Wham! (often written WHAM!) was a pop band formed in 1981 from Bushey, Engl… Read Full Bio ↴Wham! (often written WHAM!) was a pop band formed in 1981 from Bushey, England. They were briefly known in the United States as Wham! UK due to a naming conflict with another band.
George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley met at Bushey Meads School in Watford, England. At first, they performed in a short-lived rock and roll band called The Executive. They then changed their name and signed with Innervision Records. Soon after a legal victory over Innervision, the duo was signed to CBS, Columbia Records in the United States and Canada and Epic Records for the rest of the world.
Further information: Artist development deal
Michael took on the majority of roles and responsibilities within the band— composer, singer, producer, and occasional instrumentalist— but the contribution of Ridgeley as the group's image specialist and spokesman was crucial to the band's initial success. Ridgeley convinced a reluctant George that Wham! needed to change their image and sound frequently, from the leather-clad moody singers of "Bad Boys" and "Young Guns (Go For It!)" to the more fashionable pop superstars of "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go."
Still teenagers, they promoted themselves as hedonistic youngsters, proud to live a carefree life without work or commitment. This was reflected in their earliest singles. Such works as "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do?)" have been seen as sarcasm advocating the other point of view.
The first record to be released by the band was "Wham Rap!". It was a double-A side with a Social Mix and Anti-social Mix. The record was banned for general release in the UK due to the profanity in the Anti-social Mix. In October 1982, their song "Young Guns (Go For It!)" was issued. The song was an appeal from one youthful lad to his friend to not throw his life away so early on marriage. It stalled outside the UK Top 40 but then Wham! got lucky when Top Of The Pops scheduled them. An important weekly BBC chart show on television, it had to look outside the Top 40 to fill a gap created by an act which had pulled out of recording. Nearest to the 40 mark and still climbing, Wham! was summoned, and a phenomenon immediately began.
The impact of Wham! on the public, especially teenage girls, was felt from the moment they finished their debut performance of "Young Guns (Go For It!)" on Top Of The Pops. Michael's appearance may have helped. He wore espadrilles, a suede jacket slit open, and rolled-up denim jeans. Ridgeley stood behind him, flanked by backing dancers D.C. Lee and Shirlie Holliman.
The performance was as much one of acting as it was of singing, with Michael playing the part of the pleading goodtime lad, and Ridgeley the guy who had been drawn into commitment. Afterwards, the song shot into the Top 40 at #24 and peaked at #3 in December. The following year (1983), D.C. Lee began her work with Paul Weller of The Style Council, and was replaced by Pepsi DeMacque. Holliman and DeMacque would later record music as Pepsi and Shirlie.
Wham! followed up "Young Guns (Go For It!)" with the reissue "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)", a song about the joys of a leisurely life (the full version of which clocked in at almost seven minutes long); "Bad Boys", about a strained relationship between a rebellious teenage lad and his worried parents; and "Club Tropicana", a satire of the Club 18-30 scene. Each song came with a memorable music video.
By the end of 1983, Wham! was rivaling Duran Duran and Culture Club as Britain's biggest pop act. Notoriety and column inches were duly achieved with their antics of placing a shuttlecock down their shorts, and their first album Fantastic reached #1.
Around this time, Ridgeley become conscious of legal problems with their initial contract at Innervision. He mounted a legal challenge against the record company and its founder Mark Dean, who had initially signed them to the label, and George publicly stated they were financially mistreated [citation needed]. While the legal battle raged (perhaps to raise much-needed funds for the fight), Innervision released a medley of non-single album tracks from Fantastic, entitled Club Fantastic Megamix. Wham! publicly denounced the move, and urged fans not to buy it. After all the legal wrangling, Innervision admitted there were royalty discrepancies with Wham!'s contract, leading to the bankruptcy and dissolution of Innervision.
Driven by Ridgeley, the duo changed their image, and Wham! returned in May 1984 with an updated, cutting-edge pop image quickly copied by other pop bands. Andrew changed the band's look from "moody in leather jackets" to smiles and fashionable clothing, with an aim to promote themselves more as sex symbols rather than spokespeople for a disaffected generation.
