“Delightful… nerdy, passionate, extraordinary.”
Lynn Barber, The Spectator, on Tonight the Music Seems So Loud

“Rich… poignant… occasionally eccentric… a revelatory blast. Tonight the Music Seems So Loud… does excellent work in restoring the star’s dignity along with his artistic reputation… It’s a book only a fan could write: affectionate, protective, deadly serious but irreverent when necessary…”
Victoria Segal, The Sunday Times

“Hugely enjoyable… a plaintive love letter, the book frames George as a brilliant songwriter, producer . . .  performer and general human being. It is no hagiography, and yet you emerge after 256 pages seeing George as even more extraordinary than you already thought… a very good book.”
Dylan Jones, The i Newspaper

“Joyful and poignant.”
DJ Gary Davies, BBC Radio 2

“This affecting exploration of the troubled genius’s impact is packed with anecdote, sharp analysis and social context…. an unashamedly partisan book, although not an uncritical one… Michael emerges as a messy, unpredictable but ultimately hugely likable figure.”
The Guardian, Book of the Day

“Approaching the 10th anniversary of the death of British singer and songwriter George Michael, we can expect to flick through several books documenting his tragically short life – but perhaps none will be more engaging than Sathnam Sanghera’s acutely observed memoir… The book is genuine and subtle, and a deftly written diversion on a famous musician’s life. It steers clear of obvious facts and drives towards intriguing tangents.”
The Irish Independent 

“A compulsive new fan’s-eye life of the singer… a fabulous account of the various expressions of George’s precocious and polymathic talent, from writing Careless Whisper aged 17 on the top deck of the No 32 bus to the great soul-revival of Faith…”
Tim Adams, The Observer

“What could possibly be the point of another book about George Michael?… In Tonight the Music Seems So Loud, Sathnam Sanghera answers the question with a brutally honest, personal and contextual debate on the actual meaning of one of the world’s greatest pop stars… to understand the magic of his book you have to understand its author, and he gives us just enough of his own life to add a depth that others may have lacked… This book isn’t a eulogy, it’s a frank examination of the open wound of celebrity… and, most importantly, what he meant to a fellow misfit who forged a life-long connection with him… I met George on a couple of occasions. He was delightful. He was human. And I am sure that, had he and Sanghera met, he would have appreciated the sensitive Sikh boy who had spent so much of his energy on loving him.”
Alex Kadis, The Financial Times

“A groundbreaking look at Michael’s personal life and extraordinary music career.”
Melodic Magazine

“This is a beautiful, frequently extraordinary book. Part biography, part social commentary and part love letter, it somehow does full justice to the magnificent man it examines. For me, and for millions of others, that really is the highest praise possible.”
James O’Brien

“Fascinating and moving.”
Ed Simons of The Chemical Brothers 

“A deeply-felt book… written not just from the perspective of a social historian but with such heart too.”
Nigella Lawson 

“No ordinary pop biography, this is a very personal exploration of a very unusual artist. Sathnam Sanghera digs deep into sexuality, ethnicity, politics, celebrity and, of course, the songs to change the way we think about this misunderstood megastar.”
Dorian Lynskey, author of 33 Revolutions per Minute

“One of the most compelling and enjoyable books you will read. Both funny and deeply insightful, Sathnam Sanghera brings real warmth and intelligence to the story of proud Londoner George Michael, tracing his life and career while also exploring much bigger questions about fame, identity and modern Britain. This is far more than a biography of a pop icon – it’s a sharp, insightful look at George Michael’s life and how he challenged society in ways that still resonate today.”
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London

“With the years the spent ‘in the trenches of the culture wars’ while writing and promoting his brilliant books on the British Empire having taken their toll, Sanghera resolved to embark on a project that would spark joy. The result is this elegiac, yet also poptastically enjoyable, exploration of the life, times and creativity of George Michael, an artist he has revered all his music listening life. Captures Michael in all his musical glories and contradictions.”
The Bookseller

“Sathnam’s lifelong love for George’s work, his appreciation of the man’s genius songwriting and soulful voice shines through in this book, as does Michael’s own eloquence and humour. Ultimately, George Michael was consumed by fame and addiction, and his fate contains lessons for us all – themes that Sathnam writes about with compassion and profound humanity – whether you love him or not.”
Dua Lipa’s Service95

“Engrossing . . .  on finishing the book I felt compelled to dig out those albums once again to spend time with one of the UK’s greatest singer/songwriters.”
The Crack magazine

