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Wham!
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
Wham! was an English pop duo from Bushey, formed in 1981 by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. The two met at school in 1975 and first played in a short-lived ska band, The Executive. They then formed Wham!, a name which, according to Ridgeley, was meant to capture their energy and friendship. The exclamation mark was added by a British design agency. They signed with Innervision Records, and the debut album Fantastic was released in 1983. It was about unemployment and young people's fear of growing up.
Music and breakthrough
The second album, Make It Big, from 1984, reached number one in both England and the United States. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Careless Whisper and Everything She Wants each reached the top of the American Hot 100. Last Christmas from 1984 became a permanent Christmas classic, and the proceeds went to charity. In 1985 the group became the first Western pop group to make a ten-day visit to China, which was seen as a milestone in relations between China and the West.
Influence
The music was influenced by funk and soul. In their early period Wham! presented themselves as bored young men and appealed mainly to a young audience. In 1986 the duo split up, because Michael wanted to make music for a more mature audience. There followed the farewell single The Edge of Heaven, the compilation album The Final and a farewell concert. In the series on youth cultures, Wham! shows how a youth band of the 1980s became a worldwide success.
Listening
Discography
Studio albums
- 1983Fantastic
- 1984Make It Big
- 1986Music From the Edge of Heaven
- 2019Last Christmas: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (soundtrack)
In School of Rock
The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.
- Mixtape 2: Youth Cultures 1950-1980NL Reader