WHAM! - CLUB TROPICANA

Released: July 22, 1983

Charted:  US: -  UK: #4 

“Club Tropicana” is a song by Wham! released as the fourth single from his “Fantastic” album, and it marked a notable change from his previous singles, which were small anthems of youthful rebellion. This song is a celebration of the joys of summer, the appeal of the tropics, and the freedom of living the high life. 

The lyrics describe a place of hedonism and relaxation, with free drinks, dancing, and sunshine. The singer encourages listeners to take this opportunity and "pack their bags and leave tonight" to escape to Club Tropicana, where they can forget their troubles and just have fun. The song is an invitation to leave the mundane and enjoy the adventure of a tropical paradise.

This would fit perfectly into the propaganda vision for youth of the government of Margaret Thatcher's time. The triumph of a couple of boys from the suburbs who spend the money they have earned on all kinds of luxuries and invite us to share in their triumph. George Michael himself denied the Thatcherite label that was sometimes attached to Wham!, arguing that neither his songs nor his works really fit this image. Although Wham! was not a band known especially for its politically-referenced lyrics, their first hit “Wham! Rap (Enjoy What You Do?)”, was anti-establishment enough to be banned by the BBC, but it was rather the exception that proves the rule.

The lyrics on “Club Tropicana” put aside youthful rebellions and focus on living life as well as possible, and the sound becomes even funkier with powerful bass and appropriate horn accompaniment. With the sound of a opening door, the thumping slap bass line and the drum beat opens the groove with the sound of crowd sounds before Ridgeley’s rhythm guitar comes in-the Brazilian style percussion opening up the beat even further. The horns come in with just the right melodic spice on each chorus of the song. The instrumental bridge is sandwiched between two jazzy acoustic piano solos before George Michael brings the song to the end. The bass thumps, the piano sways, the horns blaze and Andrew Ridgeley's guitar groove takes us straight to the dance floor. Funk is at its best! This was one of the funkiest jams Wham! ever threw down.

In the video, leather jackets and youthful protest messages have been replaced by swimsuits and relaxing in a pool enjoying success.

The new upbeat image of the boys shown on “Club Tropicana” would continue with “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”, the apotheosis of Wham!'s upbeat pop sound that would definitively elevate them to stardom, and open the way for them to the United States success.