"Last Christmas" is a song by the English duo Wham!, released on 3 December 1984 via CBS Records internationally and as a double A-side via Epic Records with "Everything She Wants" in multiple European countries. It was written and produced by the Wham! member George Michael. He wrote it in February 1984 about a Christmas breakup and recorded it that August.

On release, "Last Christmas" spent five consecutive weeks at number two on the UK singles chart. It was beaten to Christmas number one by the charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid, on which Michael also performed, along with several major British acts and a few American acts. Funds from the sale of "Do They Know It's Christmas" were donated to the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia.

Until 2021, "Last Christmas" was the highest-selling UK single never to reach number one. It has entered the UK singles chart every year since 2007, reached number one for the first time on New Year's Day 2021, and became Christmas number one in 2023. Combining sales and streams, it also became the third-best selling UK single, with 5.34 million sales. In 2024, it became the first song to become Christmas number one for consecutive years. "Last Christmas" has also topped the charts in 14 other European countries. In December 2025, it reached number one on the Billboard Global 200.

In the UK, "Last Christmas" was voted eighth on the 2012 ITV television special The Nation's Favourite Christmas Song and voted the most popular 1980s song in Channel 5's Christmas 2020 countdown Britain's Favourite '80s Songs. It has been covered by artists including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Whigfield, Crazy Frog, Jimmy Eat World and Billie Piper.

Composition

"Last Christmas" describes a Christmastime break-up. The engineer, Chris Porter, said the upbeat rhythm track contrasted against the sadness of unrequited love.

Production

thumb|left|[[George Michael (left) wrote and performed "Last Christmas" without Andrew Ridgeley (right)]]

The Wham! member George Michael wrote "Last Christmas" in his childhood bedroom in February 1984, when he and the other member, Andrew Ridgeley, were visiting his parents.

Wham! recorded "Last Christmas" in August 1984, at Advision Studios, London, with Michael having covered the studio in Christmas decorations "to set the mood".

Chart performance

On its first release, "Last Christmas" reached number two on the UK singles chart, beaten by the charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid, on which Michael also performed. Wham! donated their "Last Christmas" royalties to the Ethiopian famine relief fund, the same cause as Band Aid.

In December 2019, "Last Christmas" reached number one on the Official Vinyl Singles Chart and the Official Video Streaming Chart. The following week, it was streamed 17.1 million times, a UK record for the most streams in a week. It was the year's best-selling vinyl single in the UK. , "Last Christmas" had sold more than 1.90 million copies, becoming the 10th-bestselling UK single in history and the bestselling single not to reach number one. "Last Christmas" reached number one on 1 January 2021, achieving the record for the longest time for a single to reach UK number one, previously held in 2005 by Tony Christie with "(Is This The Way To) Amarillo?". In December 2022, "Last Christmas" reached number two on the UK singles chart, behind LadBaby's "Food Aid", a parody of "Do They Know It's Christmas?".

In December 2023, "Last Christmas" became the UK Christmas number one. It also became the third-best selling UK single, with 5.34 million sales, including streams. As of December 2023, it had sold more than 1.93 million physical copies and downloads, making it the eighth-bestselling single ever in the UK. It was certified nine-times platinum in January 2026. That year, PRS for Music estimated that "Last Christmas" generates £300,000 of royalties per year. In December 2025, "Last Christmas" reached number two on the UK singles chart, beaten by Kylie Minogue's "XMAS".

"Last Christmas" was voted eighth on the 2012 ITV television special The Nation's Favourite Christmas Song and voted the most popular 1980s song in Channel 5's Christmas 2020 countdown Britain's Favourite '80s Songs.

{| class="sort wikitable sortable"

|+ UK singles chart

|-

! Year

! Peak No.

! Chart run

|-

| 1984 || 2 || 13 weeks (15 December 1984 – 9 March 1985)

|-

| 1985 || 6 || 7 weeks (14 December 1985 – 25 January 1986)

|-

| 1986 || 45 || 5 weeks (13 December 1986 – 10 January 1987)

|-

| 2007 || 14 || 5 weeks (8 December 2007 – 5 January 2008)

|-

| 2008 || 26 || 5 weeks (6 December 2008 – 3 January 2009)

|-

| 2009 || 34 || 4 weeks (12 December 2009 – 2 January 2010)

|-

| 2010 || 53 || 4 weeks (11 December 2010 – 1 January 2011)

