I Want Your Sex

August 1986 marked the start of a new chapter for George Michael as he stepped away from the boy-band image of Wham! to forge a solo identity. The resulting track, I Want Your Sex, emerged from sessions in London and Puk Studios in Denmark, blending dance-pop rhythms with a distinct funk edge. Released as the lead single from his debut album Faith in May 1987, the song arrived just as the AIDS crisis was reshaping public discourse around sexuality.

The track's provocative title and lyrics about safe sex practices sparked immediate backlash. Radio stations across the UK and US, including the BBC, restricted airplay to late-night slots or banned the song entirely due to fears it might encourage unsafe behavior during a time of heightened health anxiety. Despite the censorship, the single climbed the charts, peaking at number two in the UK and reaching number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. It eventually earned Platinum certification in the United States for selling over one million copies.

Andy Morahan directed the accompanying music video, which featured a surreal narrative set in a warehouse involving a mannequin and a woman. This visual complement reinforced themes of desire and objectification while adding an artistic layer to the controversy. Though critics initially offered mixed reactions, the song stands today as a defining moment that signaled Michael's evolution into a mature artist willing to tackle taboo subjects head-on. [edit]