In an unprecedented show of seasonal staying power, Wham!’s perennial holiday favorite “Last Christmas” has once again earned the coveted title of Christmas number one on the UK singles chart, marking the second straight year the ’80s pop gem has topped the tally.
Released in 1984, “Last Christmas” was famously kept from the top spot that year by Band Aid’s charity blockbuster “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” But 39 years later, the beloved ballad by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley is enjoying a remarkable resurgence, dominating the holiday season like never before.
A Festive Phenomenon Reborn
The unlikely return of “Last Christmas” to yuletide prominence began in December 2021, when the song finally reached number one in the UK — a bittersweet triumph coming five years after George Michael’s tragic Christmas Day passing in 2016. That milestone ended the tune’s three-decade wait for chart glory, but it was only the beginning.
Fast forward to Christmas 2024, and Wham!’s chestnut is roasting the competition once more, fending off a tinsel-draped onslaught of festive songs to secure its second consecutive Christmas number one. It’s an achievement that’s made “Last Christmas” the new gold standard for holiday hits.
“I know George would be utterly delighted that ‘Last Christmas’ has hit number one again,” Andrew Ridgeley told the Official Charts. “It’s a fitting tribute to his songwriting genius.”
Mariah, Brenda, and Bublé Round Out the Top 10
While no other track could match the momentum of Wham!’s winner, plenty of familiar Christmas classics decked the halls of this week’s Top 10. Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” settled for a still-impressive number two, with festive fixtures like Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” making the grade at four and five, respectively.
- The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl – “Fairytale of New York” (#6)
- Kelly Clarkson – “Underneath the Tree” (#7)
- Ariana Grande – “Santa Tell Me” (#8)
On the albums chart, Canadian crooner Michael Bublé regained the top spot with his mega-selling Christmas LP, which is well on its way to becoming the first holiday album to be certified triple diamond in the UK.
Will Any Song Sleigh “Last Christmas” Next Year?
Now that Wham! has pulled off the extremely rare feat of back-to-back Christmas number ones, the question becomes: Can any song knock “Last Christmas” from its tinsel-topped perch? With each passing year, the ’80s earworm only seems to grow in popularity and prestige.
It would likely take a perfectly crafted, instant-classic Christmas song from a major star to dislodge Wham!’s unassailable champ. Until then, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s bittersweet pop duo will keep on delivering the gift of a “Last Christmas” number one, leaving a uniquely indelible mark on the chart records.
