2002년 1월 1일 : 런던(London) Capital FM 에서 '명예의 전당'(Total Request Hall Of Fame Top 500) 선정 결과를 발표함. 조지 마이클은 19곡의 노래를 랭크시킴으로써 가장 많은 곡을 랭크시킨 뮤지션이 됨.
(3위 'Careless whisper',
36위 'As',
50위 'Faith',
66위 'Wake me up before you go-go',
73위 'Fastlove',
91위 'Jesus to a child',
126위 'A different corner',
142위 'Father figure',
158위 'Don't let the sun go down on me',
203위 'I knew you were waiting for me',
231위 'One more try',
254위 'Club tropicana',
263위 'I'm your man',
274위 'Kissing a fool',
312위 'Praying for time',
316위 'Last christmas',
340위 'Outside',
394위 'Too funky',
406위 'The edge of heaven')
2002년 2월 4일 : 위트니 휴스턴(Whitney Houston) 과의 듀엣 'If i told you that' 이후 처음 발매되는 싱글 'Freeek' 이 영국(Britain) 과 미국을 제외한(non - American) 전세계에서 공개됨. 이 곡은 알려진 사실이 거의 없는 무기멘(Moogymen) 과 조지 마이클이 공동으로 작곡했으며, 무기멘은 제임스 잭먼(James Jackman) 이 이끄는 트리거(Trigger) 의 멤버로 밝혀짐. 한편 "Older" 의 제작에 도움을 주었던 니얼 플린(Niall Flynn) 이 'Freeek' 의 제작에도 참여함.
2002년 2월 27일 : 1500000 달러의 제작비가 소요되며, 로스 엔젤리스(Los Angeles) 의 유니버설 스튜디오(Universal Studios) 에서 촬영된 것으로 알려진 조지 마이클의 신곡 'Freeek' 의 비디오가 영국 현지 시각 저녁 11시 15분에 채널 4(Channel 4) 를 통해 공개됨.
2002년 3월 18일 : 폴리도어(Polydor) 에서의 첫번째 싱글 'Freeek' 이 3월 18일, 영국에서 2종류로서 "Parental Advisory : Explicit Content" 라는 스티커가 붙은 채 발매됨. 'Freeek' 과 함께 수록된 비 사이드는 'Freeek' 의 리믹스들과 1999년 4월 10일, 런던의 로열 앨버트 홀(Royal albert hall) 에서의 라이브인 'The Long and winding road' 였음.
2002년 4월 7일 : 런던의 더 선데이 타임스(The Sunday times), 영국의 부호 리스트(Rich list) 를 발표함. 조지 마이클은 60000000 파운드의 재산을 가진 것으로 집계되며 전체 595 위에 오름. 한편 음반 산업 관계자들중에서는 전체 26 위에 랭크됨.
2002년 7월 1일 : 조지 마이클, "지금보다 언급하기 더 중요한 시간은 없다."(There's never been a more important time to talk than now) 라는 제호로 실린 영국의 권위있는 타블로이드 더 미러(The Mirror) 와의 인터뷰를 통해 논쟁적인 새로운 싱글, 'Shoot the dog' 과 그 비디오에 대해 언급함.
("I've never done anything so political before. I've spent years shouting my mouth off about serious issues over dinner tables but never really had the confidence to express my views in a song. But I really feel this is such a serious time for us all that being silent is not an option."
I cried simply because it was such a shocking, sickening attack on humanity, you know, beyond any callous acts that you could ever remember. It was just the worst thing to even conceive of doing something as evil as that.")
한편 조지 마이클은 이 인터뷰를 통해 처음으로 2001년 9월 11일, 미국에서 있었던 테러리스트들의 공격에 대해 반대 의사를 표시하였으며 그럼에도 불구하고, 그는 미국과 그 동맹국들이 테러리스트들을 공격하는 것에는 동의하지 않음.
("The bombers went into Afghanistan and started blitzing everything and I just watched in horror. Britain's the second most dangerous place on earth right now")
2002년 7월 2일 : 더 미러, 조지 마이클과의 인터뷰를 요약해 보도함. 이 기사에서는 그와 그의 파트너, 케니 고스(Kenny Goss) 의 관계를 비롯해 개인적인 화제에 촛점이 맞춰짐.
("I've lived with Kenny for six years, we have a great relationship and love each other very dearly. But like a lot of gay couples in long-term relationships we are not monogamous. Either of us. And we're perfectly comfortable with that fact.
I spent years struggling with my sexuality and myself and the prospect of shame and ridicule. And I'm certainly not going to waste any more of my life or happiness worrying about it now. But now I feel rather liberated. I think having a keen sense of humour was my saving grace really. I see a lot of famous people get into trouble and they never seem to handle it very well when, in fact, laughing at yourself is the only answer.")
아울러, 새로운 앨범에 대해서도 짧게 언급함.
("It's not going to be an extension of Freeek. It's going to be much more standard George Michael fare but I'm excited by it. I know everyone says this - but I really think it's some of my best work for a long time.")
