Careless Whisper by Wham Classic or Dud?

Holy SHIT, I have been hearing this song my entire life and never knew who it was (I though it was some one-hit smooth jazz throwaway) and EEEUUUGGGHH truly think this is THE WORST song of all fucking time. It is so, so awful.

classic. melody and superb vocal performance are what makes this track so good.

It reminds me of the family holiday in 1984, when it was played on the radio endlessly. There was a drought and we got to visit a village that was at the bottom of a (empty at the time) water reservoir.

Classic, no doubt about that.

I can't tell you how many times people have picked up my 45 of this song, and just started laughing, and like patted me on the shoulder, and said something like, "Oh man, this is too good! Seriously?" Ok, this has actually happened only four times, but that's enough.

I have never seen the video until now...they're boating, not dancing. This makes no sense!

Dud song. But I have great memories of having someone write "I LOVE WHAM!" in permanent marker across my face when I was passed out. Ahh, youthful binge drinking .. classic.
― dave225 (Dave225), Monday, April 11, 2005 6:57 AM (5 years ago)

this song is fucking amazing, easily the best thing George Michael has ever done/been associated with. kinda surprised people hate on it or think appreciating it requires irony...?

xxp most of the non-studio bits of the video had to be reshot the next day because GM didn't like the way his hair looked - which is the reason he wears a baseball cap in the boating scenes.

That is incredible! It was actually a pretty enjoyable video. A lot of dramatic, angry-looking women.

The production is awesome, all the instruments are given plenty of space to work, nothing's overcooked - for example the FM brass stabs sound like part of the record rather than being laid over the top as the sound-de-jour, the muted guitar keeps things ticking over, the sax solo goes on long enough to make it's point without being cheesy, GM's voice works on all the different levels it needs to for the various moods/emotions in the lyrics, the intro puts you right there within a couple of bars, come hear George's tale of woe! The way the song gets you to feel sorry for and sympathetic towards a character who is basically a cheating bastard. The only real mis-step is that the song doesn't really have a proper ending, just kind of drifts off towards the end.

This song is a total classic. His vocals from the "tonight the music seems so loud" bit onwards are just incredible.

Actually I agree with everything in Snoball's post above, the production is just perfect.

Though the Rufus Wainwright and Ben Folds version is probably the best version of it.

― jellybean (jellybean), Sunday, April 10, 2005 10:57 AM (5 years ago)

I don't agree with this being a better version but it is really amazing, the harmonies and the climax give me a little shiver.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kas6akz1jWU