Fridae

In the time that gay pop icon George Michael has taken to release his latest album of original songs, Ms Scary has updated her face thrice, undergone countless wardrobe changes and broken the hearts of half the butches in Singapore.

A good five years have passed since 1999's Songs From The Last Century and it has been a real test of Patience (pardon the pun) for George Michael fans everywhere. Why, even Ms Scary was ready to roll her eyes in exasperation were it not for the fact that the ex-Wham! singer has so graciously included a song all about yours truly.

(No, I'm not talking about the sample-laden "Freeek! 04" - I was referring to the track "Flawless." Isn't that obvious?)

Rumored to be his last commercial release before all his future music are posted on the Internet, the pop multi-millionaire's 8th album is well worth the wait and alternates between his signature ballads and club-friendly grooves.

Filled with sophisticated urban adult pop, Patience captures musically and lyrically the singer-songwriter in his various incarnations: as one half of Wham! ("Round Here"); as an attention seeking disco diva (in a re-make of The One's "Flawless (Go To The City)"); and more recently, as anti-war protest singer ("Shoot The Dog").

Gay fans will also be thrilled to learn that Patience pays tribute to the 40-year old singer's gay lovers past and present: "Please Send Me Someone" is a paean to his ex-boyfriend Anselmo Feleppa who died of an AIDS-related brain haemorrhage while the wonderful "American Angel" is a lush ode to his new Texan businessman boyfriend Kenny Goss.

And in "My Mother Has a Brother," George Michael goes into "Careless Whisper" mode and croons heart-wrenchingly about a gay uncle who committed suicide around the time the singer was born.

However, at 70 minutes (too) long, Patience may tax even the most patient (pardon the pun again) of gay listeners with its at times self-indulgent lyrics and sedate tracks (of which the two-part "Patience" is the prime example) that meander for far too long.

Fortunately, these instances are more than compensated with the presence of potential breakout pop hits including Ms Scary's favourites such as the made-for-dance-floor "Precious Box," the catchy new single "Amazing" and best track on the album "Cars and Trains."

A great return to form from the other grand dame of British pop and an excellent album to wake you up before you go-go.