‘JoJo’s Bizarre Musical Adventure’:Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Wamuu

The Pillar Men, an ancient humanoid race who possess superhuman abilities, function as the primary antagonists for Part Two of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency. The first of the Pillar Men, Santana was fought and defeated in Mexico, as we’ve seen earlier, but the other three were found beneath the Roman Colosseum.

The most honorable among the Pillar Men is Wamuu, which is the localized Japanese name of the English pop duo, Wham!

Let’s talk about the actual Wham! How did the Eighties’ favorite pop duo get their name?

“We were in a club, dancing, and we were doing this formation dance and having a laugh, Andy started shouting something about wham bam, and all this, you know, And we thought that would be a good name for a group,” George Michael had explained in an interview during Wham!’s early days.

Andrew Ridgeley added: “It was something that captured the essence of what set us apart—our energy and our friendship—and then it came to us: Wham! Wham! was snappy, immediate, fun and boisterous too.”

The Pillar Men may not have been dancing in a club but they certainly stepped out of their stone pillars striking a fabulous iconic JoJo pose.  Wamuu’s most famous line which has by now become an internet meme is undoubtedly “Awaken My Masters!” — which he shouts just as they break free from petrification. As insinuated by Wamuu, the Pillar Men do have a certain hierarchy, with Wamuu being right at the lower rung. However, despite not being the head honcho of the evil superhuman race, Wamuu is front and center not only in terms of his character arc but also simultaneously functioning as Joseph Joestar’s direct rival. 

Wake me up before you go-go

Don’t leave me hanging on like a yo-yo

Wamuu, much like the song, doesn’t waste any time in waking up his fellow Pillar Men. His attention is soon caught by Joseph, who attacks him with a Ripple infused clacker volley. Joseph manages to distract Wamuu from killing Speedwagon and Caesar. He is also nearly successful in blowing up Wamuu with dynamite. Impressing Wamuu with his tenacity and ingenious fighting style, Joseph is able to convince the former to give him a month to master the Ripple and be a worthy opponent.

Fun fact about “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” the lyrics were inspired from a note left by Ridgeley to Michael that read ‘Don’t forget to wake me up up before you go go, George.’

One, two, take a look at you

Death by matrimony

Of course, Wamuu doesn’t let him go without insurance, Joseph can’t get away completely unscathed. He places a ‘wedding ring of death’ in Joseph’s throat. It is a hollow ring containing a potent poison that would be released in 33 days. If Joseph wants to live, he’d have to not only fight Wamuu but also defeat him in order to get access to the antidote in Wamuu’s possession.  

Bad boys, stick together

Never, sad boys

Wamuu places great importance on a warrior’s honor, integrity and loyalty more than his brethren. He keeps to his word and generally does not focus his attention on anyone who isn’t planning on joining the battle. However, catch his attention and your days are numbered. Wamuu at first had planned to let Joseph go thinking he was not a threat, instead focusing on Caesar and Speedwagon, but the minute Joseph showed his true colors, he prioritizes defeating him above all else.

You wake up in the morning with a bass line

A ray of sunshine

Sometimes

You know today you’re gonna have a good time

And you’re ready to go

Wamuu makes his appearance later on in the story when the main group reaches San Moritz Switzerland. He lures Caesar into his hideout by ripping out Messina’s arm and dragging him there. Wamuu and Caesar then proceed to engage in a death match. Wamuu manages to gravely injure Caesar with his signature attack, Divine Sandstorm. Wamuu even warns Caesar that if he (Caesar) continued fighting he’d die of blood loss but Caesar doesn’t listen. Instead, he uses the last of his strength to get the antidote for Joseph before succumbing to his wounds. Wamuu, impressed with Caesar’s selfless display, allows him to take the antidote acknowledging that Caesar is an impressive fighter.

Here we go, battlestations

Wamuu finally faces off against Joseph in a one-on-one lethal chariot race at the Skeleton Heel Stone Arena. It’s a fierce fight, even more dangerous than the one against Caesar. Both Wamuu and Joseph give the fight their all, unleashing their most devastating attacks. Joseph manages to not only counter Wamuu’s ultimate attack but also tear Wamuu’s arms using his Ripple. Humiliated, Wamuu gouges his eyes out to be rid of his psychological weakness and uses his horn to sense Joseph’s next move.

In the end Joseph manages to win, Wamuu’s body explodes leaving only his disembodied head with Joseph’s Ripple, killing him slowly. Joseph offers to donate some of his own blood to ease Wamuu’s suffering stating that it is not an offer out of pity, but one from the same warrior’s honor that Wamuu possessed, to leave him the antidote Caesar had obtained. Moved by Joseph’s words, with his last remaining strength, he destroys an oncoming group of vampires that were poised to attack Joseph.

With a gun that he polished for a rainy day

A smile and a quote from a vigilante movie

Our boy Jimmy just blew them all away

Wamuu admits that he lived by his own code of warrior’s honor, despite faithfully serving the leader of Pillar Men. He requests Joseph to take the antidote before he dies. Wamuu then crumbles away, his ashes swept up in the wind.

Wamuu’s discography

“Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (Album: Make It Big, 1984)

“Young Guns (Go for It!)” (Album: Fantastic, 1983)

“Bad Boys” (Album Fantastic, 1983:)

“Ray of Sunshine” (Album: Fantastic, 1983)

“Battlestations” (Album: The Final, 1986)

“Hand to Mouth” (Album: Faith, 1987)