"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" is a song by English pop duoWham!, first released as a single in the UK on 14 May 1984.[4] It became their first UK and US number one hit. It was written and produced byGeorge Michael. The single was certifiedplatinum in the US, which at the time commemorated sales of over two million copies. The music video features Michael and bandmateAndrew Ridgeley wearing oversized message T-shirts ("CHOOSE LIFE") created byKatharine Hamnett, starting a craze covered in the 2002 VH1 seriesI Love the 80s.[5] The song was ranked number 28 onVH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s.[6]
George Michael's inspiration for the song was a scribbled note that his bandmateAndrew Ridgeley had left for his parents, intended to read "wake me up before you go" but with "up" accidentally written twice, so Ridgeley wrote "go" twice on purpose. In 1984, Michael had this to say on the development of the song:
I just wanted to make a really energetic pop record that had all the best elements of Fifties and Sixties records, combined with our attitude and our approach, which is obviously more uptempo and a lot younger than some of those records. It's one of those tracks that gets rid of a lot of your own personal influences; it reminds me of so many different records that I couldn't actually nail them down. I'd done a demo at home that just had a bass line and a vocal on it. Usually, I write the record in my head; I know what all the parts are going to be and I sing them to all our musicians. And it was great. ... We actually did it as a rehearsal. We used aLinnDrum because the drummer was late, and it was such a good track that we kept it.[7]
It was recorded within two days atSarm West Studio 2 in London, with a live rhythm section.[2] The song, according to Michael, had been done in one take without any drop-ins (overdubs) at all – production-wise, he noted that the two options to him were "either to be likeTrevor Horn and go for stunning sounds on your own, or just get a great sound on each instrument and go for a live take".[8] The UK sleeve was designed byPeter Saville, with photography byTrevor Key.[9]
Upon its release, the song received a mixed reception from contemporary critics.Smash Hits' Dave Rimmer deemed it "An absolutely dreadful comeback in which George and Andy ditch everything they do well in favour of a feeble foray intoShakin' Stevens country.(...) Awful.".[10] WhileCash Box said that "the Motown groove and patent vocals of 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go' are perfectCHR material which is executed expertly by this British duo."[11] The song entered theUK Singles Chart at number four and climbed to the top spot seven days later, staying there for two weeks. The song also went to the top of theBillboard Hot 100 in the United States, holding the top spot for three weeks.
The music video for the song was directed byAndy Morahan.[12] It showcases the band performing for an audience of mostly teenagers atBrixton Academy in South London.[13] The band woreKatharine Hamnett T-shirt designs that said "CHOOSE LIFE".[14]
