2008 Summer Arts Preview

June 17 – Aug. 3

We're never gonna dance again the way we danced with him. And not just because we don't wear stirrup pants anymore. No, George Michael says this summer's Twenty-Five Live U.S. tour, his first here in 17 years, will be his last. "I don't want to do anything on this scale again," Michael told USA Today. "No more stadiums. I'd like to be the Tony Bennett for my generation." Michael will showcase songs from his new greatest hits album, Twenty-Five, which includes his Wham! canon, "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" and "Careless Whisper," solo singles "Faith" and "Father Figure" and more recent duets with Mary J. Blige ("As") and Paul McCartney ("Heal the Pain"). The arena tour starts in San Diego June 17 and hits 19 other cities before Michael hangs up his leather suit for good in August. Unlike Cher or Jay-Z, we're inclined to believe this artist's plans to leave an era behind. Just look how easy it was for him to drop Andrew Ridgeley.