Rocktrospectiva: The Formidable "Music From The Edge Of Heaven" Turns 40

Released on 21 June 1986 in Japan and 27 June in the USA, "Music From The Edge Of Heaven" was  the third and final studio album by the English pop duo Wham!. The album spawned the singles "Last Christmas", "I'm Your Man", "A Different Corner", "The Edge Of Heaven" & "Where Did Your Heart Go?".

Between 1982 and 1985, the pop duo Wham! had released two studio albums, and enjoyed a string of success, with three of their singles reaching number one on the UK singles chart. With the known desire of George Michael to move into a more adult market, Wham! announced in early 1986 that Michael and his musical partner Andrew Ridgeley would go their separate ways after a farewell single, album, and a concert.

Issued just one day before the duo’s farewell concert at London’s Wembley Stadium, the record arrived at a pivotal moment as one of the biggest pop acts of the 1980s prepared to end its run at the height of its success. Forty years on, Music From The Edge Of Heaven provided a capture of a band in transition, with George Michael already looking beyond the duo towards a more mature solo career. The album featured four tracks recorded specifically for the farewell project: The Edge Of Heaven, Battlestations, Wham! Rap ’86 and Where Did Your Heart Go?. Several of those songs also appeared on The Final, 

A notable inclusions was "A Different Corner," a song credited to George Michael alone and widely regarded as an early indicator of the direction he would pursue as a solo artist. The album version featured an introduction unavailable on most other releases. Another curiosity was a specially edited version of "I'm Your Man," adapted from the Extended Stimulation Mix and featuring a newly recorded spoken bridge.

Another highlight was "Blue (Live In China)," captured during the duo's historic 1985 visit to China. That performance became particularly significant because it represented the only appearance of the recording on CD. Completing the collection was the Pudding Mix version of Last Christmas, a track that has since become one of the most enduring festive recordings in popular music.

Wham! had already achieved extraordinary commercial success. Formed in 1981 the duo emerged from the British pop explosion of the early MTV era and became one of the defining acts of the decade. Their debut album Fantastic topped the UK chart in 1983, while 1984’s Make It Big transformed them into global superstars. Wham! sold more than 30 million records worldwide and became one of the most recognisable British pop exports of the 1980s. The group also made history beyond the charts. In April 1985, Wham! became the first Western pop group to perform in China, an event widely viewed as a significant cultural moment during a period of increasing engagement between China and the West. Material from those performances would later find its way onto Music From The Edge Of Heaven through Blue (Live In China).

By early 1986, plans were already in place for a farewell single, farewell album and farewell concert. Michael later described the split as an effort to leave while the group was still at its commercial peak. That farewell culminated on 28 June 1986 when 72,000 fans attended The Final at Wembley Stadium. Supported by guests including Elton John and Simon Le Bon, the concert closed one of the most successful chapters in British pop history. Just days later, The Final compilation album was released in Europe, while Music From The Edge Of Heaven remained the principal farewell album for North American audiences.

 

Music From The Edge Of Heaven Track List: 

 

Hot Side: 

 

1. The Edge Of Heaven

2. Battlestations

3. I'm Your Man

4. Wham! Rap '86

 

Cool Side

 

5. A Different Corner

6. Blue /Live In China)

7. Where Did Your Heart Go?

8. Last Christmas (Pudding Mix)

The Documentary/News: A New Wham! In China Documentary On The Way

Filmmaker Mike Christie has confirmed that he has directed a new feature length documentary about Wham!’s visit to China in 1985.

"Wham! 10 Days In China" is a 90-minute documentary that pieces together "the untold story" using newly restored footage alongside new and extensive, personal interviews from Andrew Ridgeley, members of the touring party, as well as some of the fans who made up the Chinese audiences whose experiences.

On his Instagram page, Christie says "It's been a long haul to make, but a fascinating, very entertaining, and surprising film!"

On their famous 10-day visit to China in '85, Wham! played two concerts in Beijing and Guangzhou (on 7th and 10th of April). The trip was documented by Palme D'Or winning film director Lindsay Anderson – best known for If (1968) and O Lucky Man! (1973) – but his 77 minute cut, called If You Were There, was rejected by the band. Anderson was let go and the film was re-edited and released on VHS and laserdisc as Wham! In China: Foreign Skies. The original If You Were There got its first (and probably last) public screening at London’s BFI (British Film Theatre) in 2024 as part of its O Dreamland! Lindsay Anderson’s Dark British Cinema season.

