Wham! - Careless Whisper | The Story Behind The Song | Top 2000 a gogo
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- Musician and songwriter Andrew Ridgeley from Wham! tells the story of 'Careless Whisper' and why it was released as a solo single for George Michael. An interview from 2019.
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Fair play to Andrew, stuck by George and never sold out, seems like a nice guy.
A true friend
True. Love how they remained friends their whole lifes. I barely manage to stay in touch with my old friends from school 😁
He signed an NDA
NDA ?
@@ElvarMasson non disclosure agreement is what a NDA is. i'm not verifying he did though.
You can't say enough about Andrew, he just comes across as being extremely genuine. He gives an outstanding interview. It comes from the heart.
100%. Andrew was the most amazing kind of friend we all dreamed of having. He was totally selfless and with no ego, put his friend Yog ahead of himself always.
If it wasn't for Andrew, George Michael wouldn't have been.
Amazing trajectory for both Andrew and Yog. It was a match made in heaven and pure fate. These two were destined to meet up and create the magic they did.
I am so glad I grew up in that era when Wham hit the music scene. I still remember clearly when I first heard Wham Rap, Club Tropicana and Young Guns and thought, Wow !, these guys are awesome.
It wasn't until they released Make it Big, is when It really hit home. That album was HUGE !
The 80s were the best years of my life. We'll sadly never see an Era like that ever again. The memories keep my soul happy.
@tonymontana897
💯 echoe your sentiments! What a selfless articulate friend! What an era the 80's were! Living here in the US, didn't notice wham until Wake me up before you go,go! Ahh, my 20's, magical time!
"Careless Whisper" is one of the great songs of the 80s. the saxophone really makes this song.
Just like Baker Street.
OF ALL TIME!
I got a playlist of great songs with famous Sax parts in them. You belong to the night, we don't need another hero, etc
i was born in 1987, but my mother had a cd of wham when i was about 10 years old i had already heard this song 200 times but i also started to really like it
and now i'm 34 and when i hear this song i go all the way back in time and i get a very nice feeling
@@seanriopel3132 “Will you” by female singer whose name I cannot recollect right now. ..
Careless Whisper is an absolute masterpiece. Everything about this song - the video, the words, the rhythm, the look - it just had it all.
My fav song in the whole world
Careless Whisper is a timeless masterpiece. One of my favorites. Very lovely of Andrew to let George record this as his own. RIP George Michael
Have you heard the original ?
Andrew owns all the royalties from careless whisper, Yog signed his share from this song to Andy
They wrote this at 17-18 years old. Brilliant.
Careless whisper is a master piece
Talent...Talent.....Talent....
We used to think that Andrew was lucky to be there, that George was the genius. There was even a joke in the 80s regarding this song: what is the difference between a George Michael solo and a Wham song? In a George Michael solo you can't hear Andrew sitting around in the background. But now I see that Andrew too contributed a lot to the songs.
Yeah, it's like Hall and Oates. The singer naturally gets all the attention, and that's the way it is. But the second guy wouldn't be there if he didn't contribute, the record company and management would get rid of him in a second if he wasn't a crucial part of a successful, money-making act.
@@JoshMaxPower Actually Andrew was George's best friend
@@JoshMaxPower except John Oates wrote Maneater and out of touch. Both number ones
I always loved Andrew!
@@cristobaldellacqua1095 And he as a good friend did what was supposed to...I also think that if George had been closer to him towards the end, he probably wouldn't have gotten into drugs and alchool for so long that ultimately led to the negative spiral that made his death...
Glad Andy had a major hand in writing the song. George was able to turn it into a massive hit with his great producing and arranging skills and the lead vocal.
It's insane that this song was written by teenagers (at the time).
You stole my comment! Ok, you posted it first but that was exactly what I was going to say.
@@toddblanks I agree. That is a rare things these days. I basically quit listening to the radio around 2014/15. There are still some good music but it is much harder to find. I've been going back discovering old stuff I missed the first go around!
