Unlike all the Wham! singles (except "Wham Rap!"), it was co-written by Andrew Ridgeley, the other member of the duo. The two had written it together as unknowns three years earlier, when Michael was working as a cinema usher in Watford, England. In a June 2006 interview on London radio station Magic 105.4, Michael said that he wrote it "in his head" during work and that he recalls coming up with the saxophone riff whilst boarding a number 32 bus on the way home. Originally the riff had words, but Michael declined to state them, saying that they were very poor lyrics.
The song went through at least two rounds of production. The first was during a trip Michael made to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where he went to work with the legendary producer Jerry Wexler at the venerable Muscle Shoals Studio. Michael was unhappy with the version that was originally produced and decided to re-record and produce the song himself, this time coming up with the version that was finally released. The version Wexler produced did, however, see the light of day, but only later on, as a (4:41) B-side "Special Version" on 12", released in England. A mid-tempo ballad with a soulful production standard and a remarkable saxophone solo (played by Steve Gregory), the single was issued in August 1984, entering the UK singles chart at number twelve. Within two weeks, it was at number one, ending a nine-week run at the top for "Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. It stayed at number one for three weeks, later going to the top of the charts in seventeen other countries, including the USA's Billboard Hot 100 in February 1985, although in the United States, it was credited as "Wham! featuring George Michael". It went on to become the 5th best-selling single of 1984 in the UK, being outsold only by the two Frankie Goes to Hollywood tracks "Two Tribes" and "Relax", Stevie Wonder with "I Just Called to Say I Love You", and Band Aid with "Do They Know It's Christmas".
In a 2006 poll for a programme Britain's Favourite Break-up Songs, "Careless Whisper" was voted sixth.
The music video shows the guilt felt by a man over an affair, and his acknowledgement that his partner was always going to find out. It was taped on location in Miami during June 1984 and features such locales as Coconut Grove and Watson Island. However, it does not give credit to the young women who also starred in the video.
"Careless Whisper" was generally the closing act for concerts on the 25 Live tour, and less often in the Faith Tour concerts, usually performed live in many concerts tours like the Cover To Cover Tour and the Rock In Rio Tour. George Michael would often perform "Careless Whisper" with an extended version of the ending, which is apparently his preferred version.
Recorded
* A hi-NRG/eurodance cover of the song by Sarah Washington was released through Almighty Records in 1993.
* A cover version of "Careless Whisper" by Tamia appears on her debut self-titled album, Tamia. A second recording by Tamia appeared on the soundtrack album to the 1998 movie A Night at the Roxbury.
* Israeli singer David D'Or covered the song in a January 2005 clubby, English electronic house vinyl 12" single on the 3 Lanka and Hed Arzi labels, produced and mixed by DJ Amiad, with remixes by Future Funk and Michi Lange. The track attracted international interest.
* A version by Willy Mason appears on the 2007 compilation album, The Saturday Sessions: The Dermot O'Leary Show.
* Gossip covered the song in 2007 for the album Radio 1 Established 1967, a collection of covers recorded for the 40th year anniversary of BBC Radio 1.
* Quebec City acoustic cover band The Lost Fingers recorded a cover of the song for their 2008 album Lost In The 80s.
* Irish singer Edward J. Valentine released a version that reached number 47 for 1 week in the Irish music charts in 2008. Mike Mulvihill of "The Power Hour" hailed it as "a song that defines this generation" and that this cover was "unrivalled".
* American crunk pop band 3OH!3 covered this song with Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low and Juliet Simms of Automatic Loveletter.
* Seether covered the song in 2009. It was released as a single on February 9, 2009. Their version has reached #63 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the top five on Mainstream and Modern Rock charts and the combined Rock Songs chart. In his review for Billboard, Bram Teitelman said, "the song is a mostly faithful take on the original, with guitars subbing for the saxophone intro before greeting a Staind-meets-Nickelback grunge dynamic. Younger rock fans who don't know George Michael from Boy George will love the song".
* In Mexico, Pedro Fernández also has a Spanish cover version called "Absurda Confidencia."
The song has been covered by many other artists, including 2Play (2005), Bananarama (2001) on Exotica album, Brian McKnight (2007), Kenny G featuring McKnight (2004) for Kenny's At Last...The Duets Album, Boston Pops Orchestra composed by John Williams, Columbia Ballroom Orchestra (1994), Dave Koz featuring R&B artist Montell Jordan taking the vocal lead (1999) on the album The Dance, David & the High Spirit (2003), Del (2004), Delight (2001), DJ Irene (2003), Farhad Besharati (2006), George Michael (1998), Gloria Gaynor, Harlemm Lee (2003), Hit Crew (2006), James Douglas (2003), Julio Iglesias (2006), Jordan Knight (2006), Katelyn Tarver (2006), Kenny G (2004), Kymeria (2005), Paul Mauriat, Richard Clayderman (2004) in an instrumental version, Richard Clayderman and James Last, Roger Williams, Roxy Pain (2007), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (1998), Sarah Washington, The Sax Brothers (2003), Simion Luca (1998), Skip Martin (2006), Slinkee Minx (2004) (side A on "Closer" single), The Shadows (2006), and Barry Manilow (2008).
