GEORGE MICHAEL - MICHAEL REFUSES TO COMPETE WITH RIVALS

Legendary singer GEORGE MICHAEL refuses to compete with modern chart contemporaries, because the challenge offers him "no excitement".

The 41-year-old FAITH star is deeply disillusioned with the music industry's political apathy and considers the pop music genre "dead".

He says of competing with the likes of ROBBIE WILLIAMS, "There's no excitement in that.

"Nobody wants to hear about politics, or any kind of strong ideas in pop any more."

Michael is currently attending the screening of GEORGE MICHAEL: A DIFFERENT STORY - a documentary about his life at this month's (FEB05) BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL.

Of the candid film about him, he adds, "This is probably the most you've ever going to see of me. I think the future is a more behind the scenes affair."