Director Mike Christie has a history of music documentaries. He made 2018’s Suede: The Insatiable Ones film, New Order: Decades (also 2018) and last year’s Nick Cave: Veiled World. Wham! 10 Days In China follows Chris Smith’s highly enjoyable Wham! documentary from 2023, which also featured a high profile participation from Andrew Ridgeley.

Absolute Xmas/Absoluted Scrooged: Last Christmas (Animated Lyric Video)

           

It's hard to believe that the iconical "Last Christmas" by Wham is turning 40 this Christmas, and the most curious thing is that we never get bored of it, and they know it, so to keep celebrating and singing along this classic, now they released the animated lyric video, which looks so gorgeous. After so many years, this is still by far the best christmas song out there, what do you think. Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noël, Feliz Navidad.

Rocktrospectiva: Wham! Beloved Christmas Anthem "Last Christmas" Turns 40

Released on 3 December 1984, "Last Christmas" the beloved and timeless Christmas anthem by English pop duo Wham! is celebrating its 40 years still in good shape. Written and produced by George Michael, it was released via CBS Records internationally and as a double A-side via Epic Records with "Everything She Wants" in several European countries. Since then, the song has been covered by many artists since its original release, including artists such as Whigfiled, Crazy Frog, Meghan Trainor, Whigfield, Manic Street Preachers and Good Charlotte.

Back in 1984, "Last Christmas" spent five consecutive weeks at number two in the UK singles chart—it was held off the top spot at Christmas by Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (on which Michael also performed). After many chart runs in subsequent years, which included three more weeks at number two, and which saw the recording become part of RCA Records' catalogue, the song finally reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on New Year's Day 2021 (chart week ending date 7 January 2021), more than 36 years after its initial release. 

It became the fifth UK number one single for the duo. Prior to it reaching number one, "Last Christmas" had for many years held the record as the highest-selling single never to top the charts by the Official Charts Company with 1.9 million copies sold (not including streams)."Last Christmas" finally achieved the accolade of Christmas number one in 2023, 39 years after its initial release combining sales and streams, it also became the third biggest song of all time in the UK.

Outside the United Kingdom, the song topped the charts in fourteen countries and peaked within the top ten of the charts in several countries including Australia, Canada and the United States. It also reached number two on the Billboard Global 200 in January 2021. 

In a UK-wide poll in December 2012, it was voted eight on the ITV television special The Nation's Favourite Christmas Song, and was voted most popular song of the 1980s in Channel 5's Christmas 2020 countdown Britain's Favourite 80's Songs. It was the most-played Christmas song of the 21st century in the UK until it was overtaken by "Fairytale of New York" in 2011. 

The origins of the song is dated-back in 1983, while George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley were visiting Michael's parents. It was written by Michael in his childhood bedroom. Michael played Ridgeley the introduction and chorus melody to "Last Christmas", which Ridgeley later called "a moment of wonder".

The song was recorded in August 1984, at Advision Studios, London, England. George Michael wrote, performed, produced and played every single instrument on the track. With a LinnDrum drum machine, a Roland Juno-60 synth and sleigh bells, they began recording the song in the summer, Michael having plastered the studio in Christmas decorations to set the mood". The only other people in the studio were engineer Chris Porter and two assistants, Paul Gommersal and Richard Moakes. According to Porter, lyrically "you've got the happiness of the rhythm track, but against that you've got the sadness of the unrequited love".

Wham! already had two number one singles on the UK singles chart during 1984, and news that they were planning a Christmas single meant that a battle for the coveted Christmas number one spot in Britain seemed set to be between Wham! and the year's other big act, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, who had achieved a third No. 1 in early December with "The Power of Love". The Band Aid single written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, produced the No. 1 single "Do They Know It's Christmas?", while Wham!'s offering peaked at No. 2 for much of the period. Wham! donated all "Last Christmas" / "Everything She Wants" royalties, to the Ethiopian famine relief fund.

About the music video, it received massive airplay back in 1985, originally directed by British commercial, film and music video director Andrew Morahan, shows Wham! members Michael and Ridgeley accompanying girlfriends to see friends at an unspecified ski resort cottage; the cable-car that is visible in two shots is from Saas-Fee, Switzerland, where the video was filmed on 21 November 1984. It becomes clear early on that the character of Ridgeley's girlfriend (played by model Kathy Hill) was previously in a relationship with Michael and that the song is aimed at her. She can be spotted throughout the video by the fact that she is usually wearing red, but everyone else is wearing more muted colours. There is a brief flashback to a prior Christmas, showing Michael's character presenting Kathy Hill's character with a jewelled brooch. In the present time, Ridgeley is wearing the brooch, suggesting that Hill gave the same gift (perhaps by regifting it) to her new love after she and Michael parted ways. As Michael is decorating the Christmas tree some decoration falls to the floor where Michael's ex-girlfriend is sitting and the ex-couple shares a few seconds of a knowing look at each other. 

