Liputan6.com, Jakarta "Careless Whisper" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter George Michael.
Released as the second single from Wham!'s second studio album Make It Big (1984), it was written by Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, with Michael producing the song.
Although the song was released as part of Make It Big, the single's release is credited either to Wham! featuring George Michael (in the United States and some other countries) or simply to George Michael (in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and some European countries).
A contemporary pop song with R&B and soul influences, it features a prominent saxophone riff composed by Michael and played by Steve Gregory.
The song became a commercial success, topping the record charts in at least ten countries and selling approximately 6 million copies worldwide—2 million of them in the United States.
The song later achieved popularity on social media, particularly due to the saxophone riff's use in numerous films and as a popular internet meme.
With sales of over 11 million copies worldwide, it is one of the best-selling songs of all time.
"Careless Whisper" by George Michael Lyrics
Oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
I feel so uncertain
As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor
As the music dies
Something in your eyes
Calls to mind a silver screen
And all its sad goodbyes
I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should've known better than to cheat a friend
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you
Time can never mend
The careless whispers of a good friend
To the heart and mind, ignorance is kind
There's no comfort in the truth
Pain is all that you'll find
I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should've known better than to cheat a friend
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you
Never without your love
Tonight the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd
Maybe it's better this way
We'd hurt each other with the things we want to say
We could have been so good together
We could have lived this dance forever
But now who's gonna dance with me?
Please, stay
And I'm never gonna dance again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm
Though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool
I should've known better than to cheat a friend
And waste the chance that I'd been given
So I'm never gonna dance again
The way I danced with you
Now that you're gone
Now, that you're gone
Now that you're gone
Was what I did so wrong
So wrong
That you had to leave me alone?
What is The Meaning and Background of "Careless Whisper"?
Despite its romantic and loving tone, the song actually has the opposite meaning.
Careless Whisper is actually about someone who feels regret over having cheated.
In fact, George Michael himself explained that the lyrics were inspired by his own experience of cheating, imagining a situation where his partner found out about his infidelity.
He said, "'Careless Whisper' is us dancing, because we used to dance a lot, and the idea is – we're dancing... but she finds out... and it's over."
However, due to its melancholic tones and saxophone atmosphere, many people makes the song to be identical with loving and romance situation.
Moreover, the song's popularity becomes even after many memes used it as an awkward music background, especially in movies where two males are looking at each other.