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’BrienThis 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 KhanHis 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 LynskeyWith 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 SpectatorSathnam 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 CoeHe 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 BooksJoyful 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 DuntSathnam’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 *

Sathnam Sanghera was born in Wolverhampton in 1976. He is the author of several bestselling and award-winning works of fiction and non-fiction.

His works include:

• Empireland: Won the British Book Award for Narrative Non-Fiction and was made into a documentary for Channel 4.
• Marriage Material: Shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award and adapted for the stage in 2025.
• The Boy with the Topknot: A memoir that was shortlisted for the Costa Biography Award, won the Mind Book of the Year, and was adapted into a BBC TV film.

He has also authored two books for children.

Sathnam Sanghera is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Historical Society. He lives in London.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.