#139

139. Careless Whisper - Wham! featuring George Michael

Stats:

• #1 for 3 Weeks in 1985 (February - March)
• Replaced: I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner
• Replaced by: Can't Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon
• Sample Headline from its Reign: The first blood test for AIDS is approved by the FDA.
• #2 Hits It Prevented from Reaching #1: Lover Boy - Billy Ocean
• Top 200 #1 Hits 1955-2000 Rank: #164

Careless Whisper is entirely about mood.  The saxophone propels the mournful lyrics about mistakes and loves lost into a compelling and thoroughly AC package.  Wham!, or George Michael depending on which side of the Atlantic you're on, here sound so different from the prior single Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, that just the expression of range that this song offers is pretty stunning.  Of course, there is a lot to be said for how the Make It Big marked the moment when MTV based pop went from being dominated by goofy British groups to being dominated by superstar artists (like, Michael, Madonna, Houston, etc.) and goofy American groups, but that would detract somewhat from the singular achievement of another moment when teen pop and adult contemporary exchanged long glances before heading off in different directions again.

Coming up: #138 - "Other eyes smile tenderly"