There was a whole team of music professionals behind them...
@@closetcleaner huh? No there wasn’t.
Lush Life by Billy Strayhorn...I believe was from his 17th year...!
Very cool interview, thank you! RIP, George Michael
@Julia - 𝙾𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝙼𝚢 PROFILE Andrew was not gay, okay?
Very cool interview, thank you! RIP, George Michael
RIP George. Such a brilliant artist. His voice is timeless. He is missed. I'm so glad I got to see him before he passed.
When I was a kid I never understood the song. Now that I'm older it's awesome. A true masterpiece by the late great George Michael.
I was lucky enough to be a young teen the time this song came out and was a hit - this is a perfect song for teenagers. It was for us, for sure. Now, (what feels like) a lifetime later maybe no other song brings me back to that mindset and emotional state so rapidly, so readily and so violently than this one.
Damn.... We had some great music didn't we??! I was 14 when this was out.... and it was a great song that stood out. Which was *really* saying something cus at the time there was hit after hit after hit!
I had just turned 16 when this came out. Wham, amongst other New Romantic bands , were the soundtrack of my youth.
Wham were fantastic. And George Michael was
a genius . And a pretty boy. And luckily at that time, I closely resembled him.
I miss the 80’s, like you wouldn’t believe.
No smart phones, no social media, no internet.
I miss it 😢
i was -1 years old when this song came out. I came dancing out of the whomb
Me too
I was 13 when I first seen wham and listened to wham all through my teens such great memories
So sad George Michael passed
I miss the 80’s also ☹️
While George Michael was hands down my teenage obsession, Andrew Ridgely seems like a well balanced, humble man who weathered success very well.
One of the greatest songs of all time in my opinion
I agree. To think this was written at the age of 17 is mind boggling.
Can we go back to 1984 ? It was a good time to be alive, miss them days of good music.
Carless Whisper, a true anthem of the 80s....wich was the BEST BEST decade to be living.....it was all pure adventure....never forget....
@The Great Pretender The Beatles perhaps????
'Careless Whsiper' is a timeless classic. I think it is still played in heavy rotation around the world, even in many non-English speaking countries. That is the power of music and especially great songs. Andrew is right.... in later years, George felt disconnected with this song since he wrote from a very non-personal and juvenile perspective but what a song it is. This music will never die.
A classic.It's a pop standard.
When I hear George sing I am back in the 80's again.
I always thought George alone wrote this song, I'm sure in an interview he said it was written during a bus ride when he was still at school and I recall he made no mention of Andrew having to do with it. I understand Andrew now receives generous royalties from this song, but fair play, without Andrew's encouragement, George would never have been the superstar he became.
He wrote the lyrics but Andrew wrote the music, is what I understood from the interview. However, as a group, it is written by both.
@@marianclough8577 They both wrote it but George wrote the saxophone and the melody and yes he was on a bus he said him self with out Andrew he would have been a lawyer or something like that,Andrew took a lot of stick but a lot of people don't realise with out him there would be no George ,Andrew saw the potential in George early on and pushed him to start the band I don't know if you are a fan of George but I just adore him so thank you Andrew for George
Apparently the saxophone lyrics came from an idea when George was on a bus trip. It was when he received his change in one of those automated machines on buses at the time.
@@marianclough8577 Andrew wrote a chord progression. George wrote the rest of the song and composed it as well. I would say 98% George and the cord progression was Andrew. Not to take anything away from Andrew because he was such an Intercal part if not a more important part of Wham!, Wham! was his vision it was his styling it was his concept. George knew that without Andrew there would have been no Wham!. George himself said this several times in interviews. He was super grateful for that friendship he had with Andrew.
Andrew has aged like fine wine. Still handsome.
