18 August 1984
Like a “want-away” striker issuing a “come and get me” plea during the football transfer window, releasing a solo single while still in a group was a pretty clear statement of George Michael’s intent. In one way, the pained balladry of ‘Careless Whisper’ wouldn’t have been a good fit with the randy-lads aesthetic of most other Wham! singles. However, it actually fits them neatly as a narrative arc; the problem here isn’t that the randy lad cheated but that he got caught out. “Was what I did so wrong / That you had to leave me alone?” isn’t the strongest of negotiating positions but at least it shows the story ending with justice being served.
‘Careless Whisper’ was instantly iconic; as a video because of its Miami-set melodrama cut with shots of George looking lonely while hugging white rope, and as a record because of its equally melodramatic saxophone line. That cheesy sax really stinks out the record, though, and this innate corniness and blandness will blight many more Wham! and George Michael singles to come. Here it’s a shame because otherwise ‘Careless Whisper’ has lots of positives. It tells a story convincingly. “Guilty feet have got no rhythm” is a fantastic lyric, and there’s another excellent couplet where George shifts the song to its dramatic crisis: “Tonight the music seems so loud / I wish that we could lose this crowd” has the sting of realistic discomfort. I only wish we could lose the saxophonist too.
