Previously unheard and unreleased song from George Michael gets single release

George Michael’s brand new single This Is How (We Want You To Get High), is a previously unreleased song and his first music to be shared since 2012.

“We hope fans and lovelies! everywhere rejoice in hearing this great new song written as ever with Yog‘s immense passion and pride. This new track we proudly send as his gift to you this season to bring you all love and festive joy… Whoever you worship, Whoever you love….” – Melanie, Yioda, Jack and David (George’s sisters, dad and longtime manager David Austin.)

This Is How (We Want You To Get High) – a funky, upbeat classic – provides the perfect finale to Last Christmas, a new movie inspired by the music of George Michael and Wham!

The song, co-written and co-produced by George Michael and collaborator James Jackman, has this week been released by Virgin EMI / UMG. The previously unreleased track, which was recorded during George’s final studio sessions, is his first original material to be shared for seven years.

The lyrics, written exclusively by George, see the star addressing society’s ills with his trademark blend of self-deprecation and wry humour.  Work on This is How (We Want You to Get High) began in early 2012. The track was subsequently developed and recorded in sessions at Air Studios in London, before the finishing touches were added in late 2015 during George’s final recording sessions.

With its uplifting vibe and socially-conscious message, This is How (We Want You to Get High) is a fitting finale to Last Christmas, Universal Pictures’ new romantic comedy. The film was inspired by the eponymous Wham! hit, and has a soundtrack featuring three Wham! tracks and twelve songs from George Michael’s solo career. Director Paul Feig describes the movie as ‘a love letter to George’.

The film was co-scripted by Academy Award winner Emma Thompson, who stars alongside Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding. The actress and screenwriter visited George at his North London home in the Spring of 2013 to talk through her ideas for the screenplay, developing various versions of the script before George’s sudden passing on Christmas Day 2016.

In the Spring of 2018, after discussions over which songs would be in the film, Emma was given an exclusive preview of four new, finished and unreleased George Michael tracks. She instantly fell in love with This Is How (We Want You To Get High), remarking how the lyrics resonated with the film’s central themes.

The film Last Christmas launched in the United States yesterday (November 8th), the United Kingdom can see the movie from November 15th and on assorted dates throughout the rest of the world until the 27th of December.