August 21, 2023
Celebrating forty years of their debut album with a heartwarming Netflix documentary and new The Singles: Echoes from the Edge of Heaven release, this month’s Artist Spotlight lands on WHAM!
George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley met at school in the small town of Bushey, North of London. Best friends, they spent their teenage years writing songs and making music together before officially forming WHAM! in 1981. The pure and supportive friendship that provided the foundations of the duo’s success is highlighted in the new Netflix documentary WHAM! A touching and illuminating film, it details the unshakeable bond they shared.
Across WHAM!’s four years they released eleven singles, five of which were UK number ones. Their breakthrough moment came when they performed their second single “Young Guns (Go For It)” on Top of the Pops. The group were offered a last minute slot after another act dropped out. The televised performance helped rocket the single up the UK chart and was the catalyst for their momentous future.
As their lives changed, so did the music they wanted to make. Their sound shifted from hip-hop inspired social commentary to instant hook-filled pop with the single “Club Tropicana.” The video, filmed in Ibiza at legendary party club Pikes, further cemented the pair’s escapist aesthetic and tongue-in-cheek sense of humour. The lead single from their debut record Fantastic, the album went straight to number one in July 1983.
As George’s talent as a songwriter grew, Andrew stepped back and gave him space, focusing his own skills on honing the band’s iconic imagery. From their colourful sportswear to their decision to wear the Choose Life t-shirts by acclaimed British fashion designer Katharine Hamnett in the video for “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”, their effect on global pop culture is still tangible to this day.
WHAM!’s second album Make It Big was released in late 1984 and went to number one in the UK, achieving similar success around the world. It also featured three UK number one singles with “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”, “Freedom” and “Careless Whisper”. The latter was re-recorded by George after a trip to Alabama to work with legendary producer Jerry Wexler. Neither member was happy with Wexler’s version, so George self-produced the track. His version was so successful it led to him producing the entire album.
In December of 1984 WHAM! released “Last Christmas”. A jingle-laden festive hit, the single was beaten to the number one spot in the UK that year by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure’s Band Aid charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” on which George also performed.
“Last Christmas” finally scored its UK number one at the end of 2020, thirty-six years after its release and on the fourth anniversary of George’s death. It set a new record for the longest time a song has taken to make it to number one, previously held by Tony Christie’s “(Is This The Way To) Amarillo” which took just over thirty-three years to hit the top spot. Even this August, perhaps in response to WHAM’s fortieth anniversary celebrations or perhaps due to this year’s questionable British summer time, the Christmas hit is experiencing a surge in streaming.
In 1985 WHAM! went to China for an historic ten day trip. They were the first western pop group to visit the country, breaking down many cultural barriers and increasing their profile overseas, especially in the US where there was particular fascination with the communist country. After two warm-up shows in Hong Kong, they played in Beijing and then in the southern city of Guangzhou. Their trip was documented in the film Wham! in China: Foreign Skies.
After four incredible years, in 1986 WHAM! announced that they were breaking up. George was coming to terms with his identity, ego and sexuality and wanted to pursue a solo career. As encouraging and altruistic as ever, Andrew supported him and the group went out on a high. On June 28th they played their farewell show in front of seventy-two-thousand people at London’s Wembley Stadium.
WHAM! have sold over thirty-million records worldwide, while George Michael went on to sell over one-hundred-and-twenty-million before his passing in 2016. Together, they are responsible for some of pop’s brightest and most memorable moments and their effect on popular culture is still being felt.
Visit our Christmas Village!
It’s time to get festive with our Christmas Village! Explore the Last Christmas Chalet, take a trip to Mariah’s Grotto or visit the Christmas Arcade. There’s fun for everyone.
Read moreThe Story of George Michael’s Careless Whisper
It’s been forty-years since George Michael unleashed Careless Whisper into the world with its iconic sax solo and instant confessional chorus, but it took several years of uncompromising dedication to create the chart-topping hit we know and love.
Read moreCelebrating 40 years of Careless Whisper!
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the release of George Michael’s much-loved iconic masterpiece ‘Careless Whisper’, George Michael Entertainment, GME, and Sony Music will be releasing the ‘Careless Whisper EP’ this fall.
Read moreGeorge Michael’s ‘Careless Whisper’ hits 1 Billion Streams on Spotify!
George Michael’s ‘Careless Whisper’ has just joined the Spotify #BillionsClub!
Read moreWHAM! Re-Release Their Iconic Albums ‘Fantastic’ and ‘Make It Big’
We’re delighted to announce that WHAM!’s ‘Fantastic’ and ‘Make It Big’ albums will be released on vinyl for the first time in over 30 years! Pressed on both limited edition colour and black vinyl. Available everywhere on 22nd March. Pre-order now
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It’s the most romantic day of the year if you’re happily in love. If you’re not, then it’s quite possibly the most tedious, lonely and depressing one on the calendar. Ever the diplomats, here in the Spotlight Office we want to include all our colleagues in the celebrations and commiserations, so we created two Valentine’s playlists; one for Everybody In Love and another for those who are Single.
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It’s the middle of January and the vibes are low. But don’t despair – here in the Spotlight office we’ve been cranking up the stereo and endorphins with these big hits that’ll get you through to Feb. It’s all daffodils from here.
Read moreWHAM! Make history as ‘Last Christmas’ claims its first ever UK Christmas No.1!
Britain’s much-loved duo WHAM! have claimed the Official UK Christmas Number 1 with ‘Last Christmas’ for the first time since the song was released nearly 40 years ago!
Spotlight in Stereo – The Office Christmas Party!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, so make sure you’re accompanying your festive spirit with some gift-wrapped classics and press play on these Spotlight Stereo Christmas gifts!
Read more‘Last Christmas’ hits No1 for second week running!
Britain’s best-loved duo WHAM! have claimed the Official UK Number 1 chart position with ‘Last Christmas’ for the second consecutive week – a chart first for ‘Last Christmas’.
Read more