Week Twenty-Four: First Concert Ever - George Michael/Wham! - "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" - Make It Big

Week Twenty-Four marks the 24th anniversary of the first concert that I ever attended on October 14, 1988, at Texas Stadium in Irving, TX - The Bangles & George Michael -

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I think it's important to rewind all the way back to 1984 when I had my very first encounter with George Michael so that you can better understand why I so desperately wanted to see him in concert.

"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" was a huge hit on MTV, and it found its way into the video rotation quite frequently.  As a result of seeing this video, I was fully convinced that I would one day learn how to Jitterbug/Swing Dance like the pros.  I've actually made it out to Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas on a handful of Wednesday nights and have taken a few of their Swing Dance lessons, but I have yet to call myself a skilled Swing Dancer.  My legal courses keep getting in the way... all of my professors like to schedule them on Wednesdays!

So back to my tale... for whatever reason, I held on to a teensie bit of hope that George Michael would play this song at the concert, despite the fact that Andrew Ridgeley would obviously not be present.  I held out that hope the entire evening, but I was only slightly disappointed when my wish did not come true.

However, it was this song that began my love affair with George Michael.  As I watch the video now and see him bopping around in his booty shorts, I understand why my dad was able to determine that he had "sugar in his shoes" and why my dad was terribly concerned that he was going to catch "hell" from his employees and acquaintances about having to attend a George Michael concert!

Jitterbug [4X]

You put the boom-boom into my heart
You send my soul sky high when your lovin' starts
Jitterbug into my brain
Goes a bang-bang-bang 'til my feet do the same
But something's bugging you
Something ain't right
My best friend told me what you did last night
Left me sleepin' in my bed
I was dreaming, but I should have been with you instead.

Wake me up before you go-go 
Don't leave me hanging on like a yo-yo
Wake me up before you go-go
I don't want to miss it when you hit that high
Wake me up before you go-go
'Cause I'm not plannin' on going solo
Wake me up before you go-go
Take me dancing tonight
I wanna hit that high (yeah, yeah)

You take the grey skies out of my way
You make the sun shine brighter than Doris Day
Turned a bright spark into a flame
My beats per minute never been the same

'Cause you're my lady, I'm your fool
It makes me crazy when you act so cruel
Come on, baby, let's not fight
We'll go dancing, everything will be all right

Wake me up before you go-go 
Don't leave me hanging on like a yo-yo
Wake me up before you go-go
I don't want to miss it when you hit that high
Wake me up before you go-go
'Cause I'm not plannin' on going solo
Wake me up before you go-go
Take me dancing tonight
I wanna hit that high (yeah, yeah, baby)

(Jitterbug)
(Jitterbug)

Cuddle up, baby, move in tight
We'll go dancing tomorrow night
It's cold out there, but it's warm in bed
They can dance, we'll stay home instead

(Jitterbug)

Wake me up before you go-go 
Don't leave me hanging on like a yo-yo
Wake me up before you go-go
I don't want to miss it when you hit that high
Wake me up before you go-go
'Cause I'm not plannin' on going solo
Wake me up before you go-go
Take me dancing tonight
Wake me up before you go-go, don't you dare to leave me hanging on like a
yo-yo
Take me dancing

(Boom-boom-boom)