Wham!
Make It Big (1984)
George Michael, Andrew Ridgeley
Released in 1984, 'Careless Whisper' marked George Michael's transition from teen idol to sophisticated solo artist, despite its inclusion on Wham!'s 'Make It Big'. The track's polished production and emotional depth solidified it as a definitive adult contemporary masterpiece and a global chart-topping success.
The song's harmonic identity is defined by a relentless 4-chord loop that utilizes 7th extensions on every chord, which was a hallmark of 1980s sophisti-pop. By utilizing the v7 (Am7) instead of a traditional dominant V7 (A7), the progression stays strictly wi…
George Michael conceived the melody and the iconic saxophone riff while on a bus home from his job as a cinema usher in Watford. He later developed the song with his bandmate Andrew Ridgeley in Michael's bedroom, specifically focusing on the rhythmic structure…
“The 'Alabama version' produced by Jerry Wexler was scrapped by Michael because he felt it lacked the specific pop sensibility he envisioned.”
The song's harmonic identity is defined by a relentless 4-chord loop that utilizes 7th extensions on every chord, which was a hallmark of 1980s sophisti-pop. By utilizing the v7 (Am7) instead of a traditional dominant V7 (A7), the progression stays strictly within the D natural minor (Aeolian) scale. This lacks the 'pull' of functional common-practice harmony, instead creating a circular, hypnotic effect that allows the vocal and saxophone melodies to remain the focus.
George Michael conceived the melody and the iconic saxophone riff while on a bus home from his job as a cinema usher in Watford. He later developed the song with his bandmate Andrew Ridgeley in Michael's bedroom, specifically focusing on the rhythmic structure that would eventually define the track.
Released in 1984, 'Careless Whisper' marked George Michael's transition from teen idol to sophisticated solo artist, despite its inclusion on Wham!'s 'Make It Big'. The track's polished production and emotional depth solidified it as a definitive adult contemporary masterpiece and a global chart-topping success.
Detailed analysis of this section is not yet available for this song.
Genre
Pop
Era
80s
Mood
Melancholic
Tempo
Slow
Key
Minor
Texture
Full Band
Sound
Sax-heavy
Feel
Groovy
385K
Plays
67K
Listeners
100%
Popularity
5:02
Duration
4/4
Time
From the album Make It Big
Harmony The song's harmonic identity is defined by a relentless 4-chord loop that utilizes 7th extensions on every chord, which was a hallmark of 1980s sophisti-pop. By utilizing the v7 (Am7) instead of a traditional dominant V7 (A7), the progression stays strictly within the D natural minor (Aeolian) scale. This lacks the 'pull' of functional common-practice harmony, instead creating a circular, hypnotic effect that allows the vocal and saxophone melodies to remain the focus. Deep Analysis Available Detailed analysis of this section is not yet available for this song. Request Full Analysis
No musician information available for this song yet.
Composition George Michael conceived the melody and the iconic saxophone riff while on a bus home from his job as a cinema usher in Watford. He later developed the song with his bandmate Andrew Ridgeley in Michael's bedroom, specifically focusing on the rhythmic structure that would eventually define the track. Inspiration: The lyrics were inspired by Michael's real-life experience as a teenager when he was dating two different girls at the same time and felt intense guilt about the deception. Recording Studio: Muscle Shoals Sound Studio (Alabama); Sarm West Studios (London) Producer: George Michael The 'Alabama version' produced by Jerry Wexler was scrapped by Michael because he felt it lacked the specific pop sensibility he envisioned. The saxophone riff was achieved by Steve Gregory after Michael asked him to play 'half a beat' behind the note to get a lazier, more emotional feel. While it appeared on the Wham! album 'Make It Big', it was George Michael's first solo single in the UK.
Chord Sheet Chords Used Hide functions Dm7 i7 T Gm7 iv7 P Bbmaj7 VImaj7 T Am7 v7 D Progression by Section Chorus Dm7 i7 T Gm7 iv7 P Bbmaj7 VImaj7 P Am7 v7 D Verse Dm7 i7 T Gm7 iv7 P Bbmaj7 VImaj7 P Am7 v7 D Chord Fingerings Dm7 Standard Gm7 Standard Bbmaj7 Standard Am7 Standard Harmony Analysis The song's harmonic identity is defined by a relentless 4-chord loop that utilizes 7th extensions on every chord, which was a hallmark of 1980s sophisti-pop. By utilizing the v7 (Am7) instead of a traditional dominant V7 (A7), the progression stays strictly within the D natural minor (Aeolian) scale. This lacks the 'pull' of functional common-practice harmony, instead creating a circular, hypnotic effect that allows the vocal and saxophone melodies to remain the focus. Find Tabs & Chords Songsterr Interactive tabs Ultimate Guitar Chords & tabs Cifra Club Chords
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