Why George Michael's Careless Whisper almost didn't get released
Why George Michael's Careless Whisper Almost Didn't Make the Record Few songs have touched hearts as deeply as Careless Whisper. The iconic saxophone intro, the bittersweet melody, and George Michael's unmistakable voice made this track one of the greatest ballads of the 80s. But behind this global hit lies a surprisingly dramatic origin story—full of detours, doubts, and an encounter with a true soul legend. In my video, I take you back to the early 80s, when George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley were still at the beginning of their careers. Careless Whisper had been written long before the release of Wham!'s debut album, "Fantastic"—but it didn't make the cut. Why? The answer is as musical as it is personal. The first major attempt to record the song took George Michael to the USA to meet Jerry Wexler, an icon of soul and R&B production. Wexler had worked with Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and Dusty Springfield—and now he was in the studio with George Michael. I'll tell you what happened there in the video. Dissatisfied, George returned to London. It was only at the legendary Sarm West Studios (formerly Basing Street Studios) that the "miracle" happened—with Steve Gregory on saxophone, captured in a single take that made pop history. In this video, you'll learn why George Michael resisted the first take, how meticulously he refined every detail, and why "Careless Whisper" ultimately became a solo single—and not a typical Wham! song. I'll tell you the whole story, from the first chords on a school bus to the release that captured millions of hearts. "Careless Whisper" appears in many movies and memes; it was simply THE smash hit for George Michael. If you want to know how a song that almost failed to achieve perfection became an immortal ballad, then this video is for you. #carelesswhisper #GeorgeMichael #Wham #80sMusic #musichistory ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 👀 Index 👀 0:00 Start 1:02 The Album 2:32 Personal Details 3:23 The Story of Careless Whisper 7:16 Demo Version 8:48 First Take 11:00 Second Take 12:32 Saxophone 15:22 The Launch of Careless Whisper 16:38 Video Shoot 17:45 Awards 18:33 Cover Versions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ⭐⭐⭐ LINKS ⭐⭐⭐ OFFICIAL GEORGE MICHAEL: / @georgemichael Single version: • George Michael - Careless Whisper (Officia... Maxi version: • george michael - careless whisper (12'' ex... JERRY WEXLER version 1983: • CARELESS WHISPER - JERRY WEXLER VERSION 1983 Live version: • George Michael - Careless Whisper (25 Live... 1981 DEMO version: • George Michael - Careless Whisper (Demo, 1... George Michael & Smokey Robinson: • George Michael, Smokey Robinson - Careless... Julio Iglesias: • Julio Iglesias Careless Whisper Новая волн... Kenny G: • Careless Whisper Seether: • Seether - Careless Whisper (Official Audio) Bananarama: • BANANARAMA - CARELESS WHISPER (Official Vi... Ben Folds: • Ben Folds & Rufus Wainwright - Careless Wh... Train & Kenny G: • Careless Whisper - Train Ft. Kenny G (Lyrics) Gossip: • The Gossip Careless Whisper Cover Postmodern Jukebox: • Careless Whisper - Vintage 1930's Jazz Wha... Sarah Washington: • Sarah Washington - Careless Whisper (Music... Brian McKnight: • Brian Mcknight & Kenny G Careless Whispe... DEADPOOL scene with the song: • Deadpool - Careless Whisper full final sce... Anne Dudley Interview: https://www.violinist.com/blog/laurie... Wiki (English): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Careles... Please support your favorite artists. Thank you! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title song "Teenage Feeling" by Michael Kross. Support him with all your might: www.michaelkross.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ☝️☝️☝️ Note ☝️☝️☝️ If any important details are missing, you now have a unique opportunity to add them in the comments! However, if you're expecting ARTE, you should watch ARTE on TV ;-) Comments containing links or advertising will be deleted. Sources are provided; the links worked on the day of posting but may no longer be checked. I am, of course, happy to receive constructive criticism and support. If you have any vinyl records you'd like to give away, feel free to contact me via Instagram. (instagram.com/musikundstories)