Synopsis

George Michael does not appear in the video, leaving his song to be performed through the gestures and lip-syncing of a group of male and female models. Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, and Tatjana Patitz dominate the striking black-and-white and color imagery, while clothes, furniture, a jukebox, and a guitar are dramatically destroyed. The result is a stylish visual statement about shedding an old identity and claiming creative independence.

Factoids & Trivia

• Michael avoided appearing in promotional photographs and videos at the time, so the video's concept turned his absence into its central idea.

• The five principal female models had recently appeared together on the January 1990 British edition of Vogue. Their participation helped define the era's "supermodel" phenomenon and brought high-fashion imagery into heavy MTV rotation.

• The video also features male models John Pearson and Mario Sorrenti, alongside the five better-known female stars.

• The burning and destruction of the leather jacket, jukebox, guitar, and other symbols associated with Michael's earlier image underline the song's break with his Wham! and "Faith"-era persona.

• The title's "'90" distinguishes the song from Wham!'s earlier hit "Freedom," also written and performed by Michael.

• "Freedom! '90" was one of only two singles from *Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1* to receive a music video in which Michael did not appear.

• The video's combination of pop music, fashion photography, and deliberately constructed celebrity absence became a major influence on later music videos and fashion campaigns.

• It received MTV Video Music Award nominations for Best Editing and Best Cinematography at the 1991 ceremony.

• The video was remastered and released in 4K on YouTube in October 2020 for its 30th anniversary.