Information about Careless Whisper

"Careless Whisper"
"Careless Whisper" cover
Single by George Michael Wham!
from the album Make It Big
Released	1984
Format	12", 7"
Recorded	1984
Genre	Pop
Length	5:04 6:30 (Album Version)
Label	Columbia Records
Writer(s)	George Michael Andrew Ridgeley
Producer(s)	George Michael
Certification	2x Platinum (RIAA) 3x Platinum (BPI)
Peak chart positions
#1 (Australia, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan, Lebanon, U.A.E, Israel, Jordan, United Kingdom, United States) #2 (Austria, Norway, Sweden) #3 (France, Germany)
George Michael Wham! singles chronology
"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" (1983) "Careless Whisper" (1984) "Freedom" (1984) Alternate covers UK Single Twenty Five track listing "An Easier Affair" (15) (Disc 1) "Careless Whisper" (1) "Last Christmas" (2)

"Careless Whisper"
Single by Bananarama
from the album Exotica
Released	February 2001
Format	12" single, CD single
Recorded	2001
Genre	Pop
Label	M6 Music (France only)
Writer(s)	George Michael Andrew Ridgeley
Producer(s)	Pascal Caubet
Bananarama singles chronology
"Take Me to Your Heart" (1996) "Careless Whisper" (2001) "Freedom" (1984) Alternate covers UK Single Twenty Five track listing "An Easier Affair" (15) (Disc 1) "Careless Whisper" (1) "Last Christmas" (2)

"Careless Whisper" was a worldwide number-one hit song for George Michael in 1984. It was released by Epic Records in the UK, Japan and other countries, and Columbia Records in North America. It features a very distinctive saxophone riff, and has been recorded by a number of artists since its first release. It went on to sell almost six million copies worldwide.

History

The song was first released as a solo George Michael single, while he was part of the pop group Wham!. 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 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".

George Michael was still very much committed to Wham! and was quickly back at number one with the duo with the song "Freedom", before ending the year at the top as part of Band Aid, meaning that he had number one hits in 1984 as part of three different entities - part of a duo, a solo artist and part of a charity ensemble.

Wham! split in 1986, two months after Michael released his second solo single, entitled "A Different Corner", which had again gone to number one in the UK. He went on to have a highly successful, controversial and multi award-winning solo career.

"Careless Whisper" is ranked number one on Billboard magazine's year-end chart for 1985.

In a 2006 poll for a programme Britain's Favourite Break-up Songs, "Careless Whisper" was voted sixth.

Music Video

The Music Video shows about the guilt felt by a man over an affair, and his acknowledgement that his partner was always going to find out. The title is actually from a line in the second verse - "Time can never mend the careless whispers of a good friend."

Credits

• Bass - Deon Estus
• Drums - Trevor Morrell
• Guitar - Hugh Burns
• Keyboards - Chris Cameron
• Percussion - Danny Cummings
• Photography - Tony McGee
• Producer, Arranged By - George Michael
• Written-By - Andrew Ridgeley , George Michael

Music sample

Chart performance

Chart (1984)	Peak position
Sweden	2
Switzerland	1
Norway	2
Netherlands	1
Austria	2
Japan	1
France	3
Australia	1
UK	1
US	1

Live performances

"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 Cover To Cover Tour and Rock In Rio .George Michael would often perform "Careless Whisper" with an extended version of the ending which is apparently his preferred version.

Covers

• The song was later covered by Ben Folds and Rufus Wainwright in several 2004 live performances.
• 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.
• In the sixth season of American Idol, top 24 contestant, Paul Kim, got eliminated after singing this song.
• In the Australian TV show Rockwiz it was done as a duet between Kate Miller Heidke and Paul Dempsey.
• Dave Koz's highly successful 1999 album The Dance features a cover of "Careless Whisper" featuring R&B artist Montell Jordan taking the vocal lead.
• 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 Hideto Takarai aka Hyde (from L'Arc~En~Ciel fame) and the Taiwanese performer Teresa Teng.
• Tamia recorded 2 remakes. The first was for her self-titled debut album. The second, was for the soundtrack to the movie A Night at the Roxbury.

