You won’t believe what WHAM! just did for Christmas – it’s a record-breaking victory!
Close-up of vintage vinyl record cover single with famous Wham Last Christmas song in decorated fir tree (focus on cover right of center.)
Credit: Shutterstock, Ralf Liebhold
Did someone say WHAM!? You bet your saucy boots they did.
Everyone’s favourite Christmas song to hum in a high-pitched voice when no one’s looking is back – and this time, it’s back with a vengeance! WHAM! are top of the pops again, claiming Christmas Number 1 for the second year in a row, just in time for the song’s 40th anniversary.
It’s Christmas, and WHAM! have pulled off the ultimate festive feat. Their iconic hit Last Christmas has not only bagged the 2024 Christmas Number 1, but it’s also made chart history by becoming the first-ever track to win the title two years running.
In a year where holiday tunes were fighting tooth and nail for the crown, Last Christmas has stood tall, dominating both streaming and physical sales. With 12.6 million streams and the best-selling physical single of the week – thanks to a range of stunning 40th anniversary vinyls and limited edition CDs – it was clear the nation’s love for George Michael’s Christmas classic wasn’t fading.
Last Christmas: A legendary tune from a legendary duo
Andrew Ridgeley, half of WHAM!, celebrated the moment with genuine delight. Speaking to Official Charts, he reflected on the long journey of Last Christmas to the top spot, noting that it took 37 years to reach Number 1 and 39 years to clinch the coveted Christmas Number 1. He added that George Michael would have been delighted by the song’s enduring popularity, which has now become as iconic to Christmas as festive treats like mince pies, turkey, and pigs in blankets.
And he’s not wrong. Last Christmas is now undeniably Britain’s favourite Christmas song, after making an extraordinary 39-year journey to claim the top spot in 2023. The song, which was once thwarted by Do They Know It’s Christmas? in 1984, has finally found its place in the holiday hall of fame.
WHAM! now join an elite group of artists with multiple Christmas Number 1s. Alongside legends like Queen, Cliff Richard, and The Beatles, they’ve cemented their place in festive chart folklore.
Wham! steal the thunder of oh so close Tom Grennan
While Last Christmas claimed the crown, there were some close contenders. Gracie Abrams’ That’s So True made a last-minute surge, holding strong at Number 2, while Mariah Carey’s 30-year-old All I Want For Christmas Is You settled for Number 3.
But the real festive drama came from Tom Grennan, who, after going all-in with a bold Christmas Number 1 tattoo, came heartbreakingly close. His new track, It Can’t Be Christmas, saw a personal best at Number 4. Well,
Christmas 2024: A chart full of surprises including the controversial ‘Freezing this Christmas’
The rest of the festive chart was packed with surprises, as Apt by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars rounded out the top 5, while new faces like Lola Young made waves with her first-ever Top 10 single, Messy, at Number 7.
There was also a strong presence from 2024’s chart dominator Sabrina Carpenter, who saw her track A Nonsense Christmas climb into the Top 20, no doubt thanks to the buzz surrounding her Netflix special.
Elsewhere, there was more holiday cheer from classic tracks, with Do They Know It’s Christmas? at Number 12 and Shakin’ Stevens’ Merry Christmas Everyone at Number 14.
And in a twist you won’t want to miss – Freezing This Christmas by Sir Starmer & Granny Harmer made a dramatic appearance in the Top 40. This protest track, which has been making waves thanks to a grassroots campaign and popular YouTube video, clinched the best-seller title for the week, topping the Official Download Chart.
With Last Christmas making history and a host of fresh tracks lighting up the charts, Britain’s love for Christmas music is alive and kicking. And with WHAM! continuing to dominate, it seems we’ll be hearing that festive classic for years to come. So, raise your glass, it’s another WHAM! Christmas victory.
Merry Christmas to all – and here’s to bringing back Top of the Pops!
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