There are no disclaimers, excuses or disappointments.

Indeed Michael's Sydney show last night automatically set the bar skyhigh for this year's pop concerts.

The lengthy show ticks all the boxes. Firstly it looks incredible - the immense stage and mammoth video screens are state of the art and purpose-built for a stadium.

But it was that voice and those song fans have waited since 1988 to see back in action in Australia.

And while Michael has hardly been a saint over the years, his voice still provides instant goosebumps.

''It's been 22 years, I'm going to try and make it up to you tonight,'' Michael told the sold out crowd of 45,000. ''You all look so good, plenty of sunshine and sex I reckon.''

The setlist is extraordinary - from Fastlove to Wham!'s I'm Your Man to 80s anthem Father Figure - and they're the opening three songs.

Michael introduced Wham!'s Everything She Wants by stating ''Who remembers 1984? We all have a lot less hair and a lot more experience.''

Those songs are sadly as far as the singer delves into the Wham! catalogue, although the huge screems play a montage of their iconic 80s videos.

The perfectionist has always surrounded himself with the finest musicians and vocalist and this tour is no different - the band sounding as impressive on the gorgeously bare ballad A Different Corner to the disco-driven Too Funky and Outside.

Meanwhile hearing Careless Whisper, one of the best ballads ever written, was almost worth the price of admission alone.

George Michael plays Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.