George Michael’s saxophone riff starts. You know the one. It’s sultry, it’s a little bit cheesy, and it’s arguably the most iconic musical cue in modern superhero cinema. When people talk about the Wham song from Deadpool, they aren't just talking about a background track; they’re talking about the soul of the movie. It’s "Careless Whisper." Technically, it’s credited to George Michael solo in many territories, but in the context of the 1984 album Make It Big, it’s the definitive Wham! power ballad that bridged the gap between boy-band pop and legendary solo status.
Why does it work? It works because Wade Wilson is a mess.
Deadpool isn't Captain America. He’s a guy who loves IKEA furniture, Hello Kitty, and incredibly earnest 80s pop. When Ryan Reynolds pushed for this specific track, he wasn't just looking for a joke. He was looking for a heartbeat. The song shows up during the final moments of the first film, as Wade and Vanessa reunite amidst the wreckage of a scrapyard. It’s ridiculous. It’s perfect.
✨ Don't miss: Why 2 Days in the Valley is the Best 90s Cult Movie You Forgot
The Story Behind the Wham Song from Deadpool
"Careless Whisper" was actually written by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley when Michael was only 17 years old. Think about that. A teenager wrote one of the most enduring songs about guilt and regret while riding a bus to work. By the time it became the Wham song from Deadpool fans obsessed over decades later, it had already topped charts in 25 countries.
Most people assume the song is a simple love ballad. It isn't. If you actually listen to the lyrics, it’s about a guy who cheated and knows he’s ruined everything. "I'm never gonna dance again / Guilty feet have got no rhythm." It’s dark. It’s moody. That’s exactly why it fits Wade Wilson. Wade is a character defined by self-loathing and the feeling that he’s "ruined" himself through the Weapon X program. Using a song about "guilty feet" to underscore a romantic reunion is the kind of meta-commentary that director Tim Miller and Reynolds excelled at.
That Saxophone Riff was a Nightmare to Record
Believe it or not, getting that specific sound wasn't easy. George Michael went through ten different saxophonists before he found Steve Gregory. He wanted a very specific, breathy, mournful tone. He rejected world-class musicians because they sounded "too jazz" or "too clean."
In the film, the song is played via a cassette tape that Wade carries around. It’s a tangible piece of his past. The lo-fi quality of the tape deck adds a layer of vulnerability. It’s a guy clutching onto a memory.
Why 80s Pop Defines the Deadpool Franchise
The Wham song from Deadpool isn't an outlier; it’s the blueprint. The entire franchise relies on the juxtaposition of extreme, "R-rated" violence and the shimmering, innocent sincerity of 1980s AM radio.
- Juxtaposition: You have a man getting his head twisted 180 degrees while Juice Newton’s "Angel of the Morning" plays.
- The Emotional Anchor: In Deadpool 2, they used an acoustic version of "Take On Me" by a-ha to gut-punch the audience.
- The Nostalgia Factor: These songs ground Wade in a specific era of pop culture that feels "safe" compared to his chaotic reality.
Honestly, the music acts as a translator for the audience. Without the Wham song from Deadpool, the ending of the first movie might have felt a bit too "standard action movie." Instead, it felt like a weird, beautiful fever dream. It’s the difference between a movie you watch and a movie you remember.
The Andrew Ridgeley Connection
Let’s give some credit to Andrew Ridgeley. While George Michael became the global superstar, Ridgeley’s involvement in Wham! provided the DNA for the group’s "fun-first" image. Deadpool identifies with that. Wade Wilson is a performer. He’s someone who uses a flashy exterior—the red suit, the constant jokes—to hide a lot of pain. Wham! was often dismissed by critics in the 80s as "disposable pop," much like how Deadpool is often dismissed by other superheroes as a "joke."
The Cultural Resurgence of Careless Whisper
After the movie came out in 2016, streaming numbers for "Careless Whisper" spiked. It wasn't just people being ironic. A new generation discovered that, jokes aside, the song is a masterpiece of production. The way the bass line creeps in, the layering of the synths—it’s high-level pop craftsmanship.
Interestingly, the song has become a shorthand for "sexy tension" in internet memes, but Deadpool reclaimed it as a genuine romantic theme. It shifted the needle. It moved the song from a TikTok punchline back into the realm of "cinematic needle drop."
What This Means for Deadpool & Wolverine and Beyond
As the franchise moved into the MCU with Deadpool & Wolverine, the musical stakes got higher. We saw The Greatest Showman references and N'Sync’s "Bye Bye Bye" taking center stage. But the Wham song from Deadpool remains the gold standard. It set the tone. It told the audience: "Expect the unexpected, but also, don't be afraid to feel something."
The use of "Careless Whisper" proved that you can be cynical and sincere at the exact same time. It’s a tightrope walk. If you lean too hard into the joke, the romance dies. If you lean too hard into the romance, it’s not a Deadpool movie.
✨ Don't miss: Why Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties is Still the Weirdest Sequel of the 2000s
How to Build a "Deadpool Style" Playlist
If you’re looking to capture that specific energy—the mix of high-octane chaos and 80s sincerity—you have to look beyond the hits. You need tracks that feel like they belong on a dusty cassette tape found in a locker.
- Start with the classics. You need "Careless Whisper" obviously, but add "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" for the high-energy contrast.
- Add the "Heart" tracks. Air Supply’s "All Out of Love" or Chicago’s "You’re the Inspiration." These are the songs Wade would cry to.
- The "Violence" tracks. Find upbeat, sugary pop like "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton or "Mister Sandman" by The Chordettes. The goal is to create a sense of cognitive dissonance.
The Wham song from Deadpool changed how studios look at soundtracks. It wasn't about what was "cool" or "current." It was about what was true to the character’s internal world. Wade Wilson is a guy who lives in the past because the present hurts too much. A saxophone solo from 1984 is the only thing that makes sense to him.
To really appreciate the impact, go back and watch the final scene of the first film. Ignore the jokes for a second. Look at the way the music swells as Vanessa pulls back Wade's mask. It’s a moment of pure, unadulterated vulnerability. That’s the power of a well-placed pop song. It does the heavy lifting that dialogue can’t reach.
If you're a filmmaker or a content creator, the lesson here is simple: don't be afraid of the "cheesy" choice. If it's honest, it'll work. If it's authentic to the story you're telling, the audience will follow you anywhere—even to a scrapyard in New Jersey with a guy in a red spandex suit.
Actionable Insights for Music Lovers and Creators
- Audit your "guilty pleasures." Often, the songs we are embarrassed to like are the ones with the strongest emotional resonance.
- Study the "Needle Drop." Look at how directors like James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Edgar Wright (Baby Driver) use music not just as background, but as a character.
- Check the Credits. Always look at the songwriters. Learning that George Michael wrote "Careless Whisper" at 17 changes how you hear the song. It’s raw talent before the polish of fame took over.
- Explore the Wham! Discography. If you only know the hits, dive into Music from the Edge of Heaven. There’s a complexity there that often gets overshadowed by the neon colors of the 80s.
The legacy of the Wham song from Deadpool is ultimately about permission. It gave us permission to love the "uncool" things again. It reminded us that a great melody is timeless, regardless of whether it’s playing in a luxury lounge or a superhero movie about a guy with a terminal case of the "mouth."