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 bandβ composer, singer, producer, and occasional instrumentalistβ 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 1984βas 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 '86
Wham! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 don't need you
So you don't approve,
Hey, jerk you work
This guy'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
I'm 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]
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!
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!
See'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)
Just throw the dice and take
a slice
And celebrate life, and celebrate strife
"Wham Rap '86" by Wham! is a catchy song that embodies the spirit of the 80s. The first verse introduces the singer as someone who may not have a job but enjoys life with the boys he meets "down on the line". The verse also speaks about the singer's disregard for societyβs expectations and their need for approval. It declares that he's not going to work and get down in the dirt because he chooses to cruise and live his life sharp as a knife, signifying the singer's unique sense of style.
The chorus is the most iconic part of the song, with the word "Wham!" being shouted twice, followed by "Bam!" The chorus expresses the idea of living life to the fullest and enjoying what you do. The second verse emphasizes party nights and neon lights, with dancing shoes and pretty girls. The song takes on a more rebellious tone as it declares to not let hard times stand in your way and that the Benefit Gang are going to pay, signifying the government welfare system.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey everybody take a look at me,
Listen up and pay attention to who I am and what I'm about.
I've got street credibility,
I'm someone you can trust and rely on in my neighborhood.
I may not have a job,
I may be unemployed, but that doesn't mean I'm not happy.
But I have a good time,
I enjoy life and live it to the fullest, regardless of my job status.
With the boys that I meet "down on the line"
I hang out with my friends who also don't have jobs and we make the most of our time together.
I don't need you,
I don't rely on your approval to live my life the way I want it.
So you don't approve,
Even if you disapprove, it doesn't matter to me.
Well, who asked you to?
I didn't ask for your input or opinion on my life choices.
Hey, jerk you work
I'm not interested in working like you do, and that's okay.
This guy's got better things to do
I have other activities and passions that bring me joy instead of just working.
Hell
I'm certain about my choices and will stick to them even if others disagree.
I ain't never gonna work, get down in the dirt
I refuse to do the hard and dirty work that many jobs require.
I choose, to cruise
I choose to enjoy my life at my own pace, without the pressure to work.
Gonna live my life, sharp as a knife
I'm going to live my life with precision and purpose, despite not having a job.
I've found my groove and I just can't lose
I've found what truly makes me happy and I won't let anyone take that away from me.
I'm style from head to toe
I have my own sense of style that reflects who I am as a person.
Cool cat flash gonna let you know
I'm confident in my appearance and will show it off to the world.
I'm a soul boy, I'm a dole boy,
I'm proud of being someone who enjoys soul music and is receiving government benefits.
Take pleasure in leisure, I believe in joy!
I find pleasure in my free time and believe in living a joyful life.
[Chorus]
A refrain expressing confidence and independence, rejecting anyone who tries to tell them how to live their life.
Party nights, and neon lights
I enjoy going out and having fun, being surrounded by bright lights and good company.
We hit the floors, we hit the heights
I enjoy dancing and going out to clubs and parties where I can be free and express myself.
Dancing shoes, and pretty girls
I enjoy dancing with beautiful women and often put on my best shoes for the occasion.
Boys in leather kiss girls in pearls!
Couples of different styles and backgrounds come together and enjoy each other's company.
Hot, damn! everybody, let's play!
I'm excited and ready to have a good time, encouraging others to join me.
So they promised you a good job, no way!
I'm skeptical of the promise of good jobs and choose to live my life without relying on them.
One, two, three, rap!
Let's get to the music and forget about the worries of the world.
See'mon everybody, don't need this crap!
I encourage everyone to join together and forget about the pressures of society telling us we need a job to be happy.
[Chorus]
A reaffirmation of the chorus, rejecting societal norms that demand a job to be happy.
If you're a pub man
If you're the kind of person who enjoys hanging out at local pubs,
Or a club man
Or the kind of person who enjoys going out to clubs,
Maybe a jet black guy with a hip hi-fi
Maybe you're someone who loves black music and has a cool sound system at home.
A white cool cat with a trilby hat
Or maybe you're a white person with a sense of style and a trilby hat.
Maybe leather and studs is where you're at
Or maybe you're into leather and studs and that's the style you love and embrace.
Make the most of every day
No matter what style or preferences you have, make the most of every day and live it to the fullest.
Don't let hard times stand in your way
Even when times are tough, don't let them stop you from enjoying life.
Give a wham give a bam but don't give a damn
Give it your all and enjoy life, but don't care about those who try to bring you down.
'cause the benefit gang are gonna pay!
And don't worry about money because the government benefits will cover it.
Now reach up high and touch your soul
Look deep inside yourself and find what makes you truly happy and fulfilled.
The boys from wham! will help you reach that goal
I, and the boys I hang out with, will encourage and support you in finding your own happiness.
It's gonna break your mama's heart (so sad)
Going against societal norms and not having a job may upset your parents' expectations.
It's gonna break your daddy's heart (too bad)
Even if it's difficult for them to accept, you should still pursue your own happiness.
Just throw the dice and take
Take a chance and go for what you truly want in life, even if it's not a conventional path.
Lyrics Β© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW RIDGELEY, ANDREW J. RIDGELEY, GEORGE MICHAEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Landau
Summer 1986 I jammed to this on my Sony Walkman over and over and over again. Best. Summer. Ever.
Captain Knapton
Hell yeah ! I was 7 turning 8 and my mom gave me this tape as an early present and we played this album and tears for fears all night....it was so fun....
Leah
Wish I was alive when Walkmanβs were the thing, not cell phones ππ
J
I was just starting high school. I had the Walkman and played this over and over....until I discovered long hair and Metallica.
cmmolthr
Walkman....the greatest thing ever at the time. Everyone seemed to have one back in the day!
Yakir Sabag
@Leah itβs not matter in what year you ware born
Iβm 18 years old and I using Walkman over a year, itβs depending on you, if you want to use Walkman just use it
Iβm using Sonyβs format(MiniDisc)
I have this format and I spend the time using it every time I have
I have more then 7 Walkmans and one deck for this format
Just use it, in some point the smartphone wonβt be part of your life as it now and after using Walkman
ααα
George Michael's voice, face, talent, and (above all) humanity were gifts.πππ
Julia
What a song! I love both versions, just incredible! Wham! Bam!π
Yenney Rossi
Woow!! Magnifico rap , brano ed interpretazione β¦ Grazie infinite cari Wham! ,per averlo condiviso β Complimenti e saluti!! β₯
mrdannyjoblack
First time I had that mix was on a cassette, after cassettes went extent I've been looking for it for the last 20 years! Thanks mate! Used to drive my car with the volume high up at 2:39-3:14