Incredible talent of you two. RESPECT and ADORE. Thank you Mr Andrew Ridgeley and Mr George Michael (RIP)
Careless Whisper's sax-solo is just engraved onto my bones. Its so hauntingly beutiful that it gives me goosebumps every.every. time i listen too it.
Took 11 tries to get the right sax player.
This man has such dignity and presence. Nice job
I love how Andrew expresses the Wham essence and how George felt at the end about Careless Whisper. Fantastic !
Andrew seems like the most selfless friend ever
Yes, I agree. But they both said they were like brothers, and that is the kind of thing that brothers - siblings in general - do for each other - if they get along, of course. I would have done it for my brother, bir not for my sister, though! We NEVER got on!
So Andrew did make some musical contribution to the duo. Andrew probably had influence in shaping other Wham songs, but doesn't get the recognition. Andrew doesn't seem to care these days of his lack of notoriety, having retired a multi-millionaire in his early twenties, and has never looked back. Looks like an upstanding guy overall. Definitely has retained the Wham sense of style of dress. Good for him.
In his book he says that the things people said - and still say about him not contributing to the band don't bother him. His family and friends know the truth and that's all that matters to him. It's a good way to be.
Tried a solo career but he was wank so had to retire you mean. Wank
He did contribute way less than George Michael musically. At first, they weren't quite sure about who would be the lead singer. It became GM. Then, he got stripped of his song writing and GM did it. When Wake me up before you go go, which was written by GM, became a hit, and the Jerry Wrexler version of Careless Whisper didn't sound good and way too old for that time, GM began to produce the songs himself. So Andrew became somekind of a background guitar player (and not even a great one). His greatest contribution was the fact he was a mental support for GM. GM was shy, introverted, lacked confidence, Andrew made him step out of his shadow.
Hold on !!! Andrew co-wrote Careless whispers , one of the most beautiful song of all time !!! Who said that Andrew was just surfing the Wham wave ???? Andrew was definitely essential to George success 👍👍👍
GREAT STORY. ONE OF THE GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME AND TO ME THE NUMBER ONE SONG OF 1985.
*1984 . The number one song from 1985 would be Take on Me by A-ha
Everything was great about this song, lyrics, music, vocal, video. Glad I grew up in the 80s!
Wham! is a good band for the 80s im a 00s kid that grew up with 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s music and this song just stood out to me outside of all the other wham! songs. if it wasnt for this song i would have never started song writing. George will forever be missed. but the fact that his friend stood by his side even after Wham! broke up tells me that these guys were like really close.
This song was out in the summer of 84. Great times.
Actually Winter 1984. Remember Friday Night Videos ?
@@philippeigoa7765 the song was released in July 84. Great summer. I remember it well.
I was in second grade. Imho, 80's music was the coolest (whether you like New Wave, Pop, Classic Rock, R&B, Metal, Rock, or Funk).
@@philippeigoa7765 Wikipedia lists 24th of July 1984 as release date
Sophomore year of college. Had just broken up with a girl I loved and couldn’t have. This song just spoke to the pain from the breakup but inspired me to get up and move on. Thanks Andrew for this song at the right time of life.
I was a senior in HS when this song came out and I always thought it was an extremely mature and brilliant composition. Well beyond their years both musically and thematically. As far as George Michael's legacy, I really think he is most known for this song and maybe "Faith".
I’m afraid Faith has mostly disappeared into obscurity. But that may depend on where you live.
You forgot to mention his probably most played and well-known song: Last Christmas.
Yes, it’s a Wham! song, but everybody probably thinks of it as George Michael song regardless.
It's definitely great. In my opinion, his best composition is Praying for Time. In fact, that song is one of the best of at least the first half of the 90s.
This song helped define the 80s and an entire generation of young people. Just magical brilliance and serendipity. Isn’t life wonderful?!
I was very lucky to born in 1971 and experience great music when at school..