|-

| 2011 || 26 || 4 weeks (10 December 2011 – 31 December 2011)

|-

| 2012 || 34 || 5 weeks (8 December 2012 – 5 January 2013)

|-

| 2013 || 36 || 5 weeks (7 December 2013 – 4 January 2014)

|-

| 2014 || 28 || 5 weeks (6 December 2014 – 3 January 2015)

|-

| 2015 || 18 || 5 weeks (10 December 2015 – 7 January 2016)

|-

| 2016 || 7 || 5 weeks (8 December 2016 – 5 January 2017)

|-

| 2017 || 2 || 6 weeks (30 November 2017 – 4 January 2018)

|-

| 2018 || 3 || 5 weeks (6 December 2018 – 3 January 2019)

|-

| 2019 || 3 || 6 weeks (28 November 2019 – 2 January 2020)

|-

| 2020 || 1 || 8 weeks (19 November 2020 – 7 January 2021)

|-

| 2021 || 2 || 8 weeks (18 November 2021 – 6 January 2022)

|-

| 2022 || 1 || 8 weeks (17 November 2022 – 5 January 2023)

|-

| 2023 || 1 || 9 weeks (16 November 2023 – 11 January 2024)

|-

| 2024 || 1 || 9 weeks (14 November 2024 – 9 January 2025)

|-

| 2025 || 1 || 8 weeks (13 November 2025 – 31 December 2025)

|}

Other territories

In Germany, "Last Christmas" is the most successful Christmas single of all time, having spent 169 weeks on the German Singles Chart. It reached number one on 24 December 2021. In January 2008, the song fell from No. 4 to No. 64, also making it the biggest fall out of the top 10 on the singles chart. In Ireland the single went to number one on 30 December 2022 and returned to the top of the Irish charts on 27 December 2024.

In Japan, the single was originally released in two different formats with different cover art, a 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl (Long version) both with "Credit Card Baby" as their B-side. The former entered the top 20 of the Oricon Singles Chart peaking at No. 15, while the latter reached No. 47. In 1993, it peaked at No. 17 within Japan, and by that point had sold 120,500 copies there. It was reissued in November 2001 and 2004 as a two-track CD with the single edit and the "pudding mix". "Last Christmas" is the eighth-best-selling single in Japan released by a foreign act, with total physical sales of 683,000 copies.

In the Netherlands, "Last Christmas" reached No. 2 in January 1985 (behind Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?"). In the Dutch Singles Top 100 (one of three charts in the Netherlands that claims to be the "official" chart, but it is the only one that is not broadcast and remains unpublished except on its own official web page), the song has now entered on 16 different occasions, including every year since 2006. Its highest position after 1984 was No. 4 (during the 2016 and 2018 Christmas season). In the Dutch Mega Top 50 (which was first published in 1993), the song reappeared in 1997, 2000, 2007, 2008, and 2013.

"Last Christmas" was not released as a commercial single in the United States until November 2014, when it was made available on 12" vinyl as a Record Store Day exclusive. It has re-entered the Billboard Holiday 100 chart on a regular basis, peaking at No. 2 on 13 December 2025. The song debuted at No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the chart dated 7 January 2017, after George Michael died. In December 2018, the song re-entered the Hot 100, reaching No. 25 in January 2019, and then a new peak of No. 11 in the first issue of 2020. On the issue dated 2 January 2021, "Last Christmas" reached No. 9 on the Hot 100, its first foray into the top 10 and returning Wham! to the top 10 after a 35-year break. The following year, on the issue dated 1 January 2022, the song reached No. 7. On the issue dated 24 December 2022, the song reached No. 6 on the Hot 100. On the year's last issue of the Billboard Hot 100, dated 31 December 2022, "Last Christmas" reached the top five.

In 2024, "Last Christmas" became the first Christmas single to chart during the year-end holiday season, debuting at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending 23 November. On Billboards 50th issue of 2024, dated 14 December, the song reached No. 3 on the Hot 100. On the chart dated 13 December 2025, "Last Christmas" reached a new peak position of No. 2. On 9 December 2025, the digital single was certified nine-times platinum, indicating US sales of 9 million digital copies. In December 2025, "Last Christmas" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, a ranking of sales and streams from over 200 territories.

Music video

The music video for "Last Christmas" features Michael and Ridgeley accompanying girlfriends at a ski resort, contrasting scenes of a happy Christmas holiday with "wistful memories about past romance".

