Accepting the honor on behalf of the duo, Ridgeley reflected on what the achievement would have meant to his late partner, George Michael.
“It’s a truly immense accolade, one of which I’m very proud,” Ridgeley told the station. “George would have been similarly extraordinarily moved to know that this song—one of the jewels in the crown—is so much loved by the people. That was always the mark of success for us as songwriters, and him as an artist.”
During an intimate conversation with Magic Radio’s Dan Morrissey, Ridgeley took fans back to the song’s humble beginnings in 1981. At the “tender age of 19,” the pair had no idea they were crafting a global phenomenon.
“The sax melody occurred to [George] on the bus,” Ridgeley revealed. “That was mated with a chord pattern that I had come up with, and then we developed it from there. We wrote the lyrics together in a basement flat in Peckham.”
The track was instrumental in the duo’s career trajectory, with Ridgeley noting it was one of the key demos that originally got Wham! signed to a record deal. “It was a great time in our lives, and a happy one,” he added.
The 2026 poll results highlight the enduring popularity of 1980s pop. Careless Whisper managed to beat out heavy competition, pushing Bryan Adams’ power ballad “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” into second place. Queen’s operatic epic “Bohemian Rhapsody” rounded out the top three, taking the bronze spot.
For Ridgeley, the award serves as a poignant reminder that while the duo began as teenagers in a London basement, their music has achieved a level of immortality rarely seen in the industry.
