Why was George Michael’s nickname Yog and what was the singer’s actual full identify?
2 min read
Netflix has simply launched a brand new movie documentary titled, Wham! which charts the pop duo’s unbelievable journey from college pals to superstars.
Popstars George Michael and Andrew Ridgely, the dynamic duo behind Wham! have been the celebs of a latest documentary from Netflix that appeared again at their success utilizing interviews with George and Andrew from through the years.
Followers are loving this archival footage, however there may be one factor that’s nonetheless complicated viewers, why is George Michael known as Yog by his bandmate? And what’s the late singers actual identify?
What’s George Michael’s actual identify?
George Michael’s full actual identify was mentioned inside the first couple of minutes of the Netflix present. It was revealed that George’s actual identify is ‘Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou’. Andrew defined that he knew his bandmate by this identify for a lot of their youth once they met at age 11. “Our instructor launched him as Georgios Panayiotou,” stated Andrew.
After all, it is a Greek identify, and though George used it for many of his life, simply earlier than he reached stardom, George determined to vary it with a view to grow to be extra accessible.
In Modern Musicians: Profiles of the Individuals in Music, Julia Rubiner commented, “As a solo artist George Michael has been hailed as a number one artistic drive in standard songwriting. With fame approaching, Michael determined to vary his identify from the intimidating Georgios Panayiotou to the extra accessible George Michael.”
(Picture credit score: Netflix)
Why did Andrew name George ‘Yog’?
Within the documentary Andrew repeatedly referred to as George ‘Yog’. “For me he was Yog. It was the nickname I might given him. Basically Yog and I noticed issues precisely the identical approach, musically we have been joined on the hip. We might spend hours doing skits and placing collectively comedy radio reveals,” he stated.
Some have been confused and thought this may need been for ‘yogurt’. “They didn’t actually say why his nickname was Yog was he a greek yogurt? #wham,” joked one viewer. After all, the true reply is way extra smart.
‘Yog’ is a shortened model of his Greek identify ‘Georgios’ which has a a lot softer ‘Y’ sounding G in the beginning and a a lot tougher ‘G’ sounding G within the center. This identify was used when Andrew was launched to George, and why he nonetheless refers to him as ‘Yog’.
Followers beloved this candy nickname and will clearly see how a lot love and respect there was between Andrew and ‘Yog’. “Wham! An ideal documentary. I confess, a newfound respect for Andrew Ridgely … and a reminder of my over 30-year heartfelt devotion to Yog,” stated one viewer. “The Wham! doc is gorgeous. Their love for one another was clearly one thing very particular and their friendship appeared to face each take a look at. Large like to Andrew and Yog,” stated one other.
