George Michael's epic, his greatest masterpiece of pop. Soulful, dark, perfect melodies. Every part jumps.

I'd like to say the verses are my favorite, with the ever reinventing singing line. I mean, who ends their phrases like George Michael? What he did was so special. I'd like to say that's my favorite part. But when the song breaks down and that bass line gets busy, with that funky drum beat (the little hi-hat accents such a deft touch), there is nothing else.

Of all rock instruments, I understand the bass the least. But I fully appreciate when it is carrying the song. I like to say that drum creativity is song creativity. That may be true, but bass creativity, or even just bass vitality, makes a song. Sometimes it decides the very genre of a song. Take the funky bass line out of this song's breakdown, replace it with maybe just a rock-based descending pattern mirroring the piano progression that eventually enters, and it is no longer this song.

Where did pop songs like this go? Is this literally the last ultra-classic pop song from the '80s era before New Kids and Hammer and Ice dropped in like clumsy Foot Soldiers on the ninja party?

Anyway, the statement of this song, knowing George's circumstances at the time, is simply beyond my inclination to summarize. But I love the multifaceted connotations of these lyrics. Their spirit should impact us all equally.

Above all - Freedom: You truly must give what you take. This song may appear a century from now in a course on democratic civics. We await whether that will be a current events or a history course.