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"Last Christmas" is a song by British pop duo Wham!, released on Epic Records in 1984, on a double A-side with "Everything She Wants". Originally written and produced by George Michael, and has been covered by many artists since its original release.

Wham! (original) version

Chart performances

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 battle for the coveted Christmas number one 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 number one in early December with "The Power of Love". The Band Aid project helmed by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, however, produced the number one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?". Wham!'s offering peaked at number two for much of the period, although George's involvement in Band Aid meant that Wham! still had an input. Wham! subsequently topped 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 reach number one in various other countries.

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

The song gradually sold in Japan and became the best-selling single that did not reach that country's top-10 chart, selling more than 600,000 copies and peaking on the chart at number twelve in 1992.

Since 1997, the song has entered the German singles chart every year, even managing to peak at number four in 2007. The song also regularly re-enters the airplay chart within the top five every year.

In 2007, the track re-entered the UK Top 20 and hit the UK iTunes Top 10.

In 2008, the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart again, this time at number thirty-six and peaking at number twenty-six.

In 2009, the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number thirty-nine. The song also re-entered the Spanish Lista de Canciones (singles chart) at number nine.

On 13 December 2011, the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number twenty-six. The song also re-entered the Billboard Holiday Chart, peaking at #10.

In 2013 it was the most streamed single on Christmas Day according to Spotify, http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a540579/whams-last-christmas-is-2013s-most-streamed-festive-song.html

In Germany, the song is the most successful Christmas single of all time, having spent 106 weeks on the German Singles Chart and attained a peak position of number four. In January 2008, the song fell from number four to sixty-four there, also making it the biggest fall out of the top ten on the singles chart.

In the UK, it was the fastest selling single which did not top the UK Singles Chart.

Music video

The video to "Last Christmas" shows George Michael and partner Andrew Ridgeley accompanying girlfriends to see friends at an unspecified ski resort—although the cable-car that can be seen in two shots is from Saas-Fee, Switzerland. It becomes clear early on that the character of Ridgeley's girlfriend (played by model Kathy Hill) was previously in a relationship with Michael, and that the song is aimed at her. She can easily be spotted throughout the video by the fact that she's usually wearing red, while everyone else is wearing more muted colors.

There is a brief flashback to "Last Christmas" showing Michael's character presenting her with a jewelled brooch. By means of a rapid shift in fabric colors (red to black) and its positioning (stem up, stem down) it is suggested that she's still wearing it, and didn't return it to him when they parted ways. On numerous occasions Michael presents a thoughtful, confused expression, suggesting his conflicting emotions.

Her seeming indifference to Ridgeley's open displays of affection makes the viewer wonder if Ridgeley's heart is the next to be broken. However, at the end of the video everyone leaves properly "paired off," so perhaps it's being suggested that Michael has worked out his conflicts and confusion and now realizes he is after all with the right girl.

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 video also marks the last filmed appearance of a cleanshaven Michael, as he sported a beard (which he has had since then) in the video for "Everything She Wants".

Track listings

Charts and certifications

Other recordings

Whigfield version

In the UK the following single planned after "Close to You" was "Big Time", however, it was suggested that Whigfield should record a version of "Last Christmas" to go with the release of "Big Time", as a double A-side single. The single was also released as a double A-side single in Germany with "Close to You". In other countries "Last Christmas" was released on its own with various remixes. The single reached #21 in the UK, which was Whigfield's final release on Systematic Records. It also features on various Special Edition versions of her debut album Whigfield and also on Whigfield II. The EP was released 10 November 1995 in Australia. A UK single was released on 3 December 1995.

Official versions

1. "Last Christmas" (Major version)
2. "Last Christmas" (Minor version)
3. "Last Christmas" (Major Mild EQ version)
4. "Last Christmas" (K David version)
5. "Last Christmas" (David version)
6. "Last Christmas" (MBRG version)
7. "Last Christmas" (MBRG radio edit)

Charts

Billie version

Billie originally recorded a cover of the song as a B-Side of her single "She Wants You". It was released as CD single in limited areas of Europe, and did not chart in any country. The single was also released as a promotional Vinyl Single in the UK, limited to 500 copies and therefore could not chart there.

Track listings

European CD single

1. "Last Christmas"
2. "She Wants You" (album version)
3. "She Wants You" (Sharp Ballrom Remix)

UK promo vinyl

1. "Last Christmas" (edit)
2. "She Wants You" (radio edit)

Jimmy Eat World version

Last Christmas was released as a single by Jimmy Eat World in 2001, following the band's breakthrough hit album Bleed American. The B-Side was a cover of "Firestarter," by The Prodigy.

