Wham! - Last Christmas

  • Thread starter Thread starter AGinAg (37)
  • Start date Start date

Give it to someone SPECIAL?

  • Total voters
    39
A

AGinAg (37)

Guest
What does Moopy think of this seasonal classic?

Obviously GM timed his death perfectly to solidify this as the UK second Xmas fave behind Mariah, but ahead of the Pogues.



I do find the lyrics a little baffling. Who finds love on Christmas Day?
 
I gave it an 7 but I am sick to death of it like most of the other Christmas songs. If I never hear it again it will be too soon.
 
It's a carefully calculated piece of festive slush that was another entry in one of the most co-ordinated and successful career plans the music industry has ever witnessed.
 
octophone said:
It's a carefully calculated piece of festive slush that was another entry in one of the most co-ordinated and successful career plans the music industry has ever witnessed.
Click to expand...

However, I have to say, "most co-ordinated career plan the music industry has ever witnessed"? I don't agree with that at all! Wham! were two normal but good looking kids with brilliant songs, an amazing vocalist and who happened to launch around the same time as music video became a big thing. It never felt calculated at ALL...
 
Sheena said:
However, I have to say, "most co-ordinated career plan the music industry has ever witnessed"? I don't agree with that at all! Wham! were two normal but good looking kids with brilliant songs, an amazing vocalist and who happened to launch around the same time as music video became a big thing. It never felt calculated at ALL...
Click to expand...

I've always felt that George always knew exactly what he was doing from a very early stage, the only real glitch being the label problems with Innervision. The journey through the original "bad boy" image through to the major label pop songs, launching his solo career while Wham was still going, the big Christmas hit (which, because he had such a high profile feature on Band Aid, wasn't really spoiled by circumstance) and their premature end felt very planned out. I absolutely feel that GM himself was behind it all - I don't think anyone was pulling the strings but "Last Christmas" was very much a deliberate run at writing and recording a Christmas No. 1 from the sleigh bells in the percussion tracks, the tinkly keyboard sounds and the fact that Christmas is almost incidental to the lyrics. And of course, the snow-set video which was probably just a skiing holiday.
 
One of my absolute favourite songs. Timeless. The covers are endless but this is by far the best version. Although no-one should ever listen to the single edit, the Pudding Mix is the superior version.
 
octophone said:
I've always felt that George always knew exactly what he was doing from a very early stage, the only real glitch being the label problems with Innervision. The journey through the original "bad boy" image through to the major label pop songs, launching his solo career while Wham was still going, the big Christmas hit (which, because he had such a high profile feature on Band Aid, wasn't really spoiled by circumstance) and their premature end felt very planned out. I absolutely feel that GM himself was behind it all - I don't think anyone was pulling the strings but "Last Christmas" was very much a deliberate run at writing and recording a Christmas No. 1 from the sleigh bells in the percussion tracks, the tinkly keyboard sounds and the fact that Christmas is almost incidental to the lyrics. And of course, the snow-set video which was probably just a skiing holiday.
Click to expand...

Oh I disagree with that. It’s well known that George was notoriously shy as a teenager and Andrew was pretty much there as his friend for support. The solo career launch seemed like the natural progression of George gaining his confidence.
 
I'm not sick of this song and I can't imagine being. It's simply a member of that rarefied club of songs whose sheer brilliance easily overrides popularity and overexposure. The sadness of the lyrics and the contrasting warmth of the production - it's that delicate melancholy not too many artists can pull off. An easy 11.
 
I love it and it's about 1000000 better than All I fucking I want for fucking Christmas is fucking you.
 
I always thought this was the Die Hard of Christmas songs. Sure the events happen at Christmas but is it a Christmas song?
 
They've polished up the video and it's kinda weird.



I'm so used to seeing it all blurry. It's a revelation to see the 80s in crisp detail.
 
Ag said:
They've polished up the video and it's kinda weird.



I'm so used to seeing it all blurry. It's a revelation to see the 80s in crisp detail.
Click to expand...
Seriously this is a bit weird.
 
I'll tell you what I've just noticed - that Xmas pudding Ridgley brings in is far too small to give all those people a decent portion. Stingy cunt.
 
octophone said:
I'll tell you what I've just noticed - that Xmas pudding Ridgley brings in is far too small to give all those people a decent portion. Stingy cunt.
Click to expand...
There are several similar elements. I think I only saw a four pack of beers going in and a small pile of wood. There may have been more of course. Mind you I'm not sure a video of them unloading the car would stick in the collective memory.
 
Second only to Fairytale of New York. Absolute banger.
 
i had a moment to this on the radio two days ago.

i'm not sure if it was cos i remembered he was dead or i was thinking about my misery last christmas, but it was tres sad
 
It's ubiquitous to the point where I never deliberately seek it out, but I did take the time to listen to it in a fluke radio-listening accident in the car when sensibly changing CDs at the traffic lights and squeezed as much out of the deceptively bitter lyrics as the otherwise syrupy sentiment would allow. I really do love George's voice and Waiting For That Day is actually the one I added to my prestigious December 2019 playlist, but for better or worse this is the sound of daydreaming in the queue at Argos and who doesn't want to get lost in a moment there?
 
Didn't get Whamageddoned until the 13th this year.

No 1 this week too. A double....whammy. :dj:
 
I mean, WTF, that is WAY too early. It must be shops trying to get people to start panic buying.
 
Rita said:
Did this make Christmas number 1 last year?
Click to expand...
Probably. It's hard to give a shit any more, isn't it?

It'll presumably be back in the first full chart after Hallowe'en as well.
 
It's Wham!'s best song! I can listen to this any time of the year as part of a best of Wham!/George playlist.
 
lolly said:
Probably. It's hard to give a shit any more, isn't it?

It'll presumably be back in the first full chart after Hallowe'en as well.
Click to expand...

Oh yes. The excitement has long gone but I probably do usually keep an eye on the charts more through December than any other time of the year. Long gone are the days when someone could mention a singer and song and I could easily tell the initial chart position off the top of my head. 🤓
 
Rita said:
For this song or all his royalties? I thought everything was left to his sister Melanie?
Click to expand...

She's probably in charge of the estate for his general revenue but he has certain charitable instructions carved out on some of his residual income. I didn't know about specifics but it makes sense that this single would be one of them.
 
funky said:
She's probably in charge of the estate for his general revenue but he has certain charitable instructions carved out on some of his residual income. I didn't know about specifics but it makes sense that this single would be one of them.
Click to expand...

I remember he did a lot of good deeds for people for no credit. He did a lot for couples who could not have children naturally and helped them pay for IVF. A lot of kind stories came out after he died so I am not surprised if a lot of his money went to charity. He was a fantastic man.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top Bottom