Released on May 13, 1996, is George Michael's third studio album and is widely regarded by both critics and the artist himself as his most personal and artistically accomplished work . The album marked a significant stylistic departure, blending sophisticated soul and jazz with bossa nova influences, a sound Michael attributed to his late partner, Anselmo Feleppa, and Brazilian composer Antônio Carlos Jobim. Background and Creative Process

From the haunting tribute to Anselmo Feleppa in "Jesus to a Child" to the cynical "Star People," the core album is a cohesive journey through grief and recovery. 2. Upper (The Bonus Disc)

In the mid-90s, the music world was dominated by Britpop and Grunge. George Michael, however, went in the opposite direction. After a five-year hiatus from solo studio albums, Older arrived as an introspective, bossa nova-infused collection of tracks that dealt with grief, sexuality, and the pressures of fame. Track-by-Track Highlights

Elias hits play on a track titled “Untitled Soul.” It’s a six-minute instrumental that transitions into a spoken-word piece about the weight of fame and the lightness of being understood.