Until this video, I did not know this song was released as a George Michael vehicle (RIP, what a talent). I have a copy of the 1984 vinyl Wham! Make It Big album. I just checked and Careless Whisper is the last song on side B. Fantastic album that brings back memories of my youth. I was just looking at it while listening to it the other day and wondering whatever happened to Mr. Ridgeley. Glad to see he appears well.
I think it was also released as a bèta version (Jerry Wrexler mix) in the UK first, but George Michael wasn't content with it and reproduced it.
Thank you, Andrew for being so honest and seriously finally letting us know what we always figured.
Wow what a cool story! How the MOST recognisable sax line in the world was written. Beautiful song, absolute classic. RIP George, what a talent :-(
Absolutely and if not for the sax line in this song… I dare to say that many other sex lines in other songs of the 80s may have not been included or written. Richard Marx comes to mind. Though, if you talk to Richard today… He hates the fact that there is sax in his songs. Which I will never understand. Because if not for those sax parts, his songs may have not have been as popular. As a songwriter myself, I always tell people who ask… It can be the simplest little musical part that takes a good song and makes it great. Most of the time, those little musical parts are happy little accidents that came out of nowhere when you were sitting, trying to write the song and without them, you wonder if this song would’ve been as good.
So I think the popularity of adding sax to pop songs, kind of culminated in the general era, with this song, being the launch point of, including sax in many others. I think of Duran Duran Rio, and also of INXS and never tear us apart. Two more great sax parts in pop songs.
RIP George.
You have no idea how much I miss you.
Lol...I was never a Wham fan being into bands like Bauhaus, The Cure and The Smiths at the time. But Andrew always comes over really well in his interviews and no doubt appreciates one of the most important things in life and that's friendship. Something that is far more important than fame and materialism when it comes to being happy, but sadly something that many people realise too late in life.
His friendship with George always comes over as something very special in his life and it was great that it never waned.
Just sad that he lost his dear friend so early.
+100 for The Cure :D
A brilliant, timeless classic that still moves me.
*For 17 and 18 year old boys, I think this song is quite emotionally intelligent.*
Thanks for the great eighties memory!
Andrew is so lovely. He so obviously loved George and George so obviously loved him. The often said they were brothers.
Beautiful friendship!
"Guilty feet have got no rhythm" is one of the great lyrics of all time.
Dude looks incredibly distinguished now, like royalty.
I always felt that chord progression is quite different to most other George Michael songs. Now it makes sense why
What is the chord progression
George ‘s best friend.....you know what they say, “ If you have one or two best friends....in life, you are beyond fortunate.” Andrew could not help George at the end, I think he knew that deep down...he could not rescue George from his demons....It was the price George paid for being George Michael. I wish Andrew could have been with George at the end....it would not of changed George’s destiny....but all his fans heart ❤️ would not of broken so badly, knowing Andrew was there with him....unfortunately, it would of been incredibly painful 😥 for Andrew though.....
Maryann Kearns the demon George had that nobody could save him from was Pneumonia which led to his heart disease and took him from us George and Andrew remained close as was David and Shirlie to George plus his family he died of Natural Causes the Pneumonia ultimately contributed it just took years to do it I knew that as soon as I heard the news
@@aprilgosa5779 I would like to think the same as you ...
Maybe it is a bit similar to the relation of Elton John and Bernie Taupin...
Andrew said when asked if he tried to help George when he was going through it with drugs that "there was no helping George." He said that there were some parts of George's life that was off limits to everyone even his family and he wouldn't listen to them. It's just so sad that the strain of keeping up his public image was such a burden to him. He and Andrew saw each other often, George frequently flew down in his helicopter to stay with Andrew and Keren in Cornwall.
Not surprising he didn't like it after a while. It felt juvenile to him. To us, it was pure beauty. Still is.
I believe he didn’t like the Wexler version. He liked the version he himself made after which is completely understandable
Careless whisper is the greatest song of all times!!A true masterpiece!!!
