Synopsis

Wham! play out "Bad Boys" as a cheeky tale of teenage rebellion. George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley escape parental disapproval, cruising around with a blonde companion while presenting themselves as stylish delinquents. The video shifts between performance shots, comic domestic scenes and images of youthful freedom, matching the song's story of a teenager whose late nights and smoking frustrate his parents. Its leather jackets, convertible and exaggerated attitude turn the duo's early "bad boy" image into playful pop theater rather than genuine menace.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Bad Boys" was released in May 1983 as the third single from Wham!'s debut album, Fantastic.

• George Michael wrote the song when he was 19, the same age as the rebellious character described in the lyrics.

• The video's parental confrontation has an unusual casting detail: Anthony Souter, who played Michael's father, was only 18 at the time and was made up to look older.

• English model Gail Lawson appears as the blonde girl riding with Michael and Ridgeley in the convertible.

• The song's rebellious image was part of Wham!'s early presentation as politically aware, independent "soul boys," before the duo moved toward the brighter, more polished pop style that made them international stars.

• "Bad Boys" became Wham!'s biggest UK hit from Fantastic, reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.

• George Michael later expressed strong dislike for the song, calling it an "albatross" around his neck. It was subsequently left off the 1997 compilation The Best of Wham!: If You Were There....