Wham - Last Christmas

'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'. The single was written by George Michael, one half of the duo.

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 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 number 1 in early December with 'The Power of Love'.


However, the Band Aid project, helmed by Bob Geldof, produced the number 1 single. Wham!'s offering peaked at number 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. However 'Last Christmas' did make number 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 number 1. A year later, it was re-issued for Christmas again (this time without a billed flip-side) and got to number 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 number 12 in 1992.

Since 1997, the song enters the German Single charts every year and peaked at number 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 number 36 and peaked at number 26.

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.

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.

'Last Christmas' has been covered by a number of artists. One that I have included here is by Billie Piper. 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 number 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.

'Last Christmas' was also 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. The download version made it to number 111 on the UK Singles Charts. However it did make it to number 10 as part pf the 'What Hurts' release. In the UK, despite it being a B-side track, the song is regularly played throughout music channels during the festive season.

Click the link below to download the following:
Video
Single Version
Long Version
Pudding Mix
Matt Mix
DJ Johny Spirit Mix
DJ T.I.M Remix
Benny Benassi Remix

Billy Piper Version
Cascada Singe Version
Cascada Video

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=2ccb7d0cd98a6267aaca48175a79d1c375d340ef2d363ea4a7b01fe6e4055ae3

Wham - Last Christmas - Video



Wham - Everything She Wants - Video