I love Andrew Ridgeley. He brought fun, mischeviousness, confidence and the cool trendy factor to Wham. But most of all, HE'S A TRUE FRIEND THAT WE ALL WANT. LOYAL AND GENUINE TO THE VERY END.
So many memories! I miss those days and those feelings but so thankful I had them.
It’s just an iconic song, great musciscianship and melody. I fully understand Andrew is very proud of the song created with his best friend. Will always be Fantastic! 👍👍
I don’t think he understands how interesting these anecdotes are to the rest of us. Would love to hear more from him. 🙂
What a class act that Andrew..
One of the greatest songs of the 80s. Timeless classic.
Wham was a good time of their music. Im glad that I grew up listening to there music.
Andrew is such an English gentleman of a bygone era. I miss it. But try to live it every day.
Can’t get enough of their back stories - It is like WHAM! When, you see that these were kids, at the time ahead of their time
Ahead of time...really....to these or coming times? It all went backwarts..todays teenagers are far far from able to come up with things like this... So genius yes...beautiful creative...yes..but not ahead of time...
Andrew we love to hear more of that time, i grew up with Wham's beautiful songs and girls had crush on you and George both. Two handsome talented guys. I remember my friends say we love Andy. Thank you for the memories.
Interesting. I think it's a very mature and complex track with many layers of depth. I suprised it was written by people so young.
This song is embedded in my heart forever.....❤
omg, i was a toddler back then....song does not remind me of slow dances in the disco or bar, or together on the couch with my girlfriend; it reminds me of me playing with matchbox cars while mom preparing dinner with the radio in the background. Or sitting in the back of the car on the toddler carchair while this song is played :-)
I was expecting my first baby when the song came out, it was such a happy time and Careless Whisper and Wham! always bring those lovely feelings back. Thank you so much Andrew and George xxxxx
The awful British Tabloids tried to cause a rift between them. But Andrew might be the most loyal friend of a music brfeakup in the history of music. Never heard him say one negative word towards George as a person. Andrew could have rightly been so bitter, but instead was a good friend to the end. And history judges him so well for it.
Did they write the lyrics at 17 too? Bc although he said it's not deep(which isn't exactly true), writing a song that is that timeless and successful most certainly is. Very impressive
GM wrote it at 17 year!!!! They are a RUclips video about that!!!
Actually as Andrew said here it was based off of George's own experience so it's very personal thus not surprising he would be able to go deep with it. George had a long time childhood crush on a girl and being rather chubby and not so attractive as a kid she hadn't noticed him. Then by the time he was sixteen he had suddenly transformed into the heartthrob the world would come to know just a few short years later. He had also begun making music and performing with Andrew and it was at one performance that she finally noticed him. He was delighted of course so he couldn't resist taking his shot...even though he already had a steady girlfriend. He felt tremendously guilty at being a two timer and it weighed on his conscience greatly. It appears he needed to release some of that heavy burden of his guilt in his music...thus his inspiration for the song was born. His overwhelming guilt and remorse that George lived and felt that he expresses is why the song's lyrics combined with the romantic yet with a undercurrent of melancholy of the music is so powerful.
You can hear the first demo version on youtube. Not the Jerry Wrexler version, but the one they recorded at home when they were 17. It has slightly other lyrics.
I have a little history with these guys back in the day!! 😊 also met my husband to this song & had our first dance….. brings back lovely memories 🥰
I'll always have such a crush on Andrew .
He's SOOO gorgeous isn't he?! I loved him back in the Wham! days and still love him now!!! He's still so good looking and has still got those sexy eyes!
Love these behind the scenes videos.
One of best sax intros along with baker street.
I have frantically tried to displace Careless whisper as my number 1 all time song.. Especially being an heartbreaking regretful song... But I don't think I can.. This is more than magic. It's almost supernatural and I just can't explain it.. Even the outro leaves me still in a frenzy
The song still has legs. It works because its not complex, you can anticipate rather than predict where it is going. Great interview.
its a wonderful song, touching, very passionate.....cant imagine why he would grow to dislike it?
