Fastlove

Album: Older (1996)
Charted: 1 8
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Michael often sang about commitment in love, but in this song, he takes a different tack, making it clear that this encounter is not one that's meant to last. "Baby, I ain't Mr. Right," he warns.
  • This upbeat tune was the second single from Michael's third album, Older, following the melancholy "Jesus To A Child."
  • This song is built on a funky saxophone riff and a sample from the 1982 Patrice Rushen hit "Forget Me Nots."
  • Michael made a slick video for this song (directed by the British team of Anthea Benton and Vaughan Arnell) which kept the gender of his partner in this affair ambiguous - lots of saucy men and women appear.

    At one point, a shot of headphones labelled "FONY" is seen - a dig on Michael's former label, Sony. Michael and the label went through a protracted legal battle a few years earlier.
  • Adele performed this song in tribute to George Michael at the Grammy Awards in 2017, where she opened the telecast with a rousing rendition of her song "Hello." About a minute into the Michael tribute, Adele bobbled and stopped the song, saying, "I f--ked up, I can't do it again like last year," a reference to her glitchy performance a year earlier. She had the orchestra start over, saying, "I cant mess this up for him," and took it from the top, this time getting through without a hitch in a stirring performance.

    Later in the show, she won Song of the Year for "Hello." In her acceptance speech, she apologized for swearing.

    Adele met Michael in 2011 - they were introduced by Elton John. A planned collaboration never panned out, but Michael made a special appearance at the Brit Awards in 2012 to give Adele the trophy for Best Album, and in 2015, Adele dressed as Michael in tribute for her 27th birthday.

    So why did she choose this song? "My earliest memory of me being a fan was 'Fastlove,'" she told the press after the ceremony. "When the video came out, I was blown away by how hot he was. I was young. I was about 10 and I heard the vulnerability in that song."

Comments: 2

  • Lisbeth from StockholmFull of symbolism. Describe it as his coming out. It's about cruising (to search for an occasional sexual partner), covering the pain of the loss of Anselmo & lancing it with fast love.
  • Victoria Semenenko George Michael's Baby from UkraineFeaturing models Rachel William (crying blonde girl), Tony Ward "muscles man" as "Jesus", Ling Tan
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Mike Scott of The Waterboys

Mike Scott of The WaterboysSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation."

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Leslie West of Mountain

Leslie West of MountainSongwriter Interviews

From the cowbell on "Mississippi Queen" to recording with The Who when they got the wrong Felix, stories from one of rock's master craftsmen.