Twenty Five (Snyp)

George Michael | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 1, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Epic
• ASIN: B0014BECF8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,250 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk

The last quarter-century has been nothing if not colorful for George Michael. But through all the controversy--the high-profile arrests and audacious videos, the falling-outs and band splits--he has emerged intact as a vital figure on the global pop scene--a fact compounded by his current 25 Live tour and this accompanying Greatest Hits package. Twenty Five is the fourth such collection in Michael's career, though it carries the obvious advantage of being more up to date than 1998's lauded Ladies & Gentlemen and features not only solo material but music from the early Wham! days. As such, it's the most comprehensive anthology yet, featuring upbeat Wham! classics like "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" and "Freedom" amidst somber solo material like "Praying for Time" and "Jesus to a Child." Spread across two discs (29 songs in total), the collection not only includes a host of evergreen classics but also recent singles "An Easier Affair" and "This Is Not Real Love" (with former Sugababe Mutya Buena) and two unreleased tracks. There are some notable absences from the collection-–"I Want Your Sex" and "Kissing a Fool" are two glaring omissions-–but it still remains the most comprehensive survey of the artist's legacy to date. --Danny McKenna

Product Description

In 25 years, George Michael can already look back on more than 80 million in record sales worldwide. He has notched up six No. 1 singles from his debut album, eleven British No. 1 singles, and six No. 1 albums to date.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating career retrospective with ups and downs, November 21, 2006

By 

MUSiCOLOGY - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twenty Five (Audio CD)

George Michael celebrates 25 years in the industry with the release of greatest hits compilation "Twenty Five", a two or three-CD package that takes in everything from Wham! hits to the "Faith " era and his most recent material (depending on how long you want to spend with him).

No matter what you might think of him in terms of his media depiction, George Michael remains one of the most successful and prolific artists of our generation, and an iconic music industry figure since the 1980s.

He has been a solo star for over 20 years, during which time he has achieved international success and sold over 85 million albums worldwide. There have also been six US No.1 singles, 11 British No.1s and the title of "most played artist on British radio" in the past 20 years.

Of the two formats of "Twenty Five", the 3CD version is arguably the most rewarding, given that the third CD features some rarer tracks, the occasional cover and a solid version of "Brother Can You Spare A Dime?" that was recorded as part of Pavarotti and friends. It's mostly for the die-hard fans but succeeds in showcasing a side to George Michael that isn't always featured on the radio.

The remaining two CDs are packed with some fairly obvious choices - the best of which pick themselves. For the shamelessly nostalgic, there's the cheesy Wham! hits "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", which has to be filed under 'so bad, it's fun' and the equally shameless "Freedom" (which those of a certain generation will probably remember singing or bopping along to).

"Last Christmas" and "Careless Whispe"r also feature (as they do at countless wedding ceremonies).

Early solo material such as the breezy pop classic "Faith" still sound fresh today and retain a timeless quality. "Faith", in particular, is arguably one of George Michael's finest creations and is similar in feel-good value to U2's "Desire" or OutKast's more recent "Hey Ya" - ie, no matter how many times you hear it, you'll still feel like dancing.

The deeper and more sombre style of George Michael is best exemplified in heartfelt songs such as "Father Figure" and J"esus To A Child", while there's a brilliant reworking of "Heal The Pain" which is performed with Paul McCartney (and never has a song title seemed so appropriate!).

And efforts like "Too Funky" and "Freeek" capably show how the artist has consistently been able to mix the ballads with funkier offerings that ensure he retains a place on the dancefloor.

But not everything George Michael has done - or still does - reaches such high standards. In fact, some tracks are downright grating. Whether it's over-earnest and even drippy ballads such as "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" (with Elton John) or new track "This Is Not Real Love", a wretched, ponderous duet with ex-Sugababe Mutya Buena, they seem to be striving a little too hard to pull at your emotions.

On the other side of the coin, "Flawless" is a fairly non-descript pop offering that is bland in the same way that so many chart hits are - it feels like a desperate attempt to appeal to younger listeners that marked a lowpoint in his career.

That said, there's still plenty to appeal to his diehard fanbase, or even more recent fans, on "Twenty Five", making this career retrospective a fascinating journey that serves to show why George Michael has remained at the top of his profession for so long.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Curiously, George, April 1, 2008

By 

Michael Kerner "Michael Kerner" (Brooklyn, New York U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Twenty Five (Snyp) (Audio CD)

The past couple of years have been a bit difficult on George Michael. With problems with substance abuse, and invasions of his personal life, it has been one difficult ride from the fallen star. Though his career has fizzled in America the past several years, his music has recently taken a turn with the success of the ABC show Eli Stone. With his songs like Faith being shown and showcased on the show, his voice has been introduced slowly but surely to a whole new generation. Even though he still hasn't made it big in America, he still has shown it by being a status symbol all throughout Europe. But last year, he celebrated his 25th anniversary of being a recording icon, and has shown it on a new greatest hits album for American audiences. But, is this something worth having Faith with?

