Wham! has achieved a historic milestone, as Last Christmas becomes the first song to claim the Christmas number one spot two years in a row.
Initially released in December 1984, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley had to wait 39 years to reach the top spot during the festive season.
On its release year, they were surpassed by Band Aid’s charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas?, a track that has controversially made a resurgence in the charts this year as well.
George Michael, Bob Geldolf, Bono, Freddie Mercury, and Andrew Ridgley at the Live Aid concert in 1985. Pic: AP
Released again to commemorate its 40th anniversary, Last Christmas has emerged as the most-streamed and physically purchased song of the week, according to the Official Charts Company.
Last year, the song set a record for achieving the longest journey to reach number one in time for Christmas Day.
Ridgeley shared with the Official Charts that his late bandmate Michael, who passed away on Christmas Day in 2016 at the age of 53, would be “absolutely delighted” that the song has become a holiday classic.
He remarked: “Thirty-seven years to reach number one, 39 years for Christmas number one, and then suddenly they all come together like London buses!
“I am particularly happy for George; he would have been extremely pleased. His wonderful Christmas creation has turned into a classic, almost as synonymous with Christmas as mince pies, turkey, and pigs in blankets.
“It is a testament to a truly amazing Christmas song that, in the minds of many, encapsulates and embodies the essence of Christmas as we all desire it to be.”
Official Charts head Martin Talbot stated that Last Christmas is now “undeniably established as the British nation’s favorite Christmas song of all time.”
Other Christmas chart-toppers
American pop star Gracie Abrams secured the second spot in the Christmas week charts with her recent hit That’s So True.
Mariah Carey celebrated three decades since the release of All I Want For Christmas Is You by claiming the third position.
Tom Grennan achieved a personal best, with his new song It Can’t Be Christmas, a collaboration with Amazon Music Original, landing in fourth place.
Blackpink’s Rose entered the fifth position with her hit Apt, a collaboration with American singer Bruno Mars.
Read more:
The recipe for success for a Christmas number one
All I Want For Christmas Is You turns 30
On the Official Albums Chart, American pop star Sabrina Carpenter concluded a remarkable year by attaining the Christmas number one album title with Short N’ Sweet.
She outperformed Canadian crooner Michael Buble, whose festive album Christmas secured the second spot.
American artist Chappell Roan, who had a breakout year, claimed the third spot with her debut album The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess.
Global phenomenon Taylor Swift and indie rock band The Reytons captured the fourth and fifth positions on the album charts respectively.