At the end of the video, everyone leaves the cottage and when the group get out of the cable-car, they are all properly "paired off" with Michael and his new girlfriend played by actress Debbie Killingback, looking happy. The video also featured the duo's backing singers Pepsi and Shirlie.

Rocktrospectiva: The Positive And Massive "Make It Big" Turns 40

Released on 5 November 1984, "Make It Big" was the second studio album by English pop duo Wham!, under more control over the production, this would give the chance to George Michael to colaborate and participate on the production, actually he was credited as a producer too, the album was the hiatus for the duo, hitting the number 1 on both sides the UK and United States spawning four singles " "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "Careless Whisper", "Freedom" & "Everything She Want" also the christmas single "Last Christmas".

Not only causing a stir in the charts but in fashion too, the shirts the duo wore in the video for the single "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" that read "Choose Life" became a fashionable statement, and this would be the first of many hit singles for the duo, "Careless Whisper" was a massive power ballad too, for "Freedom" the duo performed a concer in China being the first Western pop act to performed there, and finally "Everything She Wants" was released as a double A-side with "Last Christmas" that year too. 

Writtend and recorded in Southern France over a course of six weeks, allowing the duo to escape from press attention, and also due to tax reasons, the duo achieved meteoric success with their infectious pop anthems and youthful appeal, something that their second album Make It Big truly cemented.

Marking a significant departure from their earlier work, granting the band greater creative autonomy, under the guidance of Michael's producing prowess, showcasing his songwriting talent, which had initially been overshadowed by the band's commercial success, while only two tracks were not solely written by Michael (The Isley Brothers’ “If You Were There” and the legendary “Careless Whisper” by Michael & Ridgeley), the remaining six songs were solely composed by the singer, demonstrating his exceptional ability to craft some of pop music’s most profound and enduring melodies. Michael's songwriting savvy, often overlooked during the band's peak popularity, would ultimately become a defining characteristic of his solo career.

The album was composed with only eight tracks, remember it was the pre-CD era back then so practically vinyl only allowed this, so the big difference between "Fantastic" was that this helped to established their career and this insted solidified their status as a global and massive superstars. The album's lead single “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” became an instant cultural phenomenon, its infectious melody resonating with audiences worldwide, a moment in pop culture history that would forever help shape the 1980s pop movement, characterized by its distinctive style, sound, and visual appeal, all things that were significantly influenced by MTV of course that was at their peaked.

Another interesting thing was, that Wham relied on soul, motown, and funk instead to turned into synthesizers, also the clever use of harmonies with soulful brass helped the duo the set apart from the other groups of their era, without losing the pop appeal, the album's remaining singles—"Everything She Wants," "Freedom" and "Careless Whisper"— finished to solidified Wham!'s reputation for creating pop classics, just like "Everything She Wants" which is a poignant exploration of unrequited love and longing, on "Freedom" the sound is more upbeat and celebratory, but it also carries a deeper meaning. It is a call for personal liberation, both from societal constraints and from the confines of a romantic relationship, "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” is perhaps the most iconic and enduring song in Wham!'s repertoire and of the 1980s., a slow-burning ballad with a haunting saxophone melody, the song explores themes of infidelity and betrayal. Michael's soulful vocals are put to full use and convey a sense of regret and longing, while the lyrics offer a glimpse into the complexities of not just human relationships, but also Michael’s inner struggles with love and loss, the song’s emotional intensity and chorus have solidified its place in the pop music canon.

But the album had another hidden tracks/gems too, the charming and melodic "Heartbeat" and "Credit Card Baby" as well, unfortunately these two pale in contrast with the other four massive singles, although "Hearbeat" was used as a promo single in several countries peaking well on local charts, don't forget that "Last Christmas" arrived late between November/December that year and became another instant hit single arriving on time to cement the band's enduring legacy as a timeless masterpiece that helped to introduce George Michael solo career.  

The album was a massive success, the critics were fairly positive, although some critics considered a flawless pop record, forgetting the album really nailed it, spawning four hit singles and boosted the sales, helping Wham! to succeed in a global scale.

