Theres a moment in George Michaels music video for Freedom!
90 where director David Finchers camera zooms in on a leather jacket hanging in a closet.
into a bad-ass sex god of the 1980s.
90, Michael sought to overhaul his image once again.
Goodbye to all that.
They were horrified, Michael recalled of his label Sonys reaction, in anMTVinterview in 2004.
Why would you burn something that made Sony $150 million dollars?
But I quite enjoyed it.
It might be hard to imagine now, but when George Michaels Freedom!
90 music video was released in 1990, it was nothing short of revolutionary.
1, chose not to star in his own music video.
George was thumbing his nose at MTV with the video, producer Simon Strakertold EWin 1991.
But once it hit airwaves, Freedom!
While Michael chose not to get in front the camera, he was heavily involved in its creative execution.
The team holed up on a London soundstage for several days.
They were long days, Turlington toldHarpers Bazaar.
I dont recall any specific direction from David Fincher.
He was focused on the lighting I recall.
George was there the whole time and very involved.
As Nickerson toldAllurein a definitive history of the video, It was epic.
It had a grandeur and aBlade Runnerfeel.
Evangelista reportedly had to be convinced to participate.
And Michael had sent his stars music to learn just days before production began.
Turlington recalled toBazaarthat each model largely shot her parts separately.
And the scenes were somewhat uncomfortable.
I do remember feeling a little bit like, Oh, why did I get stuck in the tub?
I want the big glamour-puss hair.
I want to be wearing the heels or blowing cool smoke rings, like Tatjana, Crawford toldAllure.
But if you were working with good people, you just did what they asked.
Off-camera, however, the vibe on-set was jovial among cast and crew.
And George was just like one of the gang, in the trailers, hanging out.
I felt that way, he told MTV in 2004.
I wanted to get rid of that.
I felt like Id cornered myself again.
