Last Christmas

For other uses, see Last Christmas (disambiguation).

"Last Christmas"
UK vinyl sleeve for the original 1984 and international release[1][2]
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, London[3]
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
Back cover
Back cover of original 1984 UK gatefold edition

"Last Christmas" is a song by English pop duo Wham!. Written and produced by George Michael, it was released on 3 December 1984 via CBS Records internationally and as a double A-side via Epic Records with "Everything She Wants" in several European countries. The song has been covered by many artists since its original release, including Whigfield, Crazy Frog, Billie Piper, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande.

Upon its initial release in 1984, "Last Christmas" spent five consecutive weeks at number two in the UK singles chart—it was held off the top spot at Christmas by Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (on which Michael also performed). After many chart runs in subsequent years, which included three more weeks at number two, and which saw the recording become part of RCA Records' catalogue, the song finally reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on New Year's Day 2021 (chart week ending date 7 January 2021), more than 36 years after its initial release;[4] in doing so, it became the fifth UK number one single for the duo. Prior to it reaching number one, "Last Christmas" 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 (not including streams).[5][6] This record is now held by "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers.[7] The song reached number one in the UK after it was streamed 9.2 million times in the last week of 2020 and sold 1,555 downloads, resulting in a total of 40,149 combined sales.[8] Having been the Christmas number two again in 2022, "Last Christmas" finally achieved the accolade of Christmas number one in 2023, 39 years after its initial release.[9] Combining sales and streams, it also became the third biggest song of all time in the UK.[10]

Outside the United Kingdom, the song topped the charts in fourteen countries and peaked within the top ten of the charts in several countries including Australia, Canada and the United States. It also reached number two on the Billboard Global 200 in January 2021. Wham! donated all of their royalties to relief efforts for the Ethiopian famine.[11] In a UK-wide poll in December 2012, it was voted eight on the ITV television special The Nation's Favourite Christmas Song[12] and was voted most popular song of the 1980s in Channel 5's Christmas 2020 countdown Britain's Favourite 80's Songs.[13] It was the most-played Christmas song of the 21st century in the UK until it was overtaken by "Fairytale of New York" in 2011.[14]

Development

Wham! in 1985: George Michael (left) and Andrew Ridgeley

"Last Christmas" had its beginnings in 1983, while George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley were visiting Michael's parents. It was written by Michael in his childhood bedroom.[3] Michael played Ridgeley the introduction and chorus melody to "Last Christmas", which Ridgeley later called "a moment of wonder".[15][6]

Recording

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. With a LinnDrum drum machine, a Roland Juno-60 synth and sleigh bells, they began recording the song in the summer, Michael having "plastered [the studio] in Christmas decorations to set the mood".[6] The only other people in the studio were engineer Chris Porter and two assistants, Paul Gommersal and Richard Moakes. According to Porter, lyrically "you've got the happiness of the rhythm track, but against that you've got the sadness of the unrequited love".[3]

Chart performance

United Kingdom

Sleeve back of 1985 UK release, titled Christmas 85

Wham! already had two number one singles on the UK singles chart during 1984, and news that they were planning a Christmas single meant that a battle for the coveted Christmas number one spot in Britain seemed set to be between Wham! and the year's other big act, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, who had achieved a third No. 1 in early December with "The Power of Love". The Band Aid single written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, produced the No. 1 single "Do They Know It's Christmas?", while Wham!'s offering peaked at No. 2 for much of the period. Wham! donated all "Last Christmas" / "Everything She Wants" royalties, the former of which exceeded £250,000 (equivalent to £1,010,000 in 2023), to the Ethiopian famine relief fund.[11][16]

