Sole Writer Gave Bandmate 50% CREDIT On #1 Hit of 1985 to Set Him Up for Life! | Professor Of Rock

This British duo Wham took the world by storm with the release of their first #1 hit in 1984, from their album Make It Big, the ecstatic Wake Me Up Before you Go Go was an irresistible, feel-good jam if there ever was one. But their next single really upped the ante... launching George Michael into superstar status and one of the most celebrated careers in music history. And incredibly, he penned this pop standard when he was only 17. Inspired by a secret love affair, a cheesy love triangle in school that became a very serious 1985 pop standard. The #1 hit of 1985 to be exact.. George Michael known for his incredible kindness actually He gave bandmate Andrew Ridgeley a full 50% writing credit even tough George was the soul writer of the lyrics and melody… Get ready, this is one episode you’re not going to want to miss… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

Thank you to this Episodes Sponsor, Zenni Optical

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check out my Hand Picked Selection Below

Professor's Store

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive Producer:
Brandon Fugal

Honorary Producers
Em Bee, Paul Moore II, Tee Atwell, Mike Millet, Mark Thompson, fakeaorta, Eric Farque, Jared Norris, Peter Kim, Moon Comix, Jacob Flores, Walter O. Wright II, Zachery Perry
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Access To Backstage Content

Help out the Channel by purchasing your albums through our links! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you, thank you for your support.

#1980s #pop #vinylstory

Hey music junkies Professor of Rock always here to celebrate the greatest artists and songs of all time. If you’ve ever held up an actual lighter at a live show before cell phones took over you’ll dig this channel. Make sure to subscribe below right now. Ring that bell so you are always in the know on our latest interviews and videos. We also just released some new and exclusive videos on our patreon. . There you’ll find more content and you can be a part of keeping this channel going as an honoary producer….Alright

it’s time for another edition of our series The New Standards. This show takes an in-depth look into songs that transcend genre, decade, and fads - songs that are monumental touchstones in our culture and society. On previous episodes we have covered Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper and Take On Me by A ha, amongst others.. Today we are covering the indisputable Wham!-slash-George Michael hit, Careless Whisper from George’s amazing vocal to the signature saxophone line… The story is just as good...

Childhood friends George Michael & Andrew Ridgeley created one of the most iconic pop bands of the 80s. They named the group ‘Wham!’, a word they felt represented the energy, ambition, and spirit of their bosom friendship. Although Wham was only a unit for three studio albums over four short years, at their height in 84 and 85, they were one of the world's most popular British based acts... selling over 30 million albums. As George Michael would later sing in ‘Freedom 90’, they “had every big shot good time band on the run boy.” Yeah did they ever.

The Wham! duo first performed together a in ska-flavored project they called The Executive in ’79. The Executive consisted of Andrew and George, along with Andrew’s brother Paul, David Austin, and Andrew Leaver. Alas, The Executive soon crumbled, and that opened the door for George and Andrew to officially form Wham in 81.
Their pursuit to become pop stars was relentless, and they pestered every A&R person in England to give them a shot. The tenacity finally paid off when Mark Dean signed the duo to his independent record label ‘Inner Vision’, basically capitulating to their persistence... especially Andrew’s constant badgering.

[ProfessorofRock]

Poll: What is your pick for the greatest ballad of the 80s?

[LlyleHunter]

The sax solo and the entire song are one of the most elegant pieces of music of all time.

[Tonia]

In 1985 I was a HS junior and I was OBSESSED with this song! I’m surprised my mom didn’t break my album😂. I loved George Michael through his whole career and was sad to hear of his passing on Christmas Day 2016. He was a true talent!!!

[guyvanarsdall]

George touched us with his gifts of music and his soulful voice. I truly wish he could have found some of the love and joy he ga e us before he had to leave. Love you George, always will.

[Camelboy]

My favourite George moment was at the Freddie Tribute Concert, when he knocked "Somebody To Love" out of the park ! Absolute class.

[RCSmiths]

Absolute a foundational song that defined the 80s. Rest in Peace to a legend in George Michael.

