I'm Your Man (Wham! song)
"I'm Your Man" | ||||
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Single by Wham! | ||||
from the album Music from the Edge of Heaven and The Final | ||||
B-side | "Do It Right" | |||
Released | 11 November 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1985 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | George Michael | |||
Producer(s) | George Michael | |||
Wham! singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"I'm Your Man" on YouTube |
"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:
"'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].
History
"I'm Your Man" became Wham!'s third number one on the UK Singles Chart, 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.
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." Billboard agreed that it has Motown influence and is "handled with affection and accuracy."
Music video
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2015) |
The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan. 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
All tracks are written by George Michael
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I'm Your Man" | 4:05 |
2. | "Do It Right" | 4:05 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I'm Your Man" (Extended Stimulation) | 6:53 |
2. | "Do It Right" | 4:05 |
3. | "I'm Your Man" (A Cappella) | 4:17 |
- 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
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Lisa Moorish version
"I'm Your Man" | ||||
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Single by Lisa Moorish | ||||
from the album I've Gotta Have It All | ||||
Released | 18 August 1995 | |||
Recorded | 1994 | |||
Genre | Dance | |||
Length | 3:48 | |||
Label | Go! Discs | |||
Songwriter(s) | George Michael | |||
Producer(s) | Johnny Douglas | |||
Lisa Moorish singles chronology | ||||
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In 1995, Lisa Moorish covered "I'm Your Man" for her album I've Gotta Have It All, the background vocals were sung by George Michael. Just like "Mr Friday Night", the cover was also a moderate success on the UK charts.
Charts
Chart (1995) | Peak position |
---|---|
Europe (European Dance Radio) | 12 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 49 |
UK Singles (OCC) | 24 |
Shane Richie version
"I'm Your Man" | |
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Single by Shane Richie | |
Released | 24 November 2003 |
Length | 3:37 |
Label | BMG |
Songwriter(s) | George Michael |
Producer(s) | Absolute |
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
- "I'm Your Man" – 3:37
- "I'm Your Man" (Shanghai Surprize's East End Pop Mix) – 6:37
- "I'm Your Man" (video) – 3:37
- "The Making of the Video" – 1:59
UK DVD single
- "I'm Your Man" (video)
- "I'm Your Man" (karaoke)
- "The Making of the Video"
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
- 1985 songs
- 1985 singles
- 1995 singles
- 2003 debut singles
- Bertelsmann Music Group singles
- Black-and-white music videos
- Columbia Records singles
- Epic Records singles
- Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
- Music videos directed by Andy Morahan
- Number-one singles in Denmark
- Number-one singles in New Zealand
- Song recordings produced by Absolute (production team)
- Song recordings produced by George Michael
- Songs written by George Michael
- UK Singles Chart number-one singles
- Wham! songs