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Andrew Ridgeley Last Christmas Pepsi & Shirlie Wham!

“Last Christmas” Is Christmas Number 1!

40th Anniversary “Last Christmas” CD Single
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Happy Christmas indeed!

Wham!’s “Last Christmas” was number 1 in the UK last week and is the Christmas number 1 this week! This is the second consecutive year for “Last Christmas” to be the number 1 song for the week of Christmas in the UK!

Don’t miss out on Andrew Ridgeley’s response to “Last Christmas” topping the Christmas chart again this year:

George Michael would have been delighted that all his Lovelies keep bringing this lovely holiday classic to number 1 year after year! It’s especially wonderful as this is the 40th anniversary of the release of “Last Christmas,” which at the time only reached number 2 because Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas” was 1984’s Christmas number 1.

“Last Christmas” also reached #3 on Billboard’s Top 100 on December 14, 2024.

Andrew Ridgeley gave an interview to Billboard and said of “Last Christmas” charting so high on Billboard:

“Well, extremely satisfying. You know, Yog [a nickname for Wham!’s other half, the late George Michael, who died in 2016], we placed a great deal of importance on being a success in the States. It was, for any artist, of that era… you were nowhere unless you were a big deal in the States. You could be a big noise in the U.K., but the States was the golden prize, really. We were fortunate enough… and one or two of our contemporaries, we had great success in the States.”

Andrew Ridgeley, Wham!’s Andrew Ridgeley on ‘Last Christmas’ Hitting New Hot 100 Peak: George Michael ‘Would Have Been Utterly Delighted’

We have also had the lovely Christmas gift of “Wham!: Last Christmas Unwrapped,” which is available for viewing on the BBC2, Roku, and Netflix. The show brings together most of the friends in the “Last Christmas” video, including Andrew Ridgeley, Shirlie Kemp, and Pepsi DeMacque.

What did you think of WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped? Tell us in the comments.

Read more about the 40th anniversary of “Last Christmas” in New Wham! “Last Christmas” 40th Anniversary CDs and Vinyl

Make sure to follow Yours Only George on Facebook, X, Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, and Pinterest. Join our mailing list for the latest news on George Michael.

About Melanie

Melanie is the co-founder of Yours Only George and has been the webmaster of the site since 1997. Melanie has been a George Michael and Wham! fan since "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" in 1984.

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Andrew Ridgeley Last Christmas Pepsi & Shirlie Wham!

WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped Coming to BBC Two and BBC Music

40th Anniversary “Last Christmas” Vinyl
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In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Christmas classic, “Last Christmas,” Wham! fans are getting an extra present this Christmas. BBC Two and BBC Music will be airing WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped, an hour-long celebration from Blink Films and Sony Music Entertainment.

WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped will feature a world exclusive first broadcast of George Michael performing “Last Christmas” at Wembley Arena in December 2006!

“It’s a privilege, 40 years on, to be able to have this opportunity to celebrate WHAM!’s wonderful and enduring musical homage to Christmas and I’m absolutely thrilled that WHAM! in partnership with The BBC will present this joyful and touching tribute to the nation this Christmas. Christmas was a special time of year for George and Christmas songs were a special type of song for him too and that was why he considered writing a Christmas classic one of the great achievements of his career. Only he will ever know quite what inspired him to such dizzying heights, but his songwriting genius led him to distil the quintessential essence of Christmas into a song whose breadth of appeal spans the generations. Revisiting Saas Fee, four decades on, with some of the closest friends of my youth was a very special experience and one which I know Yog would have loved to have shared in.”

Andrew Ridgeley

The December treat will feature new interviews with Andrew Ridgeley, Pepsi DeMacque-Crockett and Shirlie Kemp. It will also include archive footage of George Michael.

The special will also include interviews with Mary J Blige, Sir Bob Geldof, Neil Tennant and Sam Smith.

Some of the features are Andrew, Pepsi, Shirlie, and friends revisiting the video location, never-seen-before outtakes from the original 35mm music video footage, and George and Andrew’s personal photographs.

“Last Christmas remains as iconic today as it was 40 years ago, continuing to capture the essence of Christmas with the same magic and emotion. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the song, a true testament to George Michael’s songwriting brilliance. A timeless holiday classic, it holds a place among the greatest Christmas songs ever written, resonating with listeners of all ages and inspiring new generations today as it did 40 years ago. As we celebrate this incredible milestone, we are proud to be involved in this heartfelt tribute to the song, the video, and those involved. It offers fans the chance to relive the magic and gain fresh insight into the making of this beloved masterpiece, allowing us to share its enduring legacy with the public and fans around the world.”

George Michael Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment handles distribution outside of the UK.

Will you be watching WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped? Tell us in the comments.

Read more about the 40th anniversary of “Last Christmas” in New Wham! “Last Christmas” 40th Anniversary CDs and Vinyl

Make sure to follow Yours Only George on Facebook, X, Threads, and Bluesky, and join our mailing list for the latest news on George Michael.

About Melanie

Melanie is the co-founder of Yours Only George and has been the webmaster of the site since 1997. Melanie has been a George Michael and Wham! fan since "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" in 1984.