The music video, originally shot on 35mm film, was re-released on 13 December 2019 in 4K Ultra HD resolution. Morahan had found seven out of the eight rolls of original 35mm rushes and worked with teams at Cinelab London and VFX artist Russ Shaw at Nice Biscuits post production to recreate the video using the higher-resolution film.

Other media

A sixty-minute TV documentary about the story of "Last Christmas" aired on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer in December 2024 to mark the 40th anniversary of its release. It features Ridgeley, Shirlie, Pepsi and other close friends from the original music video, and revisits Saas-Fee in Switzerland where the music video was made while revealing a monument to the song, as well as looking into the creation of the song. The film Last Christmas (2019) prominently features the music of George Michael, including this song.

Personnel

  • George Michael – vocals, bass guitar, Roland Juno-60 synthesiser, LinnDrum programming, sleigh bells

Charts

Weekly charts

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Weekly chart performance for "Last Christmas"

! scope="col"| Chart (1984–2026)

! scope="col"| Peak<br />position

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Belarus Airplay (TopHit)

| 17

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Chile (Billboard)

| 12

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Croatia (Billboard)

| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Croatia International Airplay (Top lista)

| 1

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Denmark (Tracklisten)

| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Ecuador (Billboard)

| 10

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)

| 1

|-

! scope="row"| France (SNEP)

| 2

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Greece International (IFPI)

| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Hong Kong (Billboard)

| 8

|-

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Iceland (Tónlistinn)

| 1

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Israel International Airplay (Media Forest)

| 18

|-

! scope="row"| Italy (FIMI)

| 1

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Japan (Oricon)

| 12

|-

! scope="row"| Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)

| 46

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Latvia Airplay (LaIPA)

| 3

|-

! scope="row"| Latvia Streaming (LaIPA)

| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)

| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Lithuania (AGATA)

| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Luxembourg (Billboard)

| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Malaysia (Billboard)

| 13

|-

! scope="row"| Malaysia International (RIM)

| 11

|-

! scope="row"| Malta Airplay (Radiomonitor)

| 5

|-

! scope="row"| Middle East and North Africa (IFPI)

| 4

|-

! scope="row"| Mexico (Billboard)

| 25

|-

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)

| 1

|-

! scope="row"| Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100)

| 74

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Peru (Billboard)

| 9

|-

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)

| 1

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Romania (Billboard)

| 4

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Russia Streaming (TopHit)

| 29

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Singapore Streaming (RIAS)

| 2

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Slovenia Airplay (SloTop50)

| 1

|-

! scope="row"| South Africa Airplay (TOSAC)

| 7

|-

! scope="row"| South Africa Streaming (TOSAC)

| 7

|-

! scope="row"| South Korea (Circle)

| 78

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)

| 1

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| US Holiday 100 (Billboard)

| 7

|-

! scope="row"| Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100)

| 50

|}

Monthly charts

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Monthly chart performance for "Last Christmas"

! scope="col"| Chart (2023–2025)

! scope="col"| Peak<br />position

|-

! scope="row"| CIS Airplay (TopHit)

| 31

|-

! scope="row"| Estonia Airplay (TopHit)

| 17

|-

! scope="row"| Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)

| 4

|-

! scope="row"| Moldova Airplay (TopHit)

| 32

|-

! scope="row"| Paraguay Airplay (SGP)

| 47

|-

! scope="row"| Romania Airplay (TopHit)

| 64

|-

! scope="row"| Russia Streaming (TopHit)

| 35

|-

! scope="row"| Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)

| 65

|}

Year-end charts

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Year-end chart rankings for "Last Christmas"

! scope="col"| Chart (1984)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| UK Singles (Gallup)

| 6

|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (1985)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Australia (Kent Music Report)

| 31

|-

! scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)

| 65

|-

! scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)

| 65

|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2016)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Hungary (Single Top 40)

| 95

|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2017)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Hungary (Single Top 40)

| 69

|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2018)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Hungary (Single Top 40)

| 66

|-

!scope="row"|Netherlands (Airplay Top 40)

|97

|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2019)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Hungary (Single Top 40)

| 39

|-

! scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC)

| 95

|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2020)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Hungary (Single Top 40)

| 38

|-

! scope="row"| Hungary (Stream Top 40)

| 67

|-

! scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC)

| 60

|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2021)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)

| 71

|-

! scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)