Timeless. If people's taste hadn't become so bad, it would be a number #1 song if released today. Everything about it is classy and classic.
Andrew Ridgeley, if you haven't already done so, you should put your book on audio. You have a nice soothing voice. That could be your next career.
Andrews book, when purchased through Amazon can be heard on Amazon audio.
Masterpiece. One of the greatest songs of the 80's.
Andrew is so well spoken. Glad he came up with the chord progression.
He wrote the lyrics to Wham rap. And Club Tropicana.
@@Tawadeb But 99% came from George so even he totally understand he had to let him go. One of the most amicable break ups.
November 2022....This documentary is like a Time Machine and a Masterpiece indeed
A Timeless Masterpiece.
Man, how I miss the early 80s🥲
Such amazing talent....such an amazing time!
I heard this in a store, so I had to see it again. Love this tune.
I never tire of this song. It’s an all time classic and in the top 3 of the 1980s, in my opinion. God bless George Michael
Thank you Andrew, a true friend.
Look back at the beginning of Wham. The image of the 2 guys in shorts & vests ..then transformed to Leather jackets & biker boots then to sharp suits and £500 haircuts ..4 years of a transformation from shy teens who look out of place to pop star royalty before waving goodbye to 80,000 fans at Wembley.
Fun Fact...the leather BSA biker jacket George wore on Top Of The Pops for Edge of Heaven is the exact same jacket in the Faith vid..with a Pearl string necklace added on the shoulder).
I always enjoy hearing interviews from Andrew Ridgeley. This is not an exception of any kind.
Is there anyone out there that has permitted their adoration of "Careless Whisper" to be influenced by the original Deadpool?
This song was a huge hit. No one can do this like Wham.
Release this full interview....
We did do another segment from this interview:
ruclips.net/video/Gxyt8y_JM0w/видео.html
My first crush George Michael 🥰🥰so sad when he passed away
The most beautiful friend ship George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley Haw whe miiiiiiiiiiiss you George Michael 💜🤱💜💜💜🤱💜💜💜💜💜💜💜🤱💜💜
Hand down the greatest sax line in pop music history
Three words: Junior Walker "Urgent".
Two words: "Baker Street". (Extra points here because it also has a searing guitar solo.)
Three Words: Clarence Clemons "Jungleland"
Baker Street, hands down.
Hazel O'connor
Thank you for the music Andrew. Book was a good read too. Would of liked to know a bit more about what you truly did after Wham though.
@Rose 25 y.o - check my vidéó Believe Andrew came up with the original concept/idea which George made into the song we know. Could be wrong though.
I love Wham
The genius of the music .I love George .thank you for the video .
I was 11 when it came out and it's one of the 80s radio music highlights here in Davao City. I love the sonic sound of it, very immersive.
I love and miss you every day George Michael. 😢
Ridgely has made a lot of money half composing this over the years.
I heard a really really really old interview with Andrew, where he discussed that the royalty split was not even, and that this adjustment resolved tension that had been having up to that moment.
True, but I won't begrudge him for that. George was 90% of the reason for the success of Wham! commercially but Andrew still played his part in getting them to that point in the first place.
George more than likely did not want to start out as a solo. He probably had a lot of inhibitions and insecurities (which still came along anyway) and did not want to start out alone. I know I can relate to that. He and Andrew definitely had a lot going for them when the music they made together emerged. It gave them both something they needed
@@Menstral Tension with George?
George was shy and an introvert, in his teens. Andrew was the complete opposite. George was more of the creative force in Wham!, but Andrew was the engine that drove Wham! and helped George to shine.
We miss you G.M!!😢
George Michael was a very handsome young man.
Very
Possibly the best ballad of the 80s co-written by a musical genius
One is the greatest 80s songs.