Despite being denied the festive top spot for 39 years, Wham!’s iconic hit, Last Christmas, has finally claimed the crown as the UK’s official Christmas number one. George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s timeless classic prevailed over fierce competition from Eurovision star Sam Ryder, Mariah Carey, and The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. Securing second place was Ryder’s heartwarming tune, You’re Christmas To Me, closely followed by Carey’s beloved All I Want For Christmas Is You. Noah Kahan’s Stick Season claimed fourth place, while Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John’s collaboration on Merry Christmas rounded off the top five.
Last Christmas, written and produced by the late George Michael, had its initial bid for the number one spot in 1984 thwarted by Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? However, the pop duo’s enduring hit has now made history by achieving the longest-ever journey to the UK Christmas number one, as reported by the Official Charts Company. Reflecting on this remarkable achievement, Andrew Ridgeley remarked, “It is a big moment for me, everyone involved with Wham!, and George Michael himself. He wrote it with number one in mind. He happened to tap into the very essence of Christmas with this song. It’s an extraordinary achievement, and it makes the experience all the more wonderful.”
When asked about the secret to writing a Christmas number one, Ridgeley acknowledged the elusive magic that lies behind such a feat. “That’s the magic,” he said. “It is very difficult to identify quite what it is that makes a number one song have such broad appeal. What Yog [Michael] did with this track was distill what Christmas represents in many people’s minds.” Ridgeley’s disappointment at missing out on the top spot back in 1984 was palpable. “It was a huge disappointment at the time,” he confessed. “We truly believed we had it in the bag. If not for Band Aid, we probably would’ve clinched the number one spot. But over the years, it seems that Last Christmas has become synonymous with the holiday season for countless people. This achievement will be a crowning glory for Wham!’s legacy.”
For Wham! fans worldwide, this long-awaited victory holds a special significance. Ridgeley expressed his belief that supporters will feel an immense sense of achievement and pride in seeing Last Christmas claim the Christmas number one title. “The song was conceived as a Christmas number one,” he explained. “George had lofty ambitions for himself as a songwriter, and Last Christmas was no exception. This achievement will mean a lot to Wham!’s legacy, and it serves as a heartwarming tribute to George’s incredible talent and enduring impact on the music industry.”
Tragically, George Michael passed away on Christmas Day in 2016 at the age of 53. However, his legacy lives on through his music. Last Christmas has now become the UK’s third biggest song of all time, amassing a combined lifetime total of 5.34 million chart units, according to the Official Charts Company. In an era dominated by streaming, Last Christmas was streamed a staggering 13.3 million times in just the last seven days, solidifying its status as the most-streamed Christmas number one during the festive week.
The long-awaited triumph of Last Christmas as the UK’s official Christmas number one is a testament to its timeless appeal and the enduring legacy of Wham! and George Michael. As the iconic festive tune continues to dominate the airwaves and warm hearts around the world, its journey to the top spot serves as a reminder that some things are worth the wait, and the spirit of Christmas can, indeed, conquer all.
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