RIPs

Anne Theriault on the importance of General Organa

Also, GM.  Many warm, tender things written about him, but I think it's also important to remember- from a critical standpoint- that George Michael was kind of a joke during his time.  He may be remembered fondly now, but he was the butt of every authentic/real music (subtly homophobic/misogynistic) argument in the mid to late 80s.  Can't say I'm a huge fan, but many of his hits were huuuge enough to make one stand up and appreciate.  Even still, while many are quick to point out the appearance of Michael's music in recent films as evidence of his lasting influence, they're frequently played to comic effect (see Deadpool, Keanu, The Night Before, Michael Bay's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, et al.). In fact, Michael' "Faith" was perhaps the biggest mook in-joke of all, triangulating the career of Limp Bizkit and its male rebellion against Michael's ilk in the realm of gay and girl-friendly pop.