About The Song
“Club Tropicana” is a single by English pop duo Wham!, released on 22 July 1983 on Innervision Records. It was written by members George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley.
“Club Tropicana” was written in 1981 in Ridgeley’s living room, before the band or bandname had been fully established, and was the second Wham! song they came up with after the initial “Wham Rap!”. Although only half finished at the time of recording, it became one of the three home demos hastily made on a hired porta-studio which led to their first record contract with Innervision Records. The initial song inspiration came from their excitement over the glamour and escapism of the then burgeoning New Romantic club scene, and Michael, Ridgeley and Shirlie Holliman’s occasional visits to one such club in London, Le Beat Route. The song’s lyrical theme was then expanded to also include the hedonism of summery Club 18-30 holidays, whilst musically fusing a Latin jazz rhythm with a groove inspired by the Gap Band’s “Burn Rubber on Me”.
The song was a mild departure from Wham!’s previous singles, which had all been motivated by social or political issues. “Club Tropicana”, however, was a homage to the infamous Pikes Hotel Ibiza, frequented by Freddie Mercury and the Wham boys themselves, the video was shot at Pikes.
The song was released in July 1983 and peaked at No. 4 in the UK, going on to become the 39th best selling single of 1983. It was the fourth and final single to be taken from the album Fantastic. Wham! then achieved four UK No. 1 singles before splitting at their height in 1986.
Video
Lyrics
Let me take you to the place
Where membership’s a smiling face
Brush shoulders with the stars
Where strangers take you by the hand
And welcome you to wonderland
From beneath their panamas
Club Tropicana, drinks are free
Fun and sunshine, there’s enough for everyone
All that’s missing is the sea
But don’t worry, you can suntan
Castaways and lovers meet
Then kiss in Tropicana’s heat
Watch the waves break on the bay
Oh soft white sands, a blue lagoon
Cocktail time, a summer’s tune
A whole night’s holiday
Club Tropicana, drinks are free
Fun and sunshine, there’s enough for everyone
All that’s missing is the sea
But don’t worry, you can suntan
Club Tropicana, drinks are free
Fun and sunshine, there’s enough for everyone
All that’s missing is the sea
But don’t worry, you can suntan
Pack your bags
And leave tonight
Don’t take your time
Gotta move your feet, don’t you miss the flight!
Pack your bags
And leave tonight
Don’t take your time
Gotta move your feet, don’t you miss the flight
(Cool, cool, cool, cool)
Club Tropicana, drinks are free
Fun and sunshine, there’s enough for everyone
All that’s missing is the sea
But don’t worry, you can suntan!