Bad Boys (Wham! song)

Single infobox |
Name = Bad Boys


Artist = Wham!
from Album = Fantastic
Released = 1983
Format = 12", 7"
Recorded =
Genre = Pop
Length = 3:19
Label = Innervision Records
Producer = Steve Brown, George Michael
Last single = "Wham! Rap" (1983)
This single = "Bad Boys" (1983)
Next single = "Club Tropicana" (1983)

"Bad Boys" was a song by British pop duo Wham! which was a hit in 1983. It was written by George Michael, one half of the duo, and released on Innervision Records.

The song was an energetic but endearing tale of a rebellious teenage lad's struggle against his parents who are concerned about his late-night activities. Although George wrote and sang it from the teenager's perspective (he was himself only 19 when he composed it and the character refers to being that age in the song), he also penned a middle eight in which the "parents" (George putting on more "adult" voices) aired their concerns, which included late nights and cigarettes and ultimately asking"Why do you have to be so cruel?"

It was the third single to be taken from Wham!'s debut album, "Fantastic!", and reached #2 in the UK singles chart, going on to become the 26th best selling single of 1983. At the time, Wham! were projecting a hard, politically-motivated image, with "Bad Boys" one of a number of songs projecting a stance of mood and youthful independence.

"Bad Boys" became the biggest hit from the debut album, although it would be usurped by "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" from the album "Make It Big" in 1984, which became the first of four UK #1 singles the duo would enjoy. George quickly denounced "Bad Boys" as a song he hated, stating it was "like an albatross round my neck"." The song was famously omitted from the 1997 compilation album If You Were There (The Best of Wham), despite the album including tracks that weren't even released as singles.

Track listing

7": Innervision / A 3143 (UK)

# "Bad Boys" (3:20)
# "Bad Boys [Instrumental" (3:25)

12": Innervision / TA 3143 (UK)

# "Bad Boys [12" Mix] " (4:58)
# "Bad Boys [Instrumental" (3:25)

Chart performance