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In the UK the following single planned after [[Close to You (Whigfield song)|Close to You]] was [[Big Time (Whigfield song)|Big Time]], however, it was suggested that [[Whigfield]] should record a version of "Last Christmas" to go with the release of [[Big Time (Whigfield song)|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 (Whigfield song)|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 (album)|Whigfield]] and also on [[Whigfield II]].
In the UK the following single planned after [[Close to You (Whigfield song)|Close to You]] was [[Big Time (Whigfield song)|Big Time]], however, it was suggested that [[Whigfield]] should record a version of "Last Christmas" to go with the release of [[Big Time (Whigfield song)|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 (Whigfield song)|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 (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====
====Official Versions====

Revision as of 22:13, 4 June 2010

"Last Christmas"
Song

"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.

In 2009, the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number #39.

In 2009, the song re-entered the Spanish Lista de Canciones (Singles Chart( at number #9.

"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" 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

Country Certification Date Sales certified
Germany[1] Gold 1999 250,000
UK[2] Platinum 1985 1,000,000

Charts

Chart (1984–2008) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[3] 3
Austrian Singles Chart[4] 4
Danish Singles Chart 9
Dutch Singles Chart[4] 5
Finnish Singles Chart[4] 3
German Singles Chart[5] 4
Irish Singles Chart[6] 1
Norwegian Singles Chart[4] 2
Swedish Singles Chart[4] 7
Swiss Singles Chart[4] 6
UK Singles Chart[7] 2
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[8] 22
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40[8] 40
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs[8] 67

Cover versions

Whigfield version

"Last Christmas"
Song

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 Vesion)
  6. "Last Christmas" (MBRG Version)
  7. "Last Christmas" (MBRG Radio Edit)

Charts

Chart (1995) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart 21

Billie version

"Last Christmas"
Song

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

  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)

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Swedish Singles Chart 47

Ashley Tisdale

"Last Christmas"
Song

"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.[11] The song has been included on several compilation albums, including A Very Special Christmas Vol.7 and A Disney Channel Holiday.

Track listings

Digital tracklisting [10]
  1. "Last Christmas" (single version) - 3:55

Charts

Chart (2007) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay 87[12]

Crazy Frog

"Last Christmas"
Song

"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[13] 30
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[13] 19
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[13] 6
Dutch Singles Chart[13] 48
French Singles Chart[13] 19
Irish Singles Chart[14] 16
New Zealand Singles Chart[13] 19
UK Singles Chart[14] 16

Cascada

"Last Christmas"
Song

"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)[15] Peak
position
German Singles Chart 82
UK Singles Chart 111 *
UK Dance Chart 22

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

Alcazar

"Last Christmas"
Song

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 18, 2009.[16]

Track listings

Digital Download[17]

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

Charts

Chart (2009) Peak
position
German Singles Charts TBD

Other cover versions

  • The Finals - "A Santa Cause 2: It's A Punk Rock Christmas" Compilation (Immortal Records)
  • Fonda
  • Foxxi misQ, Japanese version by a Japanese female hip hop trio group
  • Hong Kong singer Sammi Cheng in her 2009-2010 tour Love Mi, duet with noted composer and producer Hanjin (陳奐仁)

References

  1. ^ German certifications musikindustrie.de (Retrieved July 29, 2008)
  2. ^ UK Certifications
  3. ^ Kent, David (editor) (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Last Christmas" by Wham!, in various singles charts Hitparade.ch (Retrieved July 29, 2008)
  5. ^ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved July 17, 2008)
  6. ^ Irish Singles Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved July 29, 2008)
  7. ^ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved July 29, 2008)
  8. ^ a b c Billboard allmusic.com (Retrieved July 29, 2008)
  9. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Last-Christmas/dp/B001202T8S/ref=sr_shvl_album_2ie=UTF8&qid=1259698064&sr=301-2
  10. ^ a b Amazon.com
  11. ^ Amazon.com. "He Said She Said (European Single)". Amazon. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
  12. ^ [1]
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Last Christmas" by Crazy Frog, in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved December 16, 2007)
  14. ^ a b "Last Christmas" by Crazy Frog, in various singles charts Acharts.us (Retrieved July 21, 2008)
  15. ^ "Last Christmas" by Cascada Acharts.us (Retrieved July 29, 2008)
  16. ^ Disco Defenders - Special Edition
  17. ^ Last Christmas Digital Single
  18. ^ http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.artistalbums&artistid=4688602&albumid=14550525
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