Last Christmas

For the Jimmy Eat World EP, see Last Christmas (EP).

"Last Christmas"
Single by Wham!
from the album Music from the Edge of Heaven
Released	20 December 1984
Format	12", 7", CD single
Recorded	1984
Genre	New Wave, synthpop, holiday
Length	4:27 6:45 (Pudding Mix)
Label	Columbia (US/Canada) Epic Records
Writer(s)	George Michael
Producer	George Michael
Wham! singles chronology
"Freedom" (1984) "Last Christmas" (1984) "Everything She Wants" (1984)
Twenty Five track listing "Careless Whisper" (1) "Last Christmas" (2) "A Different Corner" (3)

"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 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 #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". The Band Aid project helmed by Bob Geldof, however, produced the #1 single "Do They Know It's Christmas?". 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 has entered the German singles chart every year, even managing to peak at #4 in 2007. The song also regularly re-enters the airplay chart within the top 5 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 #36 and peaking at #26.

In 2009, the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number #39. The song also re-entered the Spanish Lista de Canciones (singles chart) at number #9.

On December 13, 2011, the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number #26. The song also re-entered the Billboard Holiday Chart, peaking at #10.

In Germany, the song is the most successful Christmas single of all time, having spent 94 weeks on the German Singles Chart and attained a peak position of No. 4. In January 2008, the song fell from No. 4 to No. 64 there, also making it the biggest fall out of the top ten on the singles chart.

"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.^{[citation needed]}

Music video

The video to "Last Christmas" shows George 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 Andrew's girlfriend(played by model Kathy Hill) was previously in a relationship with George, 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 George 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 George presents a thoughtful, confused expression, suggesting his conflicting emotions.

Her seeming indifference to Andrew Ridgeley's open displays of affection makes the viewer wonder if Andrew'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 George 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.

Track listings

Original 1984 release

7": Epic / A 4949 (UK)

1. "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

1991 Solo Version (Extra Verse)

12" (US/UK) Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (ft. Elton John)

1. 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me' (Michael/John)
2. 'I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever' (Michael)
3. 'Last Christmas' (Michael) [A]

[A] Same as the 1984 Wham! original, but with an extra verse at the end. This version is largely forgotten, and does not appear on subsequent recordings by Michael or Wham!.

2007 reissue

7", 12", CD: Tent / PD45579

1. "Last Christmas" (remix) – 5:13
2. "Everything She Wants" (remix) – 6:01
3. "Last Christmas" (Pudding mix) – 6:47
4. "Everything She Wants" – 6:29

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (1984–2012)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	3
Austrian Singles Chart	4
Danish Singles Chart	9
Dutch Singles Chart	2
Finnish Singles Chart	3
German Singles Chart	4
Greek Singles Chart	3
Hungarian Singles Chart	2
Irish Singles Chart	1
Norwegian Singles Chart	2
Swedish Singles Chart	2
Swiss Singles Chart	6
UK Singles Chart	1 or 2*
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	22
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40	40
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs	67

Note:

• (*) Depending on the chart used.

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)	Gold	5,000^
Germany (BVMI)	Gold	250,000^
Greece (IFPI Greece)	Gold	10,000^
Italy (FIMI)	Gold	25,000*
Japan (RIAJ)		655,000
United Kingdom (BPI)	Platinum	1,680,000
*sales figures based on certification alone ^shipments figures based on certification alone xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Other recordings

Whigfield version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Whigfield
from the album Whigfield/Whigfield II
Released	3 December 1995
Format	CD single, vinyl, cassette, digital download
Recorded	1995
Genre	Pop
Length	4:16
Label	Various labels internationally
Writer(s)	George Michael
Producer	George Michael
Whigfield singles chronology
"Close to You" (1995) "Big Time/Last Christmas" (1995) "Sexy Eyes" (1996)

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

Chart (1995)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)	38
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	12
Ireland (IRMA)	24
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)	34
Spain (AFYVE)	4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	53
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)	21

