHAEL have ended their bitter 20-year feud in a string of friendly emails.

After years of catty remarks, the pair famously fell out when the Faith singer branded the former Culture Club frontman "homophobic" and called him "such a b**ch".

Boy George had previously hit out at Michael for keeping his sexuality under wraps - the star only 'came out' as gay after he was arrested for propositioning a police officer in a public toilet in 1998.

But Boy George insists they have now put their bad feelings behind them.

He says, "We have exchanged emails and things are pretty good between us. We've 'spoken' a couple of times and he seems to be doing OK."

 

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Mar 6th 2010

George Michael has delighted Australian audiences and critics.

Michael, whose dates coincided with the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, was hailed in the Sydney Morning Herald, with a reviewer gushing: 'When you see and, more pertinently, hear him perform live, you can understand why so many adore him. From the moment he appears, Michael exudes star power.'

The Herald continued: 'His voice is in superb shape; at 46 he looks pretty good and he has so many soul-pop classics up his sleeve he can afford to pepper them throughout his set, rather than save them for the encore.'

The rival Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, praised Michael for hanging out with 'regular punters' and not VIPs. It said: 'Michael put on one of the best shows ever seen in Sydney before 40,000 fans, and later told his crew that it was one of the most enjoyable performances on the international tour and that he got a huge buzz from the crowd in his first visit since 1988.'

 

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Let me give that one more try: George Michael performs to a packed house at Etihad Stadium last night.

Amazing enough to forgive him calling us 'Sydney'.

Three times.

Michael's well-documented recreational activities may have robbed him of his short-term and geographical memory, but it certainly hasn't hurt his performance.

George Michael hasn't played live in Melbourne since 1988.

He made up for lost time as 47,000 fans had their patience rewarded with a spectacular sold out show at Etihad Stadium.

It constantly reminded you that beyond the headlines George Michael is a true superstar and one of the finest songwriters and performers of our generation.

To think the poxy NAB Cup almost caused this tour to bypass Melbourne is now ludicrous.

Especially considering Melbourne is the last stop on his four-year greatest hits world tour.

"Melbourne you are definitely the last show,'' Michael said, correcting his earlier glitch.

"114 shows and you have the last show. I can't think of a better place to have done this show.''

The singer - who had a teleprompter with lyrics to jog his memory if needed - also joked about his media reputation as a stoner.

"I'm doing well for a drug addict,'' Michael said. "If I'm a functioning drug addict I'm the best functioning drug addict you'll ever meet.''

Back on his last visit 22 years ago, George Michael was a sex symbol wooing women and enjoying the peak of his fame with the million-selling Faith album.

In 2010 the women realise they're no longer in with a chance.

So does Michael - in the Wham! classic Everything She Wants (one of the few tracks from his hetero period) the superstar laughs "yeah right'' after singing "I guess I must have loved you because I said you were the perfect girl for me.''

Michael's songs have endured - and endeared - for over 25 years.

This lengthy concert saw Michael move from classy ballads (Father Figure, One More Try) to the dance anthems Flawless, Too Funky and Outside and even Wham!'s pop gem I'm Your Man.

The man sweats classic songs (Careless Whisper, Fastlove, Freedom 90, Faith, Amazing)  and even joked about the weather that left Etihad's roof open: "For an Englishman this is hot.''

The star even finds time for other people's songs - a jazzy take on the Police's Roxanne and the vocal showcase of Nina Simone's Feeling Good - when fans could instantly name 15 of his own songs he could have played instead.

If the rumours are true and Michael will no longer tour at stadium level, Melbourne was left with an example of how it should be done.

 

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Michael put on one of the best shows ever seen in Sydney on Friday night before 40,000 fans, and later told his crew that it was one of the most enjoyable performances on the international tour and that he got a huge buzz from the crowd in his first visit since 1988.

The singer was not going to miss Saturday night's parade, and was invited to a VIP Foxtel party at Taylor Square but never made it - instead drinking and chatting with locals in various bars. He popped into Oxford St's Coco Cubano with a group of friends and ordered mojitos.

"People went up and said hello and he told them he was on the way to a VIP party upstairs," reported bar owner Tony Melhem.

But he didn't go, later making it to the Oxford hotel.

"He was having a drink and I said hello and we chatted for a while and he told me he was loving Sydney and will extend his stay. He was Mr Down-To-Earth," a partygoer told us.

A tour party source said Michael would fly to Melbourne for his show on Wednesday, then come back to Sydney to stay and has not confirmed a departure date.

"He loves being low-key and relaxed and has been so nice since he's been here, so it's no surprise he chose to blend in at Mardi Gras," the source said.

That left Molly Meldrum and Charlotte Dawson as the biggest names at Foxtel's party.

"I've been to Rio and this is up there," Molly said of the parade. "It's astonishing."

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WHEN George Michael first came to prominence in 1984 as one half of the pop duo Wham! (with Andrew Ridgeley) there were few signs he would become one of his generation's leading pop culture exponents.