또한 이 날, 'Shoot the dog' 의 비디오가 공개됨.
2002년 7월 3일 : 언론에 배포한 자료를 통해 'Shoot the dog' 이 만들어진 배경에 대해 언급하며, 더불어 이 노래가 결코 반미주의(Anti-American) 를 의미한 것은 아니라고 밝힘.
(The song and video in question, "Shoot The Dog", is definitely not an attempt to express anti-American sentiment, nor an attempt to condone the actions of Al-Qaida. I have lived with an American citizen for the past six years, and have had a home there for the past 10. And I would never knowingly disrespect the feelings of a nation, which has suffered so much loss, so recently, for any reason.
The debate which I hope to encourage by lampooning the relationship between our two leaders (and I think it is fair to say that lampooning is principally an American invention, born out of a desire for true democracy), is one that I think would protect all of us, but it would seem that neither the British nor American governments are keen to have us raise our voices, or ask a few simple, terrifying questions:
Saddam Hussein is without question now capable of changing the face of the planet. The level of destruction possible if this madman is cornered is too awful to put into words. So what should we do? Do we hope that time and his age will remove him from us all (don't forget, he is in his sixties, and God may smile on us in that respect), or do we bomb Iraq and hope to get rid of his regime right now? And, most frightening of all, if we do go looking for him, and succeed, isn't it possible that he will behave as he always has, like the bad guy in some tacky movie, sat in a room with nothing to lose and a few terrifying red buttons at his fingertips. Isn't that almost inevitable?
I do not believe this is melodrama. I believe this is the most important decision that our respective Governments have ever had to make on our behalf's. I cannot speak for America, I would not presume to, but there is no doubt that here in the UK, we are not being asked what we think. Like many of you over there in the States, we are just praying that Tony and Dubya know more than we do, because prayer is all that appears to be allowed.
"Shoot the Dog" is simply my attempt to contribute to the public debate that I feel should be taking place regarding Iraq and Saddam Hussein. I have tried to convey my message with humor, because the public is rightfully scared of these issues, and humor has often been a useful aide to political debate. And believe me, however irreverent I may be of Mr. Blair and Mr. Bush, my intentions are genuinely to do something, however small, to protect all of us, the people I love, and the people you love, from a disaster that we have the power to avoid.
The record was never intended for American release, for the precise reason that I felt it could be misread in this very way, and it makes me truly sad that this press statement has been necessary. Once again, no offense to Americans was intended, but politicians are humans, not Gods, and God knows, there has never been a more important time to remember that than now.)
2002년 7월 3일 : 조지 마이클, 라이브로 이뤄진 CNN 과의 인터뷰를 통해 자신의 정치적 견해를 밝히며, 미국인을 경멸하지 않은 증거로서 미국 텍사스(Texas) 출신의 파트너, 케니 고스와의 관계에 대해서도 언급함.
("I would never criticize America for its response after September 11. I think its response was perfectly natural and acceptable.... It is really not intended as an attack either on the response to al Qaeda or on the American system in general.
I have a 6-year relationship with a man from Texas. And it's going strong. If I hate Americans, then I am a glutton for punishment, because I seem to fall in love with them all the time.")
2002년 7월 10일 : 조지 마이클, MTV(http://music.tiscali.co.uk/specials/george_michael/chat.html) 와의 온라인 채팅을 가짐.
("The truth couldn't be further from your interpretation although I can imagine it seems that way in America.
Actually everything has been released there with the exception of Freeek and the single with Mary J but although I've managed to make number one on European radio with almost everything I have released since the Sony debacle, American radio has resolutely ignored me. And before people shout 'promotion, promotion' I do understand their frustration. But I would point out that I have done no more in Europe, so it seems a little strange that the discrepancy between continents is so apparent.
I can't think of another artist who has been in this position but then I can't think of another artist who took on Sony and in particular it's top execs in a similar fashion.
Maybe you should ask them what went on between 93 and the present day. Damned if I know.
Album's coming along great. I'm excited by what I'm doing and a bit confused that the media spin on both singles has been so far off the mark.
Freeek will be the first track on the album without doubt for two reasons...
1) I love it and 2) lots of people don't, so they can skip it before they walk away without fear of it jumping out at them during a dinner party. Is that ok everyone? LOL")
2002년 7월 12일 : 조지 마이클, ITV 의 "Tonight with Trevor McDonald" 에 출연하여 자신은 반미주의자가 아니라고 다시 한번 밝히면서, 토니 블레어(Tony Blair) 총리를 비판함.
("I have to defend myself with visibility - become the most visible 39-year-old pop star on the planet. I'll be Britney Spears with a flat chest and a big mouth if that's what it takes.")
2002년 7월 16일 : 조지 마이클, Capital FM 의 닐 폭스(Neil Fox) 가 진행하는 프로그램에 출연하여, 논란이 되고 있는 'Shoot the dog' 에 대해 재차 언급함. 한편 가장 주목을 끌었던 주제는 2004년 아테네 올림픽 테마 음악을 맡아달라는 조직 위원회의 제의에 대해 그가 수락했는지의 여부였음.
