What do the lyrics in the Duran Duran song Michael you've got a lot to answer for mean?

Answer 1

Simon LeBon has said that the song refers to Michael Hutchence, the late lead singer of INXS. See also http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_do_the_lyrics_in_the_duran_duran_song_Michael_you%27ve_got_a_lot_to_answer_for_mean for more details.

Answer 2

The song was written for Michael Hutchence of INXS, during the troubles that he was having with his wife Paula Yates but before his death. See, it's complicated:

Journalist and TV presenter Paula Yates had been dating Bob Geldof since 1976; they married in 1986, with Simon Le Bon as their best man. Simon and Yasmin Le Bon became good friends with Paula and Bob.

Simon and Michael Hutchence met in the early 1990s, and became good friends. They spent time partying together in England and France, sometimes hanging out with Bono from U2 as well and joking about forming a "Lead Singer's Club".

Michael and Paula met around 1994 or 1995 when she interviewed him for the Big Breakfast TV show, and they fell in love. She and Bob divorced in 1996, shortly before she gave birth to Michael's daugher Tiger Lily.

Simon and Yasmin very awkwardly managed to remain friends with Michael, Paula and Bob, trying to provide support for everyone.

"Michael, You've Got a Lot to Answer For" was recorded in 1996 and released on the album Medazzaland only a month before Hutchence's death in November 1997. It included these lyrics: : :: Trust you to get caught up in somebody's war;

:: you'll come out of it all intact, I'm sure. ;;

:: Just remember what friends were put here for ;;

:: Michael, you've got a lot to answer for,

:: and I know that you're gonna call... if you need me.Duran Duran was touring to support the album when Hutchence died, and Le Bon found the song too difficult to perform any more so it was cut from the set for the remainder of the tour. However during subsequent Duran Duran tours, it was sometimes included as a tribute.