British singer George Michael's sometimes hilarious, mainly hot-and-heavy new video for his latest single, the disco-inflected dance song Outside, premiered yesterday on MTV.
But don't hold your breath waiting to see Outside, which sends up Michael's conviction earlier this year for lewd conduct in a Beverly Hills park public bathroom, on either MuchMusic or MuchMoreMusic in Canada.
(Quebec's MusiquePlus is the exception -- it's been airing since last week to great response.)
"The main issue is the fact that there's an exclusive in the States with the video," says John Jones, the senior programmer for MuchMusic and MuchMoreMusic. "So because our signal carries over into the States we'd have to cover it up down there if we're going to air it."
Michael's video begins as cheesy porn before it segues into various scenes of police arresting couples, hetero and same-sex -- and one threesome -- making out in public places, including the back of a truck, an elevator and an office building. Michael, who begins the song: "I think I'm done with the sofa, I think I'm done with the the hall, I think I'm done with the kitchen table, baby, let's go outside," also appears dancing in a cop uniform.
Jones said once the MTV exclusive on the video expires --officially it's six months but could end up being as little as one month -- there is also a content issue.
The Canadian music station's review committee has deemed the original version "too adult in nature," so it can only air after 9 p.m. As for the edited version, Jones said the committee questioned why a scene showing two policemen kissing was pixelated, especially since MuchMusic is currently airing Marilyn Manson's The Dope Show video which contains similar imagery.
"There's supposed to be a third version of the video coming and we're going to wait before we really have an official pronouncement on which version we're going to end up playing," says Jones.
Michael is scheduled to appear on Howard Stern's radio show today and David Letterman on Monday night to promote his greatest hits collection, Ladies & Gentlemen The Best Of George Michael, due in stores next Tuesday.
