Last Christmas

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"Last Christmas"
Single by Wham!
from the album Music from the Edge of Heaven
Released 1984
Format 12", 7", CD single
Recorded 1984
Genre Pop
Length 4:27
6:45 (Pudding Mix)
Label Columbia Records (US/Canada)
Epic Records
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 by George Michael, one half of the duo. The song has been covered by many artists throughout the years.

Contents

[edit] Original version

[edit] 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.

[edit] "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]

[edit] 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.

[edit] Track listings

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] Certifications

Country Certification Date Sales certified
Germany[1] Gold 1999 150,000
UK[2] Platinum 1985 1,000,000

[edit] Charts

Chart (1984-2008) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[3] 46
Austrian Singles Chart[3] 4
Danish Singles Chart 9
Dutch Singles Chart[3] 5
Finnish Singles Chart[3] 3
German Singles Chart[4] 4
Irish Singles Chart[5] 1
Norwegian Singles Chart[3] 2
Swedish Singles Chart[3] 7
Swiss Singles Chart[3] 6
UK Singles Chart[6] 2
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[7] 22
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40[7] 40
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs[7] 67

[edit] Billie version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Billie Piper
from the album The B-Sides Collection
Released 1999
Format Airplay, Digital download
Recorded 1998
Genre Pop
Label Innocent Records
Writer(s) George Michael
Producer George Michael
Billie Piper singles chronology
"She Wants You"
(1998)		 "Last Christmas"
(1999)		 "Honey to the Bee"
(1999)

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.

[edit] Track listings

European CD Single

  1. "Last Christmas"
  2. "She Wants You" (Album Version)
  3. "She Wants You" (Sharp Ballrom Remix)

UK Promo CD

  1. "Last Christmas" (Edit)
  2. She Wants You" (Radio Edit)

[edit] Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Swedish Singles Charts 47

[edit] Ashley Tisdale version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Ashley Tisdale
from the album Disney Channel Holiday
Released November 11, 2006 (2006-11-11)
(see release history)
Format Airplay, Digital download
Recorded 2006
Genre Pop
Length 3:55 (single version)
3:39 (radio edit)
Label Warner Bros. Records
Writer(s) George Michael
Producer George Michael
Ashley Tisdale singles chronology
"Kiss the Girl"
(2006)		 "Last Christmas"
(2006)		 "Be Good to Me"
(2006)

"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. [8]

[edit] Track listings

Digital tracklisting [9]
  1. "Last Christmas" (single version) - 3:55

[edit] Charts

Chart (2007) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay 87
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs 95

[edit] Crazy Frog version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Crazy Frog
from the album Crazy Frog Presents More Crazy Hits Ultimate Edition
Released December 2006
Format CD single
Maxi single
Digital download
Recorded 2006
Genre Dance, Electronica
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.

[edit] 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"

[edit] Charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[10] 30
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[10] 19
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[10] 6
Dutch Singles Chart[10] 48
French Singles Chart[10] 19
Irish Singles Chart[11] 16
New Zealand Singles Chart[10] 19
UK Singles Chart[11] 16

[edit] Cascada version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Cascada
from the album Perfect Day
Released November 21, 2007
Format Digital Download, CD single
Recorded 2007
Genre Eurodance
Length 3:52
Label Zooland Records, Robbins Entertainment, All Around the World
Producer George Michael
Cascada singles chronology
"Wouldn't It Be Good"
(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.

iTunes Download
  • "Last Christmas" - 3:52
Charts
Chart (2007)[12] Peak
position
German Singles Chart 82
UK Singles Chart 10 *

* B-side to "What Hurts The Most"

[edit] Other cover versions

[edit] References

  1. ^ German certifications musikindustrie.de (Retrieved July 29, 2008)
  2. ^ UK Certifications [1]
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Last Christmas" by Wham!, in various singles charts Hitparade.ch (Retrieved July 29, 2008)
  4. ^ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved July 17, 2008)
  5. ^ Irish Singles Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved July 29, 2008)
  6. ^ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved July 29, 2008)
  7. ^ a b c Billboard allmusic.com (Retrieved July 29, 2008)
  8. ^ Amazon.com. "He Said She Said (European Single)". Amazon. http://www.amazon.de/He-Said-She-Ashley-Tisdale/dp/B000WQGW40/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1213134086&sr=1-7. Retrieved on 2008-07-20. 
  9. ^ Amazon.com
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Last Christmas" by Crazy Frog, in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved December 16, 2007)
  11. ^ a b "Last Christmas" by Crazy Frog, in various singles charts Acharts.us (Retrieved July 21, 2008)
  12. ^ "Last Christmas" by Cascada Acharts.us (Retrieved July 29, 2008)
v • d • e
Wham!
George Michael · Andrew Ridgeley
Studio albums
Compilations
Singles
Related articles
v • d • e
Billie Piper
Studio albums
Honey to the B (1998) · Walk of Life (2000)
Compilation albums
Singles
Film
Television
Related topics
v • d • e
Ashley Tisdale
Studio albums
Headstrong (2007) · Guilty Pleasure (2009)
DVDs
Singles
Promotional singles
Filmography
Related
v • d • e
Crazy Frog
v • d • e
Cascada
Natalie Horler · DJ Manian · Yanou
Studio albums
Other albums
Singles
Related articles

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Christmas"
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