“Wham? But what is it, Wham? For some, the group of the 1980s evokes little or nothing. For it to tilt, you usually have to add: “Yes, the group that made George Michael famous! “. On the other hand, when you start humming one of the many hits of the British duo, the magic happens. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Last Christmas, Clup Tropicana… In only four years of existence, from 1982 to 1986, Wham! gave life to a slew of hits. Vitamin and catchy titles always present in the minds and which are still successful in the evenings (at least those which are worth it).
Netflix is devoting a documentary to its two creators, world star George Michael and his sidekick Andrew Ridgeley, much less known to the general public. Chris Smith, the director of this 90-minute film, to whom we already owe the documentary on the Fyre Fest, examines the trajectory of this group, from its creation to its dissolution. Or the story of an unwavering friendship between two young men and their triumphant and dazzling rise. Hit machine, historic concert in China, impossible coming-out… This nostalgic documentary teaches us (or reminds us) a lot of things.
A long history of friendship
Contrary to what one might think, Wham! is not just another boy band in the history of pop, a duo set up from scratch by a record company. On the contrary, what highlights the documentary is the solid friendship that has bound the duo since adolescence. Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou – who later took the stage name George Michael – and Andrew Ridgeley, met at a college in London. The first is shy and presents himself as “chubby” with a “funny look”. The second is much more confident and enterprising. Together they write sketches, humorous sketches and then songs. “We were like brothers, we had fun,” says Andrew in voiceover. “Yog – George’s nickname – and I had the same outlook,” he adds.
We thus discover in what circumstances they founded Wham! and how each believes in the talent of the other. Touching archives, photos or videos, reveal the delusions of these two young men who fully assume their lightness and their adolescent pop. But we also observe how Andrew knew how to step aside to gradually give way to the growing talent of George. By first letting him hand over the writing of the songs, or by handing over to him with a good grace what would become one of the singer’s greatest successes, careless Whisperyet written by two.
Where does “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” come from?
Andrew Ridgeley remembers pinning a note on his bedroom door addressed to George: “I made a mistake, I wrote ‘wake me up up [au lieu de « wake me up », « réveille-moi » en français] before you go. So I doubled the last syllable: Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go “. “I found this title brilliant, commented George Michael, and people loved it. »
If it is perhaps the least fun anecdote in the world, the song became their biggest hit. Wham! is also that, this assumed candor and this taste for pop without the fuss. A freshness that can also be found in the images of the filming of the clips Club Tropicana Or Last Summerinspired by their trips to the nightclub or on vacation.
A latent malaise
As the success of Wham! grows, so does George Michael’s discomfort. Between the lines of these memories and archive images, the impossible coming-out of the singer stands out, locked up in particular in this image of an idol for adolescent girls.
Although he confided in Andrew very early on that he was bisexual, he decided not to talk about it publicly and constantly evaded the question with journalists. The clips of the songs cultivate this image of a heartthrob with girls, featuring a playful and seductive George Michael. We left him at the dawn of his solo career, in 1986, when he decided to take flight. However, he did not reveal his homosexuality until twelve years later and under duress.
A historic tour in China
What if we told you that Wham! marked the geopolitical history of the 1980s in its own way? In April 1985, the band traveled to China for a series of concerts. It then became the first Western group to perform in Communist China. They are seen walking around the Great Wall, having their picture taken with a little boy in military uniform and filling entire halls. “In Beijing last night, two men made their cultural revolution”, comments an American journalist who interviews them in duplex the day after their concert.
“Why do you think Wham! was able to play in China? she asks them. “They think we’re harmless, we don’t really embody rock-and-roll. We represent more show business, pop, ”answers George Michael. The purpose of the operation? Keep an eye out in the United States where the duo is still struggling to stand out. The plan works because this tour makes an impression. The American press multiplies the articles and makes Wham! a global phenomenon.
Birth of George Michael
If there is a downside to note in this documentary, it is that it stops at the separation of the group when we are dying to know what happens next. Because, beyond Wham!, the film obviously traces the rise of George Michael, from the introverted young man to the talented author and the showman. An early career consecrated in 1985 by the prize for best author of the year at the Ivor Novello Awards ceremony, prestigious British awards.
“He’s been one of the best British authors for a long time (…) On stage I compare him to Gibb, MacCartney or Lennon,” said Elton John, who then presented him with the prize. “It’s the most important thing I’ve ever received and that has happened to me,” said George Michael, in tears, alongside his idol. The rest of his career in a next episode?