Fittingly enough, these changes propelled the next single (a pop standard) to the top of the charts around the world. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, a song Michael wrote from a note left to him in his hotel room one night by Ridgeley. The note was mistakenly written by Ridgeley as "don't forget to wake me up up before you go go, George". Since he accidentally wrote the word "up" twice, Ridgeley decided to compound the error and write "go" twice. It became their first UK #1 and rose to the top in the USA), capped by a memorable video of the duo, plus the ubiquitous Pepsi and Shirlie, wearing Katharine Hamnett T-shirts with the slogans CHOOSE LIFE and GO GO.
These t-shirts became essential fashion items as Hamnett wrote herself into the pop culture lexicon, having simultaneously designed the FRANKIE SAY t-shirts for Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
Although some critics felt that Wham! represented bubblegum pop[citation needed], many were starting to appreciate Michael's proven ability as a songwriter and capable vocalist. (The following year, he would win the Ivor Novello Award for songwriting.) However, at the same time they bemoaned the status of Ridgeley, who had started to "play" a guitar during live shows (never on any recordings) but whose overall contribution was deemed to be lightweight[citation needed].
With some bizarre contradiction, the next single "Careless Whisper" was issued as a George Michael solo piece, yet unlike any Wham! single since "Wham Rap!," it was co-written by Ridgeley. The song quickly reached #1. In the autumn of 1984, Wham! came back as a duo with "Freedom", another chart-topper. In November, they released their second album, Make It Big, which coasted to #1 on the album charts. The band set off on another arena tour at the end of '84, and George told Smash Hits magazine at the time that he had written a song called "Stephen." The song had been composed for a friend who was struggling to cope with bereavment. While this song is still unreleased, those that were at the recording sessions decsribe it as a heartfelt story of the loss of a loved one[citation needed].
George contributed to the Band Aid project, with Michael providing vocals as the song usurped their own Christmas release, "Last Christmas"/"Everything She Wants", the former of which featured a video set in a ski resort.
The single became the highest-selling single ever to peak at #2 in the UK charts. As such, Wham! donated all their royalties to the Ethiopian famine appeal to coincide with the fundraising intentions of Band Aid, the song which beat them to the top spot. Band Aid's success meant that Michael had been at #1 within three different entities in 1984—as a solo artist, half of a duo, and part of a charity ensemble.
Michael desired to create music targeted to a more sophisticated audience than the duo's primarily teenage fanbase. Therefore, Michael and Ridgeley announced the breakup of Wham! in the spring of 1986, destined to take place after a farewell single and album, along with a historic grand finale concert at Wembley Stadium on June 28, 1986, called The Final. British pop group Five Star declined George's invitation to be the supporting act, saying they needed to concentrate on their own career at the time.
George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley met at Bushey Meads School in Watford, England. At first, they performed in a short-lived rock and roll band called The Executive. They then changed their name and signed with Innervision Records. Soon after a legal victory over Innervision, the duo was signed to CBS, Columbia Records in the United States and Canada and Epic Records for the rest of the world.
Further information: Artist development deal
Michael took on the majority of roles and responsibilities within the band— composer, singer, producer, and occasional instrumentalist— but the contribution of Ridgeley as the group's image specialist and spokesman was crucial to the band's initial success. Ridgeley convinced a reluctant George that Wham! needed to change their image and sound frequently, from the leather-clad moody singers of "Bad Boys" and "Young Guns (Go For It!)" to the more fashionable pop superstars of "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go."
Still teenagers, they promoted themselves as hedonistic youngsters, proud to live a carefree life without work or commitment. This was reflected in their earliest singles. Such works as "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do?)" have been seen as sarcasm advocating the other point of view.
The first record to be released by the band was "Wham Rap!". It was a double-A side with a Social Mix and Anti-social Mix. The record was banned for general release in the UK due to the profanity in the Anti-social Mix. In October 1982, their song "Young Guns (Go For It!)" was issued. The song was an appeal from one youthful lad to his friend to not throw his life away so early on marriage. It stalled outside the UK Top 40 but then Wham! got lucky when Top Of The Pops scheduled them. An important weekly BBC chart show on television, it had to look outside the Top 40 to fill a gap created by an act which had pulled out of recording. Nearest to the 40 mark and still climbing, Wham! was summoned, and a phenomenon immediately began.
The impact of Wham! on the public, especially teenage girls, was felt from the moment they finished their debut performance of "Young Guns (Go For It!)" on Top Of The Pops. Michael's appearance may have helped. He wore espadrilles, a suede jacket slit open, and rolled-up denim jeans. Ridgeley stood behind him, flanked by backing dancers D.C. Lee and Shirlie Holliman.
