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 bandโ composer, singer, producer, and occasional instrumentalistโ 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 1984โas 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.
Wham! Rap
Wham! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wham! bam!
I am! a man!
Job or no job,
You can't tell me that I'm not.
Do! you!
Enjoy what you do?
If not, just stop!
You got soul...
You got soul...
I said get, get, get on down,
Said get, get, get, on down.
Hey everybody take a look at me,
I've got street credibility,
I may not have a job,
But I have a good time,
With the boys that I meet "down on the line"
I said, I - don't - need - you
So you don't approve,
Well who asked you to?
Hey - jerk - you - work
This boy's got better things to do
Hell,
I ain't never gonna work, get down in the dirt,
I choose, to cruise.
Gonna live my life, sharp as a knife,
I've found my groove and I just can't lose.
A.1. style from head to toe,
Cool cat flash gonna let you know,
I'm a soul boy - I'm a dole boy,
Take pleasure in leisure, I believe in joy!
[Chorus]
Party nights, and neon lights,
We hit the floors, we hit the heights.
Dancing shoes, and pretty girls.
Boys in leather kiss girls in pearls!
Hot-damn! everybody, let's play!
So they promised you a good job - no way!
One, two, three, rap!
C'mon everybody, don't need this crap!
[Chorus]
If you're a pub man
Or a club man
Maybe a jet black guy with a hip hi-fi
A white cool cat with a trilby hat
Maybe leather and studs is where you're at
Make the most of every day
Don't let hard times stand in your way
Give a wham give a bam but don't give a damn
'Cause the benefit gang are gonna pay!
Now reach up high and touch your soul,
The boys from wham! will help you reach that goal.
It's gonna break your mama's heart, (so sad)
It's gonna break your daddy's heart, (too bad)
But you'll throw the dice and take my advice,
Because I know that you're smart.
Can you dig this thing? - yeah!
Are you gonna get down? - yeah!
Say wham! - wham!
Say bam! - bam!
[Chorus]
Do you want to work? - no
Are you gonna have fun? - yeah
Said one, two, three, rap, c'mon everybody,
Don't need this crap!
Enjoy what you do?
Everybody say wham! - wham!
Everybody say wham! bam! - wham! bam!
Enjoy what you do?
(repeat to fade)
The Wham Rap! is a disco-pop song by Wham! released in 1982. The lyrics call for non-conformity and morality in employment. The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of self-worth and self-enjoyment, regardless of jobs or the lack of them: "Wham! bam! I am! a man! Job or no job, You can't tell me that I'm not. Do! you! Enjoy what you do? If not, just stop! Don't stay there and rot!" The song talked about how the singer chooses not to conform to the rigid social norms and expectations, he rejects society's expectations to go for a job, and preferred to live life on his terms.
The song encourages individuals to have fun, celebrate life, and not let hard times stand in their ways. It promotes individuality, self-worth, and non-conformity to social expectations. It, therefore, became popular in the UK and other countries around Europe, as it resonated with young people at that time who were disillusioned with society's rigid expectations, high unemployment, and stagnant economy. Today, the Wham Rap! stands as a classic anthem of the disco-pop era.
Line by Line Meaning
Wham! bam!
Let's get started with a bang!
I am! a man!
I am proud of who I am, regardless of societal norms.
Job or no job, You can't tell me that I'm not.
My worth isn't defined by my employment status.
Do! you! Enjoy what you do? If not, just stop! Don't stay there and rot!
If you aren't happy with your job, it's better to leave and seek happiness elsewhere than to waste away in misery.
You got soul... I said get, get, get on down, Said get, get, get, on down.
Get up and dance! Let the music bring out your spirit!
Hey everybody take a look at me, I've got street credibility, I may not have a job, But I have a good time, With the boys that I meet "down on the line"
I may not have a traditional career, but I still have fun with my friends and am respected in my community.
I said, I - don't - need - you, So you don't approve, Well who asked you to?
