On 7 September 2017, George Michael’s “Fantasy” was released as a single in a new version featuring Nile Rodgers. It was the first new George Michael music to appear following his death on Christmas Day 2016, making its arrival both exciting and bittersweet.
“Fantasy” was not actually a new song. George originally recorded it during the sessions for Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. Although it did not make the album, it appeared as a B-side in 1990 and later on the 2011 deluxe edition of Faith. The song already possessed the ingredients of an irresistible George Michael record: desire, humour, a restless beat and a vocal performance that moved easily between intimacy and confidence.
Years later, George invited Nile Rodgers to revisit it. Rodgers, whose distinctive guitar playing helped shape records by Chic, David Bowie, Madonna and many others, gave “Fantasy” a brighter and more immediate groove. His crisp guitar lines dart around George’s voice without overwhelming it. The result sounds recognisably like both musicians: George supplies the sensual pop song, while Rodgers opens the curtains and lets more light onto the dance floor.
The collaboration had not been completed when George died. Rodgers later acknowledged how difficult it was to return to the project, but George’s friend and collaborator David Austin encouraged him to finish it. Released alongside preparations for the expanded Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged collection, the recording offered listeners an intriguing bridge between George’s past and the work he was considering near the end of his life. Sony Music announced the release after its premiere on BBC Radio 2.
There is a touching sense of possibility in hearing it now. “Fantasy” is neither a grand farewell nor a solemn memorial. It is playful, physical and alive. That may be its greatest gift: it allows us to remember George not only through sadness, but through movement, pleasure and the unmistakable sound of an artist still imagining what might come next.