White Light

Album: Single Release Only (2012)
Charted: 15
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Songfacts®:

  • George Michael released this song to mark the 30th anniversary of his first entry in the UK singles chart. He described the track as a "thank you to everybody who has been a part of [his] success", adding: "I mean everybody, including the press!! Long may it continue." The song was made available to download on August 12, 2012, 30 years after George first entered the UK singles chart with Wham!'s "Young Guns (Go For It!)."
  • The song references Michael's battle with pneumonia in late 2011, during which he came close to losing his life. "Was it science that saved me, or the way that you prayed for me? Either way I thank you, I'm alive," he sings.
  • The release also contains a previously unreleased cover of Tim Buckley's 1970 hit "Song To The Siren."
  • George Michael sang this during the London Olympic Games closing ceremony, marking the former Wham singer's first performance since his life-threatening illness. Whilst other artists sang some of their best known songs, Michael went with a new one. Responding to criticism that he used the event to plug his new material, Michael said: "It was my one chance on TV to thank you all for your loyalty and prayers, and I took it. And I don't regret it."

Comments: 1

  • Michelle from Milw Wi UsaVictoria, what on earth are you talking about? This song has NOTHING to do with that. Its all about his near death experience while in the hospital. Its also said that he chose to sing this song at the London Olympics instead of a more popular song as a way of thanking anyone and everyone who helped (or prayed I guess) him through that situation.

    I've been to Ukraine Victoria, and its a great country, and what Russia is doing is TOTAL BS, but this song has absolutely NOTHING to do with that aggression
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