("Controversy is worrying to advertisers and therefore worrying to publications and radio stations. It's not a good thing anymore - controversy. People who think I made this to get myself a little bit of PR should think again because this kind of publicity does not do an artist any good in this day and age.
I was writing it as one of many things that I've written about on this album which are talking about the world as opposed to me, and I think there's a very simple reason for that, which is that I've spent - and I know people will probably think I go on and on about it, but it really shook me losing my Mum, and it's taken a good four or five years to get through that. Whilst I was dealing with something as intensely painful as that personally, I couldn't really write about the way I felt about me or about anything else really that was personal and it kind of crippled me in a lyrical sense, so I thought, 'well, what's the option?' The other option is to start writing about things outside of yourself, and the whole album is littered with things - there's a track about genetic engineering, there's a track about single parents - I know it sounds weird, but these are all pop records - I've tried to make pop records, but I've tried to write about things that are very interesting to me about modern life, and the new album really is about modern life - it's not about the trials and tribulations of George Michael."
I've been asked to write the theme song for the 2004 Olympics 'cos it's going to be in Greece and I'm a bubble, and if they can actually build the bloody stadium in time, which apparently is still questionable - drop that kebab and get working.... I really hope that that comes off in Greece 'cos I'd love to do that. I know it would make my Dad really proud even though he's Cypriot not Greek.... The challenge would be to write a really good song for the Olympics and somehow make it inspirational.")
2002년 7월 16일 : 'Shoot the dog' 에 대한 논란이 계속되고 있는 가운데, BBC 라디오 1의 조 와일리(Jo Whiley) 와 전화 인터뷰를 가짐.
("I want people to think about this particular issue. I want people - whether they're young people, middle-aged people, old people - anyone who cares about anybody, I want them to be questioning Mr. Blair's going along with all of Mr. Bush's actions. I just think we should be questioning - I'm not saying that I know the answers. I'm saying that the question and the debate is really important.
The thing in America is that there's been some very reactionary press there, so it's not safe for me to go back there at the moment. They have terrible gun control laws and they also have a very reactionary press, and that right now makes for danger and I think I'd be stupid not to be worried - it doesn't make me a coward. I mean, my God, they're all armed up.")
2002년 7월 24일 : BBC 라디오 2의 스티비 라이트가 진행하는 프로그램(Steve Wright's afternoon show) 에서 조지 마이클과 전화 인터뷰를 가짐, 여기서 그는 2004년 아테네 올림픽 테마 음악을 맡아 달라는 올림픽 위원회의 제의에 대해 고려중이라고 밝힘.
아울러 'Shoot the dog' 과 그의 새로운 앨범에 대해 재차 언급함.
("I've thought about some lyrical ideas. I'm really excited about the idea of it because it's a real challenge to do something that obviously will have to be emotive but do it without it being cheesy. I want to do something really inspirational that isn't cheesy. But it would be a great thing to do - I'd love to do it. I've always been kind of proud of being half-Greek. Even though I'm Greek Cypriot and not Greek-Greek, obviously the Greeks in Athens thought it would be a nice idea and I'm very flattered.
The essence of this song is actually - the base of the song is just a comment on the dangers of the modern world in terms of the relationship between the new fundamentalist world as it were and America and the danger of not questioning America's position in that.... I do believe we have a certain amount of responsibility to be involved in this because I think we're very involved in some of the events that have created this situation - Britain was right there in terms of things such as setting up the Taliban or the arrangements that were made over Israel just after the Second World War. Those kind of things we were very involved in them, much more than some other countries, some of the other Allies, so there is some responsibility to stand up and be counted, but I don't think that means that we go in there unquestioning.... I was trying to say to Mr. Blair, I think that the public would like to be involved in this discussion as to whether or not we're gonna bomb Iraq.
I'd like people to understand that I'm not trying to be contentious. I'm writing not so much in terms of love songs simply because ultimately, I think for many years, what people could hear in what I was doing was a lot of loneliness and a lot of loss and I know that's great for people, but ultimately I don't feel that at the moment, so I'm not gonna pretend I do. I wanted to write an album - of course there are some love songs on it, definitely - but I wanted to write an album where a lot of the subject matter was new for me.")
2002년 7월 29일 : 'Shoot the dog' 의 싱글이 영국에서 발매됨. 싱글에는 'Shoot the dog' 의 'Explicit Album Version' 과 'Moogymen Mix', 그리고 'Alexkid Shoot The Radio Remix' 등 3가지 버전의 노래가 실렸으며 특별히 비디오가 함께 수록됨.
2002년 8월 4일 : 'Shoot the dog' 의 UK 싱글 차트에서 12위로 데뷔함.
2002년 8월 26일 : 조지 마이클의 첫번째 DVD 싱글 'Shoot the dog' 가 PAL 방식으로 발매됨. 싱글에는 'Shoot the dog' 과 'Freeek!' 의 비디오가 수록됨