The performance was as much one of acting as it was of singing, with Michael playing the part of the pleading goodtime lad, and Ridgeley the guy who had been drawn into commitment. Afterwards, the song shot into the Top 40 at #24 and peaked at #3 in December. The following year (1983), D.C. Lee began her work with Paul Weller of The Style Council, and was replaced by Pepsi DeMacque. Holliman and DeMacque would later record music as Pepsi and Shirlie.
Wham! followed up "Young Guns (Go For It!)" with the reissue "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)", a song about the joys of a leisurely life (the full version of which clocked in at almost seven minutes long); "Bad Boys", about a strained relationship between a rebellious teenage lad and his worried parents; and "Club Tropicana", a satire of the Club 18-30 scene. Each song came with a memorable music video.
By the end of 1983, Wham! was rivaling Duran Duran and Culture Club as Britain's biggest pop act. Notoriety and column inches were duly achieved with their antics of placing a shuttlecock down their shorts, and their first album Fantastic reached #1.
Around this time, Ridgeley become conscious of legal problems with their initial contract at Innervision. He mounted a legal challenge against the record company and its founder Mark Dean, who had initially signed them to the label, and George publicly stated they were financially mistreated [citation needed]. While the legal battle raged (perhaps to raise much-needed funds for the fight), Innervision released a medley of non-single album tracks from Fantastic, entitled Club Fantastic Megamix. Wham! publicly denounced the move, and urged fans not to buy it. After all the legal wrangling, Innervision admitted there were royalty discrepancies with Wham!'s contract, leading to the bankruptcy and dissolution of Innervision.
Driven by Ridgeley, the duo changed their image, and Wham! returned in May 1984 with an updated, cutting-edge pop image quickly copied by other pop bands. Andrew changed the band's look from "moody in leather jackets" to smiles and fashionable clothing, with an aim to promote themselves more as sex symbols rather than spokespeople for a disaffected generation.
Fittingly enough, these changes propelled the next single (a pop standard) to the top of the charts around the world. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, a song Michael wrote from a note left to him in his hotel room one night by Ridgeley. The note was mistakenly written by Ridgeley as "don't forget to wake me up up before you go go, George". Since he accidentally wrote the word "up" twice, Ridgeley decided to compound the error and write "go" twice. It became their first UK #1 and rose to the top in the USA), capped by a memorable video of the duo, plus the ubiquitous Pepsi and Shirlie, wearing Katharine Hamnett T-shirts with the slogans CHOOSE LIFE and GO GO.
These t-shirts became essential fashion items as Hamnett wrote herself into the pop culture lexicon, having simultaneously designed the FRANKIE SAY t-shirts for Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
Although some critics felt that Wham! represented bubblegum pop[citation needed], many were starting to appreciate Michael's proven ability as a songwriter and capable vocalist. (The following year, he would win the Ivor Novello Award for songwriting.) However, at the same time they bemoaned the status of Ridgeley, who had started to "play" a guitar during live shows (never on any recordings) but whose overall contribution was deemed to be lightweight[citation needed].
With some bizarre contradiction, the next single "Careless Whisper" was issued as a George Michael solo piece, yet unlike any Wham! single since "Wham Rap!," it was co-written by Ridgeley. The song quickly reached #1. In the autumn of 1984, Wham! came back as a duo with "Freedom", another chart-topper. In November, they released their second album, Make It Big, which coasted to #1 on the album charts. The band set off on another arena tour at the end of '84, and George told Smash Hits magazine at the time that he had written a song called "Stephen." The song had been composed for a friend who was struggling to cope with bereavment. While this song is still unreleased, those that were at the recording sessions decsribe it as a heartfelt story of the loss of a loved one[citation needed].
George contributed to the Band Aid project, with Michael providing vocals as the song usurped their own Christmas release, "Last Christmas"/"Everything She Wants", the former of which featured a video set in a ski resort.
The single became the highest-selling single ever to peak at #2 in the UK charts. As such, Wham! donated all their royalties to the Ethiopian famine appeal to coincide with the fundraising intentions of Band Aid, the song which beat them to the top spot. Band Aid's success meant that Michael had been at #1 within three different entities in 1984—as a solo artist, half of a duo, and part of a charity ensemble.