 

Make It Big Track List:

 

1. Wake Me Yp Before You Go-Go

2. Everything She Wants

3. Heartbeat

4. Like A Baby

5. Freedom

6. If You Were There

7. Credit Card Baby

8. Careless Whisper

Primicia: Last Christmas

           

Se viene el cover que siempre necesitamos cada vez que viene Navidad, Future Islands se lanzan  con su propia versión de este clásico de Wham! "Last Christmas" aprovechando que ya estamos poco a poco entrando en ese ambiente navideño.

In Memoriam: Ha Muerto El Gran Bajista "Deon Estus" A Los 65 Años

El recordado bajista y cantante Deon Estus, quien tocara el bajo para el grupo Wham! en los 80's ha muerto a los 65 años de edad, según un post que circuló el pasado lunes por la tarde en su cuenta de Twitter. La muerte si que nos ha tomado a todos por sorpresa, ya que a Estus le gustaba mucho interactuar con sus fanáticos, de momento no se saben más detalles de su muerte ni la causa ni donde estaba.

 

Nacido en Detroit, Michigan en 1956, se unió a la banda "Brainstorm" en su adolescencia, con quienes grabó dos álbumes obteniendo un relativo éxito, pero a medida que su fama como bajista subía, Estus fue invitado a unirse a la banda Británica Wham!, viajando con ellos a su legendaria gira en China, luego siguió a George Michael en su carrera como solista en su gira "Faith" tocando el bajo con Michael hasta su muerte hace cinco años en la navidad del 2016, también tocó para Marvin Gaye, Tina Turner, Annie Lennox, y Elton John.

 

Pero Estus también probó suerte como cantante, y lanzó un disco en aquel adorado 1989 llamado "Spell", del cual salió aquel gran hit "Heaven Help Me" que llegó alcanzar el No. 5 en el Billboard 100 y que contaba en los coros como invitado a George Michael. La otra parte de Wham!, Andrew Ridgeley también pagó tributo al gran Estus, destacando su carácter, talento y carisma y cuyo gran espíritu será por siempre extrañado.

Descanse en paz Deon Estus (1956-2021)

Rocktrospectiva: El Finalisimo "Music From The Edge Of Heaven" Cumple 35 Años

Lanzado un 1ero., de Julio de 1986, "Music From The Edge Of Heaven" fue el 3er., y último álbum de estudio del icónico dueto Británico Wham!, esta en cierta forma relacionado con "The Final" por las pistas similares, pero la diferencia radicó en que este disco solamente fue lanzado en Japón y en América, mientras que "The Final" fue lanzado en todo el mundo y este contiene todos los singles de la banda, por lo que es considerado más que nada un recopilatorio. 

 

"Music From The Edge Of Heaven" es a menudo considerado el 3er., álbum de estudio del dueto, y llegó a vender más del millón de copias, en cuanto a la entrega, este disco no fue incluído con los años en la remasterización de CD, además temas como "The Edge of Heaven", "Battlestations", "Wham Rap! '86" y "Where Did Your Heart Go?", de acuerdo a la información original era tracks nuevos para el disco, de los cuales el primero, segundo y tercero fueron usados en "The Final", y después aparecerian otros singles como la archifamosa "Last Christmas". 

Otras curiosidades iban por ejemplo con "A Different Corner" tenía una intro que no aparecía en otro lugar excepto en el clip musical, con el tema "I'm Your Man", esta un poco editada del "Stimulation Mix" y contenía un puente en donde no cantaban sino platicaban, y el tema "Blue" que solo aparece en este disco. 

 

En cuanto a los singles que se trabajaron del mismo podemos mencionar los siguientes: "I'm Your Man", y "The Edge Of Heaven" que fueron de los más conocidas por estos lares, un poco más desconocidas fueron los temas "A Different Corner", y "Where Did Your Heart Go?", que también sonaron aunque por ejemplo en Guatemala no fueron del todo conocidas. 

Básicamente se puede decir que fue el disco final, ya que la banda terminaría su carrera para dar paso a la carrera solista de George Michael que tuvo mucho éxito pese a las polémicas que vendrían después con Sony. 

