The ticket says "8PM Prompt", but at almost 9, still no George, and the lower bowl of the Verizon Center is, at best, sprinkled with fans. When the show finally jumped off, an energized George Michael appeared from behind a high-tech video screen that poured from the ceiling all the way down the stage, including a portion of which Mr. Michael could walk upon, such that the video effects looked to be dripping from the ceiling into the front row crowd at times.

Running through an entire catalog in what George Michael claims will be his last big arena tour (though he is rumored to reunite Wham! for two shows in London after this US leg is over), including "Careless Whisper", the obvious "Faith", and show-closing "Freedom '90", to please the casual fans, and many other deeper cuts to satisfy the ravenous superfans. The video screen featured video footage from classic videos, condensing an entire career into a couple hours and giving an eyeful of supermodel footage for those Michael called "the boys who got dragged here tonight."

An able entertainer and a stunning singer, Michael eschewed complicated dance moves for a more subdued approach, taking to a stool for slower songs while casually sauntering about the video floor on the dance cuts. Recognizing friends and family throughout the show, this was a celebration of the closing of the first volume of his career. He managed to please everyone in attendance, a very diverse crowd that danced the night away with their favorite pop star.

George Michael has fully embraced his sexual orientation within his career, celebrating his relationship with his partner, condemning the US' failure to recognize gay marriage, and laughing at a song (his own) he deemed "the gayest record ever made." Let the readers guess what song that might be. Being able to open up about himself bolstered his relationship with his fans, evident in that a pop star whose breakout solo album pushed more units on cassette than any other format can still pack (though not sell out) an arena. Symbolic that he closed the set with "Freedom '90", a song ostensibly about breaking away from Wham!, but with lyrics that seem to cry out for an opportunity to break free of the agony of hiding his true self during his '80s heyday. 

Tags: George Michael, Verizon Center, washington dc