After more than 30 years, 'Last Christmas' by Wham! tops British pop charts
- 03 Jan 2021
The idea, he said, was to get people into the mood for Christmas.
The DJ began his one-song marathon on his morning show at 8am. He stopped two hours later after his four-year-old daughter called him up to complain about his act!
In 2010, the song was voted the most annoying Christmas song in a poll in Bulgaria, beating Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas."
A total of 28,110 Bulgarians said the Wham! hit was the song they least wanted to hear that year in the ballot on the campaign's website www.nohohoho.org.
Well, despite the disgust, the fact remains the song does not cease to captivate the listener. The 1984 hit was written and produced by George Michael, who died in 2016.
Though it was extremely popular, it never made it to the top of the UK charts. Until now.
George Michael's family have expressed delight at the news of Wham's classic “Last Christmas” hitting the peak of the charts, more than three decades after it was first released.
It was streamed 9.2 million times over the last week, knocking LadBaby's “Don't Stop Me Eating” off the stop spot.
In a statement, Michael’s family said they were “overjoyed”. They added: “After such a difficult 2020 for all of us and at the time of year that was so special to George we are so grateful to everyone who made this possible and know how much it would have meant to him," according to the Independent.
Ridgeley said he was "somewhat amazed" the record had now reached number one.
He said he was "delighted" and "profoundly pleased" at the news, "albeit 36 years after its first release which is, perhaps more than anything, a testament to its timeless appeal and charm".
"It is a fitting tribute to George's song-writing genius and one of which he would have been immensely proud and utterly thrilled," Ridgeley added.
