Careless Whisper is a 1984 song by the English singer George Michael, released on 23 July 1984 as the second single from Wham!'s album Make It Big. It was written by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley and produced by Michael, signaling his move toward a solo career. The track blends pop with R&B and soul influences and is famous for its distinctive tenor saxophone riff played by Steve Gregory. Michael wrote the song as a teenager and spent months working on demos and selecting sax players before finalizing the recording. The single topped the charts in the UK, the US, and many other countries, selling over eleven million copies worldwide and becoming one of the best selling singles of all time. In the United States it was released as a Wham! featuring George Michael credit to reflect his solo transition. The album version runs about 6 minutes 30 seconds, while the 7 inch single version is shorter. The music video, directed by Duncan Gibbins and shot in Miami, portrays guilt over an affair and ends with Michael on a balcony. Careless Whisper remains a lasting pop classic and has been widely covered and referenced in media and memes because of its iconic saxophone hook.
