Last Christmas — Lyrics, History & Fun Facts

Last Christmas is a bittersweet synth-pop holiday classic about heartbreak and moving on, telling the story of someone who gave their heart to a lover the previous Christmas only to have it given away the very next day. Written and produced by George Michael, the song has become one of the most successful and widely covered Christmas songs of all time. Its irresistible melody and emotionally relatable lyrics have earned it enduring popularity, with the song reaching number one in the UK charts nearly four decades after its release.

The History of "Last Christmas"

Last Christmas was written and produced by George Michael and released by Wham! in December 1984. Despite selling over a million copies in its first week in the UK, it was held off the number one spot by Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas,' which George Michael also performed on. The song became one of the best-selling singles never to reach number one in the UK until it finally topped the UK Singles Chart in January 2021, thirty-six years after its release. All royalties from the original single were donated to Ethiopian famine relief, echoing the charitable spirit of the Band Aid single that had kept it from the top spot.

Fun Facts About "Last Christmas"

• George Michael donated all royalties from the original single to Ethiopian famine relief
• It was kept from the UK number one spot in 1984 by Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas,' which Michael also sang on
• The song finally reached number one in the UK in 2021, thirty-six years after its release
• The music video was filmed at the ski resort of Saas-Fee in Switzerland
• It has been covered by over 300 artists, including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Carly Rae Jepsen

Movies & TV Appearances

"Last Christmas" has been featured in the following movies and television specials:

• Last Christmas (2019)
• Bridget Jones's Diary
• The Office (TV)
• Deadpool 2

Listen to "Last Christmas"

You can listen to "Last Christmas" on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music. Search for the original version by Wham! or explore the many popular covers recorded over the years.