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	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 by George Michael, one half of the duo. The song has been covered by many artists throughout the years.

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". 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.

In Germany, the song is the most successful Christmas single of all time with 88 weeks on the German Singles Chart and a peak position of No. 4 ^[1] In January 2008, the song fell from No. 4 to No. 64 there, making it the biggest fall out of the top ten of the German Singles Chart.^[2]

"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 had previously been in a relationship with George, and that the song is aimed at her. 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) "Everything She Wants" – 5:07 7": Epic / QA 4949 (UK) "Everything She Wants (remix)" – 5:31 "Last Christmas" – 4:24 12": Epic / TA 4949 (UK) "Last Christmas (pudding mix)" – 6:47 "Everything She Wants" – 5:07 12": Epic / QTA 4949 (UK) "Everything She Wants (remix)" – 6:30 "Last Christmas (pudding mix)" – 6:47 1985 reissue 7": Epic / WHAM 1 (UK) "Last Christmas" – 4:24 "Blue (Armed With Love) [live in China]" – 5:43

12": Epic / WHAM T1 (UK) "Last Christmas (pudding mix)" – 6:47 "Blue (Armed With Love) [live in China]" – 5:43 "Everything She Wants (remix)" – 5:31 1986 reissue 7": Epic / 650269 7 (UK) "Last Christmas" – 4:24 "Where Did Your Heart Go?" – 5:43 12": Epic / 650269 6 (UK) "Last Christmas (pudding mix)" – 6:47 "Where Did Your Heart Go?" – 5:43 2007 reissue 7", 12", CD: Tent / PD45579 "Last Christmas (remix)" – 5:13 "Everything She Wants (remix)" – 6:01 "Last Christmas (pudding mix)" – 6:47 "Everything She Wants" – 6:29

Certifications

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified
Germany[3]	Gold	1999	250,000
UK[4]	Platinum	1985	1,000,000

Charts

Chart (1984–2011)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[5]	3
Austrian Singles Chart[6]	4
Danish Singles Chart	9
Dutch Singles Chart[6]	5
Finnish Singles Chart[6]	3
German Singles Chart[7]	4
Irish Singles Chart[8]	1
Norwegian Singles Chart[6]	2
Swedish Singles Chart[6]	7
Swiss Singles Chart[6]	6
UK Singles Chart[9]	2
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[10]	22
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40[10]	40
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs[10]	67

Other recordings

Whigfield version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Whigfield
from the album Whigfield/Whigfield II
Released	1995
Format	Compact Disc, 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
UK Singles Chart	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)[11][12]
Format	Digital download, airplay
Recorded	2006
Genre	Christmas pop
Length	3:55 (Main version) 3:39 (2008 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" (2006)

"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.^[13] 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 ^[12]

1. "Last Christmas" (single version) - 3:55

Charts

Chart (2010)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Holiday/Seasonal Digital Songs[14]	19
Chart (2011)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Holiday/Seasonal Songs[15]	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[16]	30
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[16]	19
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[16]	6
Dutch Singles Chart[16]	48
French Singles Chart[16]	19
Irish Singles Chart[17]	16
New Zealand Singles Chart[16]	19
UK Singles Chart[17]	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.

iTunes Download

• "Last Christmas" - 3:52

Charts

Chart (2007)[18]	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	99
German Singles Chart	83
Austria Singles Chart	63
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 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 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 18 November 2009.^[19]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single.

Track listings

Digital Download^[20]

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

Charts

Chart (2009)	Peak position
German Singles Charts	TBD

Joe McElderry version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Joe McElderry
from the album Classic Christmas
Released	November 4, 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)

British solo singer Joe McElderry covered the song in 2011. This version will be released as a single on 19 December 2011,^[21] 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.