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Careless Whisper

“Careless Whisper” Tops Many UK Charts 40 Years after Original Release

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Careless Whisper (Red marble vinyl)
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The new release of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper,” 40 years after its original release, is garnering George Michael the top spot on UK music charts this week.

“Careless Whisper” is ranking on 5 different UK charts this week, according to Forbes.

George Michael’s first solo single is #1 on the Official Physical Singles and Official Vinyl Singles lists in the UK.

“Careless Whisper” also tops the charts for most-purchased songs on any physical medium. Vinyl sales play a huge role on that roster, according to Forbes.

The 40-year-old song also is a number one on the Official Singles Sales chart this week.

In other charts, “Careless Whisper” is at No. 39 on the Official Singles Downloads and at No. 69 on the “main list of the most-consumed individual songs,” according to Forbes.

George Michael first released his first solo single, “Careless Whisper,” on July 23, 1984, in the UK. (It was released as a Wham! single in the U.S.)

George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” was number one on the charts for three weeks in both the UK and the US.

Don’t miss out on our articles about the 40th anniversary of “Careless Whisper,” an unforgettable song by George Michael:

About Melanie

Melanie is the co-founder of Yours Only George and has been the webmaster of the site since 1997. Melanie has been a George Michael and Wham! fan since "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" in 1984.

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Last Christmas Wham!

New Wham! “Last Christmas” 40th Anniversary CDs and Vinyl

40th Anniversary “Last Christmas” CD Single
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Wham! is releasing special “Last Christmas” music in celebration of the 40th anniversary of “Last Christmas.”

The Wham vinyl and CD single for “Last Christmas” (Amazon Ad) includes:

  • Last Christmas
  • Last Christmas (Pudding Mix)
  • Last Christmas (Live at Wembley Arena, December 2006)
  • Last Christmas (Instrumental)

The “Last Christmas” CD single is described as:

WHAM!’s Last Christmas is not only one of the most iconic songs of all time, it is a cultural phenomenon. Loved by generations around the world, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s timeless Christmas classic is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The CD single brings all of the versions together in one special festive package. It includes a stunning previously unreleased live version of the track performed by George at Wembley in 2006.

Wham! “Last Christmas” 40th Anniversary CD Single
40th Anniversary “Last Christmas” Vinyl
Amazon Ad

The “Last Christmas” vinyl is described as:

WHAM!’s Last Christmas is not only one of the most iconic songs of all time, it is a cultural phenomenon. Loved by generations around the world, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s timeless Christmas classic is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The 12 Inch vinyl brings all of the versions together in one special festive package. It includes a stunning previously unreleased live version of the track performed by George at Wembley in 2006.

Wham! “Last Christmas” 40th Anniversary Vinyl

The CD and vinyl of “Last Christmas” will be available December 13, 2024.

Will you be buying the new “Last Christmas” CD single or vinyl? Tell us in the comments.

Make sure to follow Yours Only George on Facebook and X, and join our mailing list for the latest news on George Michael.

About Melanie

Melanie is the co-founder of Yours Only George and has been the webmaster of the site since 1997. Melanie has been a George Michael and Wham! fan since "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" in 1984.

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Careless Whisper Wham!

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of George Michael’s Careless Whisper

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In celebration of the 40th anniversary of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper,” we’ve gathered 10 interesting facts about the timeless classic. New “Careless Whisper” merchandise (Amazon Ad) is available on October 18, 2024.

  1. Co-Written by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley: The song was co-written by George Michael and his Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley when they were just 17 years old.
  2. Inspiration on a Bus: George Michael came up with the iconic saxophone riff while riding a bus to his job as an usher at a cinema.
  3. Iconic Saxophone Solo: The famous saxophone solo was played by Steve Gregory. It took 10 different saxophonists to get the sound George Michael wanted.
  4. Multiple Recordings: The song was recorded in several locations, including Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama and Sarm Studios in West London.
  5. Chart-Topping Hit: “Careless Whisper” topped the charts in 25 countries, including the US and the UK.
  6. Personal Experience: The song was inspired by George Michael’s personal experiences from his teenage years.
  7. First Solo Single: Although it was released on Wham!’s album, Make It Big (Amazon Ad), it was also released as George Michael’s first solo single (except in the United States).
  8. Global Success: The song sold more than 6 million copies worldwide and became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
  9. Music Video: The music video was filmed in Miami, Florida, and features George Michael brooding over a failed relationship.
  10. Legacy: “Careless Whisper” remains one of the most beloved ballads of the 1980s and continues to be a staple on classic pop and love song playlists.

“Careless Whisper” products are available on October 18, 2024.

Various “Careless Whisper t-shirts and hoodies are also available.

Don’t miss out on our articles about the 40th anniversary of “Careless Whisper,” an unforgettable song by George Michael:

Do you have a favorite part of “Careless Whisper”? Tell us in the comments.

Make sure to follow Yours Only George on Facebook and X, and join our mailing list for the latest news on George Michael.

About Melanie

Melanie is the co-founder of Yours Only George and has been the webmaster of the site since 1997. Melanie has been a George Michael and Wham! fan since "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" in 1984.