Whether standing still on the massive multimedia set at the Sydney Football Stadium, throwing himself bodily into the music, or running deep into the crowd, at 46, Michael looked every inch the warrior king: fit, manly and charismatic, and completely at home on the arena stage after extensively touring almost this exact show since 2006.

Most of the 40,000 souls who made their way to the jam-packed arena seemed to have brought their cars, and the result was gridlock, which delayed the performance by 45 minutes.

Your correspondent was subsequently still outside - having bolted from a cab in gridlock to complete the final few kilometres - when a roar worthy of Maximus Decimus Meridius (the hero of Gladiator), or at least the decisive field goal in a rugby grand final, erupted from the stadium.

But no gladiator had been slain, no mere game won.

Instead, George Michael had appeared before his adoring Sydney hordes for the first time in 22 years. The deep, unmistakable groove of Fast Love, from 1996's Older, shook the suburb.

Inside, the set was spectacular. Though energetic and obviously determined to cover as much ground as possible, for many of those present, the black suit clad popstar would have resembled a busy insect if not for the series of giant screens on which appeared Michael, his band and a dazzling array of carefully constructed films, photographs and lighting effects.

The screens had a three-dimensional, high definition look to them, which conveyed a satisfying intimacy far into the vast crowd.

Michael was in fine, strong voice, with only occasional falsetto parts omitted. And his band, including eight back-up singers, spread across a multi-tiered scaffold, was impeccable.

His patter was brief, but generous. "Sydney, you still look so f . . king good. I don't get it - plenty of sunshine and sex I reckon," he said.

The 2 1/2 hour set was a testament to Michael's songwriting versatility, from the fast and the danceable (Amazing, Too Funky) to the heartfelt and confessional mode (Jesus to a Child, My Mother Had a Brother).

In the second half, after a 20-minute break, Michael and a handful of musicians set up as far into the crowd as they could get for a show within a show, the highlight of which was a jazz vocal tour de force on Roxanne, by the Police.

The evening's climax featured the star in full cop attire for his out and proud hit Outside, which parodies his 1998 bust for lewd conduct in a public place. A three-song encore ended, appropriately, with Michael's anthemic 1984 Wham! hit Freedom.

George Michael plays Etihad Stadium, Docklands Victoria, 7.30pm, March 3. Tickets: $169 - $469.

There are no disclaimers, excuses or disappointments.

Indeed Michael's Sydney show last night automatically set the bar skyhigh for this year's pop concerts.

The lengthy show ticks all the boxes. Firstly it looks incredible - the immense stage and mammoth video screens are state of the art and purpose-built for a stadium.

But it was that voice and those song fans have waited since 1988 to see back in action in Australia.

And while Michael has hardly been a saint over the years, his voice still provides instant goosebumps.

''It's been 22 years, I'm going to try and make it up to you tonight,'' Michael told the sold out crowd of 45,000. ''You all look so good, plenty of sunshine and sex I reckon.''

The setlist is extraordinary - from Fastlove to Wham!'s I'm Your Man to 80s anthem Father Figure - and they're the opening three songs.

Michael introduced Wham!'s Everything She Wants by stating ''Who remembers 1984? We all have a lot less hair and a lot more experience.''

Those songs are sadly as far as the singer delves into the Wham! catalogue, although the huge screems play a montage of their iconic 80s videos.

The perfectionist has always surrounded himself with the finest musicians and vocalist and this tour is no different - the band sounding as impressive on the gorgeously bare ballad A Different Corner to the disco-driven Too Funky and Outside.

Meanwhile hearing Careless Whisper, one of the best ballads ever written, was almost worth the price of admission alone.

George Michael plays Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

But George Michael broke the run of bad "comeback tours'', winning over more than 40,000 fans at the Sydney Football Stadium tonight.

When Michael sings I won't let you down' at the start of his hit Freedom, he delivers on his promise.

Taking to the stage 40 minutes late thanks to extreme traffic congestion around the inner-city venue, Michael was given a hero's welcome.

Dressed head to toe in black, the former Wham! singer opened with Fast Love.

"Good evening Sydney, are you ready for a good night?'' he said. "It's been 22 years.''

He then launched into crowd favourite I'm Your Man and Father Figure.

While divas like Britney Spears and Whitney Houston left some fans wanting their money back during their recent performances, Michael sang live, hit all his notes and whipped up a party for faithful followers.

It is Michael's first Australian tour since his Faith tour in 1988.

He opened his 2010 tour in Perth last weekend and will play in Melbourne on March 3.

``You still look so...good, I don't get it - plenty of sunshine and sex I reckon,'' he said.

George Michael has enjoyed one of the most successful and enduring careers in pop music, selling more than a 100 million records globally.

He has notched up six US number one singles, 11 British number one singles, a Grammy award, three American Music Awards, an MTV Video Music award and two Ivor Novello awards for song writing.

He recently was declared the most played British artist on radio over the last 20 years.

 

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Until, that is, photographers appeared and took his snap as he smiled and waved at them.

