GEORGE Michael's single Careless Whisper remains one of the greatest love songs of all times.
But when did the late star write the hit song and what was it about? Here's everything you need to know.
When did George Michael write Careless Whisper?
George Michael co-wrote Careless Whisper alongside Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley.
The pair had written it together in 1981 in Watford, when they were both just 17-years-old.
The song was later released on Wham's second and final album Make It Big in 1984, and reached number one in the UK, while also topping the charts in 25 other countries.
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It stayed at number one for three weeks, and was the fifth best-selling single of 1984.
In George's published 1991 memoir Bare, he said that he wrote the track while travelling to a DJ set in Bel Air.
He wrote: ''I was on my way to DJ at the Bel Air when I wrote 'Careless Whisper'. I have always written on buses, trains and in cars. It always happens on journeys.
''With ‘Careless Whisper’ I remember exactly where it first came to me, where I came up with the sax line.
''I can remember very vaguely where I was when I wrote things after Wham! got off the ground, but with 'Careless Whisper' I remember exactly the time and place.''
Over time, various artists have covered the hit track, including Gloria Gaynor and pop group Bananarama.
In March 2023, Careless Whisper reached one billion views on YouTube.
What is Careless Whisper about?
In his 1991 autobiography, George explained that much of the tracks content was based on experiences and events from his childhood.
The late star once explained the inspiration behind the track came when he was a youngster, after meeting a girl named Jane who he had a crush on.
Michael wrote: ''When I was twelve, thirteen, I used to have to chaperone my sister, who was two years older, to an ice rink at Queensway in London. There was a girl there with long blonde hair whose name was Jane.
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''I was a fat boy in glasses and I had a big crush on her, though I didn't stand a chance. My sister used to go and do what she wanted when we got to the skating rink and I would spend the afternoon swooning over this girl Jane.''
He continued: ''A few years later, when I was sixteen, I had my first relationship with a girl called Helen. It had just started to cool off a bit when I discovered that the blonde girl from Queensway had moved in just around the corner from my school.
"She had moved in right next to where I used to stand and wait for my next-door neighbour, who used to give me a lift home from school.
''And one day I saw her walk down the path next to me and I thought – now where did SHE come from? She didn't know it was me.
"It was a few years later and I looked a lot different. Then we played a school disco with (his band) The Executive and she saw me singing and decided she fancied me.
''By this time she was that much older and a big buxom thing – and eventually I started seeing her. She invited me in one day when I was waiting for my lift and I was...in heaven."
Michael then went on to explain that he started seeing Jane - but didn't stop his relationship with Helen.
He continued: ''And the girl who didn't even see me when I was twelve invited me in. So I went out with her for a couple of months but I didn't stop seeing Helen. I thought I was being smart – I had gone from being a total loser to being a two-timer.
''And I remember my sisters used to give me a hard time because they found out and they really liked the first girl.
''The whole idea of 'Careless Whisper' was the first girl finding out about the second – which she never did.''
Michael added: ''Careless Whisper' was us dancing, because we danced a lot, and the idea was – we are dancing...but she knows...and it's finished."
What are George Michael's biggest songs?
George Michael was one of the biggest stars of the 1980s and will forever be remembered as a music icon.
He produced an array of hit singles and albums, both as part of Wham! and in his glittering solo career.
He also featured in a series of high-profile collaborations.
During his career, George sold over 100 million records worldwide.
He also performed in both the original Band Aid charity single in 1984 and alongside Elton John in the Live Aid concert the following year.
After the news of his death in 2016, Spotify streams for George's hits increased by more than three thousand percent.
Here we take a look at some of George's biggest hits.
- Careless Whisper (1984)
- A Different Corner (1986)
- I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) featuring Aretha Franklin (1987)
- Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me featuring Elton John (1991)
- Jesus To A Child (1996)
- Fastlove (1996)
Other songs include, I Want Your Sex (1987) and Outside (1998).
George also had five Number 1 UK singles during his time with Wham.
Those songs were:
- Last Christmas (1986)
- The Edge Of Heaven (1986)
- I'm Your Man (1985)
- Freedom (1984)
- Wake Me Up Before You Go Go (1984)
