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Last Christmas

"Last Christmas" is a single by the English pop duo Wham!. The song was written by its member George Michael and was released on 3 December 1984 by CBS Records internationally and as a double A-side by Epic Records with "Everything She Wants" in many countries in Europe. It was released as the lead single from Wham!'s third and final studio album Music from the Edge of Heaven, it also features on their greatest hits album The Final (1986). Andrew Ridgeley, the other half of Wham!, did not have any involvement in the recording or writing of the song. Michael sang, produced, and performed all of the parts on the record. The song has reached number one in several countries including Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and also Top 5 in Australia, Belgium, France, Norway and the United States.

"Last Christmas"
Last Christmas by Wham UK gatefold back cover.png
Back cover of original 1984 UK gatefold [en] edition
Single by Wham!
from Music from the Edge of Heaven and The Final"
A-side"Everything She Wants" (various)
B-side
Released3 December 1984
RecordedAugust 1984
StudioAdvision [en], London
Genre
Length4:27
Label
Songwriter(s)George Michael
Producer(s)George Michael
Wham! singles chronology
""Freedom"
(1984) 		Last Christmas ""Everything She Wants"
(1984)
"Last Christmas" at YouTube

Composition

The song describes a breakup during Christmastime. The engineer, Chris Porter, said that the upbeat rhythm track contrasted against the sadness of unrequited love. The same chord progression and melody is used for both the verse and chorus, with no middle eight.[1]

Production

George Michael (left) wrote and performed "Last Christmas" without Andrew Ridgeley (right)

Wham! member George Michael wrote the song in February 1984 when he was in his childhood bedroom, he and the other member, Andrew Ridgeley, were visiting his parents at the time.[1] Michael played Ridgeley the introduction and chorus melody, which Ridgeley later called "a moment of wonder".[2] The duo went on to record the song in August 1984 at Advision Studios in London.[1]

Music video

The music video for the song was filmed at the ski resort Saas Fee in Switzerland and shows the Wham! members, Michael and Ridgeley with girlfriends, with scenes of a happy Christmas holiday with "wistful memories about past romance".[1] The video also features friends and family members, including the Wham! backing singers Pepsi & Shirlie [en] and Michael's ex-girlfriend was played by the model Kathy Hill.[1] The music video was originally filmed on 35mm film and was re-released on 13 December 2019 in 4K Ultra HD [en] resolution.[3]

Media

Michael in 1988.

In December 2024, an hour long TV documentary titled Wham!: Last Christmas Unwrapped, was aired on BBC Two and the BBC iPlayer to mark the 40th anniversary of the release of the song.[4] The documentary features Ridgeley, Pepsi & Shirlie [en] and other close friends from the music video and shows them visiting the location where the video was filmed as well as talking about the creation of the song.[5] In the 2019 film Last Christmas [en], the song prominently features along with other George Michael songs.[6]

Plagiarism allegations

In the mid 1980s, the publishing company Dick James Music sued Michael for plagiarism on behalf of the writers of "Can't Smile Without You [en]" originally performed by David Martin and made popular by Barry Manilow, it was claimed that the song had taken its melody, but the case was dismissed.[1]

Track listings

Digital download[7]
No. Title Length
1. "Last Christmas" (Single Version) 4:24
2. "Last Christmas" (Pudding Mix) 6:46
3. "Last Christmas" (Live at Wembley Arena, December 2006) 5:51
4. "Last Christmas" (Instrumental) 4:25

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal [en].[8]

  • George Michael – lead vocals, producer, composer, lyricist, arranger (Pudding Mix)
  • Wham! – associated performer
  • Chris Porter – engineer, mixing engineer

Chart performance

United Kingdom

In 1984, the song reached number two on the UK Singles Chart missing out of the Christmas number one by "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid, on which Michael also performed. The duo donated their royalties to the Ethiopian famine relief fund, the same cause as Band Aid.[1] The song reached number one in the UK on 1 January 2021, achieving the record for the longest time for a single to reach number one in the UK, 36 years after the song was first released, previously held by "(Is This The Way To) Amarillo?" by Tony Christie.[9][10] The record was beaten in June 2022 by Kate Bush with "Running Up That Hill", which took 37 years.[11] In December 2023, the song went on to become Christmas number one for the first time.[12] It also became the third-best selling UK single, with 5.34 million chart units, including 1.93m sales and nearly 413 million streams.[12][13] In December 2024, it became the first song arcieve Christmas number one for two years in a row, the song secured number one with over 12 million streams and being the best selling song physically, thanks to the limited edition 40th anniversary collectibles, including zoetrope vinyl, picture disc and CD.[14]

