Choose YOUR favourite George Michael song and help The Sun’s push for the Eighties icon to fly back up the charts
We pay tribute to the music icon by encouraging downloads and streams of his classics
GEORGE MICHAEL’s biggest hits are taking a grip of the music charts following Bizarre’s bid to celebrate his music.
After the singer’s tragic death on Christmas Day, we wanted to pay tribute to the music icon by encouraging downloads and streams of his classics with the help of national radio stations and his celebrity fans.
The intention was to push the anthems up the chart, and make money for three of his favourite charities in the process by asking The Treasury to waive VAT costs which is currently being looked into.
To kick things off, The Sun is donating a generous amount to each of the causes - Childline, MacMilan Cancer Support and Terrence Higgins Trust - in respect of the late star.
Plus we are asking his fans to name their favourite George anthem for us to get behind specifically and ramp up its chances of a lofty place in the charts.
We originally planned to back Careless Whisper but after conversations with his former band-mate ANDREW RIDGELEY he believed the classic track, which he co-wrote, wasn’t the ideal choice and preferred us to back a George solo track instead, which we have honoured.
Fans of the Faith star have been immersing himself with his music since his passing.
Careless Whisper is currently riding high at No14 in the iTunes singles chart and Ladies and Gentlemen No1 in the album chart.
The Final (Wham!) and Twenty Five also feature in the Top 10.
His festive track Last Christmas, another Wham! classic, is No5 in the offficial chart with Careless Whisper at No58 and Faith at N83.
Chart sources say these classic tracks are set to rise through the week.
Meanwhile, more famous faces have come out to support our bid for George to conquer the charts, following the lead of MATT TERRY, SARA COX, BARBARA WINDSOR and Absolute Radio DJ CHRISTIAN O’CONNELL.
And the charities close to George’s heart have also backed our bid.
Ian Green, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “George Michael was a great friend and supporter of Terrence Higgins Trust, so it is humbling to be chosen as one of the charities that would benefit from this campaign in his memory.”
Lynda Thomas, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “This is a lovely idea and I have no doubt that George would be very proud that his music will continue to offer support to those affected by cancer.”
A spokesperson for the NSPCC, who run Childline, said: “George showed great commitment to keeping children safe and any help in the fight for every childhood is hugely welcome.”