Last Christmas raggiunge finalmente la vetta della Official Chart britannica

A Capodanno del 2021, trentasei anni dopo la sua prima pubblicazione, Last Christmas degli Wham! ha finalmente raggiunto la vetta della classifica inglese.

La scorsa settimana gli streaming del brano hanno toccato quota 9 milioni e duecentomila. Nel dicembre del 1984, in occasione della sua pubblicazione originaria, Last Christmas fu notoriamente trattenuta sul secondo gradino del podio da Do They Know It’s Christmas? di Band Aid.

Fino a questo momento Last Christmas era il singolo più venduto della storia a non aver mai raggiunto la vetta della classifica britannica accumulando lungo il percorso, dalla sua pubblicazione fino ad oggi, un milione e novecentomila copie vendute.

Lo scettro è ora passato a Moves Like Jagger dei Maroon 5 insieme a Christina Aguilera che, nel 2011, vendette un milione e cinquecentocinquantamila copie fermandosi, analogamente, al secondo posto della classifica.

Ma Last Christmas adesso detiene un nuovo record: quello relativo al lasso di tempo più lungo impiegato da un singolo per raggiungere la vetta della chart.

In precedenza tale record era appannagio di (Is This The Way To) Amarillo? di Tony Christie che nel 2005, a 34 anni dalla sua pubblicazione originale, giunse al primo posto in classifica quando venne pubblicato come singolo in favore del progetto Comic Relief.

2019 marks the 35th anniversary of Last Christmas

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of one of the greatest Christmas songs of all time, a strictly limited edition replica of the original single by Wham!, on collectible white vinyl, is available to buy now.

 

Also the Last Christmas official video upgraded for the first time in 4K has been uploaded to YouTube reaching after just one day 1.1 million views, and a brand new lyric video is available too.

 

 

This Is How (We Want You To Get High) is out now

 

This Is How (We Want You to Get High), co-written and co-produced by George Michael and collaborator James Jackman, is out now.

The previously unreleased track, which was recorded during George’s final studio sessions, is his first original material to be shared for seven years.

A funky, upbeat soon-to-be-classic, This is How (We Want You to Get High) has a seductive George Michael hook and melody that will delight you all. The lyrics, written exclusively by George, see the star addressing society’s ills with his trademark blend of self-deprecation and wry humour.

Work on This is How (We Want You to Get High) began in early 2012. The track was subsequently developed and recorded in sessions at Air Studios in London, before the finishing touches were added in late 2015 during George’s final recording sessions.

“We hope fans and lovelies! everywhere rejoice in hearing this great new song written as ever with Yog‘s immense passion and pride. This new track we proudly send as his gift to you this season to bring you all love and festive joy…
– Whoever you worship…
– Whoever you love…”
Melanie, Yioda, Jack and David.

With its uplifting vibe and socially-conscious message, the song is a fitting finale to Last Christmas, Universal Pictures’ new romantic comedy. The film was inspired by the eponymous Wham! hit, and has a soundtrack featuring tracks from Wham! and George Michael’s solo career. Director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, Mad Men) describes the movie as ‘a love letter to George’.

The film was co-scripted by Academy Award winner Emma Thompson, who stars alongside Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding. Thompson visited George at his North London home in the Spring of 2013 to talk through her ideas for the screenplay. George loved what she had to say and gave his blessing. The actress and screenwriter then developed various versions of the script before George’s sudden passing on Christmas Day 2016.

In the Spring of 2018, after discussions over which songs would be in the film, Emma Thompson was given an exclusive preview of four new, finished and unreleased George Michael tracks. She instantly fell in love with This Is How (We Want You To Get High), remarking how the lyrics resonated with the film’s central themes.

Source: GeorgeMichael.com