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Last Christmas

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"Last Christmas"
Song

Last Christmas was a song by British pop duo Wham!, released on Epic Records in 1984, on a double A-side with Everything She Wants. It was written by George Michael, one half of the duo.

The song's Christmas theme was essentially a ruse to draw in the festive market as the lyrics were entirely about a failed relationship, which just happened to come to a head the previous Christmas. There were no other words or expressions within the lyrics with a seasonal theme or hint, except for a sleighbell effect during the instrumental interlude.

Wham! had been a dominant force in the UK singles chart in 1984 and news that they were planning a Christmas single meant that a mouth-watering battle for the coveted Christmas #1 spot in the UK seemed set to be between Wham! and the year's other big act, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, who had achieved a third #1 in early December with The Power Of Love. However, the Band Aid project, helmed by Bob Geldof, ensured that the destination of the Christmas #1 spot became a non-contest. Wham!'s offering peaked at #2 for much of the period, although George's involvement in Band Aid meant that Wham! still had an input. Wham! subsequently topped up the monies raised by Band Aid by donating all of their Last Christmas/Everything She Wants royalties to the Ethiopian famine appeal.

Last Christmas did make #1 in various other countries.

The video to Last Christmas saw George and partner Andrew Ridgeley accompanying girlfriends to see friends at their home in an unspecified ski resort, although the funicular that can be seen in two shots is from Saas-Fee, Switzerland. It became clear early on, however, that Andrew's girlfriend had previously been in a relationship with George, and it was to her character the song was aimed. The video also featured the duo's erstwhile backing singers Pepsi and Shirlie and Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp, the boyfriend and future husband of Shirlie Holliman.

The single sold well over a million copies and became the biggest selling single in UK chart history not to reach #1. A year later, it was re-issued for Christmas again (this time without a billed flip-side) and got to #6. A second re-issue at Christmas 1986 - by which time Wham! had split - stalled outside the top 40.

Danish singer Whigfield did a cover version of the song which just failed to make the top 20 in the UK at Christmas 1995. A number of other artists have recorded the song with varied levels of success, including Ashley Tisdale, Hilary Duff, Keshia Chanté, Human Nature, Billie Piper, Darren Hayes of Savage Garden, The Cheetah Girls, Manic Street Preachers, Jimmy Eat World, Busted, Crazy Frog, Hawk Nelson, Swedish artist Jan Johansen, Korean pop princess BoA and Japanese actor Yuji Oda(with American Musician Butch Walker), although only the Wham! original has maintained status as an airplay and party staple each festive season on both sides of the Atlantic. Richard Cheese also did a cover of this on his 2006 album, "Silent Nightclub".

A version attributed to the Beatles has made the rounds as an MP3 download, and is performed in a flatteringly imitative style, extremely reminiscent of the early Beatles and includes a sound quality and characteristic of the period. The vocals are not convincing however and eventually betray the hoax, in addition to the plain fact that the song was written well more than a decade after the Beatles stopped recording, and long after they ceased to exist.

The opening instrumental features a Yamaha DX7 synthesizer, much in vogue at the time, using the "INT Preset #12 (Guitar)" sound. A Linn drum machine was used. The combination of the DX7 and Linn drum machine was a staple in early 1980's pop music.

The Nintendo 64 video game: "Beetle Adventure Racing" samples this song in the level "Mount Mayhem."

The song is frequently confused with Kool and the Gang's hit "Joanna".

Tracklisting

1984 release

7": Epic / A 4949 (UK)

  1. "Last Christmas" (4:24)
  2. "Everything She Wants" (5:07)

7": Epic / QA 4949 (UK)

  1. "Everything She Wants (Remix)" (5:31)
  2. "Last Christmas" (4:24)

12": Epic / TA 4949 (UK)

  1. "Last Christmas (Pudding Mix)" (6:47)
  2. "Everything She Wants" (5:07)

12": Epic / QTA 4949 (UK)

  1. "Everything She Wants (Remix)" (6:30)
  2. "Last Christmas (Pudding Mix)" (6:47)

1985 reissue

7": Epic / WHAM 1 (UK)

  1. "Last Christmas" (4:24)
  2. "Blue (Armed With Love) [Live in China]" (5:43)

12": Epic / WHAM T1 (UK)

  1. "Last Christmas (Pudding Mix)" (6:47)
  2. "Blue (Armed With Love) [Live in China]" (5:43)
  3. "Everything She Wants (Remix)" (5:31)

1986 reissue

7": Epic / 650269 7 (UK)

  1. "Last Christmas" (4:24)
  2. "Where Did Your Heart Go?" (5:43)

12": Epic / 650269 6 (UK)

  1. "Last Christmas (Pudding Mix)" (6:47)
  2. "Where Did Your Heart Go?" (5:43)
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