Song Stories: Wham: Last Christmas

I've saved the best till last. A song that is as festive as it is melancholic. It really is a bittersweet affair. "Last Christmas" has become synonymous with this time of year, especially here in the UK, where it has continued to take on a whole new life of it's own.

Released in December 1984, “Last Christmas” quickly became one of Wham!’s biggest hits. Written by George Michael, the song was part of the band’s holiday single, which was paired with “Everything She Wants” as the B-side. Both tracks were featured on their album Make It Big, but “Last Christmas” proved to be the standout.

December 1984 is a significant date, as the band were competing with Band Aid for Christmas Number One. Meaning that on it's release the song did not hit the top spot.

It's a classic 80s pop song but the band decided to take a different approach with it's lyrics. While many Christmas tunes are filled with cheer, goodwill, and seasonal warmth, George Michael's song tells the story of heartbreak. The lyrics describe someone who gave their heart to someone special last Christmas, only to have that person betray their trust. As the song’s chorus echoes, “Last Christmas, I gave you my heart, but the very next day you gave it away,” the listener is reminded of the vulnerability that comes with love, even during the most festive time of year

The upbeat, synthesizer-driven production makes it a song you can’t help but sing along to, even if it’s tinged with a sense of longing. The song is filled with layers of infectious melodies and harmonies, with a warm, retro '80s sound that still manages to feel timeless. The combination of joyful instrumentation and wistful lyrics creates an intriguing contrast that keeps people coming back to it year after year.

"Last Christmas" has been a Christmas classic since it's release but has taken on a whole new meaning since the death of George Michael who passed on Christmas Day in 2016. The song did eventually reach the top spot, first in 2023 and then again in 2024 becoming the first song to be crowned Christmas Number One two years in a row. 

All these years later, the song is still resonating with people. Andrew Rdigeley commented on the songs everlasting legacy. "I'm especially pleased for George, he would have been utterly delighted, his fabulous Christmas composition has become such a classic, almost as much a part of Christmas as mince pies, turkey and pigs in blankets."

Official Charts boss Martin Talbot said Last Christmas was "surely, undeniably, established now as the British nation's all-time favourite Christmas song".

It's certainly my favourite Christmas song, a modern day classic.

Thank you for reading x

Jack