[malloryg]

Professor of Rock- I gotta give you a huge shout-out. I discovered your channel a few months ago and I'm hooked. As a 37 year old woman who always loved rock music, but only on a surface level, you are educating me so much! As a musician, I'm a little ashamed that it took me this long to learn about all these iconic artists, but better late than never. You are a fantastic interviewer and storyteller. You're able to connect with these musicial giants in a way that feels relatable and laid back. You are providing a huge service to the music world, by keeping this music alive and educating people like myself. Today's popular music leaves much to be desired, and I feel that your channel is more essential now than ever. A million thanks : )

[jeffpiatt]

Thanks for covering this song. A haunting tribute to the 80's Any one who was a young person in the 80's is instantly sent back in time when they hear this song.

[dhtmo]

Being born in 1969, this was the default end of school disco song in 1985. The song where you scooped a girl up for a slow dance! An amazing song that is now question a new standard. Just the lyrics 'never gonna dance again, guilty feet have got no rythym' is sublime and really makes you think about your own life and choices you've made. Genius.

[marneebragg]

I was a child the first time I heard this song. It stopped me mid-stride as I walked through the living room. It is the song every one of my friends will sing with me at top volume in the car. This is the song I played so much that the babies hummed it. This song is timeless, and it crosses all age and genre boundaries. It made the world sit up and take notice. I am so glad that we did.

[PhantomFilmAustralia]

My cousin was a huge fan of George Michael and he had _Careless Whisper_ played at his wedding reception. I reminded him that it's a metaphor for a break-up after cheating. He said he didn't care, and that it's a good song. A few years later his wife was "dancing" with another man, and they later divorced. He would have been better off playing, _"I Want Your Sex"_ and stayed single.

[duckylove]

The very first hit of that sax, my heart clenches. I’ve never associated this song to an event personally in my life, but he composed this song so masterfully, one can feel his regret and heartbreak. Now THAT, is talent.

[franktyred]

I remember listening to a tape by George Michael while deployed during Desert Storm/Shield in 1991. The tape belonged to one of the SFC's in my section and he let me listen to it using his portable cassette player. The song that sticks out was Mother's Pride. I remember listening to that (preparing for an invasion of Iraq and Kuwait) while sitting in a six man tent in the Saudi desert. Hearing that tune brings back the smell of the canvas tent and all the unknowns that were about to befall me. George was an inadvertent participant in what was the most important event of my life to that point. I found great comfort in that entire album as I listened while sitting on my cot in the cold and damp of the Saudi desert in February. I wish George peace and hope he understood that sometimes music makes a difference and, by extension, the artist makes a difference.

[ridethepace]

I remember when I first realized what a great song this was. I was 20. Working in a hospital kitchen with two older black woman who were awesome. They loved gossip like most people like oxygen. They would talk for hours about people at their church and I remember one talking about a woman they knew who was cheating on her husband. She said " guilty feet ain't got rhythm, girl ". It was the first time I really ever thought about that song, or what that line meant. I grew up a little that day, and fell for this song at the same time.

[AnnieBoBannie]

Gone at 53….I still can’t believe it!! 💔💔💔 he left us with some of the most beautiful music 💔💔💔

[ginaverdi]

I was 15 years old! I loved Wham! Saw them in concert in Berkeley California, They put on an incredible performance!😃🥰

[marcyloughner]

George Michael will always be the greatest, singer songwriter musician ever with the most angelic voice, and I love and miss him so much. 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[jimmyramone]

🎷 The Sax on that song is a classic. It gives you goosebumps. 🎷

[dmaynardabu]

On of my most favorite songs. George was such a beautiful man. His voice has always been able to carry me away. He left us way too soon. RIP beautiful George. You are greatly missed.

[rosemiller]

I’m a massive George Michael fan. I think that his writing was way above the rest. His vocals cannot compare. Seeing him live a few times is one of the best memories I have. I never tire of listening to CW. I understand it has now over 4 billion streams. I guess George never would have ever imagined that this song would endure. In fact in an interview he said it wasn’t his favorite of what he’s written, but it’s surely became the favorite of many.