In subsequent years, the song entered the UK Top 40 on 15 occasions, reaching the Top 10 no fewer than six times (including a run of five consecutive years between 2016 and 2020). In 1985 and 2017 it equalled its best ever chart position of number two, before finally topping the charts on 1 January 2021, 36 years after its original 1984 release. In the process, "Last Christmas" achieved the chart record for the longest time taken for a single to peak at the top of the UK singles chart after its first release, a feat that had previously been held by "(Is This The Way To) Amarillo? by Tony Christie, which topped the chart in March 2005, 33 years and four months after its initial release in November 1971.[6] The record has since been surpassed in June 2022 by Kate Bush with "Running Up That Hill", which took 37 years.[17]

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

By February 2020, "Last Christmas" had sold over 1.90 million copies, being at that time the biggest-selling single in UK chart history not to reach number one, and the 10th best-selling UK single overall.[3][37] As of December 2023, "Last Christmas" has sold over 1.93 million physical copies and downloads, becoming the eighth best-selling single of all time in the UK overall. It was certified sextuple platinum in December 2023.[38]

In December 2019, it peaked at No. 1 on both the UK Official Vinyl Singles Chart[39] and on the Official Video Streaming Chart.[40] The following week, the song set a new UK chart record and was streamed 17.1 million times, the most number of plays in a week.[41] It became the UK's best-selling vinyl single release in 2019.[42] In December 2023, for the first time in the song's history, it won the coveted Christmas number 1 spot on The Official Chart Show with Jack Saunders.[43]

Other territories

In Germany, the song is the most successful Christmas single of all time, having spent 169 weeks on the German Singles Chart and attained a peak position of No. 1 on 24 December 2021.[44] It has charted every year since 1997.[45] In January 2008, the song fell from No. 4 to No. 64 there, also making it the biggest fall out of the top 10 on the singles chart.[46]

In Ireland the single went to number one for one week in December 1984 before being replaced at the top by Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?". It also went back to number one in Ireland at the end of December 2022.[47]

The single was originally released in two different formats in Japan with different cover art, a 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl (Long version) both with "Credit Card Baby" as their B-side. The former entered the top 20 of the Oricon Singles Chart peaking at No. 15, while the latter reached No. 47.[48] The single was released in 1993 on CD single in the country and peaked at No. 17, selling nearly 40,000 copies that week.[49] It was reissued in November 2001 and 2004 as a two-track CD with the single edit and the "pudding mix".[50][51] As a result of the success, "Last Christmas" is the eighth best-selling single of all time in Japan released by a non-Japanese act, with total physical sales of 683,000 units.[52]

In the Netherlands, the song never reached No. 1, peaking at No. 2 in January 1985 (behind Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?"). In the Dutch Singles Top 100 (one of three charts in the Netherlands that claims to be the "official" chart, but it is the only one that is not broadcast and remains unpublished except on its own official web page), the song has now entered on 16 different occasions, including every year since 2006. Its highest position after 1984 was No. 4 (during the 2016 and 2018 Christmas season).[53][54] In the Dutch Mega Top 50 (which was first published in 1993), the song re-appeared in 1997, 2000, 2007, 2008, and 2013.

"Last Christmas" was not released commercially as a single in the United States until November 2014, when it was made available on 12" vinyl as a Record Store Day exclusive.[55] Since then, the song has re-entered the Billboard Holiday Songs Chart on a regular basis, peaking at No. 3 on 7 December 2019.[56][57]

In November 2016, total US sales of the digital track stood at 751,000 downloads according to Nielsen SoundScan, placing it 10th on the list of best-selling Christmas/holiday digital singles in US SoundScan history.[58] The song debuted at No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the chart dated 7 January 2017, after George Michael died.[59] In December 2018, the song re-entered the Hot 100, reaching No. 25 in January 2019,[60] and then a new peak of No. 11 in the first issue of 2020. On the issue dated 2 January 2021, "Last Christmas" reached No. 9 on the Hot 100, its first foray into the top 10 and returning Wham! to the top 10 after a 35-year break. The following year, on the issue dated 1 January 2022, the song reached No. 7.[61][62][63] On the issue dated 24 December 2022, the song reached a new peak of No. 6 on the Hot 100.[64] On the year's last issue of the Billboard Hot 100, dated 31 December 2022, "Last Christmas" reached top five.[65] On Billboard's first issue of 2023, dated 7 January, the song reached a new peak of No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.[66] According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), it was certified double platinum in December 2019 and has sold 2 million digital units.[67] In 2024, the song became the first Christmas single to chart during the year-end holiday season, debuting at number 38 for the week ending November 23.

