Wham!, Last Christmas | Bangerz N Bopz 🔥

In the 18^th edition of Bangerz N Bopz 🔥, we highlight the beloved ‘Christmas’ classic, “Last Christmas” performed by Wham!. 

Bring on the bold, fierce songs! Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 serves up background info and insight into songs of various styles, especially songs that raise eyebrows and/or stir the pot.  Featured records can be classic or brand new. In the 17^th  edition of Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 (2023), we break down “Last Christmas” performed by Wham!.

“Last Christmas, I gave you my heart / But the very next day, you gave it away.” Iconic! What more needs to be said of the beloved, 1984, Wham! Christmas classic, “Last Christmas”? The hunky George Michael and equally hunky Andrew Ridgeley brought the heat on this quintessential 80s joint. Michael penned and produced this sad, top-five pop hit.  Interestingly, “Last Christmas” debuted on the pop charts for the first time in 2017 (!), following Michael’s unexpected death on Christmas Day, 2016.  It would reach its highest peak – currently no. 4 – in 2023.

Even though “Last Christmas” is one of the best, most popular ‘Christmas’ songs, as mentioned, it’s sad.  That sadness commences with the opening lyrics from the chorus, where George expresses his heartbreak.  The famous chorus continues, “This year, to save me from tears / I’ll give it to someone special.” Loneliness and Christmastime shouldn’t mix, but, “Last Christmas” masterfully depicts the less ‘wonderful’ side of the holiday season.  The sentiments of being hurt continues in the verses, including the likes of  “Once bitten and twice shy / I keep my distance, but you still catch my eye” (verse one) and “A face of a lover with a fire in his heart / A man undercover, but you tore me apart” (verse two).  Unfortunate, Wham! Fortunately, the collective sounds amazing, and the production is smooth with the groove, enthusiastic synths, and surprisingly, a major key.  No extended analysis or explanation is needed for “Last Christmas” a surefire holiday classic that speaks for itself.

🎙 Wham! • 🎵 “Last Christmas” • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd. • 🗓 2006

Wham!, Last Christmas: Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 No. 18 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd.; cottonbro studio, Harry Shelton, Kool Shooters, Lucas Pazeta, Mavluda Tashbaeva, Teddy Yang, Wesley Souza from Pexels]