Track listing

Hilary Duff

Listed as the first track off of her debut album, Santa Claus Lane.

Charts

Ashley Tisdale

"Last Christmas" was recorded in 2006 for Warner Bros. Records by Ashley Tisdale. The song was released to US radios on 11 November 2006 and as a digital download on 21 November 2006. This song was the first single released by Ashley Tisdale in her deal with Warner Bros. Records and became her official first holiday single. Tisdale performed the single in 2007 on Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rockefeller Center, and in 2009 in the Citadel Outlets of Los Angeles, California. The song was one of the B-Sides in the European CD singles of Tisdale's first single "Be Good to Me" and Tisdale's second single "He Said She Said", from the album Headstrong. The song has been included on several compilation albums, including A Very Special Christmas Vol.7 and A Disney Channel Holiday.

Track listings

Digital download

1. "Last Christmas" (single version) - 3:55

Charts

Crazy Frog

"Last Christmas" was covered in 2006 by Crazy Frog and released as a Christmas single. In Belgium, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and France, "Last Christmas" was released 12 months before in other countries.

Track listings

CD single

1. "Last Christmas" (radio edit)
2. "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"
3. "Last Christmas" (club mix)
4. "Nellie the Elephant"
5. "Last Christmas" (video)

Charts

Cascada version

"Last Christmas" was recorded in 2007 by Cascada. It was released on iTunes in November 2007. The single had only a digital release but 6 days later it was released on the single/EP "What Hurts the Most" which was the first single from their second album.

In the UK, despite it being a B-side track, the song is regularly played throughout music channels during the festive season. The two official music videos got more than 45 million views on YouTube.

It will be released as part of their Christmas album, It's Christmas Time.

iTunes download

• "Last Christmas" – 3:52

Charts

* Based on downloads alone, but did chart at #10, as it was the B-side to "What Hurts the Most".

Alcazar version

The song was covered by Alcazar as the sixth single to be released from their third studio album Disco Defenders. The single was only released digitally in Germany. It was included as a bonus track on the Swedish special edition version of Disco Defenders, released on 18 November 2009.

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single.

Track listings

Digital download

1. "Last Christmas"
2. "One Two Three Four"

Joe McElderry version

British solo singer Joe McElderry covered the song in 2011. This version was released as a single on 19 December 2011, an EP was also released digitally in Ireland on 4 November 2011, and in the UK on 7 November 2011. Joe McElderry's version is taken from his third studio album, Classic Christmas, released 28 November 2011. 7th Heaven Remix & Production have done a remix for the song. A short music video was made using footage which was filmed for the Classic Christmas's album advert, it features McElderry outside in the snow, collecting logs and taking them to a large house preparing for a Christmas party, a similar video was made for McElderry's version of "O Come All Ye Faithful". The advert and both videos were directed by Steve Lucker.

Track listings

EP 1

1. "Last Christmas" – 4:18
2. "Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)" – 3:07
3. "Silent Night" – 3:28

7th Heaven Remixes

1. "Last Christmas" (7th Heaven Remix) – 6:54
2. "Last Christmas" (7th Heaven Remix Edit) – 3:47