* The song was covered by Shayne Ward in British talent show The X Factor in 2005 and by Danyl Johnson in 2009.
* In the first season of Singapore Idol, the song was sung by Patrick Khoo, who literally whispered it. He did not pass the audition.
* In the fourth season of Canadian Idol, the song was sung by runner up Craig Sharpe of Upper Island Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador. Zach Werner, one of the Canadian Idol judges, has noted Craig's vocal similarity to George Michael on numerous occasions.
* The song has been performed twice on American Idol, by Jamar in Season 1 and Paul Kim in Season 6.
* In the Australian TV show Rockwiz it was done as a duet between Kate Miller Heidke and Paul Dempsey.
* The song was later covered by Ben Folds and Rufus Wainwright in several 2004 live performances.
* The Gossip recently performed a cover of "Careless Whisper" on the UK's Radio 1 Live Lounge, which they began with a verse from Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone"
* It has also been covered live by the Japanese rock singer Hyde (from L'Arc-en-Ciel fame) and the Taiwanese performer Teresa Teng.
* Barenaked Ladies performed and recorded the song while on their 2007 "Ships and Dip" musical cruise.
* In an acoustic concert in Shanghai (March 13, 2008), Incubus covered the song. Brandon Boyd sang a portion of the song, accompanied by temporary bassist Mike Einziger (Mike played bass for several songs, not all). Ben Kenney was absent from the show, as he was recuperating from an upset stomach.
* Singer Drew Stevyns performed Seether's cover of this song on the fourth season of America's Got Talent.
* The X Factor contestant Danyl Johnson covered this song, getting positive reviews from the judges.
* In the episode "The Great Eekscape" of Eek The Cat, Bill Clinton played a sample of the song with his saxophone when Sharky went to the White House.
* The song is featured on the video games Karaoke Revolution Volume 3 and Singstar.
* Degrassi: The Next Generation, which is known for naming its episodes after songs from the 1980s, has an episode named after this song. In it, a character is beginning to question his heterosexuality.
* Jesse: In an episode, Jesse comments on Diego's dancing with "I guess guilty feet really ain't got no rhythm", referring to a line from this song.
* The song is featured in the 2000 Miss Universe Evening Gown Competition.
* In the seventh season of Friends, Chandler's ex-girlfriend Janice has invited herself to the wedding of Chandler and Monica, unaware that she is an unwanted guest. Janice asks the couple what song they would like her to sing at the wedding, Lady in Red or Careless Whisper.
* In the Philippines, this song gained notoriety after a home-made video, showing celebrities Dr. Hayden Kho and Katrina Halili singing this song and dancing scantily clad, was uploaded to Youtube.
* Aside From this scandal Kris Lawrence performs the new version.
* Tatum O'Neal and Nick Kosovich danced a Rumba in Season 2 of Dancing with the Stars
Careless Whisper
Wham! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The careless whispers of a good friend
To the heart and mind
If your answer's kind
If there's no comfort in the truth
Pain is all you'll find
Should've known better, yeah
Oh-oh-oh, oh, oh
Mm-mm
I feel so unsure
As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor
As the music dies
Something in your eyes
Calls to mind a silver screen
And all its sad goodbyes
I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should've known better than to cheat a friend
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, oh
Time can never mend
The careless whispers of a good friend
To the heart and mind
If your answer's kind
There's no comfort in the truth
Pain is all you'll find
I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should've known better than to cheat a friend (should've known better, yeah)
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, oh
Never without your love
Tonight the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd
Maybe it's better this way
We'd hurt each other with the things we want to say
We could have been so good together
We could have lived this dance forever
But now who's gonna dance with me?
Please stay
And I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should've known better than to cheat a friend
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, oh
(Now that you're gone) now that you're gone
(Now that you're gone) was what I did so wrong, so wrong
That you had to leave me alone?
"Careless Whisper" by Wham! is a powerhouse ballad about infidelity and regret. The song tells the story of a person who has been unfaithful to a close friend and has lost their trust and respect. The lyrics convey a sense of guilt and shame as they reflect on their actions, realizing that they should have known better. The refrain "time can never mend the careless whispers of a good friend" suggests that the damage done to the relationship is irreparable.
The opening lines convey a sense of futility as the singer acknowledges that they can never undo the harm they have caused. The second verse talks about the attraction they feel to the person they have cheated with, but also the sadness they feel as the relationship ends, echoing the melancholic tones of classic Hollywood romances.
