" 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". It was written by George Michael, one half of the duo. The song has been covered by many artists throughout the years.
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 #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, produced the #1 single. 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 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 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.
The song gradually sold in Japan, and finally 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 #12 in 1992.
Since 1997, the song enters the German Singlecharts every year and peaked at #4 in 2007. In the airplay charts the songs enters every year the Top 5.
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 #36 and peaked at #26.
"Can't Smile Without You" settlement
Due to perceived similarities between "Last Christmas" and the song "Can't Smile Without You" as popularised by Barry Manilow, an out of court settlement was reached in which the first year's royalties were donated to the one-year-old "Band Aid" charity.
Music video
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 cable-car 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.
Track listings
Certifications
Charts
Billie version
After "She Wants You" was released in late 1998, the cover of "Last Christmas", featured as a B-Side on the single, received some airplay. Due to this, a CD Single was released in Europe and charted at #47 in Sweden. The Single was also released as a promotional Single in the UK, limited to 500 copies and therefore could not chart there. It is one of Billie's most notable songs, although it was not included on The Best of Billie.
Track listings
European CD Single
- "Last Christmas"
- "She Wants You" (Album Version)
- "She Wants You" (Sharp Ballrom Remix)
UK Promo CD
- "Last Christmas" (Edit)
- She Wants You" (Radio Edit)
Charts
Ashley Tisdale version
"Last Christmas" was recorded in 2006 for Warner Bros. Records by Ashley Tisdale. The song was officially released in radios in November 21 , 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 on Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Rockefeller Center in 2007. 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
- "Last Christmas" - 3:55
Charts
Crazy Frog version
"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
- "Last Christmas" (radio edit)
- "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"
- "Last Christmas" (club mix)
- "Nellie the Elephant"
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.
- "Last Christmas" - 3:52
* 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 sixth single to be released from their third studio album "Disco Defenders". Thus far, this single has only seen a digital release in Germany. It's to be included as a bonus track on the Swedish Special Edition version of "Disco Defenders" released on November 18th, 2009.
Track listings
Digital Download
- "Last Christmas"
- "One Two Three Four"
Charts
Other cover versions
- 2-4 Family under the moniker, Rap Allstars.
- Alex Evans for the Save Children Charity Concert in 2008
- All About Eve
- Babs & The Bopettes
- Backstreet Boys
- Birgit Õigemeel
- BoA
- Atomic Kitten
- Busted
- Carrie Underwood Live at the White House
- Cocktail Slippers
- Coldplay
- Darren Hayes
- Dexter Freebish
- Erlend Øye
- Fonda
- Glee Cast
- The BossHoss
- Madsen
- Hawk Nelson
- Hilary Duff
- Hitomi Shimatani
- Human Nature
- Jamelia
- Yuji Oda (with Butch Walker)
- Actress
- Exile
- Yoko Watanabe
- Foxxi misQ, Japanese version by a Japanese female hip hop trio group
- Michie Tomizawa as Sailor Mars (for Sailor Moon album Sailor Stars Merry Christmas )
- Jimmy Eat World
- John Holt
- JLS
- Keshia Chanté
- Kimberley Locke
- As One
- Rumble Fish
- Nell
- J
- Moon Hee Jun
- Leigh Nash
- Little Boots, formerly of Dead Disco
- The Maine (band)
- Manic Street Preachers, a version by James Dean Bradfield appears on the 2003 compilation Lipstick Traces
- New Jersey
- *NSYNC
- In 1984, Dalida performed Last Christmas in French laguage as Reviens-Moi (Album: Pour Te Dire Je T'Aime).
- Romina Power
- Polish version with polish lyrics - "Kolęda dwóch serc" performed by Andrzej "Piasek" Piaseczny, Mietek Szcześniak, Kuba Badach & Andrzej Lampert (from the album "Święta, Święta II")
- Roses Are Red (for the album based on the Taste of Chaos tour: Taste of Christmas)
- Jan Johansen
- Taylor Swift (Peaked at #28 on U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 2007)
- The Cheetah Girls
- The Maine
- The Ordinary Boys
- The Three Degrees
- The Ventures
- Richard Cheese Appeared Silent Night Club. Before the song started goes "We going sing Last Christmas by Wham, but that song sucks, Next tune.
- The Violet Burning
- Thirteen Senses
- Travis
- Whigfield
- Tai Wan Band F.I.R for the concert in Hong Kong in 2008
- Gregory Douglass in 2009 on the Merry EP.
References
- ^ German certifications musikindustrie.de (Retrieved July 29 , 2008 )
- ^ UK Certifications
- ^ Kent, David (editor) (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b c d e f "Last Christmas" by Wham!, in various singles charts Hitparade.ch (Retrieved July 29 , 2008
Last Christmas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"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". It was written by George Michael, one half of ...
Wham!:Last Christmas - LyricWiki - Music lyrics from songs and albums
This song is performed by Wham!.Wham!:Last Christmas ... Last Christmas I gave you my heart But the very next day you gave it away
Send A WebCard - Wham! Last Christmas
Wham! Last Christmas Card Title Sender Details Your name: Your email address: You can enter up to 5 recipients Recipient 1. Recipient 1 name. Recipient 1 email
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bbc - radio 2 - sold on song - song library - wham - last christmas
YouTube - Last Christmas - Wham! (HQ Audio)
this song a timeless classic.....will be played at christmas til the end of time and it should be!! i dont care if george michael gay or not love this song!
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