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Wham! made history 30 years ago with China performance

Wham! in concert
George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley of pop group Wham! during a live performance in 1984.
Express Newspapers | Getty Images 1984

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Today's Morning Edition music is from Wham! performing "Everything She Wants" live in Beijing 30 years ago Tuesday.

With this performance, Wham! became the first Western pop band to play in China.

The group's manager, Simon Napier-Bell, told the BBC that he was the one who got the Chinese government to allow the concert. He convinced them that if they wanted foreign investment they needed to appear welcoming to the rest of the world.

The band Queen was also trying to get into China at the same time, but Napier-Bell brought photographs designed to show that his band was the more clean-cut option. The crowd's reaction to the show was pretty subdued after an announcement was made ordering everyone to stay seated.