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(1981 – 1986)
Wham! (often written WHAM!) was a pop band formed in 1981. They were briefly known in the United States as Wham! UK due to a naming conflict with another band.
George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley met at Bushey Meads School in Watford, England. At first, they performed in a short-lived rock and roll band called The Executive. They then changed their name and signed with Innervision Records. Soon after a legal victory over Innervision, the duo was signed to CBS, Columbia Records in the United States and Canada and Epic Records for the rest of the world.
Further information: Artist development deal
Michael took on the majority of roles and responsibilities within the band— composer, singer, producer, and occasional instrumentalist— but the contribution of Ridgeley as the group’s image specialist and spokesman was crucial to the band’s initial success. Ridgeley convinced a reluctant George that Wham! needed to change their image and sound frequently, from the leather-clad moody singers of “Bad Boys” and “Young Guns (Go For It!)” to the more fashionable pop superstars of “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.”
Still teenagers, they promoted themselves as hedonistic youngsters, proud to live a carefree life without work or commitment. This was reflected in their earliest singles. Such works as “Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do?)” have been seen as sarcasm advocating the other point of view.
The first record to be released by the band was “Wham Rap!”. It was a double-A side with a Social Mix and Anti-social Mix. The record was banned for general release in the UK due to the profanity in the Anti-social Mix.
George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley met at Bushey Meads School in Watford, England. At first, they performed in a short-lived rock and roll band called The Executive. They then changed their name and signed with Innervision Records. Soon after a legal victory over Innervision, the duo was signed to CBS, Columbia Records in the United States and Canada and Epic Records for the rest of the world.
Further information: Artist development deal
Michael took on the majority of roles and responsibilities within the band— composer, singer, producer, and occasional instrumentalist— but the contribution of Ridgeley as the group’s image specialist and spokesman was crucial to the band’s initial success. Ridgeley convinced a reluctant George that Wham! needed to change their image and sound frequently, from the leather-clad moody singers of “Bad Boys” and “Young Guns (Go For It!)” to the more fashionable pop superstars of “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.”
Still teenagers, they promoted themselves as hedonistic youngsters, proud to live a carefree life without work or commitment. This was reflected in their earliest singles. Such works as “Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do?)” have been seen as sarcasm advocating the other point of view.
The first record to be released by the band was “Wham Rap!”. It was a double-A side with a Social Mix and Anti-social Mix. The record was banned for general release in the UK due to the profanity in the Anti-social Mix.
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Top Albums
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The Best of Wham!: If You Were There...
Wham!
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Last Christmas
Wham! Buy- Download Album
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Make It Big
Wham! Buy- Download Album
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The Final
Wham! Buy- Download Album
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Shoutbox
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crazy_nalesnik wrote:
"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" love it <3
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Xylvanya wrote:
If you like ambitious and relaxing music, maybe it´s possible you like XYLVANYA: „Anxious“; „Beach II“ „SA RIERA part I“, "Imperial Crown" „Climbing“ or „Ex-Mannequin“ or „Horizont (III) or "Gewitter-Regen" or "Erinnerungen an meinen Vater" or "Trust (Piano-Version)" or "Norwegen" or "Retrospective view" and many many more.....(all in all 6 hours of music, all songs free download) . Thank you for listening, support or feedback! Peace, Xylvanya
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justnfast wrote:
"last christmas" played everywhere in Britain
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Irenreinmerdok wrote:
time for 'last christmas' ♥ [70]
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worst_astronaut wrote:
time for 'last christmas' ♥ [69]
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gazad-jewerdin wrote:
Every year I listen to Last Christmas at least once. MTV used to play it all the time during christmas when I was alot younger so it brings back sweet memories! No christmas without Wham!
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marilyncarolyn wrote:
time for 'last christmas' ♥ [67] wow these charts LOL
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mocomaii wrote:
time for 'last christmas' ♥ [66]
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Nemoflow wrote:
time for 'last christmas' ♥ [65]
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SebuuuPL wrote:
time for 'last christmas' ♥ [64]
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Akado4ka wrote:
time for 'last christmas' ♥ [63]
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slipknot465 wrote:
time for 'last christmas' ♥ [62]
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Killman66 wrote:
time for 'last christmas' ♥ [61]
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Mateoz555 wrote:
time for 'last christmas' ♥ [60]
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rick_chisholm wrote:
time for 'last christmas' ♥ [59]
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Kilver wrote:
time for 'last christmas' ♥ [58]
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foreverjoyless- wrote:
time for 'last christmas' ❤ [57] pure classic
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saramarisha wrote:
time for 'last christmas' ♥ [56]
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Gahanovagirl wrote:
time for 'last christmas' ♥ [55]
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Laliss wrote:
Last Christmas, absolutely great christamas song and pretty clip :-)
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News
EXCLUSIVE OFFER! George Michael - Faith Limited Edition Collector's Box Set
10 Aug 2010 | from blog.myspace.com/whamlegacy
Wham! fan, you won't want to miss this. George Michael -
FAITH limited edition numbered collectors box set available for
pre-order now! First 2,000 orders receive an exclusive, numbered
…
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EXCLUSIVE OFFER! George Michael - Faith Limited Edition Collector's Box Set
10 Aug 2010 | from blog.myspace.com/whamlegacy -
10 Aug 2010 | from blog.myspace.com/whamlegacy
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Recent Activity
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SisterLA, Kndrydn29 and mikey-wray added Wham! to their libraries. 6 hours ago
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Loreelei tagged Wham! with ‘wat’. yesterday evening
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surasalino, InessaKnopochka, h_l_k829 and 26 other people added Wham! to their libraries. yesterday evening
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Mr_Vaultboy, F1Blogger, blowdandelion and 31 other people added Wham! to their libraries. Sunday morning
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Mr_Vaultboy tagged Wham! with pop and 80s. Sunday morning
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coanta tagged Wham! with dance, new wave, british and 2 other tags. last week
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wegmbar, pisutachio, Creamhorse and 1 other person added Wham! to their libraries. last week
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mthebille, nalia4g, osiou and 17 other people added Wham! to their libraries. last week
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mthebille tagged Wham! with british and pop. last week
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Mark_H wrote about Wham! – The Best Of Wham! in Albums Bought: 2011. December 2011
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