Recording history

• Wham! - Make It Big - (1984) 6:30
• Wham! - The Final - (1986) 5:02
• 2Play (2005)
• Bananarama (2001) - Exotica album, released in 2001
• Brian McKnight (2007)
• Boston Pops Orchestra composed by John Williams
• Columbia Ballroom Orchestra (1994)
• Dave Koz (1999)
• David & the High Spirit (2003)
• Del (2004)
• DJ Irene (2003)
• Farhad Besharati (2006)
• George Michael (1998)
• Gloria Gaynor
• The Gossip (16 May 2007 at the Live Lounge)
• Harlemm Lee (2003)
• Hit Crew (2006)
• James Douglas (2003)
• Jazztown Trio (2001)
• Julian Marsh (1998)
• Julio Iglesias (2006)
• Jordan Knight (2006)
• Katelyn Tarver (2006)
• Kenny G (2004)
• Kymeria (2005)
• Paul Mauriat
• Richard Clayderman (2004) instrumental
• Richard Clayderman & James Last
• Roger Williams
• Roxy Pain (2007)
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (1998)
• Sarah Washington
• Sax Brothers (2003)
• Shayne Ward
• Simion Luca (1998)
• Skip Martin (2006)
• Slinkee Minx (2004) - side A on Closer single
• Tamia (1998)- self-titled debut album, released in 1998.
• Tamia (1998)- A second recording by Tamia was made for the soundtrack for A Night at the Roxbury.
• The Countdown Singers (2004)
• The Northstar Orchestra (2000)
• The Shadows (2006)
• The Twilight Orchestra (2000)
• Thomas Jules (2005)
• Tim Branom (2006)
• Tim Hecker (2003)
• Top 4 (2005)

Album track cover versions

Wham!	Tamia	Tim Hecker	Slinkee Minx	Kenny G
Make It Big (1984)	Tamia (1998)	Radio Amor (2003)	Closer (2004)	''At Last...The Duets Album (2004)

Track listing

_{Subscript text} Tracks:7" Single (Epic/A 4603) 1984

1. Careless Whisper 5:04

2. Careless Whisper (Instrumental) 5:02

Preceded by "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner	Billboard Hot 100 number one single (George Michael version) February 16 1985- March 2 1985	Succeeded by "Can't Fight This Feeling" by REO Speedwagon
Preceded by "When Doves Cry" by Prince	Billboard Hot 100 Number one single of the year 1985	Succeeded by "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne and Friends
Preceded by "Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood	UK number one single (George Michael version) August 12 1984	Succeeded by "I Just Called to Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder
Preceded by "Tina Turner" by What's Love Got To Do With It	ARIA number one single (George Michael version) September 17 1984	Succeeded by "I Just Called to Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder
Preceded by "Like a Virgin" by Madonna	Irish Singles Chart number one single (George Michael version) August 8 1984	Succeeded by "One More Night" by Phil Collins

Trivia

• On GWAR album Hell-o: When the beginning of the song "Ollie North" is played backwards, the actual beginning of the song happens to be a slurred rendition of a part of the bridge to Careless Whisper.
• The song has been used as a title for .
• In the Arabia area the song voted as the best foreign song all time ever in Lebanon.

External

• Watch the music video for "Careless Whisper"
• Careless Whsiper Lyrics

References

• Top 100 on BBC

•  • [ e] Wham!
George Michael | Andrew Ridgeley Deon Estus | Pepsi & Shirlie
Discography
Studio albums: Fantastic | Make It Big | Music from the Edge of Heaven Compilations: The Final | If You Were There (The Best of Wham) Singles: "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)" | "Young Guns (Go For It!)" | "Bad Boys | "Club Tropicana" | "Club Fantastic Megamix" | "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" | "Careless Whisper" | "Freedom" | "Everything She Wants" | "Last Christmas" | "I'm Your Man" | "A Different Corner" | "The Edge of Heaven"

•  • [ e] Bananarama
Sara Dallin | Keren Woodward Siobhan Fahey | Jacquie O'Sullivan
Discography
Studio albums: Deep Sea Skiving | Bananarama | True Confessions | Wow! | Pop Life | Please Yourself | Ultra Violet / I Found Love | Exotica | Drama Compilations: Greatest Hits Collection | Greatest Remixes Collection | Bunch of Hits | Master Series | The Essentials | The Very Best of Bananarama | Venus and Other Hits | | The Twelve Inches of Bananarama | Greatest Hits and More More More Singles: Aie a Mwana | T'ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It) | Really Saying Something | Shy Boy | Cheers Then | He's Got Tact | Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye | Cruel Summer | Robert DeNiro's Waiting | Rough Justice | King of the Jungle | Hot Line to Heaven | The Wild Life | Do Not Disturb | Venus | More Than Physical | A Trick of the Night | Set on You | I Heard a Rumour | Love in the First Degree | I Can't Help It | I Want You Back | The Bananarama Mega-Mix | Love, Truth and Honesty | Nathan Jones | Help! | Cruel Summer '89 | Megarama '89 | Only Your Love | Preacher Man | Long Train Running | Tripping on Your Love | Movin' On | Last Thing on My Mind | More, More, More | I Found Love | Every Shade of Blue | Take Me to Your Heart | Careless Whisper | If | Really Saying Something (Solasso Remix) | Move in My Direction | Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango)
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