RED Campaign Honoring George Michael
Calling all George Michael fans and 80's music lovers!
First of all, it feels strange to refer to the decade of music I listened to during my teenage years. When I was younger, I loved listening to music from the '50s and '60s. I mean, what's not to love? However, I always thought that this music was ancient at the time because the infomercials on TV and the DJs on the radio stations would refer to the songs as “Oldies but Goodies.” These days, when I hear '80s music, I feel like, come on, the '80s weren't that long ago! Maybe it's just in my mind, but it seems like references to '80s music are considered “hip” and “cool” nowadays. At least that's the story I'm sticking with.
The year was 1984, and I was in high school when I heard a song that changed my life – “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by WHAM! It was happy, upbeat, and so much fun – such a contradiction to the environment I was living in at the time. It helped me forget about the pain I was going through in my home life and escape from the struggles I faced as a biracial teenager. I was constantly trying to make those around me laugh so they would look beyond the color of my skin. I was also trying to conceal my home life from others.
George Michael fan for life.
Choose Life T-Shirt
Who could forget the iconic “Choose Life” t-shirt George Michael and WHAM! rocked in their “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” music video? After this song and video came out, I practically lived in my “Choose Life” t-shirts. I remember the very first day I wore a “Choose Life” t-shirt to school. About halfway through the day, I was called into the principal's office to discuss my choice of attire. The principal asked me why I would wear such a politically charged t-shirt. Clueless as to what he was talking about, I informed him that this t-shirt is what the group WHAM! was wearing in their new music video – “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” He kept asking me if this had anything to do with abortion. Being a naive teenager at the time, I was like, why would this have anything to do with abortion? He thought I was taking a stance on the pro-life vs. pro-choice political debate. Um, no. Just a fan of WHAM! Back then, I wasn't as politically vocal as I am now as an adult.
I would imagine only die-hard WHAM! and George Michael fans know the history behind the meaning of the “Choose Life” slogan. Katharine Hammett, an English fashion designer who debuted in the '80s, designed oversized t-shirts with large block letter political slogans. Katharine thought that if you want to get your message out – what better way than printing it in giant letters on a t-shirt? “Choose Life” is actually about choosing life over nuclear world destruction. I read somewhere that Katharine's t-shirts were designed to be copied, with the sole aim of spreading political messages around the world. A portion of the sale from her politically motivated t-shirts went to a designated charity.
Last Christmas, my heart broke when I received the news of George Michael's death. His millions of fans around the world could not have received worse news on a day that is supposed to be about celebration and gathering with family and friends. A day that George Michael wrote about with his song “Last Christmas” and the heartache he endured by being jilted by his ex-girlfriend. Every time I have heard the song since his death it brings tears to my eyes. This Christmas day will mark a year since his untimely death and I wanted to provide his fans with something positive to focus on and remember him on this special day.
RED's Fundraising Effort Honoring George Michael
Just a few days ago I read about a fundraising campaign that RED is doing in honor of George Michael and AIDS awareness/prevention. RED is a non-profit organization that partners with the world’s most iconic brands that contribute up to 50% of profits from (RED)-branded goods and services to the Global Fund.
RED is selling a “Choose Love” t-shirt a spin on the “Choose Life” slogan for $30 (US). Proceeds will benefit RED's fight to end AIDS.
What better way to enhance RED's campaign than to take it one step further and ask that all of his fans around the world purchase a shirt and wear it on Christmas day to remember our music icon? Not only would this expand the information on RED's charitable efforts but also give George Michael fans something to do to honor him and his charitable efforts on Christmas Day.
Join Simply Amazing Living's #ChooseLoveGM Campaign!
Step 1: Purchase Choose Love T-shirt
Step 2: Wear your Choose Love t-shirt on Christmas day and post a picture to one or more of your social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) with #ChooseLoveGM and #GoRed.
Backup Option: If for some reason your t-shirt doesn't arrive in time for Christmas, please post a picture of yourself on your social media channels holding up a sign with #ChooseLoveGM and #DonatetoRED
Participation in this campaign is a win-win situation!
George Michael fans will be donating to a cause that was near and dear to George's heart – AIDS awareness and prevention – in addition to participating in a proactive effort for us all to collectively cope with the loss of this music icon.
A message from George Michael's sisters Melanie and Yioda can be found HERE.
We hope you loved Simply Amazing Living's “RED Campaign honoring George Michael” post.
69 Comments.
This is such a great idea. What a wonderful way to honor GM’s committment to an AIDS-free world. I am in!
Awesome! Thank you so much!!
How much of the proceeds from each shirt goes to RED?
50%
Mahalo for your support and honoring George Michael in the fight against AIDS!!
Thank you Robin!!!
This is an awesome campaign. I try to buy RED project items when I can. Thanks for writing about this! I hadn’t heard of the campaign until I saw your post! I’m sharing this!
Thank you Marzie! I love RED’s charitable efforts. Thanks for sharing!
Great campaign! I’m in ❤️ And now I’m singing Last Christmas to myself…
Thank you so much for supporting this campaign!
This is such an amazing campaign and your blog reminds me of how much I loved the 80’s music. I cant wait to support this great cause
Thank you for your support Marie! Yes, I LOVE 80’s music!
I love everything about this! What a beautiful way to honor a man who created so much beauty in our lives.
Choose Love indeed…
Thank you Shereen! We definitely need more love in the world!
Awesome article! What a great way to honor such a talented musician!!
AS a fellow child of the 80’s I remember all to well waking up to snappy, “Jitterbug” intro and rallying myself to start the day! Love GM, his message of peace and that you are paying homage to it!
80’s music is the best! Thank you Aimee!
Great cause! I will definitely purchase one!
Thank you for your support!
