George Michael refuses
to release his anti-US
'protest' song in States

George Michael's controversial new single has been castigated in America, where it was greeted with boos after an airing on CNN, dotmusic can report.

'Shoot The Dog' is an attack on Tony Blair and makes reference to his unwillingness to question the politics of American President George Bush. It also features an equally contentious video, with Blair portrayed as Bush's 'lap-dog' (see above).

Some Americans believe it to be an attack on their country, with it coming so soon after the New York terrorist attacks of September 11.

But Michael insists that he would never "disrepect" the American feeling towards September 11 and doesn't plan to release the record stateside.

Speaking to CNN he said: "There was no plan to release ('Shoot The Dog') in your country and I think it would have been disrespectful to make this an issue in a country which obviously has suffered much loss and very recently."

The video for the single depicts an animated Blair being tickled like a poodle by Bush and also shows Michael trying to seduce Blair's wife Cherie.

Despite not being released in America, the single will be available in Australia, South America and throughout Europe and Asia.

The decision not to release the single in America has also brought its own criticism, with 'Pop idol' judge Simon Cowell, accusing Michael of being a "coward".

"It shows a lack of conviction to write a song about America and not actually release it there," he told the Sun newspaper.

But a spokesperson for Michael insists that the single was never intended to be released in the US because he hasn't got a record deal there.

'Shoot The Dog' is out in the UK from August 5.




By DOMINIC MOHAN
Showbiz Editor

GEORGE Michael was branded a coward last night after refusing to release his anti-American rant Shoot The Dog as a US single.

The star has decided not to put out the track over there as he fears it could kill his career.

US fans are sickened by the September 11 slur. The video portrays Tony Blair and George Bush as gay lovers.

Pals thought George would issue the protest single in the US as a statement next month.

It will instead be released across Europe, Australia, Asia and South America.

Last night Pop Idol judge and BMG Records boss Simon Cowell said: “George is a coward.

“It shows a lack of conviction to write a song about America and not actually release it there.”

A source close to 39-year-old George said: “He’s basically bottled it.”

The animated video jokes about the political aftermath of September 11 and shows PM Blair as President Bush’s dog.

In one sick scene homosexual George, who lives in LA with lover Kenny Goss, tries to seduce Mr Blair’s wife Cherie.

***

Final nail in coffin for career

GEORGE Michael has made his biggest error since releasing his own seven-inch in an LA public toilet four years ago.

What’s worse is that Shoot The Dog is a c*** record. The best thing is the Human League sample it uses heavily.

George seems to have a death wish. This will be the final nail in the coffin of his career in the States, and possibly here too.

The fact he isn’t releasing it there is cowardly. How can a protest song not be released in the country it’s about?

Anyway, I don’t want a man who stuffed shuttlecocks down his shorts and sang about a club called Tropicana preaching about the War on Terror.

His career was at a crossroads and he has just taken the wrong turning.

He is no longer relevant and this was a desperate attempt to reinvent himself.

Forget shooting the dog George, you’ve just shot yourself in the foot.

***

Callers jeer George on TV
By DOMINIC MOHAN
and BRIAN FLYNN

ANGRY Americans jeered and heckled George Michael yesterday as he spoke on a live talk show to defend his controversial single.

The ex-Wham! star, 39, took part in a hastily-arranged phone interview on US news channel CNN in a last-ditch bid to rescue his reputation.

He told Talkback Live host Arthel Neville the track was meant as an attack on Tony Blair — and insisted it was “never intended” for release in America.

But seething music fans deluged the station with calls abusing the British singer, who drew boos from the studio audience.

One caller, who gave her name as Leah from Florida, told him: “You can’t tell me that you did not intend to slam our country when you slam our President.

“By portraying him going to bed with your Prime Minister, you slam our country. You can talk about your own family, but I’ll be danged if I’ll let somebody else step in from the outside and talk about them.”

Gay George — arrested in 1998 for fondling himself in an LA toilet — claimed he had never planned to issue Shoot The Dog as a single in America.

He said: “I think that would have been bad timing — and disrespectful in a country which obviously has suffered much loss, and very recently.”

But American radio chiefs and DJs joined the condemnation yesterday.

Ron Price, who runs KMXP FM in Phoenix, said: “He has taken the coward’s way out.

“He shouldn’t have released the song or video. But to put it out in the UK and not in America is the worst possible decision as it’s so two-faced.”

DJ Lisa Tyler, of San Diego station The Planet, said: “It’s created a real storm. A lot of Americans are very offended.”

Scott Shannon, of New York’s WPLJ, said the row was the final nail in the coffin of George’s flagging US career.

The New York Post dismissed Shoot The Dog as a “tawdry tune” and called George a “washed- up pervert pop star”.

Yet British broadsheet newspapers mocked the star over the disc — calling him the “tight-trousered philosopher” and a “half-forgotten hound”.

Daily Telegraph pop critic Neil McCormick said: “Even after listening to his single and reading his four-page interview with The Mirror, I’m not sure what his message is.”

A spokesman for George said: “The record will not come out in North America, but may feature on his album.”

People have been saying the same thing here about our Prime Minister's current attitude to the US.

I never liked George Michael after he left Wham!, and this act of disrespect for the very people that made him famous is just more proof that he is not to be trusted. I think the coward remark is accurate to a tee.  

I personally find it offensive, but, if it ever does come out here, I won't buy or listen to it.  I think that all the flap people are raising about it is going to cause it to be a hit.  If you find something offensive...just don't listen to it.  Don't draw attention to it.  I will use Showgirls as an example.  I live in an ultra-religious state where the main religion did not want the movie to be played here at all.  Some people raised a big stink and even protested the theaters that played the movie.  The results being, people went just to see what the fuss was about.  It was packed for 2 weeks.  I talked to a couple of people who said that if the stink wasn't raised, the movie was so bad it would have died a quick death.  I think the same applies to the song.

I used to like George Michael and I still like the song "Careless whisper".  I don't think it was in the best taste to portray our President (or anyone for that matter) who is not gay, in a homosexual manor.  

Simon Crowell was right though, he is a coward.  He made the video knowing it was going to stir up controversy, and I hate to say it, but controversy sells albums (Eminem).  Could he have made another video for that song? Yes. Did He? No. why? Because he needed this to boost his dying career.  I believe he is going to sell more albums because of this, but he is going to have more enimies too.  I can't believe that the people in the U.K. would let him make fun of Tony Blair without getting upset.

Do they really call him 'Gay George'?  Seems unnecessary, to me.   The video shows him trying to seduce th Prime Minister's wife?  Since they call him Gay George, I think we all know how that storyline would end, anyway.   ::)

Since he lives in Los Angeles, he is either a guest in our country or now a permanent resident.  If he finds he doesn't like it, well, he has the freedom to say so simply because he's here.  Of course, he can always take his arse home to Mama.  I can't miss you if you won't go away, George.