I'm_Your_Man_(Wham!_song)

I'm Your Man (Wham! song)

I'm Your Man (Wham! song)

1985 single by Wham!


"I'm Your Man" is a song by British pop duo Wham!, released in 1985 on Epic Records in the UK and most of the world, and Columbia Records in the US. It was written and produced by George Michael.

Quick Facts Single by Wham!, from the album Music from the Edge of Heaven and The Final ...

Background and writing

"I'm Your Man", according to Michael, was "pretty different to anything [Wham! has] ever done". According to Michael:

"'I'm Your Man' was written very quickly. The whole of the first verse and chorus came to me in five minutes on an internal flight in America [during the Whamamerica! tour].[3]

History

"I'm Your Man" became Wham!'s third number one on the UK Singles Chart,[4] but did not feature on a studio album, and was essentially an isolated single which was only followed up by a re-issue of the previous year's Christmas hit, "Last Christmas". Already the signs were there that George, now bearded, was ready to move his career into an adult market. The song also reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, prevented from further chart movement by Rocky IV soundtrack single "Burning Heart" by Survivor and "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne and Friends.[5]

Within six months of "I'm Your Man", Wham! had announced their split. They had a fourth and final number one and released a farewell album, prior to a concert at Wembley Stadium, at which "I'm Your Man" was the last song Michael performed with partner Andrew Ridgeley.

An extended mix of the song was released on Wham!'s 1986 album Music from the Edge of Heaven (the U.S. version of their final album The Final).

In 1996, the song was re-recorded by Michael in a funkier style. It appeared, credited to Michael solo, as a B-side on the "Fastlove" CD single (also being interpolated into an extended mix of "Fastlove") and, credited to Wham!, on The Best of Wham!: If You Were There....

In 2012, comedian John Bishop mimed and danced to the song along with a "Mini Me" version of himself at the end of his tour DVD Rollercoaster.

Reception

Cash Box said that it "continues to show the group’s indebtedness to Motown grooves and girl group vocal arrangements."[6] Billboard agreed that it has Motown influence and is "handled with affection and accuracy."[7]

Music video

The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan.[8] The video is presented in black and white, set in the London club Marquee where Wham! are performing the song. An extended intro and outro has George and Andrew trying without success to sell tickets to passersby. George makes a phone call to his agent Simon Napier-Bell, complaining about having to sing at the Marquee. He is heard saying "Simon, don't cry" and finally hangs up on him with the words "we got a gig to play goodbye". During the video, film countdown numbers flash up at times, making the numbers 69 and 66. It also shows "SEX" in the countdown.

Track listing

More information No., Title ...

All tracks are written by George Michael

More information No., Title ...
  • Also released as a picture disc (WTA 6716) and cassette (TA40 6716)
  • "Do It Right" is the instrumental version of "I'm Your Man"

Charts

More information Chart (1985–1986), Peak position ...

Certifications

More information Region, Certification ...

Lisa Moorish version

Quick Facts Single by Lisa Moorish, from the album ...

In 1995, Lisa Moorish covered "I'm Your Man" for her album I've Gotta Have It All, with Michael providing background vocals. Just like "Mr Friday Night", the cover was also a moderate success on the UK charts.

Charts

More information Chart (1995), Peak position ...

Shane Richie version

Quick Facts Single by Shane Richie, Released ...

In 2003, actor and EastEnders star Shane Richie also covered the song as a fundraising single for the BBC charity Children in Need. Produced by Absolute, Richie's version of the song reached number two on the UK Singles Chart.

Track listings

UK CD single[48]

  1. "I'm Your Man" – 3:37
  2. "I'm Your Man" (Shanghai Surprize's East End Pop Mix) – 6:37
  3. "I'm Your Man" (video) – 3:37
  4. "The Making of the Video" – 1:59

UK DVD single[49]

  1. "I'm Your Man" (video)
  2. "I'm Your Man" (karaoke)
  3. "The Making of the Video"

Charts

More information Chart (2003), Peak position ...

Certifications

More information Region, Certification ...

References

  1. "GEORGE MICHAEL / WHAM I'm Your Man UK magazine ADVERT / mini Poster 11x8 inches". ebay.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021.
  2. Berger, Arion (2004). "Wham!". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 868. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 456. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. The Complete Guide to the music of George Michael & Wham! L Ellis... - 1998 - Music Sales Group
  5. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 30 November 1985. p. 11. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  6. "Reviews". Billboard. 30 November 1985. p. 57. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  7. Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - Wham! - "I'm your man"". Music Video DataBase. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  8. David Kent (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. "Wham! – I'm Your Man" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  10. "Wham! – I'm Your Man" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  11. "Top 3 in Europe". Music & Media. Vol. 2, no. 51/52. 23 December 1985. p. 34.
  12. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 2, no. 51/52. 23 December 1985. p. 18. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  13. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Wham!". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 280. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  14. "Wham! – I'm Your Man" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  15. "Wham! – Freedom" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  16. "Wham! Chart History". RÚV. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  17. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Wham!".
  18. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Wham!" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  19. "Wham! – I'm Your Man" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  20. "Wham! – I'm Your Man". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  21. "Wham! – I'm Your Man". VG-lista. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  22. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  23. "Wham! – I'm Your Man". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  24. "Wham! - Awards: AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  25. "Cash Box Top 100 2/15/86". Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  26. "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. December 1986. Retrieved 24 January 2023 via Imgur.
  27. Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "RPM Weekly - Top Singles of 1986". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  28. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1986". Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  29. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 30 September 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  30. "Lisa Moorish – I'm Your Man" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  31. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 22 November 2003. p. 33.
  32. I'm Your Man (UK CD single liner notes). Shane Richie. BMG. 2003. 82876576932.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. I'm Your Man (UK DVD single liner notes). Shane Richie. BMG. 2003. 82876576939.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. "Hits of the World: Eurocharts". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 50. 13 December 2003. p. 55.
  35. "Top 100 Songs of 2003". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2003. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.

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