British singer GEORGE MICHAEL has thanked British Prime Minister TONY BLAIR for justifying his 2002 song SHOOT THE DOG as a "word perfect protest song".
The former WHAM! singer attracted controversy when he first released the song, because its accompanying video mocked Blair and his US counterpart PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH and their war on terror.
In the song, Michael sang, "There's somethin' bout that Bush ain't right," and "See Tony dancing with Dubya".
After a outcry in the US by Bush supporters and 9/11 families, Michael decided he would not release the song in America and went on US TV to deny the song was anti-Bush or anti-American.
Four years later, Michael admits now the public's attitude to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has changed and many realise the song was not anti-American, the track is being embraced by peace campaigners.
He says, "As the years go by, Mr Blair is making Shoot The Dog a word perfect protest song. For all the people who tried to laugh at the time and say I was naive... I am not naive."