UK Singles Chart
Year Peak Chart run Ref.
Weeks Date
1984 2 13 9 December 1984 – 9 March 1985 [15]
1985 6 7 8 December 1985 – 25 January 1986 [16]
1986 45 5 7 December 1986 – 10 January 1987 [17]
2007 14 5 2 December 2007 – 5 January 2008 [18]
2008 26 5 30 November 2008 – 3 January 2009 [19]
2009 34 4 6 December 2009 – 2 January 2010 [20]
2010 53 4 5 December 2010 – 1 January 2011 [21]
2011 26 4 4 December 2011 – 31 December 2011 [22]
2012 34 5 2 December 2012 – 5 January 2013 [23]
2013 36 5 1 December 2013 – 4 January 2014 [24]
2014 28 5 30 November 2014 – 3 January 2015 [25]
2015 18 5 4 December 2015 – 7 January 2016 [26]
2016 7 5 2 December 2016 – 5 January 2017 [27]
2017 2 6 24 November 2017 – 4 January 2018 [28]
2018 3 5 30 November 2018 – 3 January 2019 [29]
2019 3 6 22 November 2019 – 2 January 2020 [30]
2020 1 8 13 November 2020 – 7 January 2021 [31]
2021 2 8 12 November 2021 – 6 January 2022 [32]
2022 1 8 11 November 2022 – 5 January 2023 [33]
2023 1 9 10 November 2023 – 11 January 2024 [34]
2024 1 9 8 November 2024 – 9 January 2025 [35]
2025 1 9 7 November 2025 – 8 January 2026 [36]

Other territories

In Germany, "Last Christmas" is the most successful Christmas single of all time, it peaked at number one in December 2021.[37] The song dropped from number 4 to number 64 in January 2008, making it the biggest fall out of the top 10 on the singles chart.[38] In Ireland, the song reached number one on 30 December 2022 and returned number one again in 2024.[39] It was not released as a single in the United States until November 2014, when it was released on 12" vinyl as a Record Store Day [en] exclusive.[40] It peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 2 in December 2025, [41] the song also reached Number one on the Billboard Global 200, a ranking of sales and streams from over 200 territories.[42] In Switzerland, where the music video was filmed, the song reached number one for the first time in December 2025.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1984–2026) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[43] 2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[44] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[45] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)[46] 2
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[47] 2
Denmark (Tracklisten)[48] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[49] 1
France (SNEP)[50] 2
Germany (Media Control AG)[37] 1
Illegal chart entered Billboardglobal200 1
Illegal chart entered Ireland4 1
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[51] 1
New Zealand (RIANZ)[52] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[53] 2
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[54] 6
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[55] 1
Switzerland (Media Control AG)[56] 1
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[57] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[41] 2
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[58] 2

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[59] 8× Platinum 560,000
Canada (Music Canada)[60] 9× Platinum 90,000
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[61] 7× Platinum Expression error: Missing operand for *.
Germany (BVMI)[62] 7× Gold 1,750,000
Netherlands (NVPI)[63] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RIANZ)[64] 4× Platinum 60,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[65] 2× Platinum 40,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[66] 9× Platinum 5,400,000
United States (RIAA)[67] 9× Platinum 18,000,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Version(s) Label(s)
United Kingdom 3 December 1984
  • Original
 Epic Records
12-inch vinyl Pudding mix
Various 10 December 1984
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • Pudding mix
 Epic Records, CBS [en]
Japan 15 December 1984 7-inch vinyl
  • Original
 Epic Records
21 December 1984 12-inch vinyl Original "long version"
Europe December 1985 7-inch vinyl
  • 1985 version
12-inch vinyl Pudding mix
United Kingdom December 1986 7-inch vinyl
  • 85 version
Japan 9 December 1988
  • 85 version
  • Pudding mix
Europe December 1988
  • CD single (8cm)
  • vinyl
Japan 21 November 2001 CD single
17 November 2004
United Kingdom 22 November 2004 Digital download
  • 85 version
  • Pudding mix
 Sony Music
United States 28 November 2014 12-inch vinyl
  • 85 version
  • Instrumental
 Columbia Records
Various 13 December 2019 7-inch vinyl
  • 85 version
 RCA Records
United Kingdom 15 December 2023
  • CD single
  • 85 version
  • Pudding mix
 Sony Music
7-inch vinyl 85 version
United Kingdom 13 December 2024
  • CD single
  • (40th Anniversary EP)
  • 85 version
  • Pudding mix
  • 2006 live
  • Instrumental
12-inch vinyl 40th Anniversary EP