In 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021, "Last Christmas" reached No. 1 in the Swedish singles chart.[68]

Music video

The music video to "Last Christmas" directed by British commercial, film and music video director Andrew Morahan, shows Wham! members Michael and Ridgeley accompanying girlfriends to see friends at an unspecified ski resort cottage; the cable-car that is visible in two shots is from Saas-Fee, Switzerland, where the video was filmed on 21 November 1984.[3][69] It becomes clear early on that the character of Ridgeley's girlfriend (played by model Kathy Hill)[3] was previously in a relationship with Michael and that the song is aimed at her. She can be spotted throughout the video by the fact that she is usually wearing red, but everyone else is wearing more muted colours.

There is a brief flashback to a prior Christmas, showing Michael's character presenting Kathy Hill's character with a jewelled brooch. In the present time, Ridgeley is wearing the brooch, suggesting that Hill gave the same gift (perhaps by regifting it) to her new love after she and Michael parted ways. When Hill wears the brooch after receiving it from Michael's character, it is "right side up", and when Ridgeley's character wears it, he wears it "upside down". On numerous occasions, Michael presents a thoughtful expression, suggesting his conflicting emotions. As Michael is decorating the Christmas tree some decoration falls to the floor where Michael's ex-girlfriend is sitting and the ex-couple shares a few seconds of a knowing look at each other.

At the end of the video, everyone leaves the cottage and when the group get out of the cable-car, they are all properly "paired off" with Michael and his new girlfriend played by actress Debbie Killingback, looking happy.

The video also featured the duo's backing singers Pepsi and Shirlie.[3]

Restoration

The music video, originally shot on 35mm film, was released on 13 December 2019 in 4K Ultra HD resolution.[70] The music video's original film director Andy Morahan had found seven out of the eight rolls of original 35mm rushes and worked with teams at Cinelab London and VFX artist Russ Shaw at Nice Biscuits post production to recreate the video using the higher-resolution film.[70]

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[174] 7× Platinum 490,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[175] 9× Platinum 720,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[176] 6× Platinum 540,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[177] 3× Platinum 1,500,000‡
Greece (IFPI Greece)[178] Gold 10,000^
Italy (FIMI)[179]
sales since 2009 		3× Platinum 300,000‡
Japan (RIAJ)[181]
physical sales 		2× Platinum 655,000[180]
Japan (RIAJ)[182]
Chaku-Uta Full (R) digital 2004–2011 		Platinum 250,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[183]
Chaku-Uta (R) digital 2002–2019 		3× Platinum 750,000*
Netherlands (NVPI)[184] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[185] 3× Platinum 90,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[186] 2× Platinum 20,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[187] 2× Platinum 120,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] 7× Platinum 4,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[188] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[189] Platinum 2,000,000†
Sweden (GLF)[190] 10× Platinum 80,000,000†

