This was always interesting to me, as I recall, Rolling Stone laughed at these guys, due to them being a “white rap group”; in their review of the British Invasion, Part 2, in 1983/84. Little did they know that shortly, they’d be huge, even in America.
As a showcase how they changed, Young Guns (Go for It) came from 1982 and was rap. But after several giant hits, in a variety of pop styles, they released in 1986, my personal favourite, Edge of Heaven – far more upbeat and for Wham, maybe even “gritty”? If that is an oxymoron, please forgive me.
Curious Bystander 