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35听|听Top 100
'Careless Whisper'
George Michael
One of the most enduring ballads of all time, 鈥淐areless Whisper鈥 was George Michael鈥檚 first solo single, although it was actually co-written with his Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley.听A simple song with with just four chords, the track鈥檚 charm lies in its mournful |
 Song facts |
| Composer |
Michael/Ridgeley |
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| Genre |
Pop |
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| Album |
Make It Big |
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| Year of release |
1984 |
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| UK Chart Position |
1 |
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saxophone intro, together with George鈥檚 anguished vocals as he pleads for forgiveness from the lover he鈥檚 cheated on. George and Andrew wrote the song when they were just 17, despite George鈥檚 own admission that he 鈥渒new nothing about romance and certainly nothing about love鈥. By 1984, George was making plans for a post-Wham! career - and 鈥淐areless Whisper鈥 had a big role to play in those plans. It was billed as a George Michael solo single in the UK, although in America it was credited to Wham! featuring George Michael. But regardless of the name on the cover, the single was a huge success, taking the top spot on both sides of the Atlantic. Now a last-dance staple everywhere from school discos to weddings, the irony inherent in thousands of lovestruck couples smooching to a song about infidelity appears to be lost on most people. Not George though 鈥 after all, his 鈥済uilty feet have got no rhythm鈥.
Wham! On Careless Whisper |
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George Michael and Andrew Ridgley reveal that they are less than proud of the lyrical content of Careless Whisper - "听Musically I get a lot out of it, but in terms of lyrics I've always found it a little bit wanting".
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Other versions |
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听Soul diva Gloria Gaynor adds her legendary vocal talents to听Wham's big hit.
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Songwriting tips Trying to find your feet with songwriting? Find out more at our Guide.
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Test your knowledgeGeorge Michael has been featured on a stamp in which Caribbean island? Answer this and other questions in our Careless Whisper quiz!TAKE THE CHALLENGE! |
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