George Michael - "Careless whisper"

“Careless Whisper” was George Michael’s first solo single, although it was actually co-written with his Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley when they were 16, on a bus (Wham!’s first demo actually contained 40 seconds of “Careless Whisper”). Contrary to popular belief, the song was not based on an actual event in George Michael's high school dating life, George himself admitting that he “knew nothing about romance and certainly nothing about love”. It was a fictitious story, but the song still was a hit.

The song was deemed too 'low-key' for a release by a teenage pop sensation like Wham!, and that’s why George released it on his own. More importantly, by 1984, George was making plans for a post-Wham! career - and “Careless Whisper” had a big role to play in those plans.
It was billed as a George Michael solo single in the UK, although in America it was credited to Wham! featuring George Michael. Michael was being groomed for a solo career and the record company wanted to get his name out. But regardless of the name on the cover, the single was a huge success, taking the top spot on both sides of the Atlantic.

It’s a simple song with just four chords. The track’s main features are the mournful saxophone intro and George’s anguished vocals as he pleads for forgiveness from the lover he’s cheated on.
It was recorded in Paris. The song was arranged and produced by George. He also did the backing vocals. George claims that he has gotten more compliments on his writing of the sax solo at the beginning of the song than on anything else he has ever written.

The irony inherent in thousands of love struck couples smooching to a song about infidelity appears to be lost on most people. Not George though – after all, his “guilty feet have got no rhythm”.

Available on the Wham! album "Make it big"