EW’s Music Mix is searching for the Greatest Guilty Pleasure Musical Act of All Time. With 16 seeded contestants remaining (see all the matchups), this tournament is continuing to change hearts, minds, and lives, as well as make some people remarkably agitated! Read/listen to the following, and then cast your vote in the poll after the jump; reader comments will be used from here on out, so we encourage you to also post a comment explaining why you chose the way you did. Note: In case of a tie, please select the artist you feel more ashamed to adore. Also note: Yes, the bracket was rearranged to be in proper bracketing order. Thank you.
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In a turn of events the GP Game Commissioner found especially upsetting, George Michael squeaked out a victory over Phil Collins in Round One. Even though she never wants to dance again (guilty feet have got no rhythm), the GP GC presses on. Here’s your logic for breaking her heart:
“Love him to death — even the massive cheesiness of “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.” And I only blush a little when I admit this — ”Faith” is probably the most played song on my iPod. It will never leave the playlist. I don’t care that, as a chick, I’m not his type — he was the sexiest thing ever in that video.” — orville
“This is a tough one. I love George. I love Phil. But George made one of the most awesome videos of all time about getting arrested for soliciting a male prostitute in a park restroom whereas Phil has never done that. And while I like Genesis, Wham! is all over awesome and Club Tropicana was the theme of one of the best dances I ever went to in 8th grade. Therefore, it must be George Michael and Wham!” — kat hayes
“George Michael is the greatest! The Faith video is one of the most memorable images to any 80’s gal. I never got sick of watching those blue jeans shake it in front of that juke box (and thank you for the youtube link….!). But, don’t forget one of my favorite recent things he did was his many and memorable appearance on Eli Stone. How awesome that his songs were the daydreams of a possible madman. If you haven’t seen this show and you are a closet George Michael fan, check it out! It’s really too bad though that he keeps putting himself in the news in a bad way, that is what makes him a guilty pleasure now..prior to all that I felt no guilt for loving him and Wham!” — AMJ
“Wham/George Michael.
because I never sat out in front of the Beacon Theatre in January in 10 degree weather to get Genesis tickets.” — Cynthia
It seems these girls can still spice up our lives, based on their rather decisive victory over Rihanna. But have they made the same emotional connection to fans as their competitor in this round?
“I don’t actively listen to the Spice Girls, but when my God daughters and I are rocking out, there’s nothing we all like more than blaring Spice Girls Music. Most of their music has a good message, and it’s pure fun.” — Ambee
“Spice Girls win by far!! And there is no shame in listening to them NOW! Granted, they are exactly what you say — brainless, fluffy pop. I was like 11 back then, and now I’m 23. And you better believe it that when their greatest hits album came out, and I was 22, I bought it! While it is brainless pop and I think “I can’t believe I LOVED this, like, LOVED this,” it’s so much fun to pop that CD in and reminisce!” — cait
“I do listen to Spice Girls to this day. I was the only 6′3″ 24 year old man at their reunion tour last year and I am no ashamed. I LOVE them and their music. If I’m cleaning the house or rearranging a room, I’ll throw on my DVD of Spice World to play in the background. Love love love them.” — Adam
““Spice Up Your Life” is absolutely one of my favorite stupid songs of all time! Colors of the world! Every boy and every girl! People of the world! Samba to the left! Shake it to the right! Brilliant!” — Megan
Want to vote in a previous matchup? Click here to visit Guilty Pleasure Bracket Central!
Photo Credit: Michael: Everett Collection; Spice Girls: Mike Owen
Tough choice, but longevity and the sheer volume of guilty pleasures give it to George Michael. Besides “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” is the cheesiest song of all time.
Ditto
Even though my neices have an unnatural attachment to “Spice World” and they’d disown me for not voting for the Girls, I have to stick with good ‘ole George. Gotta love a man who’s willing to mock himself and his misdeeds on “Extras.” And who’s willing to be the muse of a television character (RIP “Eli Stone”…)
GOOD LORD this was a hard one… I went with George Michael/Wham
Wham for the win! “Freedom” popped up on the iPod the other day (I’m not really one for creating playlists, so I’m at the mercy of the shuffle). Some dormant part of my brain kicked into gear, and there I was, singing every word of that song from beginning to end, with the biggest grin on my face. I’m pretty sure the tinted windows of my Jeep are enough to make me invisible to others on the road. (And by “I’m pretty sure” I mean “I really, really hope.”)
hmm the booty shake of Faith or the faux dance moves of Stop? I like both, but hearing George Micheal coming to perform wouldn’t be nearly as exciting to me as hearing the Spice Girls reunion tour was. Nor would it inspire as much jealousy I had towards some of my friends when they had tickets and I didn’t.
Wow. 50/50 as of my vote. Seems right, actually. I went George Michael/Wham! because I feel he has made the greater overall contribution to guilty pleasure music. (The Spice Girls only had a few years, ultimately, and that reunion thing they did last year or the year before came and went like a half-hearted shrug.) Anyway, I think it’s pretty much guaranteed that whoever wins this one gets knocked out in the next round. So what’s the diff?
Got to love the Spice Girls, all their songs r super catchy-from Wannabe, and Spice Up Your Life to Say You’ll Be There and (my personal favorite) Stop!
man. this was a toughie. both have some great songs, and i actually have been to a spice girls concert. but i decided to go with george, cuz i think his songs have held up over time. freedom 90? praying for time? really fantastic.
This is a tough choice, but I think (key word: think) the Spice Girls had more of an impact pop culture wise than Wham/George Michael. Spice Girls movie? Check. Spice Girls lunchboxes? Check. Spice Girls lollipops? Check. Spice Girls catchphrases? Check. It’s all there. To this day I still have “Wannabe” on my iPod!
Tough call but George wins.
Okay…has to be the Spice Girls. And here’s my (flawed) reasoning:
“Wake me up before you go-go” may win in a cheese contest against “Wannabe”, okay. I’ll fess up to owning both. But Freedom 90 and most of Without Prejudice is made up of great pop and is not the slightest bit embarrassing, even if the man himself increasingly, and frustratingly, is.
Therefore, “Postivity” rules! Spices for the win.
George has always been “it” for me since 1984! His concert last summer-awesome! He may have his demons but he has great music, looks great, and is one of the most philanthropic guys in the biz!!!!
this one’s easy, hands down george/wham wins, just all his singles are on my ipod, ps3, cd changer on my car. Just listen to Fastlove, Jesus to a child, Kissing a fool, Waiting for that day….I think even spice girls themselves would go with George LOL
cool vid.
If it were Goerge Michael solo, I would have thought about it, but Wham!? One of the most awful bands ever! Careless Whisper alone is enough to go against them.