I am no authority on the messaging happening in this song. I suggest checking out an extensive thought piece by Rolling Stone here: http://www.rollingstone.com/…/george-michael-father-figure-…

The song gets described as soul- or gospel-inspired, but where does the signature minor-modal instrumental scale fit into that theory? Sure there are some simple parallels to soul (the sensual delivery of the verse melody) and gospel (the choir harmony in the choruses) here. But there is truly only one musical school here: Pop.

The synth layering, the defined clarity of the perfect melodies (often employing evocative minor and pentatonic scales) - these were the hallmarks of the peak of pop music in the 1980s, the greatest pop music decade. It was its own new heritage.

Need proof? This pop sound was a breathtaking new development in its original time. But after a short deviation into '90s rock, there was a quick, fervent revival of these '80s sounds across the musical landscape. Almost all music released now owes a debt to the sounds the inventors of the '80s devised.

"Father Figure" was an Ur song of this foundational movement, an inspiration rather than a song siphoning off inspirations of its own. It is the father of an entire younger generation of songs.

The melody of the backing singers after the middle instrumental gets me every time. I simply must harmonize.