I'm Your Man (Wham! song)

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"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.

Background and writing

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

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"'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].[1]

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History

"I'm Your Man" became Wham!'s third number one on the UK Singles Chart,[2] 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".

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.[3]

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 The Final. It also featured on the US version of the album Music from the Edge of Heaven.

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.

Critical reception

Cash Box said that it "continues to show the group’s indebtedness to Motown grooves and girl group vocal arrangements."[4] Billboard agreed that it has Motown influence and is "handled with affection and accuracy."[5]

Music video

Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan.[6] The video is presented in black and white, set in the Marquee Club, Wardour Street, London, where Wham! are performing the song.[7] An extended intro and outro features Michael and Ridgeley trying without success to sell tickets to passersby. Michael 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

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  • Also released as a picture disc (WTA 6716) and cassette (TA40 6716)
  • "Do It Right" is the instrumental version of "I'm Your Man"

Personnel

Wham!

Additional personnel

Charts

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Certifications

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Lisa Moorish version

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In 1995, English singer-songwriter Lisa Moorish covered "I'm Your Man" for her debut album, I've Gotta Have It All (1996), with Michael providing background vocals. Just like "Mr. Friday Night", the cover was also a moderate success on the UK charts. According to the story of this recording, Moorish was in a UK studio working on the track with the producer, Jon Douglas. On the same day Michael was in the building, walking down the hall and heard Moorish singing the song. He loved her interpretation and asked to sing backup on the track.[23]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Charming pop ingenue drops the pace of this Wham! chestnut down to a wriggling hip-hop smoker that is already a smash overseas. Single is bolstered by an uncredited vocal by George Michael, though Moorish has a vampish style that would have easily drawn the ardent attention of top 40 programmers on her own. Hard to imagine this one not riding a fast and furious wave to the top regions of the Hot 100 within seconds."[24] In a separate review, Flick explained, "The final product is a deliciously seductive jeep/hip-hop version of the song that is bound for multiformat success similar to its run abroad. Newcomer Moorish makes an excellent first vocal impression here, revealing a low-register, feline style—though we are still wondering why she chose to sing a male-specific lyric in the first place. Michael's long-absent distinctive belting is a welcome treat, as is the track's perfectly measured fuzz-guitar lines, muscular bassline, and hard-edged beats."[23] Jordan Paramor from Smash Hits gave Moorish' version of the song four out of five, writing, "It's great! it's laid-back and funky with smooth vocals, and, joy of joys, George even sings on it!"[25]

Charts

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Weekly chart performance for "I'm Your Man"
Chart (1995) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[26] 66
Europe (European Dance Radio)[27] 12
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[28] 16
Quebec (ADISQ)[29] 34
Scotland (OCC)[30] 29
UK Dance (OCC)[31] 7
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[32] 6
UK on a Pop Tip Club Chart (Music Week)[33] 25

Shane Richie version

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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 listing

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

Charts

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Certifications

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References

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