Wham! – George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley – has finally clinched the festive top spot on the charts with enduring classic ‘Last Christmas’.
The song was originally released in 1984 and it’s taken 39 years to finally reach the chart summit. With more than 1.6 billion streams worldwide, the song is now 6x Platinum in the UK and the US. This isn’t the first time that the song has hit number one though, having managed the achievement five times prior.
Ridgeley said, “I am delighted that ‘Last Christmas’ has finally become a Christmas No.1. It is the ultimate accolade for the song George composed with just that goal in mind and with the aim of conceiving a Christmas classic. I’d like to thank the legions of WHAM! fans, old and new, who have supported us unceasingly in our ambition for a great many years, it is very much appreciated, and I am truly grateful.”
George Michael Entertainment said, “At what is an incredibly emotional time of year for his family and all of us associated with George we would like to thank everyone who helped make this particular dream come true – George adored Christmas and he would have truly loved having the Number 1 Christmas single with WHAM! – if only he were here to share it with us. Merry Christmas and a happy and peaceful New Year.”
Sony Music UK said, “We’re thrilled that WHAM! have claimed the Christmas #1 spot. It’s a huge achievement and means a lot because we know it’s what George wanted. We would like to thank Andrew, George Michael Entertainment and all the fans for their support. This is the perfect way to end an amazing year for WHAM!”
This year Wham! launched on TikTok, and in 2024 the band will celebrate the 40th anniversary of ‘Last Christmas’.