Michael desired to create music targeted to a more sophisticated audience than the duo's primarily teenage fanbase. Therefore, Michael and Ridgeley announced the breakup of Wham! in the spring of 1986, destined to take place after a farewell single and album, along with a historic grand finale concert at Wembley Stadium on June 28, 1986, called The Final. British pop group Five Star declined George's invitation to be the supporting act, saying they needed to concentrate on their own career at the time.
Say What
Wham! Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Say What' by these artists:
28 Days Say what? Never do we stress 'cause we're known to rock…
28 Days and Apollo 440 Say what? Never do we stress 'cause we're known to rock…
28 Days/Apollo 440 Say what? Never do we stress 'cause we're known to rock…
Amber Renee You say I should be lucky to have you 'Cause if…
Cher Baby ain't been coming around, no As much as he used…
chill smith Pretty Everyday Chill Smith Big shit Too big to listen I ain…
Cut Capers Say what, say what you wanna Say what you gotta, just…
Da.Rec (Chorus) I know what they say now I know what they talk…
Dale J. Evans I know what they say I know what they say about…
Drake Why do I feel so alone? Like everybody passing through…
Dry & Bolinger When he came I didn't know what he wanted to say…
Erasure Say what, make out Say what, make out It's a crazy situatio…
Evan and Jaron I know what they say I know what they say about…
Flaurese & Kartell Say what All night Say who All night Say what All night Say …
Foreign Frnd Say what, say what I'm leaving yeah I'm gone I trust, I…
Guerilla Black [Into: Guerilla Black] This is dedicated to my nigga Easy-E …
J JONES Chorus: No matter what they say I am here to stay I'ma ride…
J-EYE (What they say what they say what they say) People never…
J.B. Don't know what you thinking about Can't read your mind spea…
JB What shall I say onto my Lord When I think of…
Jesse Winchester Hey girl say hey Say what a watcha say Hey girl…
K.C. Tronic I could feel it in the air that fateful night Like…
Kelly Krow I just want ya body next to me Making love till…
KoRn&Limp Bizkit Walk away when you're angry (Brace) brace yourself, there's …
LL Cool J [Chorus] Most thugs front when they get the chance (say…
Madball Say what you want to say - the same old…
Method Man Yeah! This-this-this-this This is an exclusive (let's go) Mr…
Method Man; Missy Elliott [Intro: Missy Elliott (Method Man)] Yeah! This-this-this-t…
Miles Jones feat. Shad Что ты можешь дать мне Что ты можешь дать мне ну-ка…
Mr. De' In nineteen and seventy-nine they lived in an old schoolbus …
Mr. Disco Visa pattarna, visa pattarna Visa pattarna, visa pattarna, …
Mr. Vegas feat. Elephant Man In nineteen and seventy-nine they lived in an old schoolbus …
p.i.t Let's go (Yeah, ayy, yeah) I got a bitch from the…
R.L. Walker 僕は くたびれた yes man どこにも行けない thin man I don't wanna be I don't…
Reese Wynans and Friends The sun cast my shadow on the pavement of your…
Restless Heart Sometimes a woman and a man make plans, And then…
Singing Melody say what, lady. say it to me, that you mean to…
Spencer & Hill You you know what you did Yes yes you you're now…
Stevie Ray Vaughan Soul to soul, soul to soul, soul to soul, soul…
Tempera.Md Sunday afternoon alcoholism in full bloom Promised myself to…
The JB What shall I say onto my Lord When I think of…
the peach kings Standing in the corner just swinging his hips, stompin his…
theresa sweetheart Hey did you say something? Saw a twinkle light up your…
TSH Sudaca Voy a robarle, bocanadas al viento, Es inestable, que no flu…
Tung Twista (Say what, say what, say what - what?) (4x) (VERSE 1) I'…
V.Sexion Better keep yo distance, nigga Fool, don't get it twisted, n…
W/H/A/T Try to run Try to run Try to run Smoke is rising Told to…
Wendy Williams [Into: Guerilla Black] This is dedicated to my nigga Easy-E …
X-Press 2 If you want this work, my plug pull up right…
Yannone Poured up with a rock glass Whiskey and some j's up Everybod…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Wham!:
09.Everything She Wants Uh huh huh Oh yeah Work, work Somebody told me "Boy, everyt…
A Different Corner I'd say love was a magical thing I'd say love would…
A Ray Of Sunshine Move it move it, baby Can't you see I'm ready to…