Other cover versions

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

• AXS
• All About Eve
• Arctic Monkeys
• Ariana Grande
• As One
• A Pink
• Atomic Kitten
• Atomic Tom
• Birgit Õigemeel
• BoA
• The BossHoss
• Brite Futures
• Britt Nicole
• BTH
• Busted
• The Collective recorded a cover version of "Last Christmas" and released it as their second single on 14 December 2012. It is also included on their self-titled debut mini album, The Collective.
• Carrie Underwood Live at the White House for Christmas in Washington
• Carole King on her 2011 album A Holiday Carole
• Celtic Thunder's Keith Harkin (2010)
• The Cheetah Girls
• Christian Bautista
• CNBLUE performed "Last Christmas" in Blue Night Concert December 2012.
• Coldplay
• The Cocktail Slippers
• In 1984, Dalida performed "Last Christmas" in French language as "Reviens-Moi" (Dali (album)).
• Darren Hayes (of Savage Garden; from Rosie O'Donnell's 1999 Christmas album A Rosie Christmas; also includes the lyrics, Guilty feet have got no rhythm, near the end of the song, a reference to Wham!'s smash hit single "Careless Whisper")
• Dexter Freebish
• The Dutch group Djumbo sang "Last Christmas" at "Het Grote Kerstfeest" in 2008
• Eleventyseven (on their 2012 Christmas EP, Regifted)
• German Version by Erdmöbel titled Weihnachten in 2006
• Erlend Øye
• Exile (lyrics translated to Japanese)
• The Finals – A Santa Cause 2: It's a Punk Rock Christmas compilation (Immortal Records)
• Fonda
• Florence and the Machine (on BBC Radio 1)
• Foxxi MisQ
• Frank Turner
• Glee Cast (peaked at #63 on the Billboard Hot 100, the first time a cover version of the song appeared on the chart, and at #27 on the Adult Contemporary chart.)
• Gregory Douglass in 2009 on the Merry EP.
• Hawk Nelson
• Hilary Duff
• Hitomi Shimatani
• Human Nature
• I Like Trains
• J
• Jamelia
• Jan Johansen
• Jason Kirkness
• Jennifer Love Hewitt
• Jimmy Eat World on Last Christmas and Christmas
• JLS, also on an X Factor UK final (2008).
• John Holt
• Keshia Chanté
• Kimberley Locke
• Kanute
• Laura Pausini & Irene Grandi, in Laura's special Christmas show from her "Inedito World Tour" in 25 December 2011 at Milano, Italy (See video)
• Lala Band
• Leigh Nash
• Little Boots, formerly of Dead Disco
• Madsen
• Marcus Collins, on The X Factor UK series 8 final (2011); the theme was 'Christmas songs'.
• Masterboy
• The Maine
• Manic Street Preachers, a version by James Dean Bradfield appears on the 2003 compilation Lipstick Traces
• Seiko Matsuda
• Max Raabe, a German version in a 1920s style.
• Metro Station recorded a cover version as included on their double A side single "Kelsey/Last Christmas" in the UK in 2009, accompanied by a video.
• Michie Tomizawa (1996)
• Milla Kay (2011)
• Miranda Cosgrove
• Moon Hee Jun
• Nell
• Nicole, the Winner of Eurovision Song Contest 1982, on her Christmas Songs CD (2006)
• Ohbijou
• The Only Way is Essex Cast
• The Ordinary Boys
• Pauline Wilson
• The Parenthetical Girls, formerly The Swastika Girls
• Phaksy from Idols (South African TV series)
• Polish version with Polish lyrics – "Kolęda dwóch serc" performed by Andrzej Piaseczny, Mietek Szcześniak, Kuba Badach & Andrzej Lampert (from the album "Święta, Święta II")
• Piccolo Coro dell'Antoniano, as "Questo Natale"
• The Puppini Sisters
• Q;indivi (on Winter Celebration, credited as "Q;indivi feat. Rin Oikawa")
• Raunchy
• Richard Cheese covered this on his Christmas album, Silent Nightclub. The song begins but is quickly halted by Cheese, who states he's changed his mind on performing the cover because "that song sucks".
• Richard Poon (from his 2011 Christmas album, Christmas with Richard Poon)
• Romina Power
• Rooney
• Roses Are Red (for the album based on the Taste of Chaos tour: Taste of Christmas)
• The Rubber Band
• Rumble Fish
• Hong Kong singer Sammi Cheng in her 2009–2010 tour Love Mi, duet with noted composer and producer Hanjin
• Croatian singer Saša Lozar covered the song as part of the 2003 Story Supernova Music Talents talent show.
• Savage Garden
• SHINee - South Korean boy band, cover released in 2011 Winter SMTown – The Warmest Gift
• Spagna for her 2010 holiday album Buon Natale
• Jazz-instrumental band State Of The Heart covered it on their Holiday album, Christmas Moods (this version was an instrumental).
• Russian pop-group Strelki covered song as "С Новым годом" ("Happy New Year") in 1998
• Super Junior-K.R.Y. performed "Last Christmas" in Special Winter Concert Japan 2012.
• Kim Tae-yeon from Girls' Generation
• Taylor Swift (Peaked at #28 on U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 2007)
• Taiwan band F.I.R for the concert in Hong Kong in 2008
• The Three Degrees
• Thirteen Senses, recorded for BBC Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley in early December 2004.
• Thomas Anders
• Tiffany Hwang from Girls' Generation on MBC SNSD's Christmas Special on 24 December 2011.
• Michie Tomizawa as Sailor Mars (for Sailor Moon album Sailor Stars Merry Christmas)
• Travis (Live @ Alexandra Palace DVD)
• South African group Tweak (band) as Last Xmas
• 2-4 Family under the moniker, Rap Allstars.
• 2PM
• Vedera
• Victoria Asher
• Victoria Duffield
• Victoria Justice
• The Ventures
• The Violet Burning
• We The Kings
• Yoko Watanabe
• The Yule Logs, from Chico, California, on their self-titled CD
• Yuji Oda (with Butch Walker)
• The XX (live on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge)