Billie version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Billie Piper
Released	1999
Format	Airplay, digital download
Genre	Pop
Length	4:27
Label	Innocent Records
Writer(s)	George Michael
Billie Piper singles chronology
"She Wants You" (1998) "Last Christmas" (1999) "Honey to the Bee" (1999)

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)

Ashley Tisdale

"Last Christmas"
Single by Ashley Tisdale
Released	11 November 2006 (2006-11-11) (U.S. radio) 21 November 2006 (2006-11-21) (digital download)
Format	Digital download, airplay
Recorded	2006
Genre	Christmas pop
Length	3:55 (main version) 3:39 (2007 radio edit)
Label	Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	George Michael
Producer	Mark Hammond
Ashley Tisdale singles chronology
"Kiss the Girl" (2006) "Last Christmas" (2006) "Be Good to Me"

"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

Chart (2010)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Holiday/Seasonal Digital Songs	19
Chart (2011)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Holiday/Seasonal Songs	47

Crazy Frog

"Last Christmas"
Single by Crazy Frog
from the album Crazy Frog Presents More Crazy Hits Ultimate Edition
Released	December 2006
Format	CD single, digital download
Recorded	2006
Genre	Dance, electronica
Length	4:27
Label	Ministry of Sound
Producer	George Michael, Henning Reith, Reinhard Raith
Crazy Frog singles chronology
"We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)" (2006) "Last Christmas" (2006) "Crazy Frog in the House (Knightrider)" (2007)

"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

Chart (2006)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart	30
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart	19
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart	6
Dutch Singles Chart	48
French Singles Chart	19
Irish Singles Chart	16
New Zealand Singles Chart	19
UK Singles Chart	16

Cascada version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Cascada
from the album Perfect Day
Released	21 November 2007
Format	Digital download, CD single
Recorded	2007
Genre	Eurodance
Length	3:27
Label	Zooland Records, Robbins Entertainment, All Around the World
Producer	George Michael
Cascada singles chronology
"A Neverending Dream" (2007) "Last Christmas" (2007) "What Hurts the Most" (2007)

"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

Chart (2007)	Peak position
Germany (Media Control AG)	83
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	63
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	111*
UK Dance (Official Charts Company)	22

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

Alcazar version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Alcazar
from the album Disco Defenders – Special Edition
Released	20 November 2009
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2009
Genre	Pop
Length	3:33
Label	Love No Limit Recordings
Writer(s)	George Michael
Alcazar singles chronology
"From Brazil with Love" (2009) "Last Christmas" (2009) "Headlines" (2010)

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

"Last Christmas"
Single by Joe McElderry
from the album Classic Christmas
Released	4 November 2011 (2011-11-04)
Recorded	October 2011
Genre	Pop
Label	Decca
Writer(s)	G. Michael
Joe McElderry singles chronology
"There's a Place for Us" (2010) "Last Christmas" (2011) "Here's What I Believe" (2012)
Music video "Last Christmas" on YouTube

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

• AXS
• All About Eve
• Arctic Monkeys
• As One
• Atomic Kitten
• Atomic Tom
• Birgit Õigemeel
• BoA
• The BossHoss
• Brite Futures
• Britt Nicole
• BTH
• Busted
• The Collective boy band released in 2012 debut album The Collective"
• Carrie Underwood Live at the White House for Christmas in Washington
• Celtic Thunder's Keith Harkin (2010)
• The Cheetah Girls
• Christian Bautista
• Coldplay
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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.
• 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
• 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)
• 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 released in 2011 Winter SMTown – The Warmest Gift
• Spagna for her 2010 holiday album Buon Natale
• Schnuffel
• 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
• 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)
• 2-4 Family under the moniker, Rap Allstars.
• 2PM
• Vedera
• Victoria Asher
• Victoria Duffield
• 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)

• The Chipettes

External links

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