Bad Boy Woo-woo Dear mummy, dear daddy, You had plans for me, I was…
Battlestations You ask too much of me You try my patience Your tongue,…
Blue Every day it seems my smile's a little harder And every…
Careless Whisper Time can never mend The careless whispers of a good friend T…
Careless whisper 1984 I feel so unsure As I take your hand and lead…
Careless Whispers Time can never mend The careless whispers of a good friend T…
Club Tropicana Let me take you to the place Where membership's a smiling…
ClubTropicana Let me take you to the place Where membership's a smiling…
Come On [Chorus] Come on, everybody! Get on, with your party! And do…
Come On! [Chorus] Come on, everybody! Get on, with your party! And…
Credit Card Baby You said that you loved me, And I thought that it…
Enjoy What You Do [Chorus] Wham! bam! I am! a man! Job or no job, You can't te…
Everything She Wants Uh huh huh Oh yeah Work, work Somebody told me "Boy, everyt…
Everything She Wants '97 Oh ha ha Oh yeah Somebody told me, boy Everything she want…
Everything She Wants (Remastered) Ah, ha Oh, yeah (To work) Somebody told me Boy, everything …
Everything She Wants - Remastered 2006 Oh yeah Work Somebody told me "Boy, everything she wants is…
Everything She Wants - Remix Ah ha-ha-ha-ha Oh, yeah oh yeah... (to work work...) Somebod…
Everything You Want Uh huh huh Oh yeah Work, work Somebody told me "Boy, everyt…
Freedom Every day I hear a different story People saying that you're…
go Jitterbug Jitterbug Jitterbug Jitterbug You put the boom bo…
Heartbeat Wham! Another summer Another vacation is over A September mo…
I Call me good Call me bad Call me anything you want to…
If you wera there You're the one that makes my day a dream come…
Im You Man Call me good Call me bad Call me anything you want to…
Jitterbug (Jitterbug) (Jitterbug) (Jitterbug) (Jitterbug) …
Last Christmas Ah, aha Ooh Oh Last Christmas, I gave you my heart But the …
Last Christmas (Pudding Mix) Last Christmas I gave you my heart But the very next…
Last Christmas lyrics Ah, aha Ooh Oh Last Christmas, I gave you my heart But the …
Like A Baby Foreign skies They've blinded me to empty charms I crossed t…
Love Machine [Chorus] I'm just a love machine And I won't work for nobody…
Make Me Up Jitterbug Jitterbug Jitterbug Jitterbug You put the boom bo…
Nothing Looks the Same in the Light I watch you breathe, I cannot sleep, I touch your hair, I…
The Edge of Heaven I would lock you up But I could not bear to…
Wake me Up before you go go Jitterbug Jitterbug Jitterbug Jitterbug You put the boom bo…
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (Remastered) You put the boom-boom into my heart You send my soul…
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Remastered 2006 (Jitterbug) (Jitterbug) (Jitterbug) (Jitterbug) You put the …
Wake Me Up Before You GoGo Jitterbug Jitterbug Jitterbug Jitterbug You put the boom bo…
Wham [Chorus:] Wham! bam! I am! a man! Job or no job, You can't t…
Wham Rap '86 Hey everybody take a look at me, I've got street credibility…
Wham Rap! [Chorus:] Wham! bam! I am! a man! Job or no job, You can't t…
Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do [Chorus] Wham! bam! I am! a man! Job or no job, You can't te…
Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do) Wham! bam! I am! a man! Job or no job, You can't tell…
Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do?) [Chorus] Wham, bam - I am, a man Job or no job,…
Wham! [Chorus:] Wham! bam! I am! a man! Job or no job, You can't t…
Wham! Rap [Chorus:] Wham! bam! I am! a man! Job or no job, You can…
Wham! Rap '86 Hey everybody take a look at me, I've got street credibility…
Wham-Last Christmas Last Christmas, I gave you my heart But the very next…
Wham-wake me up before you go go Jitterbug Jitterbug Jitterbug Jitterbug You put the boom bo…
Where Did You Heart Go I spend my nights down on the wharf In unlit alleyways By…
Where Did You Heart Go? I spend my nights down on the wharf In unlit alleyways By…
Where Did Your Heart Go%3F I spend my nights down on the wharf In unlit alleyways By…
Young Gguns Go For It Hey sucker (What the hell's got into you?) Hey sucker (No…
Young Guns Hey sucker (What the hell's got into you?) Hey sucker (Now t…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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