Page 40 - Write Away Magazine Dec 2019
P. 40
Last Christmas
George Michael & Wham By Paul Michel
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart Christmas time wouldn’t be the same without those classic
But the very next day you gave it away tunes that haunt our TV and Radio each year. Wow, do I sound
ancient saying ‘radio’? Does anyone still use them? Well, I do
This year, to save me from tears so I suppose that’ll do. So are you haunted with ‘Merry Christ-
I’ll give it to someone special (x2) mas Everybody’ by Slade or ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas
Everyday’? C’mon admit it, we all have our favourites.
Once bitten and twice shy Last Christmas by Wham! is Jane’s favourite, so I
I keep my distance thought I would jump on the chance to take a
look at the origins of the song and the man
But you still catch my eye behind it. To be fair, It is one of the best
Tell me, baby during the festive season. After all,
Do you recognize me? the UK did vote it the eighth best
Christmas song ever and us Brits
Well, it’s been a year do like our Chrimbo party hits.
It doesn’t surprise me
Although ‘Last Christmas’ is
credited as Wham! it was totally
(Merry Christmas!) I wrapped it up and sent it written and produced by George
With a note saying, “I love you, “ I meant it Michael back in 1984 while he
and Andrew Ridgley, George’s
Now, I know what a fool I’ve been partner in the duo, were visiting
But if you kissed me now his parents. He jotted the intro
and chorus down while sat in
I know you’d fool me again his old childhood bedroom and
played it to Ridgley who said that
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart it was a moment of wonder.
But the very next day you gave it away So in August 1984, George recorded
This year, to save me from tears the song in Advision Studios, London
He played all of the instruments on the
I’ll give it to someone special (x2) track, a Linn 9000 drum machine, a
Roland Juno-60 synth and sleigh bells,
A crowded room, friends with tired eyes performed and produced it.
I’m hiding from you, and your soul of ice It was released in December 1984 on Epic records
My god, I thought you were someone to rely on with ‘Everything she wants’ on the B Side (Yes, we’re
still in the days of 45rpm vinyl and tape cassettes here) amist
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on some fierce competition. Live Aids ‘Do they know it’s Christ-
mas’ was rocketing to the top (of which George Michael was a
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart major part) and as the Christmas charts were announced ‘Last
Christmas’ was, as expected, No:2.
A man under cover but you tore me apart
Now, I’ve found a real love you’ll never fool me again To the credit of George Michael and Andrew Ridgley, all of
the royalties were donated to the Ethiopian famine. Although
Wham! had already scored two No:1 hits, this was probably
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart their most defining moment in the history of the duo.
But the very next day you gave it away Yes, there were many ups and downs in Wham and in the per-
This year, to save me from tears sonal life of George Michael which we will take a look at shortly
I’ll give it to someone special but this Christmas classic remains today as the most memorable
moment. It showed the true spirit of who Wham! really were.
They were, at the time a major force in the pop world but this
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart particular Christmas saw a side of them, and indeed so many
A man under cover but you tore him apart other pop stars, that was simply impossible to ignore and not
admire. For that very reason ‘Last Christmas’ will remain as
Maybe next year I’ll give it to someone one of the greatest Christmas songs ever.
I’ll give it to someone special
I suppose we can see why it is Jane’s favourite!
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