Image source, Sony music
The inspiration to write the song came while George Michael (right) was watching a football match.
- author, Mark Savage
- Role, BBC News music correspondent
It's been a holiday classic for decades, but has never reached number one in the UK charts during Christmas week.
But this year Last ChristmasSuccess hit! written by George Michael 39 years ago, he finally did it.
Defeated classic theme You are Christmas to me By Sam Ryder, also transcending history All I want for ChristmasFor American Mariah Carey, who came in third place.
Last ChristmasWho talks about the separation of love, It was originally released in 1984. George Michael intended to reach number one on the music charts during Christmas week in the United Kingdom, a highly coveted achievement in that country. But this never happened.
The success of Michael, who coincidentally died on Christmas Day 2016, It was replaced in 1984 by the single She doesn't know it's Christmas? From Band Aid, a project to raise money for hunger in Ethiopia in which he himself participated.
Image source, Sony music
The song has already gone to number one twice, but not on Christmas week.
The song recently reached No. 1 on the music charts during this time of year, but not on Christmas Day.
This week, fans of Wham! In the UK they played the song 13.3 million timesWhich makes it the most listened to song.
Andrew Ridgeley, George Michael's legendary duet partner Wham! “It's amazing and humbling to get there.” He added in a conversation with the BBC: “The summit is a wonderful place to be.”
The singer said so George always wanted the song to be number one in Christmas.
“He felt that every great songwriter should be able to write a bespoke Christmas song. Unfortunately, it took George a long time, but he will be very happy.”
The amazing inspiration of George Michael
Image source, Getty Images
George Michael wanted his song to reach the top of the music charts over Christmas, but he couldn't see it while he was alive.
Last Christmas Written by George Michael In his childhood bedroom In February 1984.
Inspiration came out of nowhere while the singer was at his parents' house in Hertfordshire.
“There was a football match on TV and suddenly he jumped up and disappeared upstairs where he had a little studio,” Ridgley said.
“About an hour later, he came back and said, ‘Andy, Andy, you have to hear this.’ I’ve rarely seen him so excited or so animated.”
“And as soon as I heard it, it was very clear that it had all the makings of a Christmas classic. It was an amazing moment.”
The song was recorded in August 1984 at Advision Studios in London. Michael covered the place in Christmas decorations to set the mood.
When the pair showed the subject to their families, “he had claimed his first victim,” Ridgley told RTÉ in 1984.
“One of my mother's friends had an affair at Christmas, that's what the song was about. They stopped it and when I heard it Breaking into tears“.
This sweet and cheerful video was filmed that same year in Switzerland, with showgirls Pepsi and Shirley, and model Cathy Hill.
This production would also be the last time Michael would be seen without the beard that distinguished him.
After filming the music video, the icon recorded her voice for it She doesn't know it's Christmas.
but Last Christmas It is now the third most popular song of all time in the UK.
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