The music of late-and-great pop star George Michael gets the big band treatment when singers Rob Mills and Andrew De Silva lead an all-star tribute with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
The 'George Michael: Listen To Your Heart' concert presents the greatest works of George Michael recreated with full, symphonic sound.
For Rob, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity he simply couldn't refuse. “I grew up doing covers of George Michael when I was younger, before I was doing my musical theatre stuff.
“So when the phone rang to be in a George Michael tribute I said 'absolutely, 100 per cent'. Also playing with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, which is probably the best in the country; you don't say no to that kind of gig.”
With the backing of the ASO, Rob says he and Andrew will be performing their own interpretations selected from the extensive George Michael songbook. “The songs, when you strip them back or you add an extra 70 people playing in an orchestra, the songs at their core are beautiful,” Rob says.
“He was a great storyteller, so whether you strip it back to a guitar or add an extra 70 musicians these songs will stand the test of time.”
Andrew echoes Rob's sentiments, adding that the show is about paying homage to George Michael's music rather than focussing on the negative aspects of his career. “George Michael's songs are the real songwriter's songs,” Andrew says.
“Yes he had an image, he had great videos, he looked amazing; he did all that stuff yes, but at the end of the day he was a great songwriter.
“The fact that we're doing the show with a symphony orchestra makes it all about the songs. [George] said that he wanted to be remembered for his songs, not the scandals or his sexuality and that's what's happening, it's his music that will live on for years and years to come.”
Original frontman for '90s R&B vocal group CDB, Andrew has also recently been announced as the new lead singer for classic Aussie pub act Boom Crash Opera and has also been performing in his own production, 'Purple Revolution: A Tribute To Prince'.
He says shows such as these give audiences a chance to relive the soundtrack of their youth as well as work to keep the legacy of the artists alive. “That's what music is about, taking people back,” he says.
“With the Prince show I do at the moment as well, I've noticed that some songs take you somewhere else straight away; as soon as they start, you're there.
“The thing about George and Prince is they ran their own race. They did their thing and it takes a lot of courage to do that as an artist because there are a lot of knock-backs and people don't believe in you, so you just have to do it.
“It sounds like an easy road but it's not; it's hard to run your own race because people try to pull you down. So it's an honour to be able to do this kind of show.”
