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Why did George Michael write the song “Outside”? George Michael wrote the song “Outside” as a response to his arrest and the public scandal that followed. The song has a lot of double meaning when it comes to its lyrics, music video, and timing of its release.
After delving deeper into the meaning behind the lyrics, I realized that “Outside” was drawn from George Michael’s personal experiences. The song was inspired by his arrest in a public bathroom for engaging in a ‘lewd act’ with an undercover policeman.
Why Was “Outside” Written? “Outside” was written during a tumultuous period in George Michael’s life. The scandalous incident in a public restroom led to his arrest and a storm of media attention. George Michael used this song as a creative outlet to express his feelings, frustrations, and his right to live life on his terms.
George Michael, the composer of “Outside,” was an incredibly talented musician known for his work both as a solo artist and as part of the duo Wham! George’s songwriting prowess went beyond just “Outside” – he penned and produced a plethora of hits throughout his illustrious career.
Here, writer and former MTV VJ John Norris looks back on George Michael’s audacious “Outside” single and video, the stir it caused at the time, and how it holds up two decades later.
The song “Outside” was released in 1998, a pivotal period in George Michael’s life. It was written in response to his arrest earlier that year, which brought his sexuality to the forefront, inciting public discourse and media frenzy.
Let’s go outside! 25 years ago today George Michael released arguably one of the most important singles of his career “Outside” in response to his arrest in Beverly Hills in 1998 and the homophobia that surrounded it. He refused to be shamed over his sexuality and released ‘Outside’, along with a video that used humour to poke fun at the incident.
