Careless Whisper

"Careless Whisper"
Song

"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 usher 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.In Lebanon the song was voted as the best foreign song of all time.

Recording history

• Wham! - Make It Big - (1984) 6:30
• Wham! - The Final - (1986) 5:02
• 2Play (2005)
• Bananarama (2001) - Exotica album
• Brian McKnight (2007)
• Boston Pops Orchestra composed by John Williams
• Columbia Ballroom Orchestra (1994)
• Dave Koz (1999) - album The Dance features a cover of "Careless Whisper" featuring R&B artist Montell Jordan taking the vocal lead.
• David & the High Spirit (2003)
• Del (2004)
• Delight (2001)
• 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 (1998) and the soundtrack to the film A Night at the Roxbury (1998).
• The Countdown Singers (2004)
• The Northstar Orchestra (2000)
• The Shadows (2006)
• The Twilight Orchestra (2000)
• Thomas Jules (2005)
• Tim Branom (2006)
• Top 4 (2005)

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."

Chart performance

Chart (1984)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	1
Austrian Singles Chart	2
Dutch Top 40 Singles Chart	1
French SNEP Singles Chart	3
Germany Singles Chart	3
Irish Singles Chart	3
Israeli Singles Chart	3
Japanese Singles Chart	1
Jordanian Singles Chart	1
Lebanese Singles Chart	1
Norwegian Singles Chart	2
Swedish Singles Chart	2
Swiss Singles Chart	1
UK Singles Chart	1
United Arab Emirates	1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	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.

Performances By Others

• The song was covered by Shayne Ward in British talent show The X Factor in 2005

• 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.

• The song was later covered by Ben Folds and Rufus Wainwright in several 2004 live performances.

• 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.

• The Barenaked Ladies performed and recorded the song while on their 2007 "Ships and Dip" musical cruise.

Others Involved

• Bass - Deon Estus
• Drums - Trevor Morrell
• Guitar - Hugh Burns
• Keyboards - Chris Cameron
• Percussion - Danny Cummings
• Photography - Tony McGee

External Links

• Wham's "Careless Whisper" music video