#172 - WHAM

This week on The Tracklist, co-hosts Daron Jenkins and Chris Saunders dive deep into the soundtrack and documentary behind one of the most iconic pop duos in music history: WHAM! From teenage best friends in North London to global superstardom, Daron and Chris unpack the high-octane triumphs and personal tribulations of Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael at the absolute height of 1980s pop mania. We explore the sonic evolution from "Young Guns (Go for It!)" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" to the bittersweet farewell at Wembley Stadium. Plus, the guys pay tribute to the incredible life, incomparable voice, and enduring musical legacy of George Michael following his tragic passing in 2016 at the age of 53. Whether you're a lifelong Wham! fan or discovering their chart-topping story for the first time, queue up the tracklist and press play. In this episode, we cover: The rapid rise of WHAM! and how two teenagers reshaped '80s pop culture Andrew Ridgeley’s essential, often underrated role as the heartbeat of the duo George Michael's undeniable songwriting genius and transition into solo stardom Standout tracks, hidden gems, and the emotional weight of their final bow Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@thedaronjenkins⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠@chrissaunders_music⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠@tracklistshow⁠⁠ Rep the show and grab some Tracklist merch at ⁠⁠tracklist-shop.fourthwall.com⁠⁠ If you enjoy the episode, leave us a rating, subscribe, and follow the show wherever you listen — it means the world and helps more people find us!