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Still saving us from tears: the inside story of Wham!'s Last Christmas. 14 December 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/dec/14/still-saving-us-from-tears-story-george-michael-last-christmas. 
  2. ↑ George Michael's bandmate backs campaign to get 'Last Christmas' to Xmas Number One. PinkNews (18 December 2017).
  3. ↑ Wham!'s Last Christmas gets 4K restoration. Post Magazine (18 December 2019).
  4. ↑ Wham!: Last Christmas Unwrapped – BBC iPlayer (14 December 2024)BBC.
  5. ↑ Wham!: Last Christmas Unwrapped (26 November 2024)BBC.
  6. ↑ Paul Feig's 'Last Christmas' Dated, Will Feature Unreleased George Michael Music. Variety (26 October 2018).
  7. ↑ Last Christmas - Single - Album by Wham!Apple Music.
  8. ↑ LAST CHRISTMAS / Wham!. tidal.comTidal.
  9. ↑ Wham's Last Christmas finally reaches Number 1 and sets Official UK Chart record (1 January 2021)Official Charts.
  10. ↑ Wham!'s Last Christmas goes to number one for the first time (1 January 2021)BBC News.
  11. ↑ Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill is Official Charts Number 1 Single: Singer becomes 3 x Official Charts Record Breaker with Stranger Things success. Official Charts (17 June 2022).
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Christmas Number 1 2023: WHAM! make history as Last Christmas finally secures festive top spot for the first time. Official Charts (22 December 2023).
  13. ↑ Last Christmas scores Christmas number one, beating Sam Ryder and Mariah Carey. BBC News (22 December 2023).
  14. ↑ Christmas Number 1 2024: WHAM!'s Last Christmas makes Official Chart history again!. Official Charts (20 December 2024).
  15. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 9/12/1984. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19841209/7501/. 
  16. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 8/12/1985. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19851208/7501/. 
  17. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 7/12/1986. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19861207/7501/. 
  18. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 2/12/2007. Official Charts. http://officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20071202/7501/. 
  19. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 30/11/2008. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20081130/7501/. 
  20. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 6/12/2009. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20091206/7501/. 
  21. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 5/12/2010. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20101205/7501/. 
  22. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 4/12/2011. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20111204/7501/. 
  23. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 2/12/2012. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20121202/7501/. 
  24. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 1/12/2013. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20131201/7501/. 
  25. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 30/11/2014. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20141130/7501/. 
  26. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 4/12/2015. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20151204/7501/. 
  27. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 2/12/2016. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20161202/7501/. 
  28. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 24/11/2017. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20171124/7501/. 
  29. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 30/11/2018. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20181130/7501/. 
  30. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 22/11/2019. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20191122/7501/. 
  31. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 13/11/2020. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20201113/7501/. 
  32. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 12/11/2021. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20211112/7501/. 
  33. ↑ Official Singles Chart on 11/11/2022. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20221111/7501/. 
  34. ↑ Official Singles Chart Top 100 on 10/11/2023. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20231110/7501/. 
  35. ↑ Official Singles Chart Top 100 on 8/11/2024. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20241108/7501/. 
  36. ↑ Official Singles Chart Top 100 on 7/11/2025. Official Charts. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20251107/7501/. 
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche - musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  38. ↑ Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment charts. 11 January 2008. https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single/for-date-1200049200000. 
  39. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named IRE.
  40. ↑ "Wham!'s 1984 Classic 'Last Christmas' Hits Billboard Hot 100's Top 40 for First Time". Billboard. 10 December 2014. https://www.billboard.com/pro/wham-last-christmas-hits-hot-100-top-40. 
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 "Illegal name entered Wham!/wham/chart?f=379 Wham! Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Wham!. Prometheus Global Media.
  42. ↑ Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ Hits No. 1 on Billboard Global 200 for First Time. Billboard.
  43. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Wham! – Last Christmas". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien.
  44. ↑ "Wham! – Last Christmas Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien.
  45. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Wham! – Last Christmas" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  46. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Wham! – Last Christmas" (in French). Ultratop 40. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  47. ↑ "Illegal name entered Wham/Wham/chart?f=793 Wham Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Wham. Prometheus Global Media.
  48. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Wham! – Last Christmas". Tracklisten. Hung Medien.
  49. ↑ "Finnishcharts.com – Wham! – Last Christmas". Suomen virallinen lista. Hung Medien.
  50. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Wham! – Last Christmas" (in French). Les classement single. Hung Medien.
  51. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Wham! – Last Christmas" (in Dutch). Mega Single Top 100. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  52. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Wham! – Last Christmas". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien.
  53. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Wham! – Last Christmas". VG-lista. Hung Medien.
  54. ↑ Weekly Charts (20 December 2024 to 26 December 2024). https://www.promusicae.es/en/weekly-download/songs_52_20-december-2024-to-26-december-2024-n5529/. 
  55. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Wham! – Last Christmas". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien.
  56. ↑ "Wham! – Last Christmas swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien.
  57. ↑ "Archive Chart" UK Singles Chart. The Official Charts Company.
  58. ↑ "Wham! Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/artist/wham!/chart-history/atf/. 
  59. ↑ ARIA Top 50 Singles for week of 30 December 2024ARIA.
  60. ↑ Canadian single certifications – Wham – Last ChristmasMusic Canada.
  61. ↑ Danish single certifications – Wham – Last ChristmasIFPI Denmark.
  62. ↑ Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Wham; 'Last Christmas') (in German)Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  63. ↑ Dutch single certifications – Wham – Last Christmas (in Dutch)Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.
  64. ↑ THE FIELD id (chart number) MUST BE PROVIDED for NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATION.
  65. ↑ Spanish single certifications – Wham – Last Christmas (in Spanish)Productores de Música de España.
  66. ↑ British single certifications – Wham – Last ChristmasBritish Phonographic Industry. Enter Last Christmas in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Click Go
  67. ↑ American single certifications – Wham – Last ChristmasRecording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
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