Wham's Signature Song 'Last Christmas' Re-enters Charts... Tops UK Chart for the First Time in 39 Years

Member Rizley "Mission Complete... Greatest Glory"

The representative song "Last Christmas" by the popular 1980s British duo Wham! reached number one on the UK Official Chart 39 years after its release.

On the 22nd (local time), the UK music ranking provider Official Charts Company announced that "Last Christmas," released by Wham! in December 1984, had become the official UK Christmas number one song. The Official Charts Company stated, "This song, created 39 years ago, has recorded the longest journey to the UK Christmas number one."

Andrew Ridgeley, a member of the British duo 'Wham!' [Image source=Official Charts Company website capture, Yonhap News]

Wham! was a duo band formed in 1981 by high school classmates the late George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. They gained worldwide fame with the release of their second album "Make It Big" in 1984. Their hit songs include "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," "Freedom," and "Careless Whisper."

Released on December 1, 1984, "Last Christmas" was very popular at the time. However, it was overshadowed by the British project group Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" released the same year to support famine-stricken Africa, and thus did not claim the number one spot.

"Last Christmas" contains lyrics about being betrayed by someone to whom the narrator confessed their feelings last Christmas. Ridgeley (60), a member of Wham!, expressed his emotion about reaching number one by saying "mission accomplished" and called it "the greatest honor." He said, "'Last Christmas' has finally reached number one as a precious and popular official Christmas song, which has always been our main goal." Ridgeley added, "George probably wouldn't have known what to do," and explained, "Yog (George Michael's nickname) created this song with the intention of writing a Christmas number one hit."

George Michael (right) and Andrew Ridgeley performing at a concert in Beijing, China in 1985
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

Ridgeley confessed, "If it weren't for Band Aid, 'Last Christmas' would have topped the charts," and admitted, "We were very disappointed not to reach number one." At the time, they believed this song would naturally take the top spot. Ridgeley said, "The Christmas number one was a grudge held for a long time by Yog, me, and our fans," adding, "It will have great significance for Wham!'s legacy."

Simon Napier-Bell, Wham!'s former manager, recently told the UK daily The Telegraph in an interview about the song, "Isn't it really a wonderful piece?" He marveled, "How can you make a Christmas song that says 'Christmas' every three seconds and still includes bell sounds without sounding cheesy?"

Wham! disbanded in 1986. Afterwards, Michael pursued a solo career, releasing hits such as "Faith," "One More Try," and "Kissing a Fool." He suddenly passed away at the age of 53 at his home on Christmas Day, December 25, 2016. The cause of death was reported as heart failure. Ridgeley also released a solo album in 1990 but did not engage in significant musical activities thereafter.

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