David Cassidy’s Lasting Legacy and George Michael’s Unsung Duet
“The Last Kiss” is a melancholy reflection on the bittersweet ache of a final goodbye, a farewell that lingers long after the moment is gone.
For those who came of age in the 1970s, the name David Cassidy evokes a vivid rush of nostalgia. He was the quintessential teen idol, a wholesome heartthrob with a voice that embodied the optimism and innocence of a bygone era. His face, eternally youthful and beaming from countless posters, was a fixture on bedroom walls and magazine covers. He was an American icon, and for a time, it seemed his star would never dim. But as the ’70s faded into the ’80s, the landscape of pop music shifted. The slick, synth-driven sounds of new wave and a new breed of pop stars began to dominate the airwaves, and Cassidy, like many of his contemporaries, found himself on the precipice of a different kind of career.
It was during this period of transition that the unlikely pairing of David Cassidy and a burgeoning pop superstar, George Michael, came to be. In 1985, a year before Wham!‘s final album and a year after their monumental hit “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” George Michael was already a titan in the industry, an undeniable force of songwriting and vocal prowess. He had penned the a-side of Wham!‘s single “I’m Your Man,” a light, upbeat track that showcased his growing confidence as a solo artist. But it was the b-side, an original composition he wrote for David Cassidy, that would become a quiet masterpiece.
“The Last Kiss” wasn’t a commercial powerhouse. In fact, it’s a song many people, even dedicated fans of both artists, might not know exists. This collaboration, a quiet whisper in the midst of the ’80s pop explosion, never even charted in the UK, a testament to its status as a hidden gem rather than a mainstream hit. Yet, its lack of chart success does not diminish its profound emotional weight. The song itself is a stunning example of George Michael’s early songwriting genius. The melody is haunting and melancholic, perfectly capturing the ache of a final goodbye. His arrangement for the song is lush and layered, a far cry from the more minimalistic sounds that would later define his solo work. He even contributed backing vocals, a beautiful, almost ethereal harmony that floats beneath Cassidy’s lead vocal, creating a poignant duet between the two generations of pop royalty. The track was meant to be on Cassidy’s 1985 album Romance, but it was only released on the UK single version of “The Last Kiss”.
For David Cassidy, “The Last Kiss” was a poignant moment in a career that had seen its share of ups and downs. His voice, matured and tinged with a newfound vulnerability, brings an authentic ache to the lyrics. It’s the sound of a man who has lived and loved and is now reflecting on the pain of a farewell. The collaboration with George Michael served as a bridge, a subtle nod to the past while embracing the new sounds of the present. It was an acknowledgment of Cassidy’s enduring legacy and a testament to Michael’s respect for the artists who paved the way.
Listening to “The Last Kiss” today is like unearthing a time capsule. It’s a reminder of a moment when two very different stars aligned to create something beautiful and heartbreakingly sincere. It’s a song for anyone who has ever said a final goodbye, for anyone who knows the feeling of a lingering memory that refuses to fade. The song’s quiet power is its greatest strength, a testament to the fact that some of the most profound moments in music are not the ones that top the charts, but the ones that touch the soul in unexpected ways.