| 97

|-

! scope="row"| Denmark (Tracklisten)

| 77

|-

! scope="row"| Germany (GfK)

| 61

|-

! scope="row"| Global 200 (Billboard)

| 143

|-

! scope="row"| Hungary (Single Top 40)

| 61

|-

! scope="row"| Hungary (Stream Top 40)

| 77

|-

! scope="row"| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)

| 92

|-

! scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC)

| 34

|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2022)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Denmark (Tracklisten)

| 70

|-

! scope="row"| Germany (GfK)

| 75

|-

! scope="row"| Global 200 (Billboard)

| 138

|-

! scope="row"| Hungary (Single Top 40)

| 57

|-

! scope="row"| Hungary (Stream Top 40)

| 76

|-

! scope="row"| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)

| 92

|-

! scope="row"| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)

| 71

|-

! scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC)

| 35

|-

! scope="row"| US Streaming Songs (Billboard)

| 73

|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2023)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)

| 72

|-

! scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)

| 78

|-

! scope="row"| Denmark (Tracklisten)

| 58

|-

! scope="row"| Germany (GfK)

| 51

|-

! scope="row"| Global 200 (Billboard)

| 129

|-

! scope="row"| Hungary (Single Top 40)

| 38

|-

! scope="row"| Netherlands (Single Top 100)

| 98

|-

! scope="row"| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)

| 76

|-

! scope="row"| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)

| 71

|-

! scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC)

| 18

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100

| 84

|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2024)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)

| 30

|-

! scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)

| 76

|-

! scope="row"| Denmark (Tracklisten)

| 74

|-

! scope="row"| Germany (GfK)

| 49

|-

! scope="row"| Global 200 (Billboard)

| 123

|-

! scope="row"| Netherlands (Single Top 100)

| 100

|-

! scope="row"| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)

| 62

|-

! scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC)

| 30

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100

| 74

|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (2025)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)

| 47

|-

! scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)

| 77

|-

! scope="row"| Germany (GfK)

| 32

|-

! scope="row"| Global 200 (Billboard)

| 103

|-

! scope="row"| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)

| 53

|-

! scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC)

| 51

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100

| 65

|}

Decade-end charts

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+

! scope="col"| Chart (2025–2026)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Russia Streaming (TopHit)

| 82

|-

|}

All-time charts

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| US Holiday 100 (Billboard)

| 8

|}

Certifications

Release history

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|-

! scope="col" | Region

! scope="col" | Date

! scope="col" | Format(s)

! scope="col" | Version(s)

! scope="col" | Label(s)

! scope="col" |

|-

! rowspan="2" scope="row" | UK

| rowspan="2" scope="row" | 3 December 1984

|

|

| rowspan="2" scope="row" | Epic

|

|-

| 12-inch vinyl

| Pudding mix

|

|-

! scope="row" | Various

| 10 December 1984

|

|

| Epic, CBS

|

|-

| 12-inch vinyl

| Pudding mix

|

|-

! scope="row" | Various

| 13 December 2019

| 7-inch vinyl

|

| RCA

|

|-

! rowspan="2" scope="row" | UK

| rowspan="2" scope="row" | 15 December 2023

|

|

| rowspan="5" scope="row" | Sony Music

|

|-

| 7-inch vinyl

| 85 version

|

|-

! rowspan="2" scope="row" | UK

| rowspan="2" scope="row" | 13 December 2024

|

| rowspan="3" scope="row" |

| rowspan="3" scope="row" |

|-

| 12-inch vinyl 40th Anniversary EP

|}

Cover versions

Whigfield version

The Italian singer Whigfield covered "Last Christmas" and released it as a double A-side with "Big Time" in the UK in December 1995. The single was also released as a double A-side single in Germany with "Close to You". In other countries, "Last Christmas" was released on its own with various remixes. The single was produced by Larry Pignagnoli and reached number 21 in the UK, which was Whigfield's final release on Systematic Records. It also appears on various special edition versions of her debut album, Whigfield (1995), and also on Whigfield II (1997). The music video was directed by Giacomo De Simone and features Whigfield performing in a winter landscape. It was filmed in Massa Carrara, Italy.

Chart performance

Whigfield's cover of "Last Christmas" climbed into the top 10 in both Denmark and Spain, peaking at numbers six and five, respectively. It was also a top-20 hit in Finland and a top-30 hit in Ireland and the United Kingdom. In the latter country, "Last Christmas" / "Big Time" peaked at number 21 during its first week on the UK singles chart, on 10 December 1995.