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Version(s) Label(s) Ref.
Europe 3 December 1984
  • Original
 Epic [191]
12-inch vinyl Pudding mix [192]
Various 10 December 1984
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • Pudding mix
 Epic, CBS [193]
Japan 15 December 1984 7-inch vinyl
  • Original
 Epic [194]
21 December 1984 12-inch vinyl Original "long version" [192]
World December 1985 7-inch vinyl
  • 1985 version
 [195]
12-inch vinyl Pudding mix [195]
U.K. December 1986 7-inch vinyl
  • 85 version
 [196]
Japan 9 December 1988
  • 85 version
  • Pudding mix
 [197]
Europe December 1988
  • CD single (8cm)
  • vinyl
 [198]
Japan 21 November 2001 CD single [199]
17 November 2004 [200]
U.K. 22 November 2004 Digital download
  • 85 version
  • Pudding mix
 Sony [201]
United States 28 November 2014 12-inch vinyl
  • 85 version
  • Instrumental
 Columbia [202]
Various 13 December 2019 7-inch vinyl
  • 85 version
 RCA [203]
U.K. 15 December 2023
  • CD single
  • 85 version
  • Pudding mix
 Sony Music [204]
7-inch vinyl 85 version [205]
U.K. 13 December 2024
  • CD single
  • (40th Anniversary EP)
  • 85 version
  • Pudding mix
  • 2006 live
  • Instrumental
 [206]
7-inch vinyl
12-inch vinyl

In other media

The film Last Christmas (2019) prominently features the music of George Michael, including this song.[207]

The song is featured in the movie, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever which was played twice.[citation needed]

Plagiarism allegations

On behalf of the writers of the song "Can't Smile Without You", made popular by Barry Manilow, publishing company Dick James Music sued Michael for plagiarism in the mid-1980s, claiming that "Last Christmas" lifted its melody from the former. The case was dismissed when a musicologist presented 60-odd songs from the past century that had a comparable chord sequence and melody.[3][208]

Whigfield version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Whigfield
from the album Whigfield and Whigfield II
Released4 December 1995 (1995-12-04)[209]
Length4:16
LabelX-Energy
Songwriter(s)George Michael
Producer(s)Larry Pignagnoli
Whigfield singles chronology
"Big Time"
(1995) 		"Last Christmas"
(1995) 		"Sexy Eyes"
(1996)
Music video
"Last Christmas" on YouTube

Italian dance act Whigfield covered "Last Christmas" and released it as a double A-side with "Big Time" in the UK in December 1995. 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 was produced by Larry Pignagnoli and reached number 21 in the UK, which was Whigfield's final release on Systematic Records. It also appears on various Special Edition versions of her debut album, Whigfield (1995), and also on Whigfield II (1997). The accompanying music video for Whigfield's cover was directed by Italian director Giacomo De Simone, featuring the singer performing the song in a winter landscape.

Chart performance

Whigfield's cover of "Last Christmas" climbed into the top 10 in both Denmark and Spain, peaking at numbers six and five, respectively. It was also a top-20 hit in Finland and a top-30 hit in Ireland and the United Kingdom. In the latter country, "Last Christmas" / "Big Time" peaked at number 21 during its first week on the UK singles chart, on 10 December 1995.[210] It was additionally a top-40 hit in Belgium, as well as on the European Hot 100 Singles, on which the song reached number 38.

Critical reception

John Perry from NME named "Last Christmas" by Whigfield Single of the Week, writing, "Gird your loins and don that silly party hat, pop-pickers, because what we have here is the classic Christmas single. [...] The Whigster has taken what was a definitive Christmas song and given it a monster 'I Feel Love' hi-NRG fuel-injection that will have the nation stomping those accursed parsnips into Auntie Mabel's best rug in front of The Queen..."[211]

Track listings

12-inch single, Italy (1995) CD single, UK (1995)
1. "Last Christmas" (MBRG Version) – 5:25 1. "Last Christmas (Major Cut) – 4:10
2. "Last Christmas" (Major Version) – 4:10 2. "Big Time (Dancing Divas Club Mix) – 6:54
3. "Big Time" (Album Version) – 3:21 3. "Saturday Night (Spike Vocal) – 7:28
4. "Last Christmas" (David Version) – 8:00 4. "Saturday Night (Afternoon Mix) (Fishbone Beat's Remix)
5. "Last Christmas" (Minor Version) – 4:10
CD single, Italy (1995) CD maxi, Scandinavia (1995)
1. "Last Christmas" (Major Version) 1. "Last Christmas" (MBRG Version) – 5:25
2. "Last Christmas" (MBRG Version) 2. "Last Christmas" (Major Version) – 4:10
3. "Last Christmas" (David Version) 3. "Last Christmas" (Minor Version) – 4:20
4. "Last Christmas" (Minor Version) 4. "Last Christmas" (Major Mild Eq. Version) – 4:10
5. "Close To You" (Down Town Remix) 5. "Last Christmas" (K. David Version) – 8:00

