Last Christmas becomes UK Official Christmas Number 1-2023
Last Christmas has sound-tracked every December in the UK since it was first released in 1984 by the legendary late George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, but it never quite managed the top post until 2022. But finally, it had made it to the top spot, and what a great posthumous tribute to George Michael.
The song was recorded in August 1984, at Advision Studios, London, England. George Michael wrote, performed, produced, and played every single instrument on the track.
George Michael and Andrew Ridgley
George Michael died in 2016 aged 53, undoubtedly, he is the official Christmas number one for 2023. “Last Christmas“ is a song by British pop duo Wham!. Written and produced by George Michael, it was released on December 3, 1984. It had for many years held the record as the highest-selling single never to top the charts by the Official Charts Company (OCC) with 1.9 million copies sold. This record is now held by “Moves like Jagger” by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera.
Incredibly, someone who is no longer with us is more present than ever with songs like this. Speaking to Official Charts, Wham!’s Andrew said: ‘Last Christmas has finally ascended to the much-cherished and sought-after Official Christmas Number 1, which was always the main goal.
Source- Wham (Official You tube)
The lyric is so catchy and describes the Christmas atmosphere with winter ice all around,
” Last Christmas I gave you my heart But the very next day you gave it away This year, to save me from tears I’ll give it to someone special”
“Last Christmas I gave you my heart But the very next day you gave it away This year, to save me from tears I’ll give it to someone special”
Thus “Last Christmas” has finally achieved the accolade of Christmas number one in 2023, 39 years after its initial release in 1984. This track has many stories from other territories like Germany, Ireland , Netherlands and many more.
In Germany , in December , 2021 , the song lived almost 161 weeks on the “ German Single Chart” and attained No-1 spot becoming the most successful Christmas single of all time ! Whereas in Ireland, it number one for one week in December 1984 and regained no 1 spot again at the end od December, 2022. In Netherland too, it never reached no 1 space but continue to re-appear in 1997, 2000, 2007, 2008, and 2013.
Inspired by this track, a movie named ” Last Christmas”, directed by Paul Feig and written by Bryony Kimmings and Emma Thompson, was also released in 2019. The lead pair was ” Henry Golding ” and ” Emma Thomson“ and “Michelle Yeoh“. But it got somewhat mixed reactions from viewers and could not do much on collection box.
The quite possibly one of the greatest Christmas songs ever by the duo, will be remembered for many more years to come and become a symbol of love and affection during the Christmas….
“Once bitten and twice shy I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye Tell me baby, do you recognize me? Well, it’s been a year, it doesn’t surprise me”
” Happy Christmas, I wrapped it up and sent it With a note saying “I love you”, I meant it Now I know what a fool I’ve been But if you kissed me now, I know you’d fool me again”
“Last Christmas I gave you my heart But the very next day you gave it away This year, to save me from tears I’ll give it to someone special”