Great article and a nice reminder of other sides to George. What a positive way to channel your feelings about him.
Thank you!
This article is awesome Autumn…I will definitely support this campaign in honor of GM…what a great way to help support AIDS & bring about awareness.
Thank you for your support Sheila!
What a wonderful campaign and fantastic article! I am definitely in and sharing this. Love GM!
Thank you Patricia!
Autumn – I remember you visiting in London and us going to see George Michael at Royal Albert Hall. What a great memory. GM used music to escape his pain too and when I think of him I think of our wonderful night with Mandy in London. Thanks for spreading the news of this great cause. Much Love – your friend – Charles
Thank you Charles! That night was so much fun! Love you!
This is great, thank you for sharing! I’ll be looking into purchasing these shirts for both my mum and I. She was a huge fan of both WHAM! and George Michael and consequently, made me a huge fan. This would be an amazing gift to make a difference in the world. <3
How wonderful! Thank you so much!
Loved reading your article and learning about the meaning behind the T-shirt. I’ve been sad this month – “Last Christmas” is one of my all time favorite songs. Appreciate you making us aware of such a fine cause! I’ll be getting a shirt. Merry Chriatmas.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
A wonderful charitable effort, i will share with friends. A beautiful way to honor a legend.
Thank you so much!
I got chills reading this! I miss him too. I think this campaign is a great idea!
Thank you!
Great message Autumn, thank you for sharing. If we all made a conscientious effort to Chiose Love and Chiose Life, what a wonderful world we would live in!
OK, so I would have been right there with you in not knowing or considering the meaning of the shirt – as it related to Wham anyway! I just thought it was an avant guard fashion statement! Great article about the ubiquitous 80’s get on the dance floor song. At least you had something fun and peppy to focus your angst on!
I love this idea and the commitment to keeping the legacy of GM living! My mom always told me you loved him so whenever I hear any Wham! song I think of you!!
Great campaign and a wonderful tribute to GM! It’s also great to see the important story behind the CHOOSE LIFE t-shirt for those who don’t know. The CHOOSE LOVE t-shirt and campaign is a sweet reminder that love does conquer all! ❤️
A lot of my karaoke nights have been rocked by George Michael and Wham songs! This is such as great campaign. Thanks for sharing.
What a great memorial to a man who gave so much and brought so much joy and happiness to the lives of so many, through his charity and music!
I am not going to date myself, but I was also in high school when WHAM! was popular. I always thought the choose life shirts were about suicide. I didn’t know it was about war. I do love this message of the choose Love shirts. Thanks for alerting me to them
Such an awesome article, Autumn! Thanks for sharing. Think of you every time I listen to “Last Christmas”. Choose Love!!
That is such an awesome campaign. I like that lovely idea. Teens will be interested to this.
Great shirt and a great campaign, I love that 50% of each shirt goes to the cause. Thanks for sharing the link!
This is so awesome – What a great cause! Love George Michael and his music. it is indelibly part of my childhood.
What a great way of honoring an artist who contributed so much to the field of music. This noble effort deserves praise and I hope RED is successful in their fight against AIDS.
This is really great. I didn’t know that George Michael had a charity for AIDS relief. Looks like a great campaign.
I don’t have a particular George Michael story, but I do recall dancing to his music back in the day, when I was living in the UK. The fight against AIDS can’t be minimized and a worthy cause, such as this, helps to ensure the focus on it continues. Thanks for highlighting it on your site, Autumn.
Cute shirt and wonderful message. 🙂
Great message. What a way to honor and pay tribute to such an influential part of your life. I’ll order a shirt and wear it proudly for GM, for you, and for everyone that chooses LOVE. ?
What a great campaign. I love music from the ’80s..and wake me up before you go-go is still one of my fav. songs.
Very insightful article. Good to know the real story and reasoning behind George’s “Choose Life.” Love the “Choose Love” campaign as well as what it stands for. Thank you for remembering George! He and his music are missed!
Very cool! The Choose Love theme for me even just speaks to daily life, choosing to love those that are hard to love and choosing to love when we don’t feel like it. Love is a choice and an action.
I completely agree. We should all choose love in any situation in life as the world would be a better place. Thank you!
Great article! And a wonderful way to honor the legacy of GM!
Thank you!
What a wonderful way to show love and respect for such a magnificent artist. Autumn it was so amazing seeing him together in Las Vegas. I will always be grateful that I was able to see him live before his passing. I know how much his music spoke to you when we were in High school. I always think of you when I hear his music. Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you, my friend! I love that you understand my connection to his music. It was so wonderful seeing him live in Vegas with you and Karen – my 80’s girls until the end. Hope to see you soon.
Wow, it’s great to see someone from the US knows that the CHOOSE LIFE t-shirt was referring to the anti-nuclear war sentiment at the time!
Slightly changing the t-shirt to CHOOSE LOVE and giving a share of the profits to AIDS awareness and prevetion causes is a great idea. George Michael certainly supported them in life and I’m sure he’d love the idea that he was able to do so in death too.
Here in Australia, same sex marriage has just been legalised across the country and the first maggiages have now happened. CHOOSE LOVE is a beautiful message.
Thank you so much, Sally! I am definitely for gay marriage and celebrated when it was legalized in Australia.
I am actually wearing a CHOOSE LIFE shirt as I type this.
Thank you for your support!
I love the concept of this campaign. I think we’d be a much better place is more of us would CHOOSE LOVE. George Michael had some great music. My fave by him was Faith.
What a great way to honor him, I wish I had seen him perform in person.
Thank you! I was able to see him three times in concert but wish it had been more.
This is a great campaign.
Thank you!
I love George Michael. I cant believe its been a year since he passed
What a great campaign and the shirts are awesome!
Thank you Kristen!