Twenty Five, the 2006 greatest hits album from George Michael which was widely released overseas, has finally made its 2008 American debut for listeners. The collection though focuses on his mainly his overseas success, and not as much on his status with American hard core fans. The collection falls similar to George's 1998 hits album Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best Of George Michael, as a double-album of his classics, one being of his top dance songs, the other by being about his somber but classic ballads. The collection throws in a few surprises, one of them bringing in more of his mainstream hits during his era as a part of Wham! during the 80's with classics like Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go!, Last Christmas and the somber Careless Whisper. The collection also includes his classics from both sides of the Atlantic, including his mainstream radio standards like Freedom '90, the deep and delicate Jesus To A Child, as well as the #1 smashes Father Figure, Faith and Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me with Elton John. The collection also highlights a few new tracks here including a cover of the Stevie Wonder classic As with Mary J. Blige, which has made its official U.S. debut after being a hit overseas 10 years ago, as well as the delicate and intimate This Is Not Real Love, and a collaboration of his song Heal The Pain with Paul McCartney. While the album highlights in his new songs as well as some fan favorites the album does overlook a few of George's great #1 hits from his 80's era like the provocative I Want Your Sex, Monkey and his classic I Knew You Were Waiting For Me with the legendary Aretha Franklin.

While Twenty Five isn't as definitive as Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best Of George Michael, it still is a decent buy for hard core fans of George throughout the years who still enjoy his melodies, and works nicely as a sample for anyone who doesn't at all own any George Michael album to date. While there have been so many greatest hits albums that haven't worked that well the past few years, Twenty Five by George Michael is a good addition to your album collection, and that is something is is of a decent value from a father figure.

Album Cover: B

Songs: B-

Price: B-

Remastering: B+

Overall: B 1/2-

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Collection From One of the UK's Best Pop Artists, January 12, 2007

By 

Carl Peterson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twenty Five (Dlx) (Audio CD)

Note: This review is based on the UK release of "Twenty Five."


I'm a HUGE fan of George Michael and although his albums of late have been a bit lackluster, this "Best of" album is worth a listen. "Twenty Five" represents his entire carrer - from his days as the better half of WHAM!, to the colorful events of a few years ago, to his most recent musical contributions. The songs he's chosen are pretty much what you'd expect with a couple of notable omissions.

The following are all of the (major) albums George has made to date, with the tracks used on "Twenty Five" listed below. (Tracks with a - are on both the Standard and Deluxe releases while those with a * are on the Deluxe release only):

"Fantastic" (WHAM!):
(nothing)

"Make it Big!" (WHAM!):
-Everything She Wants
-Wake Me Up Before You Go Go
-Freedom
-Careless Whisper
*If You Were There

"Music From the Edge of Heaven" (WHAM!):
-A Different Corner
-Last Christmas

"Faith:"
-Faith
-Father Figure
-One More Try

"Listen Without Prejudice:"
-Freedom '90
-Praying for Time

"Five Live" (live Freddie Mercury tribute):
(nothing)

"Older:"
-Fastlove
-Spinning the Wheel
-Jesus to a Child
-Older
-You Have Been Loved

"Ladies and Gentlemen:"
-Too Funky
-Outside
-As (not on the US release of Ladies and Gentlemen)
-Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (with Elton John)
*Fantasy (not on the US release of Ladies and Gentlemen)

"Songs From the Last Century:"
*Roxeanne
*My Baby Just Cares for Me

"Patience:"
-Freeek
-Shoot the Dog (not on the US release of Patience)
-Amazing
-Flawless (Go to the City)
-Round Here
-John and Elvis Are Dead
*Precious Box
*Cars and Trains
*Patience
*My Mother Had a Brother
*American Angel
*Please Send Me Someone to Love
*Through

New Tracks:
-An Easier Affair
-Heal the Pain (duet with Paul McCartney)
-This is Not Real Love (with Mutya)
*Understand
*You Know That I Want to
*Safe
*Brother Can You Spare a Dime? (live)

There are several tracks that should be here but aren't: From "Faith," I'd include 'I Want Your Sex (Parts 1 & 2),' 'Monkey,' and 'Kissing a Fool.' 'The Strangest Thing' and 'Star People' from "Older" should also have been included. And 'I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)' is my favorite duet George has performed (with Aretha Franklin).


BUT WHAT YOU WANT TO READ ABOUT is the new stuff, right? Well, as I said in the opening, I feel George's recent music isn't as good as his older compositions. This generally holds true for the new tracks on "Twenty Five." The one exception is "An Easier Affair." It'll get you dancing and smiling but feels like a genuinely new direction for his music. It's fantastic. The rest of the new tracks are needlessly re-hashed songs or so-so new compositions.

Another thing you'll likely be curious about is the Standard VS. Deluxe versions of this album. In my opinion, the Deluxe version is not substantially better than the Standard. The third exclusive disc is mostly made up of tracks from 'Patience' although it does have some (so-so) new songs. You'll probably have to listen for yourself, but I was not especially impressed.


Conclusion: A few of the track selections (and omissions) on this album are unfortunate, but an amazing career provides some of the great pop music. This "Best of" album even delivers a new classic tune. Pick it up and if you haven't, explore George's "Faith" and "Older" albums.