Tonight the Music Seems So Loud

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
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, from politics to identity, in ways that still resonate today -- Sadiq Khan
His lucid and accessible writing reaches out to those with closed minds * The i *
This affecting exploration of the troubled genius’s impact is packed with anecdote, sharp analysis and social context * Guardian *
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
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 * The Bookseller *
An affectionate but thoughtful portrait of the artist’s music, contradictions and background * i news *
This book isn’t a eulogy, it’s a frank examination of the open wound of celebrity; an assessment of the man George Michael was and what he meant as a public, political and artistic figure. And, most importantly, what he meant to a fellow misfit who forged a life-long connection with him * FT *
A nerdy, passionate, extraordinary book -- Lynn Barber, The Spectator
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 *
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 *
An utterly compelling journey to go on . . . Sanghera delivers something far more insightful than a standard celebrity biography * Eastern Eye *
Sanghera’s forte is wry comedy tinged with pathos * Sunday Times *
Whether he’s writing autobiography or fiction, Sathnam Sanghera is busy carving out his own literary niche -- Jonathan Coe
He writes beautifully -- Maggie O'Farrell, author of Land
Sanghera is such an engaging and versatile writer * The Telegraph *
One of my favourite writers -- Greg James * BBC *
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
Joyful and tragic in roughly equal measure. This is the story of a man who couldn’t be defined and a nation which mirrored his shifting identity. As catchy and life-changing as a perfect pop song -- Ian Dunt
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 * Service95 *