This month we were treated with a rare fly on the wall, no holds barred TV documentary (or did we not see one a few months back?) on George Michael. Before I go on I want to make it clear that I know George and his family and I am really fond of him. So I was curious to see how he was getting on with his life.
George was filmed and interviewed by the increasingly eccentric Melvyn Bragg for a UK arts series, ‘The South Bank Show’. It appears to be getting more and more difficult to accommodate Melvyn’s hairdo within a two header camera shot as he whips up his bouffant into ever larger dimensions each week. It’s getting a bit like Rod Stewart’s famous bottom. I am beginning to suspect our Melv’ is over compensating for some perceived lack of something or other about his person or perhaps persona. And to think that I used to fancy him in the Sixties! It would never have worked – we would have spent too much time arguing over the hair lacquer.
George also seems to be having a problem in the head department. On interview he presented as grandiose, paranoid, rambling in speech, and at times disappearing up his own jacksy. At one point, whilst rolling a joint in his dressing room, he explained that this was the only thing that kept him sane. To any psychologically minded person there would seem to be a contradiction between his presentation and his perception of reality. Oh dear. Well at least he seems to be enjoying himself. He also proved a great source of entertainment at the hair salon the next day. My hairdresser thinks he is morphing into Gianni Versace, though I think this is a bit harsh on our lovely Georgiou.
For those of you, outside or even inside the UK, who have never heard of (Lord) Melvyn Bragg, he is the chap who was wonderfully brought to heel by Cher who felt that an Arts programme editor really should know about the work of Erté. She drew attention to his tie as proof that he had no feel for the aesthetic.
Happy Halloween!
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shavian