The final verses express regret for the loss of the relationship and the desire to turn back time to when they were still dancing together. The repeated refrain of "guilty feet have got no rhythm" suggests that the singer feels out of step with the world, unable to dance or feel the joy they once had.
Overall, "Careless Whisper" is a poignant, soulful song that captures the pain and regret of infidelity.
Line by Line Meaning
Time can never mend
The passage of time does not heal emotional wounds.
The careless whispers of a good friend
Information shared in confidence by a friend has harmful consequences.
To the heart and mind
The betrayal affects both the emotions and thoughts of the person betrayed.
If your answer's kind
If the friend is not blunt in their response to the betrayal.
If there's no comfort in the truth
The truth is hurtful and not reassuring.
Pain is all you'll find
The result of the betrayal is only hurt and suffering.
Should've known better, yeah
Hindsight reveals that the person in the wrong should have been aware of their actions and their consequences.
I feel so unsure
The person in the wrong is uncertain and guilty.
As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor
The memory is recalled of bringing someone into a dance-like scenario.
As the music dies
The situation gets worse and it seems as if there is nothing left to be done.
Something in your eyes
There is a look of sadness or regret in the other person's eyes.
Calls to mind a silver screen
The situation feels like a movie-like scenario.
And all its sad goodbyes
The painful ending of a relationship is reminiscent of movie endings.
I'm never gonna dance again
I have lost my chance to be with the other person in a romantic way.
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
I am guilty of wrongdoing and cannot proceed in this manner.
Though it's easy to pretend
It is easy to play off the situation as though nothing has happened, but it is impossible to ignore the reality.
I know you're not a fool
The person in the wrong acknowledges that the other person is not naive and understands the truth.
I should've known better than to cheat a friend
The person in the wrong deeply regrets betraying this friendship.
And waste the chance that I'd been given
The opportunity for a deep relationship with the other person has been lost due to the betrayal.
So I'm never gonna dance again
I have lost my chance to be with the other person in a romantic way.
The way I danced with you, oh
The way I conducted myself with this person romantically is now lost.
Never without your love
The person in the wrong will always love the other person despite the situation.
Tonight the music seems so loud
In the present, the situation is overwhelming and distressing.
I wish that we could lose this crowd
The person wishes that things could return to normal and be resolved between just the two of them.
Maybe it's better this way
Perhaps the painful ending is actually for the best.
We'd hurt each other with the things we want to say
Speaking our minds would only cause more hurt between the two of us.
We could have been so good together
Had the situation been different, the two could have had a great relationship.
We could have lived this dance forever
The romantic relationship between the two could have lasted indefinitely.
But now who's gonna dance with me?
The person in the wrong is left alone, with no one to be with.
Please stay
The person in the wrong is begging the other to not leave them alone.
(Now that you're gone) now that you're gone
The fact that the other person has left is repeated, emphasizing the pain and loneliness.
(Now that you're gone) was what I did so wrong, so wrong
The regret of wrongdoing is repeated, further emphasizing the person's guilt.
That you had to leave me alone?
The person in the wrong questions why they are left alone after their mistakes.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andrew J. Ridgeley, George Michael
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@unemployicus
I feel so unsure
As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor
As the music dies, something in your eyes
Calls to mind a silver screen
And all its sad good-byes
I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should've known better than to cheat a friend
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, oh
Time can never mend
The careless whispers of a good friend
To the heart and mind
Ignorance is kind
There's no comfort in the truth
Pain is all you'll find
I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should've known better than to cheat a friend (should've known better, yeah)
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, oh
Never without your love
Tonight the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd
Maybe it's better this way
We'd hurt each other with the things we'd want to say
We could have been so good together
We could have lived this dance forever
But now, who's gonna dance with me?
Please stay
And I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should've known better than to cheat a friend
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you, oh
now that you're gone
(Now that you're gone) was what I did so wrong, so wrong
That you had to leave me alone?
@peachykeen1409
The funny thing is, is that this song is about cheating on someone and regretting it.
Everyone's interpretation : the romance song
@jaycinthmassey2354
Exactly
@Setsotama
It's the saxophone. The instrument of the giggity
@mikasolae
Lol 😂
@kamziekat
Oh my gosh, me and my boyfriend kissed to this song yesterday while having a picnic. Now I'm sitting in my room, watching it and I'm like, hol up, is this guy a cheater? And welp, I got my answer. I can't believe we kissed to thisXD.
@kamziekat
and I looked up romance songs to joke around and this comes up.
@KSF-fc1tc
Song : sad
Melody : seductive & romantic
@user-tt2mh3bb9e
I think that the point, and also why George Michael insisted that the saxophone be prefected to create a very romantic yet sorrowful vibe.
@joshuatobanus3223
I know right haha. Been thinking about this for a long time.
@m.boirabaev6401
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