I don't care about your opinion of me, I didn't ask for it in the first place.
Hey - jerk - you - work, This boy's got better things to do
Hey, rude person criticizing me for not working - I have more fulfilling activities to occupy my time.
Hell, I ain't never gonna work, get down in the dirt, I choose, to cruise.
I have no interest in menial labor, I prefer to live my life and have fun along the way.
Gonna live my life, sharp as a knife, I've found my groove and I just can't lose.
I have a confident, positive attitude and feel like I'm on the right track.
A.1. style from head to toe, Cool cat flash gonna let you know, I'm a soul boy - I'm a dole boy, Take pleasure in leisure, I believe in joy!
I'm stylish and confident in my identity, whether or not I have a job. I enjoy my leisure time and believe in finding joy in life.
Party nights, and neon lights, We hit the floors, we hit the heights. Dancing shoes, and pretty girls. Boys in leather kiss girls in pearls! Hot-damn! everybody, let's play! So they promised you a good job - no way!
We enjoy lively parties, dancing, and romance. We're not interested in dead-end jobs promised to us by society.
One, two, three, rap! C'mon, everybody, don't need this crap!
Let's rap and express our disdain for societal pressure and obligation.
If you're a pub man Or a club man Maybe a jet black guy with a hip hi-fi A white cool cat with a trilby hat Maybe leather and studs is where you're at
Whatever your subculture or style is, embrace it and own it. There's no right or wrong way to exist.
Make the most of every day Don't let hard times stand in your way Give a wham give a bam but don't give a damn 'Cause the benefit gang are gonna pay!
Seize every day and don't let difficulties defeat you. Live your best life and don't let anyone else drag you down.
Now reach up high and touch your soul, The boys from wham! will help you reach that goal.
Connect with your spiritual side, and we'll help you through our music - we're in this together.
It's gonna break your mama's heart, (so sad) It's gonna break your daddy's heart, (too bad) But you'll throw the dice and take my advice, Because I know that you're smart.
It might disappoint your parents that you don't follow the traditional path, but you should take a chance and live your own life. Trust us, you're capable and intelligent enough to succeed.
Can you dig this thing? - yeah! Are you gonna get down? - yeah! Say wham! - wham! Say bam! - bam!
Are you enjoying the groove? Are you going to join us in dancing? Say our name and get on board with our philosophy!
Do you want to work? - no Are you gonna have fun? - yeah Said one, two, three, rap, c'mon everybody, Don't need this crap! Enjoy what you do? Everybody say wham! - wham! Everybody say wham! bam! - wham! bam! Enjoy what you do?
Are you really interested in laboring away your life without joy? I didn't think so - let's rap and have a good time. Enjoy what you do and join us in living life to the fullest.
Lyrics ยฉ Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL, GEORGE / RIDGELEY, ANDREW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-rr9bl5de7z
I don't care what people say... George may have been the lead singer, but the friendship and goofiness of George AND Andrew made wham!! I love both of them, they are both the main stars of wham!! (Not just George) This is one of my fave music videos!! Shows the fun in both of them!! โค
@carenthusiasts4119
andrew literally made wham of course he's huge
@Tawadeb
Agree
@AndriaaLeoLove
Yes but George Michael was a super talent. I love Andrewโs loyalty though.
@aaaaaaaaaaaaaa4151
Andrew was a passenger........ zero output from him since Wham......
@temp-x8518
@@aaaaaaaaaaaaaa4151 he participated in most of songwriting with geroge. andrew was the one who got George of out his comfort zone and to express his talents even more. without the support and loyalty from andrew wham wouldnt be here today.
@michaelmillea8126
Wham documentary brought me here . Never realized how great of a friend Andrew was to George Michael
@blinksstayfresh2524
The best of friends
@NovaPowers
H&M did something well. We miss you George!
And I keep that from this song "Do you, enjoy what you do? If not, just stop - don't stay there and rot"
@909reject
Ikr! I'm so glad h&m introduced me to this song