I'm Your Man (Wham! song)

"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.

"I'm Your Man"
UK 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl release artwork, also used for most international releases
Single by Wham!
from the album Music from the Edge of Heaven and The Final
B-side"Do It Right"
Released11 November 1985[1]
Recorded1985
GenreDance-pop
Length
  • 6:10 (album version)
  • 4:05 (single, video version)
Label
Songwriter(s)George Michael
Producer(s)George Michael
Wham! singles chronology
"Last Christmas" / "Everything She Wants"
(1984)		 "I'm Your Man"
(1985)		 "The Edge of Heaven"
(1986)
Music video
"I'm Your Man" on YouTube

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].[2]

History

"I'm Your Man" became Wham!'s third number one on the UK Singles Chart,[3] 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.[4]

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."[5] Billboard agreed that it has Motown influence and is "handled with affection and accuracy."[6]

Music video

The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan.[7] 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

7-inch: Epic / A 6716 (UK)
No.TitleLength
1."I'm Your Man"4:05
2."Do It Right"4:05
12-inch: Epic / TA 6716 (UK)
No.TitleLength
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

Certifications
Certifications for "I'm Your Man"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[40] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[41] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Lisa Moorish version
"I'm Your Man"
Single by Lisa Moorish
from the album I've Gotta Have It All
Released18 August 1995
Recorded1994
GenreDance
Length3:48
LabelGo! Discs
Songwriter(s)George Michael
Producer(s)Johnny Douglas
Lisa Moorish singles chronology
"Just The Way It Is"
(1995)		 "I'm Your Man"
(1995)		 "Mr Friday Night"
(1995)

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
Weekly chart performance for "I'm Your Man"
Chart (1995) Peak
position
Europe (European Dance Radio)[42] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[43] 49
UK Singles (OCC)[44] 24

Shane Richie version
"I'm Your Man"
Single by Shane Richie
Released24 November 2003 (2003-11-24)[45]
Length3:37
LabelBMG
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[46]

  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[47]

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

Charts

Certifications
Certifications and sales for "I'm Your Man"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[54] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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. "'Mr. Pop Man' Interview with George Michael (No. 1 Magazine, 1985)". gmforever.com.
  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 RPM Singles: Issue 0628." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  12. "Top 3 in Europe". Music & Media. Vol. 2, no. 51/52. 23 December 1985. p. 34.
  13. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 2, no. 51/52. 23 December 1985. p. 18. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  14. 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.
  15. "Wham! – I'm Your Man" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  16. "Wham! – Freedom" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  17. "Wham! Chart History". RÚV. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  18. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I'm Your Man". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  19. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Wham!".
  20. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Wham!" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  21. "Wham! – I'm Your Man" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  22. "Wham! – I'm Your Man". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  23. "Wham! – I'm Your Man". VG-lista. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  24. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  25. "Wham! – I'm Your Man". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  26. "Wham! – I'm Your Man". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  27. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  28. "Wham! Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  29. "Wham! Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  30. "Wham! Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  31. "Wham! Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  32. "Wham! - Awards: AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  33. "Cash Box Top 100 2/15/86". Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  34. "Top 100 1985 - UK Music Charts".
  35. "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. December 1986. Retrieved 24 January 2023 – via Imgur.
  36. 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.
  37. "The Official New Zealand Music Chart".
  38. "Top 100 Hits of 1986/Top 100 Songs of 1986".
  39. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1986". Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  40. "Canadian single certifications – Wham! – I'm Your Man". Music Canada.
  41. "British single certifications – Wham! – I'm Your Man". British Phonographic Industry.
  42. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 30 September 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  43. "Lisa Moorish – I'm Your Man" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  44. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  45. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 22 November 2003. p. 33.
  46. 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)
  47. 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)
  48. "Hits of the World: Eurocharts". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 50. 13 December 2003. p. 55.
  49. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I'm Your Man". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  50. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  51. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  52. "Top 100 Songs of 2003". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2003. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  53. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  54. "British single certifications – Shane Richie – I'm Your Man". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
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