Last Christmas

"Last Christmas"
Back cover of original 1984 UK gatefold [en] edition
Single by Wham!
from the album 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"
(1984)		 "Everything She Wants"
(1984)
Music video
"Last Christmas" on YouTube

"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.

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.

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. Michael played Ridgeley the introduction and chorus melody, which Ridgeley later called "a moment of wonder". The duo went on to record the song in August 1984 at Advision Studios in London.

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". 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. The music video was originally filmed on 35mm film and was re-released on 13 December 2019 in 4K Ultra HD [en] resolution.

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. 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. In the 2019 film Last Christmas [en], the song prominently features along with other George Michael songs.

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.

Track listings

Digital download
No.TitleLength
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].

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. 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. The record was beaten in June 2022 by Kate Bush with "Running Up That Hill", which took 37 years. In December 2023, the song went on to become Christmas number one for the first time. It also became the third-best selling UK single, with 5.34 million chart units, including 1.93m sales and nearly 413 million streams. 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.

UK Singles Chart
Year Peak Chart run Ref.
Weeks Date
1984 213 9 December 1984 – 9 March 1985
1985 67 8 December 1985 – 25 January 1986
1986 455 7 December 1986 – 10 January 1987
2007 145 2 December 2007 – 5 January 2008
2008 265 30 November 2008 – 3 January 2009
2009 344 6 December 2009 – 2 January 2010
2010 534 5 December 2010 – 1 January 2011
2011 264 4 December 2011 – 31 December 2011
2012 345 2 December 2012 – 5 January 2013
2013 365 1 December 2013 – 4 January 2014
2014 285 30 November 2014 – 3 January 2015
2015 185 4 December 2015 – 7 January 2016
2016 75 2 December 2016 – 5 January 2017
2017 26 24 November 2017 – 4 January 2018
2018 35 30 November 2018 – 3 January 2019
2019 36 22 November 2019 – 2 January 2020
2020 18 13 November 2020 – 7 January 2021
2021 28 12 November 2021 – 6 January 2022
2022 18 11 November 2022 – 5 January 2023
2023 19 10 November 2023 – 11 January 2024
2024 19 8 November 2024 – 9 January 2025
2025 19 7 November 2025 – 8 January 2026

Other territories

In Germany, "Last Christmas" is the most successful Christmas single of all time, it peaked at number one in December 2021. 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. In Ireland, the song reached number one on 30 December 2022 and returned number one again in 2024. 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. It peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 2 in December 2025, the song also reached Number one on the Billboard Global 200, a ranking of sales and streams from over 200 territories. 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)2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)2
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)2
Denmark (Tracklisten)1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)1
France (SNEP)2
Germany (Official German Charts)1
Global 200 (Billboard)1
Ireland (IRMA)1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)1
Norway (VG-lista)2
Spain (PROMUSICAE) 6
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)1
UK Singles (OCC)1
US Billboard Hot 1002
US Holiday 100 (Billboard) 2

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) 8× Platinum 560,000double-dagger
Canada (Music Canada) 9× Platinum 720,000double-dagger
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) 7× Platinum 420,000double-dagger
Germany (BVMI) 7× Gold 2,100,000double-dagger
Netherlands (NVPI) Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) 4× Platinum 120,000double-dagger
Spain (PROMUSICAE) 2× Platinum 120,000double-dagger
United Kingdom (BPI) 9× Platinum 5,400,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA) 9× Platinum 9,000,000double-dagger

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments 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 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Still saving us from tears: the inside story of Wham!'s Last Christmas". The Guardian. 14 December 2017.
  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". BBC. 14 December 2024.
  5. ↑ "Wham!: Last Christmas Unwrapped". BBC. 26 November 2024.
  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.com. Tidal.
  9. ↑ "Wham's Last Christmas finally reaches Number 1 and sets Official UK Chart record". Official Charts. 1 January 2021.
  10. ↑ "Wham!'s Last Christmas goes to number one for the first time". BBC News. 1 January 2021.
  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. 1 2 "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". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  16. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 8/12/1985". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  17. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 7/12/1986". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  18. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 2/12/2007". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  19. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 30/11/2008". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  20. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 6/12/2009". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  21. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 5/12/2010". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  22. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 4/12/2011". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  23. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 2/12/2012". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  24. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 1/12/2013". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  25. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 30/11/2014". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  26. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 4/12/2015". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  27. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 2/12/2016". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  28. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 24/11/2017". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  29. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 30/11/2018". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  30. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 22/11/2019". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  31. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 13/11/2020". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  32. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 12/11/2021". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  33. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 11/11/2022". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  34. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 on 10/11/2023". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  35. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 on 8/11/2024". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  36. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 on 7/11/2025". officialcharts.com. Official Charts.
  37. 1 2 "Wham! – Last Christmas" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  38. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts". offiziellecharts.de. GfK Entertainment charts. 11 January 2008.
  39. 1 2 "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
  40. ↑ "Wham!'s 1984 Classic 'Last Christmas' Hits Billboard Hot 100's Top 40 for First Time". Billboard. 10 December 2014.
  41. 1 2 "Wham! Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  42. ↑ "Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' Hits No. 1 on Billboard Global 200 for First Time". Billboard.
  43. ↑ "Wham! – Last Christmas". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  44. ↑ "Wham! – Last Christmas" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  45. ↑ "Wham! – Last Christmas" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  46. ↑ "Wham! – Last Christmas" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  47. ↑ "Wham Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  48. ↑ "Wham! – Last Christmas". Tracklisten.
  49. ↑ "Wham!: Last Christmas" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  50. ↑ "Wham! – Last Christmas" (in French). Les classement single.
  51. ↑ "Wham! Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard.
  52. ↑ "Wham! – Last Christmas" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  53. ↑ "Wham! – Last Christmas". Top 40 Singles.
  54. ↑ "Wham! – Last Christmas". VG-lista.
  55. ↑ "Weekly Charts (20 December 2024 to 26 December 2024)". promusicae.es/en.
  56. ↑ "Wham! – Last Christmas". Singles Top 100.
  57. ↑ "Wham! – Last Christmas". Swiss Singles Chart.
  58. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  59. ↑ "Wham! Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard.
  60. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Singles for week of 30 December 2024". ARIA.
  61. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Wham – Last Christmas". Music Canada.
  62. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Wham – Last Christmas". IFPI Danmark.
  63. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Wham; 'Last Christmas')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  64. ↑ "Dutch single certifications – Wham – Last Christmas" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Last Christmas in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1984 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  65. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Wham – Last Christmas". Radioscope. Type Last Christmas in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  66. ↑ "Spanish single certifications – Wham – Last Christmas". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España.
  67. ↑ "British single certifications – Wham – Last Christmas". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Last Christmas Wham in the "Search:" field.
  68. ↑ "American single certifications – Wham – Last Christmas". Recording Industry Association of America.