George Michael, the heartthrob of millions and the singer of the iconic 'Last Christmas', died on Christmas Day, 2016.
There are many songs by him that have captured the hearts of millions of fans worldwide but 'Last Christmas' is a favorite of mine; I have listened to it hundreds of times and is always on my playlist. It is one of those anytime any season songs owing to its soft synth beats and mellifluous energetic singing. The song was by the band Wham! duo of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. Released in 1984, it stills remains fresh, simple and whistle worthy.
The irony is that 'Last Christmas' is the biggest-selling single in UK chart history not to reach number one. There are some songs which are instantly likeable, very frothy and 'bubble gum' like. 'Last Christmas' is among the top of those.
The video is very simple, shot in snow in Switzerland as George Michael goes on a skiing party with his ex-girlfriend who is now with someone else; hence the lyrics. The irony is that it is a 'sad song' without much of the sadness in the tune! It sounds like a 'happy' or 'jolly' song, but it is a sad song in reality. The pathos is so well built in the instantly likeable tune - where George dwells on his past with his girlfriend - that you end up doing the sing along, realising that it is a 'break-up' song only while the lyrics hit you! Sample this:
"Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
the very next day, you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears,
I’ll give it to someone special"
As the song goes on, you realise that he wants to move on but is reluctantly doing so. I particularly love the tune when he goes "A face on a lover with a fire in his heart... A man undercover but you tore him apart"....it hits a peak. You don't realize that it is such a lengthy song (6 minutes and 45 seconds, to be precise) due to the tune and lively singing by George Michael. It is one for all seasons, why only Christmas?
The video for the song can be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI
The song became one of the most played songs during the last weeks of December every year on all music channels, the word 'Christmas' and the picturisation in the snow playing a large part in the airplay.
The royalties received on the success of this single were donated to the Ethiopian famine in 1984.
It is indeed ironic that George Michael had to die on Christmas Day!
Oh, what a classic!
4 comments:
He seemed to depict this very rare quality of being strong and vulnerable...all at once.....Last christmas actually shows that. It also probably marks the beginning of an era of men who could cry in their hearts without sounding weak...!! splattered due to accidents of love, but gathering oneself each passing moment...
Befitting tribute to an amazing song and the artiste who made it! You nailed it when you said that it's actually a sad break-up/ moving-on song that actually doesn't have a heavy feel to it. His other song 'Careless Whisper' also is a sad/ regret song, which can't be known unless one pays heed to the lyrics. May his soul rest in peace!
Very true...it tugs at the heart..
Thanks a lot for the comments. Yes, 'Careless whisper' is also a good song.
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