I remember it like it was yesterday: The MTV debut of George Michael‘s video for “Freedom ’90” featuring the biggest supermodels of the decade – Christy Turlington! Cindy Crawford! Linda Evangelista! Naomi Campbell! – all lip-syncing to his lyrics (as he had famously come to shun the limelight). And… it… was… MIND-BLOWING! LIFE CHANGING! INSTANTLY ICONIC! DECADE DEFINING! The perfect fusion of music! fashion! and video! Directed by David Fincher and styled by Camilla Nickerson, it was simply the best there had ever been. Maybe my favorite video OF ALL TIME? (How many early morning recreations of “Christy-wearing-the-bedsheets” did I do for my post-clubbing houseguests?)
Now, on the “Freedom! ‘90” anniversary, Vogue has updated the video with the next generation of mega supermodels—Adriana Lima, Joan Smalls, Anna Ewers, Irina Shayk, Taylor Hill, and more— dressed up in the best looks from the Spring 2017 runways while dancing on the streets of New York City. The fizzy power of the song has never diminished, and feels just as fabulous today as it did 26 years ago.
Watch it below. And compare and contrast to the original version below THAT.