Track listings

{|style = "border: 0px;"

|-

! 12-inch single, Italy (1995)

! !! CD single, UK (1995)

|-

| 1. "Last Christmas" (MBRG Version) – 5:25

| || 1. "Last Christmas (Major Cut) – 4:10

|-

| 2. "Last Christmas" (Major Version) – 4:10

| || 2. "Big Time (Dancing Divas Club Mix) – 6:54

|-

| 3. "Big Time" (Album Version) – 3:21

| || 3. "Saturday Night (Spike Vocal) – 7:28

|-

| 4. "Last Christmas" (David Version) – 8:00

| || 4. "Saturday Night (Afternoon Mix) (Fishbone Beat's Remix)

|-

| 5. "Last Christmas" (Minor Version) – 4:10

|-

! CD single, Italy (1995)

! !! CD maxi, Scandinavia (1995)

|-

| 1. "Last Christmas" (Major Version)

| || 1. "Last Christmas" (MBRG Version) – 5:25

|-

| 2. "Last Christmas" (MBRG Version)

| || 2. "Last Christmas" (Major Version) – 4:10

|-

| 3. "Last Christmas" (David Version)

| || 3. "Last Christmas" (Minor Version) – 4:20

|-

| 4. "Last Christmas" (Minor Version)

| || 4. "Last Christmas" (Major Mild Eq. Version) – 4:10

|-

| 5. "Close to You" (Down Town Remix)

| || 5. "Last Christmas" (K. David Version) – 8:00

|}

Charts

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|-

! scope="col"| Chart (1995)

! scope="col"| Peak<br />position

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Denmark (IFPI)

| 6

|-

! scope="row"| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)

| 38

|-

! scope="row"| Europe Eurochart Hot 100

| 61

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Ireland (IRMA)

| 24

|-

! scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)

| 2

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Scotland (OCC)

| 21

|-

! scope="row"| Spain (AFYVE)

| 4

|-

|-

! scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC)

| 21

|}

Ashley Tisdale version

"Last Christmas" was recorded in 2006 for Warner Bros. Records by Ashley Tisdale. The song was released to US radios on 11 November 2006 and as a download on 21 November 2006. This song was the first single released by Ashley Tisdale in her deal with Warner Bros. Records and became her official first holiday single. Tisdale performed the single in 2007 on Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Christmas in Rockefeller Center, and in 2009 in the Citadel Outlets of Los Angeles, California. The song was one of the B-sides on the European CD singles of Tisdale's first single "Be Good to Me" and Tisdale's second single "He Said She Said", from the album Headstrong. The song has been included on several compilation albums, including Disney Channel Holiday and A Very Special Christmas 7.

Charts

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|-

! scope="col"| Chart (2011)

! scope="col"| Peak<br />position

|-

! scope="row"| US Holiday Digital Song Sales (Billboard)

| 47

|}

Crazy Frog version

"Last Christmas" was covered by Crazy Frog and released as a Christmas single in December 2006.

Charts

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Chart performance for "Last Christmas"

! scope="col"| Chart (2006)

! scope="col"| Peak<br />position

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|}

Cascada version

"Last Christmas" was recorded in 2007 by Cascada. It was released on iTunes in November 2007. The single had only a digital release but six days later, it was released on the single "What Hurts the Most" which was the first single from their second album. It was also released as part of their Christmas album, It's Christmas Time.

Charts

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"

|-

! scope="col"| Chart (2007)

! scope="col"| Peak<br />position

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)

| 111

|-

|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|-

! scope="col"| Chart (2010)

! scope="col"| Peak<br />position

|-

! scope="row"| US Dance/Electronic Digital Songs Sales (Billboard)

| 43

|}

Notes

Glee cast version

The song was covered by the cast of Glee, led by Lea Michele, Cory Monteith with Amber Riley, and was released in 2009 exclusively on iTunes as a charity single, then in 2010 on Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album. The song entered the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first time a cover version of the song appeared on that chart.