“Packed with wit and insight, this is both a glorious paean to fandom and a heartfelt celebration of one of the most complex, misunderstood stars in pop’s firmament.”
John O’Connell, author of Bowie’s Books

“I have to acknowledge the greatness of this book I didn’t know I needed to read.”
Stephen Duffy of The Lilac Time

“I admit that I might have been slightly suspicious of this new book about George Michael. How could a straight man fully get the meaning of George? How could a non-musician? Very happy to discover that I was wrong, and wildly prejudicial. This is an extraordinary achievement, capturing George from every glorious angle: that incredible voice, the immortal music, his morphing image, his kindness and sass. Also, really importantly, he places George in societal context: this epic figure of talent and humanity being punched and kicked by a revoltingly homophobic media all while the AIDS crisis chokes him. There’s such detail, such care in this book; rigour and research meeting pure love. To write from love is a sacred thing. Like many people, I still haven’t come to terms with his death. But reading Tonight the Music Seems So Loud brought George into the room, as alive and vibrant as ever… This book, written by a great journalist and writer, feels restorative.”
Patrick Strudwick, journalist

“An absorbing read about a pop genius… Sanghera delivers something far more insightful than a standard celebrity biography… personal connection fuels a lively exploration of how George Michael’s journey reflects the broader, often turbulent history of modern Britain… Packed with wit and insight, this is both a glorious paean to fandom and a heartfelt celebration of one of the most complex, misunderstood stars in pop’s firmament.”
Eastern Eye

“Heartfelt and joyful. Hard recommend.”
Caitlin Moran

“In his biography of the late British musician, memoirist and novelist Sanghera looks at Michael through a series of lenses, including the Black music that influenced him; his initially closeted life in a virulently anti-gay era; and his struggles with drug use, which likely contributed to his death at age 53 in 2016. Sanghera leavens his smart analysis of Michael’s career and legacy with endearing self-deprecation. He is an unapologetic fan of Michael’s, and his sympathetic account makes clear why the singer-songwriter means so much to so many. A spirited and nuanced portrait of a complex pop icon.”
Kirkus, starred review

“Sathnam Sanghera has previously written about his British Sikh upbringing, as well as the impact of the British Empire on Britain and the rest of the world. Immigration is in his new book, a biography of George Michael, too; people sometimes forget Michael was the son of a Greek Cypriot, and born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou. Fame, sexuality, and the music of the 1980s obviously also feature in the life – a life filled with both glory and tragedy – of one of Britain’s greatest popstars.”
GQ – best books of the year

“The book I’ve been waiting so long for. Sathnam finally gives George the biography he deserves — funny, tender and fearless about the music, the mischief and the moral courage – a rich tapestry and a treasure chest of inspiration for anyone wanting to unleash creativity to change the world.”
Dan Glass, author and activist 

“Sanghera offers insights into how fame, the tabloids, addiction, homophobia, and Michael’s own musical genius shaped his personal life and public career. Sanghera does an excellent job of relating Michael’s story: this is not a salacious tell-all but a measured look at the legacy of one of the most popular pop music artists ever.“
Library Journal 

“A fine, detailed, intelligent work…. strikes a fine balance between the integrity of biographical writing and the readability of narrative non-fiction… adding a welcome personal touch… I felt I inhabited Sanghera’s emotional connection to the music as if it were my own experience, allowing for a more immersive and meaningful read… well worth the time for both existing George Michael fans and those yet to be converted.”
Glenn Fosbraey, The Conversation

“After years writing about the British Empire, and being caught in the culture wars in the process, Sanghera decided to turn to a subject that brings him joy: George Michael. The result is an affectionate but thoughtful portrait of the artist’s music, contradictions and background.”
inews – Best Books out this June 

“I really enjoyed it and I found the ending heartbreaking… Such a loss, it really hit home.“
Tracey Thorn of Everything But the Girl

“My first poster on my bedroom wall was George Michael, and I have been waiting for this book ever since. This is a highly original and revelatory portrait of a troubled genius, it is also a story of Britain. It will make you laugh, move you, and like the pop icon’s songs, it’s unforgettable.“
Kavita Puri, author

“Thoughtful and thought-provoking…   as the author of a book about the British empire, and the son of Sikh parents, Sanghera is precisely attuned to the influence of Michael’s immigrant background.“
The Daily Mail