A few diners turned their heads, but otherwise left Michael alone to eat his meal at the Manta seafood restaurant.

Michael has been taking it easy since arriving back in Sydney from Perth on Sunday, eating at several restaurants and relaxing with old friends prior to his show before more than 40,000 at the Sydney Football Stadium tomorrow night.

The former Wham! main man will head to Melbourne next week for another sold-out show at Etihad Stadium.

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Burswood Dome, February 20

There are superstars and there are just wannabes. You can't mistake one for the other when they stride on stage. George Michael is definitely a superstar.

From the lenses of his signature shades to the heavy soles of his shoes, the English singer has a stage presence not easily rivalled.

Let's not discount the lust factor, either. When Michael grins with those dimples and dances the way we know he can, he's got you.

The audience paid their own homage: Choose Life shirts, some fluoro pink tutus, an original and worn-out 80s Faith tour T-shirt. Biggest props go to two Freeeks in tight black vinyl sheaths and a pair of sizzling female cops.

The massive but most intimate screens the Dome has probably ever seen provided rolling old clips, news footage and cartoons plus computer-generated shapes and images.

With the band obviously separated from the singer and members occasionally coming down to join him, it planted the focus firmly on the singer-songwriter.

Like George Michael's best-of album, Twenty-Five, the set list was all about living and loving in an enthusiastic pop, funk, groove, dance and soul mash up.

The smart arrangement of Wham's I'm Your Man, which started with a deep groove and then launched into pure pop, showed it's possible to mix it up and make the past far from daggy in the present.

Faith was a hands-down favourite with its infectious melody and the original clip playing on the big screen was smile-inducing.

Wham's Everything She Wants started achingly slowly and when the congas kicked in the audience went ape and sang along.

As its title implied, 1990's Too Funky was all that and Michael grooved his way down the runway into the middle of the crowd.

For all the fun bits, though, there were some downsides.

The show ran almost an hour late and the Dome was stiflingly hot.

Michael commented that it was the hottest show he had played - and at that point he wasn't talking about the audience's enthusiasm.

Perhaps that accounted for the constant breaks between songs which unfortunately disrupted the set's flow.

But let's get back to Michael, because when it was on, this show was hot.

The song Outside was the singer's only reference to his troubles with the law and it came as he burst on stage in a cop uniform with handcuffs.

Spin The Wheel was late-night sexy while Amazing and the trance-like Flawless joyfully forced you to dance.

The ballads were exceptionally good.

Highlighted by a 12-string guitar, Father Figure - slow, prayer-like and very sexy - reminded us why Michael's voice is much loved. Fastlove was smooth and seductive.

One More Try was sombre and hymnal with the backing vocalists cocooning around him while the poignant and political Praying for Time was sung in front of a blazing red screen.

Put together, you realise exactly how much soul Michael's music has and it's impossible to call him simply a pop artist.

The set list did beg the question, why opt for a slinky Nina Simone cover and a thoroughly dull version of Roxanne, when Freedom didn't get a look in?

Not that I was really expecting Club Tropicana, but Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go didn't arrive.

Careless Whisper ended the show as the sole encore.

It's one of the best examples of where Michael's voice can go.

Call me selfish, I wanted to hear him sing and stretch through it, not 15,000 amateurs.

The crowd loved it, though, and had their regressed teen moment as the women squealed some more.

The song climaxed, Michael said goodnight and that was it.

Granted it was a mixed show, but after a 22-year wait, in so many ways it was just a treat to see George Michael in the flesh and know he's still got the voice and all the moves.

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Despite the venue change from ME Bank Stadium to the oft-complained about acoustics of the Burswood Dome - 15,000 punters eagerly awaited the pop stylings of the legendary gay icon.

There were some production problems during the test run on Friday night - it was the first time the stage was setup in over a year and a half.

Yesterday, the elaborate platform was revealed as three large screens and two smaller ones decorated the stage to allow even the furthest of seats to see the British singer perform.

Bi-level scaffolding housed the instruments, which included bongo drums and keyboards.

For reasons unknown - the start time was delayed to about 8.30pm, but Michael was worth the wait.

He greeted the crowd looking debonair in a black shirt and his signature shades. It was a far cry from his ''Choose Life'' t-shirt he wore in his heyday as part of 80s pop group Wham!

It was wall-to-wall hits from the man of the hour as he asked the crowd ''Are we ready to make up after 22 years?'' in reference to the last time he visited Perth.

``Fast love'' was a hot favourite, but everything he sang throughout the evening was lapped up by the adoring audience.

Michael flew into Perth on Friday and will head off to Sydney and Melbourne for his other Australian shows.

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The now out-and-proud gay singer arrived in Sydney to prepare for his Australian tour, which kicks off in Perth on Saturday night before making its way back to NSW tomorrow week (February 26).

Michael dined at Rose Bay's Catalina restaurant and the now 46-year-old was polite to photographers on his first visit to the country since his Faith tour in 1988.

But this tour is far from sold out, with promoters hoping for a late rush of sales.