References

1. ""Last Christmas" erfolgreichster Weihnachtssong aller Zeiten - media control". Media-control.de. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
2. "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche". musicline.de. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
3. Kent, David (editor) (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
4. ^ "Last Christmas" by Wham!, in various singles charts Hitparade.ch (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
5. German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved 17 July 2008)
6. "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. Retrieved 9 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
7. "Hungarian Singles Chart – Top 10 lista" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
8. Irish Singles Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
9. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
10. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Dance Top 50. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
11. UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
12. ^ Billboard allmusic.com (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
13. "Danish single certifications – Wham – Last Christmas". IFPI Danmark.
14. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Wham; 'Last Christmas')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
15. "Ελληνικό Chart – Top 50 Singles" (in Greek). IFPI Greece.
16. "Italian single certifications – Wham – Last Christmas" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Last Christmas" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
17. "List of best-selling international singles in Japan". JP&KIYO. 2002.
18. Dan Lane (25 December 2012). "The Top 10 biggest selling Christmas songs of all time!". The Official Chart Company. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
19. id MUST BE PROVIDED for UK CERTIFICATION.
20. Grein, Paul (27 November 2013). "Chart Watch: Lorde Wins A Squeaker". Chart Watch. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
21. "Whigfield – Last Christmas" (in French). Ultratop 50.
22. "Whigfield: Last Christmas" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
23. "Whigfield – Last Christmas" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
24. Billboard: Hits of the World, 7 May 1994
25. "Whigfield – Last Christmas". Singles Top 100.
26. http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/download.php?nationGbn=E&current_week=50&current_year=2011&chart_Time=week
27. http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/mobile.php?chartCode=S2020&current_week=50&current_year=2012&chart_Time=week
28. "Last Christmas (DMD Single): Ashley Tisdale: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
29. ^ Amazon.com
30. Amazon.com. "He Said She Said (European Single)". Amazon. Retrieved 20 July 2008.
31. ^ "Billboard.biz: Ashley Tisdale". Billboard. Retrieved 5 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
32. ^ "Last Christmas" by Crazy Frog, in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved 16 December 2007)
33. ^ "Last Christmas" by Crazy Frog, in various singles charts Acharts.us (Retrieved 21 July 2008)
34. "Cascada – Last Christmas" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
35. http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK2007.HTM
36. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
37. Disco Defenders - Special Edition
38. Last Christmas Digital Single
39. Joe McElderry announces new album 'Classic Christmas' Digital Spy. Retrieved on 31 October 2011.
40. Behind The Scenes at Joe's Classic Christmas Winter Wonderland! Decca Records on YouTube. Retrieved on 21 December 2011.
41. Joe McElderry - Last Christmas iTunes Store. Retrieved on 7 November 2011.
42. Joe McElderry - Last Christmas (7th Heaven Remixes) iTunes Store. Retrieved on 11 December 2011.
43. "Last Christmas – Single by The Collective". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
44. Trust, Gary (16 June 2010). "'Glee': A Record-Setting Freshman Year". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
45. "Last Christmas". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
46. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnAWssTte5c
47. "Happy Holidays from Ohbijou!". ohbijou.com. 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
48. http://www.musica.co.za/cd/id/6009143488335/Various_Artists-Idols_Top_10_Christmas_Album Retrieved 15 October 2013
49. 2011 Winter SMTown - The Warmest Gift on iTunes December 13, 2011. Retrieved 2012-05-08
50. http://www.rock.co.za/legends/2000plus/santa.html Retrieved 15 October 2013
51. "Muziek | Myspace Music". Music.myspace.com. Retrieved 9 April 2012.

External links

• Last-Christmas.com Collection of cover versions of the song
• "Last Christmas", lyrics
• LastChristmas.pl, Polish translation
• Template:MetroLyrics song

• Cite certification used for United Kingdom without ID
• Use dmy dates from August 2011
• Songs written by George Michael
• 1984 singles
• 1995 singles
• 1999 singles
• 2006 singles
• 2007 singles
• 2009 singles
• 2011 singles
• Wham! songs
• Ashley Tisdale songs
• Cascada songs
• The Collective songs
• Crazy Frog songs
• Billie Piper songs
• Kimberley Locke songs
• Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
• Oricon International Singles Chart number-one singles
• Christmas songs
• Jimmy Eat World songs
• Singles certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan