Wham!

There are hardly any talking heads in this documentary. Even the old Andrew Ridgeley can only be heard, but is never seen. The story is basically told with archive footage. And what a great story this is, a bit like the Mozart fantasy in Amadeus (1984), but this time in real.

Two teenagers, who behave like stupid teenagers and are considered to be idiots by many experts from the music press, turn out a string of catchy songs that are still - 40 years later - well known and liked. They authentically embodied the youthful energy, genius and lust for life that's at the heart of pop music. When they ended the Wham!-project in 1986 with their final concert, nearly exactly 4 years after the release of their first - and unsuccessful - single in June 1982, the best reason given was that they considered themselves no longer to be adolescents. A rare realization.

Andrew Ridgeley was the moving spirit of Wham!, the energy. George Michael - nicknamed "Yog" by Andrew - was the genius. He became more and more obsessed with writing and producing songs, obsessed with the number 1 spot in the charts. He created most of the music, but turned a bit into a megalomaniac. During his solo career he wrote immortal songs like ... I don't know, actually. Aside from from the first post-Wham! Album, Faith (1987), he only released four more, from 1990 to 2004, with fine, but unremarkable music.

The Wham!-Story is unique, fabulous, magical. Does this documentary reveal the whole truth about this seemingly impossible success? Probably not. But it does a good enough job offering plausible explanations. It should satisfy most of its viewers.

Pop band formed in England by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley.

And a Netflix documentary about this group.

As Turkey's biggest George Michael collector, this documentary contains records that I have never heard of before, and details that I have not seen.

This; The story of two misfits, who are not even alike, changing the history of music... This; A window into George Michael's personality... This; An impressive store of information about the entire world music industry over the England of the period.

This; A depiction of how volatile, forgetful the 80s were, despite not having the social media of today.

With pieces such as Careless Whisper and wham rap that George Michael wrote when he was only 16 years old, he proved what a great music person he was 43 years ago.

It is a very nice feeling to watch the unknowns of this great musician's adolescence period, but it is also a bit sad.

Here is the story of a lonely man in the crowd.

In England, because he comes from a Greek family... Because he has to do things he doesn't want in the music industry he loves so much ... Because he is a gay teenager who has to hide himself among the people he loves...

Long story short Wham! The documentary is a very important Netflix project not only for the fans of George Michael, but also because it portrays the period.

There isn't anything particularly revelatory about this 2023 documentary about the definitive '80's pop duo, but it's a mostly effective retelling of their successful albeit brief track record on the top of the charts. What appears reassuring was the genuine friendship depicted between George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. And how George's mercurial talent as a songwriter and performer quickly broke the pair apart professionally. If there were ugly moments between them, you won't find evidence of them here. Director Chris Smith took a more vanilla approach and used audio-only interviews with George and Andrew to narrate most of the story. Since George died tragically in 2016, Smith apparently didn't want to lean too much on a present-day Ridgeley to have the final word on their story. The still-catchy music speaks for itself.

Did I need a Wham! Documentary in my life? I didn't think do, but turns out I was wrong. Now let's be clear I wasn't a Wham! Fan. I did grow up in the 80s, but I don't think there's a single Wham! Song I like. So why on earth am I watching this? Well partly the power of Netflix marketing and partly that I do enjoy a good documentary. And this is a good documentary. It doesn't break any moulds, the format of tons of archive is fairly standard now, but there is a wealth of stuff here that takes you right back to the era with nailed on authenticity. Two high school mates, fooling around with music, playing, experimenting. Nothing much else to do and plenty of social discord to feed off, as they muck around with home demos. What's obvious though is they've got talent and drive and in George (or Yog), a great charismatic singer. 'Wham Rap' still leaves me cold, but hey at least there was some substance to it and in 'Careless Whisper', although it's pure schmaltz, it's pop potential really does smack you in the face. What's interesting now, watching in 2023 is the reliance they had on the record industry to be given a break. No social media or accessible DIY scene. Young George and Andrew aren't work shy, putting in the hours on dingy club tours, but it's a lucky break getting the chance to fill in for a no show on Top of the Pops and from there things go nuts. It's all about the look. It's the 80s after all. Pretty boys (plus the two girls) and a dance routine what more do you need? Nothing apparently. The hits keep coming, charting every single. There's no talking heads and most of the narration comes from Andrew Ridgley, stock filling in where the archive gets sparse, but there's plenty from George Micheal too, these parts beautifully edited to make it feel like he's been part of the production with the two friends still bouncing off one another. No more so, than when the subject of George's sexuality comes out. How he handled it or rather didn't. His realisation that he was gay, at a time where that was still an issue in a Conservative British society. Instead of being excepted as it would be today (in music at least), it's repressed and hidden. Overshadowed by the critical punches they took as their pop star rose. Screaming teenagers taking over as they go on tour, they play up to it, leaving by what I'm sure are the front doors of Manchester Apollo (58:50) in towel robes, when they could've snuck out the side door. It's the era of Whamania and they admittedly love it, sticking their faces on merch... and making sod all money. It's details like this that make documentaries on subjects you didn't think you cared about interesting. Because you don't know everything and often because you've not paid attention and dismissed something, you've not realised there's more meat on the bone. So we wind through the sordid issues or dodgy record deals, the band creative separation, ambition and two people on different paths. Ridgley talks openly and candidly, as much of the story becomes commanded by George. It's to Ridgley's credit that he drives this so well. It's a love letter to a lost friend. Am I a converted Wham! Fan? No, not at all, but I'll admit more respect for George Micheal and Andrew Ridgley, what they did and how they did it.

After a long day at work I needed something to watch and this came up since I had added it to my list.

It was nice to listen to George and Andrew go through the beginning of their friendship to the inspiration and growth of their music careers. You could see the ache Yog had for becoming that artist he always wished to be. These two young men had such an incredible experience and near the end when you could feel George becoming the solo star he was meant to be, it became a bit heartbreaking but you could see that was necessary. George was a powerhouse and yet he began a quiet, gentle soul. Made me teary at the end but truly enjoyed it.