Charts

Chart (1995) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[212] 38
Denmark (IFPI)[213] 6
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) 38
Europe Eurochart Hot 100 61
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[214] 12
Ireland (IRMA) 24
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[215] 2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[216] 34
Scotland (OCC)[217] 21
Spain (AFYVE)[218] 4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[219] 53
UK Singles (OCC)[210] 21

Ashley Tisdale version

"Last Christmas"
Promotional single by Ashley Tisdale
Released
  • 11 November 2006 (2006-11-11) (US radio)
  • 21 November 2006 (2006-11-21) (digital download)[220]
Recorded2006
Genre
Length
  • 3:55
  • 3:39 (radio edit)
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)George Michael
Producer(s)Mark Hammond

"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 Christmas in Rockefeller Center, and in 2009 in the Citadel Outlets of Los Angeles, California. The song was one of the B-sides on 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.[221] The song has been included on several compilation albums, including Disney Channel Holiday and A Very Special Christmas 7.

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
US Holiday Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[222] 47

Crazy Frog version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Crazy Frog
from the album Crazy Frog Presents More Crazy Hits Ultimate Edition
ReleasedDecember 2006
Recorded2006
Genre
Length4:27
LabelMinistry of Sound
Songwriter(s)George Michael
Crazy Frog singles chronology
"We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)"
(2006) 		"Last Christmas"
(2006) 		"Crazy Frog in the House (Knightrider)"
(2007)
Music video
"Last Christmas" on YouTube

"Last Christmas" was covered in 2006 by Crazy Frog and released as a Christmas single.

Charts

Chart performance for "Last Christmas"
Chart (2006) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[223] 30
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[224] 19
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[225] 6
France (SNEP)[226] 19
Ireland (IRMA)[227] 16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[228] 48
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[229] 19
UK Singles (OCC)[230] 16

Cascada version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Cascada
from the album It's Christmas Time
Released21 November 2007
Recorded2007
Genre
Length3:27
Label
Songwriter(s)George Michael
Cascada singles chronology
"Ready for Love"
(2006) 		"Last Christmas"
(2007) 		"What Hurts the Most"
(2007)
Music video
"Last Christmas" on YouTube

"Last Christmas" was recorded in 2007 by Cascada. It was released on iTunes in November 2007. The single had only a digital release but six days later, it was released on the single "What Hurts the Most" which was the first single from their second album. It was also released as part of their Christmas album, It's Christmas Time.

Charts

Chart (2007) Peak
position
Germany (GfK)[231] 83
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[232] 63
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[233] 111[a]
UK Dance (OCC)[234] 22
Chart (2010) Peak
position
US Dance/Electronic Digital Songs Sales (Billboard)[235] 43

Notes

  1. ^ Based on downloads alone, but did chart at number 10, as it was the B-side to "What Hurts the Most".

Glee cast version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Glee cast
from the album Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album
Released23 November 2009
16 November 2010 (re-release)
Recorded2009
GenrePop
Length3:37
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)George Michael

The song was covered by the cast of Glee, led by Lea Michele, Cory Monteith with Amber Riley, and was released in 2009 exclusively on iTunes as a charity single, then in 2010 on Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first time a cover version of the song appeared on that chart.