Track listings

Digital Download^[22]

1. "Last Christmas" - 4:18
2. "Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)" - 3:07
3. "Silent Night" - 3:28

Other cover versions

• AXS
• All About Eve
• Arctic Monkeys
• As One
• Ashley Tisdale
• Atomic Kitten
• Birgit Õigemeel
• BoA
• The BossHoss
• Britt Nicole
• Busted
• Carrie Underwood Live at the White House for Christmas in Washington
• Celtic Thunder's Keith Harkin (2010)
• The Cheetah Girls
• Christian Bautista
• Coldplay
• Corey Grandy (Peaked at #1 on U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 2010)
• In 1984, Dalida performed "Last Christmas" in French language as "Reviens-Moi" (Dali (album)).
• Darren Hayes
• Dexter Freebish
• The Dutch group Djumbo sang "Last Christmas" at "Het Grote Kerstfeest" in 2008
• Erlend Øye
• Exile
• The Finals - A Santa Cause 2: It's A Punk Rock Christmas Compilation (Immortal Records)
• Fonda
• Florence and the Machine (on Radio 1)
• 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.)^[23][24]
• 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
• John Holt
• Keshia Chanté
• Kimberley Locke
• Kanute
• Leigh Nash
• Little Boots, formerly of Dead Disco
• Madsen
• Masterboy
• The Maine (band)
• Manic Street Preachers, a version by James Dean Bradfield appears on the 2003 compilation Lipstick Traces
• 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.
• Moon Hee Jun
• Nell
• Nicole, the Winner of Eurovision Song Contest 1982, on her Christmas Songs CD (2006)
• The Ordinary Boys
• 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"
• 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 starts, then he stops it at the beginning due to his distaste for the song.
• Richard Poon (from his 2011 Christmas Album, Christmas With Richard Poon]])
• Romina Power
• Roses Are Red (for the album based on the Taste of Chaos tour: Taste of Christmas)
• Rumble Fish
• Hong Kong singer Sammi Cheng in her 2009-2010 tour Love Mi, duet with noted composer and producer Hanjin
• Savage Garden
• Spagna for her 2010 holiday album Buon Natale
• Schnuffel
• Russian pop-group Strelki covered song as "С Новым Годом" ("Merry Christmas") 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.
• 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^[25]
• Victoria Asher
• The Ventures
• The Violet Burning
• Yoko Watanabe
• Yuji Oda (with Butch Walker)

References

1. ^ http://www.media-control.de/last-christmas-erfolgreichster-weihnachts-song-aller-zeiten.html
2. ^ http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/title/Wham!/Last+Christmas/single
3. ^ "German certifications – Last+Christmas" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Last%2BChristmas&strInterpret=&strTtArt=alle&strAwards=checked. Retrieved 29 July 2008. 
4. ^ UK Certifications
5. ^ Kent, David (editor) (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
6. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "Last Christmas" by Wham!, in various singles charts Hitparade.ch (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
7. ^ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved 17 July 2008)
8. ^ Irish Singles Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
9. ^ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
10. ^ ^{a b c} Billboard allmusic.com (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
11. ^ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001202T8S
12. ^ ^{a b} Amazon.com
13. ^ Amazon.com. "He Said She Said (European Single)". Amazon. http://www.amazon.de/dp/B000WQGW40. Retrieved 2008-07-20. 
14. ^ "Billboard.biz: Ashley Tisdale". Billboard. http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/chart_search_results.jsp?rpp=100&sw=&cd=&f=&t=&per=ashley+tisdale&df=R&prod=&g=s&l=&dl=. Retrieved 5 September 2010. 
15. ^ "Billboard.biz: Ashley Tisdale". Billboard. http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/chart_search_results.jsp?rpp=100&sw=&cd=&f=&t=&per=ashley+tisdale&df=R&prod=&g=s&l=&dl=. Retrieved 5 September 2010. 
16. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "Last Christmas" by Crazy Frog, in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved 16 December 2007)
17. ^ ^{a b} "Last Christmas" by Crazy Frog, in various singles charts Acharts.us (Retrieved 21 July 2008)
18. ^ "Last Christmas" by Cascada Acharts.us (Retrieved 29 July 2008)
19. ^ Disco Defenders - Special Edition
20. ^ Last Christmas Digital Single
21. ^ Joe McElderry announces new album 'Classic Christmas' Digital Spy. Retrieved on 31 October 2011.
22. ^ Joe McElderry - Last Christmas iTunes Store. Retrieved on 7 November 2011.
23. ^ Trust, Gary (16 June 2010). "'Glee': A Record-Setting Freshman Year". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/column/chartbeat/glee-a-record-setting-freshman-year-1004098647.story. Retrieved 15 June 2010. 
24. ^ "Last Christmas". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/song/glee-cast/last-christmas/17449178. Retrieved 6 September 2010. 
25. ^ http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.artistalbums&artistid=4688602&albumid=14550525

External links

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