“It started off sounding a bit like Prince. I wanted to hear something in my mix so I cut the snare and it changed the whole mood of the track": How George Michael accidentally created the ‘80s smash that inspired Taylor Swift on The Life of a Showgirl

George Michael and Taylor Swift.

Like so many of his songs, George Michael’s Father Figure has had quite the life. Recorded for his 1987 debut album, Faith, it became the record’s fourth single, reaching number one in the US.

Then, following the pattern of other hits of that era, it enjoyed a second life on TikTok, going viral after being used in daring 2024 Nicole Kidman thriller, Babygirl.