Charts

Chart (2009–22) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[236] 60
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[237] 46
US Billboard Hot 100[238] 63
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[239] 27
US Holiday Airplay (Billboard)[240] 39
US Holiday Digital Songs (Billboard)[241] 3

Joe McElderry version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Joe McElderry
from the album Classic Christmas
Released4 November 2011 (2011-11-04)
RecordedOctober 2011
GenrePop
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)George Michael
Joe McElderry singles chronology
"There's a Place for Us"
(2010) 		"Last Christmas"
(2011) 		"Here's What I Believe"
(2012)

British singer Joe McElderry covered the song in 2011. This version was released as a single on 19 December 2011,[242] 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. 7th Heaven Remix & Production have done a remix for the song.

A short music video was made using footage which was filmed for the Classic Christmas's album advertising, it features McElderry outside in the snow, collecting logs and taking them to a large house preparing for a Christmas party, a similar video was made for McElderry's version of "O Come All Ye Faithful". The advert and both videos were directed by Steve Lucker.[243]

Ariana Grande version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Ariana Grande
from the album Christmas Kisses
Released19 November 2013 (2013-11-19)
Recorded2013
Genre
Length3:24
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)George Michael
Producer(s)
Ariana Grande singles chronology
"Right There"
(2013) 		"Last Christmas"
(2013) 		"Love Is Everything"
(2013)

"Last Christmas" was covered by American singer Ariana Grande, and serves as the lead single from Grande's Christmas Kisses. It was released on 19 November 2013 in the iTunes Store.[244]

Grande's cover draws primarily from pop music, contemporary R&B and soul and also includes newly written lyrics in place of some of the originals.[245][246] The verses have been described as having a more poppy and R&B vibe than the original.[245]

Charts

Chart (2013–2024) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[247] 95
Global 200 (Billboard)[248] 157
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[249] 73
Lithuania (AGATA)[250] 93
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[251] 59
Portugal (AFP)[252] 90
South Korea (Circle)[253] 23
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[254] 91
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[255] 92
US Billboard Hot 100[256] 96
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[257] 26
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[258] 32
US Holiday Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[259] 1
US Holiday Streaming Songs (Billboard)[260] 22

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[261] Gold 35,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[262] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Carly Rae Jepsen version

"Last Christmas"
Single by Carly Rae Jepsen
Released20 November 2015 (2015-11-20)
RecordedNovember 2015[263]
Genre
Length3:32
Label
Songwriter(s)George Michael
Producer(s)Ben Romans
Carly Rae Jepsen singles chronology
"Your Type"
(2015) 		"Last Christmas"
(2015) 		"Super Natural"
(2016)

"Last Christmas" was covered by Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen in 2015 and was released to digital retailers on 20 November 2015 through 604 Records (in Canada) and Interscope Records and School Boy Records (internationally).[264] Jepsen's rendition was praised by critics for combining stylistic elements similar to the original with modern production.[265] She performed the song live at the annual NBC television special Christmas in Rockefeller Center airing on 2 December 2015,[266] and on the episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden airing on 16 December 2015.[267]

Bianca Gracie of Idolator described the song as "quintessential Carly" for highlighting Jepsen's unique vocals and synth production and wrote that her cover will "charm your... socks off".[268] Nolan Feeney of Time echoed those sentiments, noting that "Last Christmas" is "the kind of brokenhearted yet warm and sweet song [Jepsen] excels at".[269] Jackson McHenry of Vulture applauded Jepsen for her straightforward approach to the song and avoiding the "vocal gymnastics" that bog down some Christmas covers.[270]

A more critical review came from music blog Popcrush, who deemed the cover overproduced, saying "The slick production is a disservice to both Jepsen's vocals and the original's emotional heft."[271]

Charts

Chart (2015–20) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[272] 21
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[273] 40
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[274] 20
Mexico (Billboard Ingles Airplay)[275] 38
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[276] 100
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[277] 80
US Holiday Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[278] 43

Other cover versions

See also

References

  1. ^ Wham!. Last Christmas (Media notes). CBS Records. EPC A 4949. Editado e Distribuido em Portugal por CBS (Portugal) Música e Discos, Lda
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