A Second Look at Wham!
4
By RAL4000
It's timely to listen and enjoy this slice of 80s pop songs after the passing of George Michael who was arguably one of the biggest male acts of the 80s up there with Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen and Prince. This collection of Wham! showcases Michael's exceptional hooks, arrangements and vocals, resulting in catchy, infectious tunes. Michael's lyrics among these Wham! songs often focus on romantic yearning, loss, infidelity and anxiety. Even "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" has a undercurrent of melancholy despite the brassy horns and sunny chorus. After several listens to Wham! early sing-rap hits, their sound echoes in Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' recent smash "Uptown Funk." It's hard to make a case that Wham! was influential but their output portends Michael's inevitable superstardom and is worth repeat listening.
