Careless Whisper

"Careless Whisper"
Single by George Michael and Wham!
from the album Make It Big
B-side"Careless Whisper (Instrumental)"
Released24 July 1984
StudioSarm West, London
Genre
Length
  • 6:30 (album version)
  • 5:00 (single version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Wham! singles chronology
"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"
(1984)		 "Careless Whisper"
(1984)		 "Freedom"
(1984)
George Michael singles chronology
"Careless Whisper"
(1984)		 "A Different Corner"
(1986)
Music video
"Careless Whisper" on YouTube

"Careless Whisper" is a 1984 song by English singer George Michael and is taken from the Wham!'s album Make It Big. The song features a saxophone solo by Steve Gregory. It went to number 1 in almost 25 countries.

Track listings

All tracks are written by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley.

7″: Epic / A 4603 (UK)
No.TitleLength
1."Careless Whisper" (7″ version)5:04
2."Careless Whisper" (instrumental)5:02
12″: Epic / TA4603 (UK)
No.TitleLength
1."Careless Whisper" (extended mix)6:31
2."Careless Whisper" (instrumental)5:02
12″: Columbia / 44-05170 (US)
No.TitleLength
1."Careless Whisper" (extended mix)6:20
2."Careless Whisper" (instrumental)4:52
12″: Columbia promotional / AS-1980 (US)
No.TitleLength
1."Careless Whisper"4:50
2."Careless Whisper"4:50
12″ maxi: Epic / QTA 4603 (UK) – Special Edition
No.TitleLength
1."Careless Whisper" (extended mix)6:31
2."Careless Whisper" (Jerry Wexler special version)5:34
3."Careless Whisper" (condensed instrumental Version)4:52

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1984–2017) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)2
France (SNEP)3
Germany (Official German Charts)3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)3
Norway (VG-lista)2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)1
UK Singles (OCC)1
US Billboard Hot 1001

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) 3× Platinum 180,000double-dagger
Canada (Music Canada) 5× Platinum 400,000double-dagger
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) Platinum 60,000double-dagger
Germany (BVMI) Gold 300,000double-dagger
Netherlands (NVPI) Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) 3× Platinum 90,000double-dagger
Spain (PROMUSICAE) Platinum 60,000double-dagger
United Kingdom (BPI)
Physical 		Platinum 1,000,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)
Digital 		3× Platinum 1,800,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA) 7× Platinum 7,000,000double-dagger

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Greenwald, Ted (1992). Rock and Roll: The Music, Musicians, and the Mania. Mallard Press. p. 31.
  2. ↑ Molanphy, Chris (6 May 2016). "Keanu and the Remarkable Chart History of George Michael, "Black" Music Star". Slate.
  3. ↑ "Top 40 New Wave Albums". Ultimate Classic Rock. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  4. ↑ "George Michael – Careless Whisper" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  5. ↑ "George Michael – Careless Whisper" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  6. ↑ "George Michael – Careless Whisper" (in French). Les classement single.
  7. ↑ "George Michael – Careless Whisper" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  8. ↑ "George Michael – Careless Whisper" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  9. ↑ "George Michael – Careless Whisper". Top 40 Singles.
  10. ↑ "George Michael – Careless Whisper". VG-lista.
  11. ↑ "George Michael – Careless Whisper". Singles Top 100.
  12. ↑ "George Michael – Careless Whisper". Swiss Singles Chart.
  13. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  14. ↑ "George Michael Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  15. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – George Michael – Careless Whisper" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
  16. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – George Michael – Careless Whisper". Music Canada.
  17. ↑ "Danish single certifications – George Michael – Careless Whisper". IFPI Danmark.
  18. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (George Michael; 'Careless Whisper')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  19. ↑ "Dutch single certifications – George Michael – Careless Whisper" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Careless Whisper in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1984 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  20. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – George Michael – Careless Whisper". Radioscope. Type Careless Whisper in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  21. ↑ "Spanish single certifications – George Michael – Careless Whisper". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España.
  22. ↑ "British single certifications – George Michael – Careless Whisper". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Careless Whisper George Michael in the "Search:" field.
  23. ↑ "British single certifications – George Michael – Careless Whisper". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Careless Whisper George Michael in the "Search:" field.
  24. ↑ "American single certifications – Wham – Careless Whisper". Recording Industry Association of America.