SATHNAM SANGHERA: THE MEANING OF GEORGE MICHAEL

TONIGHT THE MUSIC SEEMS SO LOUD:

The meaning of George Michael

He wrote Careless Whisper at seventeen. He sued his record label and nearly won. He came out not with a whisper but a roar. He fed the homeless anonymously for years. He died on Christmas Day, and the world felt quieter for it.

Ten years on, George Michael is still everywhere — and we still haven’t fully understood why.

Join us at Walthamstow Trades Hall for an unmissable evening with Sathnam Sanghera — bestselling author of Empireland and The Boy With The Topknot — as we celebrates the publication of his brilliant new book.

Tonight The Music Seems So Loud is not an ordinary pop biography. It’s a kaleidoscopic portrait of one of Britain’s most beloved musicians and an account of a strange and turbulent period in British history — exploring what secrecy does to the soul, and how fame rots the sense of self.

Through the lens of George Michael’s life, Sanghera weaves a story of immigration, homophobia, fame, the 80s and 90s, creative genius, the tabloids, addiction, obsessive fans, and why the love for George Michael has only grown since his tragic death.

This is the book Sathnam needed to write. After years in the trenches of Britain’s culture wars, he turned to the artist who first captured his heart at the age of eight — and produced something joyful, sharp, and genuinely moving.

Sathnam will be in conversation with the writer, journalist and broadcaster Laura Barton — one of the finest voices on music and culture in Britain today.

Expect laughter. Expect argument. Expect to hear Careless Whisper differently for the rest of your life.

REVIEWS

This affecting exploration of the troubled genius’s impact is packed with anecdote, sharp analysis and social context ― Guardian

No ordinary pop biography, this is a very personal exploration of a very unusual artist. Sathnam Sanghera digs deep into sexuality, ethnicity, politics, celebrity and, of course, the songs to change the way we think about this misunderstood megastar -- Dorian Lynskey