Charts

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"

|-

! scope="col"| Chart (2009–2025)

! scope="col"| Peak<br />position

|-

! scope="row"| Australia (ARIA)

| 60

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Latvia Airplay (TopHit)

| 17

|-

! scope="row"| Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)

| 4

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| US Holiday Airplay (Billboard)

| 39

|-

! scope="row"| US Holiday Digital Songs (Billboard)

| 3

|}

Joe McElderry version

British singer Joe McElderry covered the song in 2011. This version was released as a single on 19 December 2011, an EP was also released digitally in Ireland on 4 November 2011, and in the UK on 7 November 2011. McElderry's version is taken from his third studio album, Classic Christmas, released 28 November 2011. 7th Heaven Remix & Production have done a remix for the song.

A short music video was made using footage which was filmed for the Classic Christmass album advertising, it features McElderry outside in the snow, collecting logs and taking them to a large house preparing for a Christmas party, a similar video was made for McElderry's version of "O Come All Ye Faithful". The advert and both videos were directed by Steve Lucker.

Ariana Grande version

The American singer Ariana Grande covered "Last Christmas" on her 2013 EP Christmas Kisses. It was released as a single on 19 November 2013 in the iTunes Store. Grande's cover draws primarily from pop music, contemporary R&B and soul and also alters some lyrics. The verses have been described as having a more poppy and R&B vibe than the original.

| 95

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Lithuania (AGATA)

| 93

|-

! scope="row"| Netherlands (Single Top 100)

| 59

|-

|-

! scope="row"| South Korea (Circle)

| 23

|-

|-

! scope="row"| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)

| 92

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| US Holiday 100 (Billboard)

| 32

|-

! scope="row"| US Holiday Digital Song Sales (Billboard)

| 1

|-

! scope="row"| US Holiday Streaming Songs (Billboard)

| 22

|}

Certifications

Carly Rae Jepsen version

"Last Christmas" was covered by Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen in 2015 and was released to digital retailers on 20 November 2015 through 604 Records (in Canada) and Interscope Records and School Boy Records (internationally). Jepsen's rendition was praised by critics for combining stylistic elements similar to the original. She performed the song live at the annual NBC television special Christmas in Rockefeller Center airing on 2 December 2015, and on the episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden airing on 16 December 2015.

Bianca Gracie of Idolator described the song as "quintessential Carly" for highlighting Jepsen's unique vocals and synth production and wrote that her cover will "charm your... socks off". Nolan Feeney of Time echoed those sentiments, noting that "Last Christmas" is "the kind of brokenhearted yet warm and sweet song [Jepsen] excels at". Jackson McHenry of Vulture applauded Jepsen for her straightforward approach to the song and avoiding the "vocal gymnastics" that bog down some Christmas covers.

Charts

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"

|-

! scope="col"| Chart (2015–2020)

! scope="col"| Peak<br />position

|-

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Mexico (Billboard Ingles Airplay)

| 38

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| US Holiday Digital Song Sales (Billboard)

| 43

|}

Others

  • Billie Piper originally recorded a cover of the song as a B-side of her 1998 single "She Wants You". It was released as a CD single in limited areas of Europe, charting at No. 47 in Sweden.
  • Hilary Duff covered the song for her 2002 debut album, Santa Claus Lane. This version peaked at number 68 on the South Korean Gaon Chart in 2012.
  • Taylor Swift covered "Last Christmas" for her 2007 EP, The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection. Swift's cover peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in January 2008 and at number 46 on the Hot Digital Songs chart in December 2008. On Billboard<nowiki/>'s Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 chart, which measured chart data 1958–2016, Swift's "Last Christmas" charted at number 56.
  • Backstreet Boys released a cover of the song on 6 September 2022, as a part of their first Christmas album, A Very Backstreet Christmas. It was accompanied by a music video on 1 November the same year and reached number 1 on the Billboard Holiday AC chart.
  • Lauren Spencer-Smith released a cover of the song on 11 November 2022. Her version peaked at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 2022.
  • One, who represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002, adapted the song in Greek as "Οι καμπάνες χτυπούν" (Bells are ringing) in their 2003 album Όνειρα (Dreams).
  • The cast of The Only Way Is Essex covered the song in 2011. It peaked at number 33 in the UK Singles Chart Christmas chart, a place higher than the original.
  • Alanis Morissette released a cover of the song on the EP of the same name in November 2023.
  • The Philly Specials covered the song for their charity album A Philly Special Christmas Party, released on 22 November 2024.
  • Sabrina Carpenter performed a cover of the song with Chappell Roan for the Netflix special A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter, released in December 2024.

See also

  • List of best-selling singles

References