“Last Christmas” by Wham! #1 in the UK

In 39 years, the famous festive song from Wham! finally reached the first place in the rankings in the group’s country.

‘Tis the season when all the holiday classics top the sales charts. This is the case of “Last Christmas” by Wham!, which reached first place last week, 39 years after its release.

The song competes every year during Christmas week with other titles of the same ilk by rock, pop and other artists, such as “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band Aid, winner a few decades ago. In recent years, the top spot for holiday singles has typically been taken by talk show singers, YouTubers, charity tracks and Ed Sheeran. However, Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name” bypassed the top spot in 2009.

However, just like Breda Lee, whose single “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” reached number one in the United States 65 years after its release, “Last Christmas” by Wham! finally reaches the pinnacle, almost 40 years after “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (in which we also find George Michael) took the top spot in 1984. “Last Christmas” also created a breakthrough in 2022, but ultimately ended up in second position.

Andrew Ridgeley, traveling companion of the late George Michael within Wham, declared in a press release relayed by The Guardian: “George would be overjoyed to know that after all these years we have finally won first place at Christmas. George said he wrote “Last Christmas” with the intention of making it a Christmas hit. Mission accomplished ! »

The 80s duo thus surpasses “You’re Christmas To Me” by Sam Ryder (in second position), “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey and “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan. Despite an effort to take The Pogues’ “Fairytale in New York” to the top of the charts following the death of singer Shane McGowan, the song only made it to sixth place.