"Wake me up before you go go,
Don't leave me hanging on like a yo-yo..."

A lot was happening in the music industry in 1985. Whitney Houston released her first album, Madonna embarked on her first tour, and an enormous collection of artists got together to record a little single called “We Are The World.” And then there was Wham! Consisting of two boyhood friends, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, they proceeded to dominate the radio and television airwaves and win the hearts of millions of teenage girls along the way. Yes, in 1985, the pop music market belonged to Wham!

Three years earlier, the duo picked their name from a pop art painting by Roy Liechtenstein and set out to take the pop music world by storm. They recorded their first single, titled “Young Guns (Go For It!)” which made it to #3 on the UK charts and showcased their ability to merge classic pop melodies with modern dance rhythms. But it was two years later, when the world really took notice, with the release of their first #1 hit, an upbeat, bouncy track called “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” from the Make It Big album. And make it big, they did.  When the video arrived on MTV, showing off the good looks of the stylish and dashing duo, it was an instant success. Soon, Michael and Ridgeley’s mugs were plastered on every teen magazine in the country.

Following the success of their previous single, the band released a dark romantic ballad called “Careless Whisper” and found themselves in the top slot on the charts once again. Their next single, called “Freedom” didn’t quite make it to #1 in America, but still charted at a respectable #3. They would soon be perched back at the top slot again with their next single, a synth-heavy soulful dance tune called “Everything She Wants.” With three #1 songs, Make It Big would achieve stratospheric sales numbers, eventually being certified six-times-platinum.

And yet, at the height of their popularity, the duo started feeling the strains and pressures of success and reverted back to the safety of the recording studio. Their next album, Music From the Edge of Heaven, produced another trio of Top-10 hits, including “I’m Your Man,” “A Different Corner” and “The Edge of Heaven.” It also unfortunately marked the end, as Wham! made a startling announcement to their shocked fans – they were calling it quits. They went out in style, selling out Wembley Stadium in London for a final performance in front of over 70,000 screaming fans -the end of a short but amazing ride.

Both members pursued solo careers but only one managed to take flight. Ridgeley's first release sold poorly and he was soon off pursuing racecar driving and environmental causes. George Michael, on the other hand,  continued his dominance of the charts as a solo artist. His first album, Faith, would go on to sell 20 million copies and produce 6 Top-5 singles. Subsequent offerings did just as well, as all four of his solo albums went to #1 on the British charts.

And George Michael still pays homage to his roots on occasion, delighting his fans with a Wham! tune or two at his concerts. And for those now-grown-up girls, it's like a time machine back to a simpler era of pin-up posters and MTV, and the dreamy duo that captured each of their young hearts.