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For those of us who grew up in the UK in the 1980s Wham were a phenomenon. Their perfect pop was the kind of music that people seemed to love or hate, and the 'clean cut' look of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley was a deliberate juxtaposition to the suggestiveness of their act. After George Michael went solo he offered a much more reflective series of songs on the album 'Listen without Prejudice vol.1' of which 'Freedom 90' (so called to distinguish it from Wham's hit 'Freedom') was one of the few upbeat tracks. 

The song combines both cynicism and a sense of relief that Michael felt free to be himself more as a solo artist, and as time went on he also came out as a gay man. This song is a beginning of the freedom he was finally feeling as an artist and as a human being and can be seen a celebration of both.

 

When hard pressed, I cried to GOD;
    and GOD brought me into a spacious place.

                                                                 Psalm 118.5

Worship And Prayer
Observing Lent