Music From The Edge Of Heaven Track List: 

1. The Edge Of Heaven

2. Battlestations

3. I'm Your Man

4. Wham! Rap '86

5. A Different Corner

6. Blue (Live In China)

7. Where Did Your Heart Go!

8. Last Christmas (Pudding Mix)

Rocktrospectiva: El Mega Exitoso "Make It Big" Cumple 35 Años

Fue el 2do., álbum de estudio para el dueto Británico formado por George Michael y Andrew Ridgeley y mejor conocido como Wham!, el cual fue lanzado el 23 de octubre de 1984. Grabado en su totalidad en el Studio Miraval al sureste de Francia, con el proposito de librar a George Michael de toda la bulla que la prensa tenía sobre su persona y así poder trabajar pacificamente.

Aquí se noto el cambio en el sonido, ya que la banda tenía mucho más control en cuanto a la producción, incluso Michael fue productor acreditado, cosa que aprovecharía muy bien en visperas de iniciar su carrera como solista tras la separación del dueto en 1986. El resultado fue masivo ganandose el beneplácito de la crítica y de las audiencias, llegando a vender muy bien en ambos lados del charco, obteniendo los singles muy buenas posiciones tanto en el Reino Unido como en los Estados Unidos en especial por el gran apoyo de la MTV, sin quererlo terminaron volviendose un producto pop masivo lleno de buenos momentos de diversión con las clásicas baladas, trascendiendo a gran escala como nunca lo imaginaro volviendo a George Michael en una mega estrella y a Andrew Ridgeley en alguien multimillonario pero sin el brillo de su contraparte.

Del álbum se desprendieron cuatro singles siendo la primera "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" lanzado el 14 de mayo de 1984 y llegando al No. 1 en el Reino Unido y los Estados Unidos, y con un recordado video aunque listado como uno de los peores 50 de la historia, en donde ambos aparecían con camisetas blancas con un grandisimo mensaje "Choose Life" lo cual se volvío una moda, luego lanzaron "Careless Whisper" que fue No. 1 no solo en ambos lados del Atlántico sino que en otros 23 países alrededor del mundo, el tema es acreditado a George Michael y el video fue muy conocido por todos a cargo de Duncan Gibbins en donde Michael protagonizada al novio que había tenido un  romance en escondidas de su pareja protagonizada por Lisa Stahl, fue filmado en Miami, Florida en 1984 en plena euforia de Miami Vice, aunque según dicen el video fue un jodido desastre pero marcó una época en todo el mundo, luego se vino "Freedom" otra bonita y movida canción que llegó al top ten en los Estados Unidos y fue No. 1 en el Reino Unido con un video hecho en China a donde el dueto llego a presentarse, y finalmente otra conocida del dueto "Everything She Wants", la cual venía junto a "Last Christmas" la cual se tomo la mayor parte de la atención aquella navidad de 1984 por las fechas, pero a medida que le paso la euforía, se le puso atención a este excelente tema que llegó al No. 1 en los Estados Unidos.

Era de esa manera que el dueto se despedia de todos y daba inicio a una exitosa carrera en solitario de George Michael, dejandonos la quintaesencia ochentera con este disco, en Guatemala fue muy popular, de los pocos discos cuyos cinco singles se trabajaron y sonaron muy bien, desde la archifamosa "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" con la moda de las camisetas con ese mensaje y que me recuerda a la última visita que haría al zoologico La Aurora en donde recuerdo a una chicas luciendo esas camisetas, no digamos "Careless Whisper" cuyas radios locales se encargaron de matarla por tantas veces que la tocaron y que aún la siguen tocando robandose todavía suspiros entre la audiencia, no digamos "Freedom" que trae a la mente las tardes viendo "Musicales del 13" ya que este video no podía faltar con las tomas en China y en donde aparecía un niño mirando a la camara de manera muy vigilante, recuerdo que como odiaba a ese niño quizas por el gesto, y de último, no podía faltar "Last Christmas" que sigue sonando hasta la fecha cada vez que llega navidad, ha sido versionada varias veces con más o menos éxito, sin duda lo lleva a uno a esa navidad de 1984 y ahora de la misma forma en que sucede con el jingle de B&B, este tema no puede faltar nunca para el fin de año, y finalmente "Everything She Wants" que la Kiss FM se encargo de matar como que si Wham! no tuviera otros temas, bueno en Guatemala estos fueron los que más sonaron.

Y así pues recordamos este curioso y exitoso álbum que terminó siendo la piedra angular en la breve carrera de Wham! para dar paso a la mega exitosa carrera de George Michael.

Make It Big Track List:

1. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

2. Everything She Wants

3. Heartbeat

4. Like A Baby

5. Freedom

6. If You Were There

7. Credit Card Baby

8. Careless Whisper