George Michael's team say they will be "working very hard" to make Last Christmas the 2019 Christmas Number 1
George Michael's team have commented on the possibility of Wham!'s festive favourite Last Christmas finally getting to Number 1 this December.
Music Week spoke with the late singer's lawyer and record label about the song's chances of hitting the top spot. The track will have a renewed focus this Christmas with the release of a film of the same name that was given George's blessing before his passing.
Last Christmas stars Emilia Clarke who plays Kate, an in-store Christmas elf and aspiring singer who has forgotten the spirit of Christmas. The movie - released on November 15 - features signature George and Wham! tunes and also an unreleased George song This Is How (We Want You To Get High). The soundtrack is released on Friday November 8.
"Everyone's going to be working very hard to make that happen," said George's lawyer Chris Organ of Russells on the chances of the Number 1 single. "George was not only one of greatest British vocalists of all time, he was one of greatest British songwriters of all time." Chris concluded that it would be a "nice tribute" for Last Christmas to top the charts 35 years after it was released.
MORE: The best-selling singles of all time on the Official UK Chart
George's label say that reaching a younger audience is a key part of their strategy this year.
"George's songs will always be relevant, and his values really speak to Gen-Z millennials - philanthropy, activism, individualism," explained Joanna Kalli, head of marketing at Sony Music Commercial Group.
Released in December 1984, Last Christmas peaked at Number 2 behind Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas. Along the way, the song has become the best-selling track to never reach the summit of the Official Singles Chart, re-charted each year since 2007, and returned to its peak position in 2017. Last year, Last Christmas topped out at Number 3.
Why not check out Wham!'s full Official Charts history, and George Michael's Singles and Albums Chart hits.
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Adrian Wayne Reavill
It would be good if Mariah Carey gets the Christmas No.1 on it's 25th anniversary because it got to number two three times and it's the only chart hit ever to achieve such a feat and it is a masterpiece.
etin
this year #1 reserved for mariah carey. I hope next year wham reaches #1
Dneaeade
Best Christmas song ever.
L
Liam
I'd much rather Mariah topped the charts. It will be 25 years since 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' was first released and it has peaked at No 2 three times now, surely this year is when it goes all the way.
JR
Jo Robbins
Last Christmas by Wham Definitely needs to be number one this year, fantastic Christmas song 🎄
thierry henon
I prefer THE POGUES or Mariah Carey being number 1 this year...Both singles deserve equally to be number 1 but WHAM will be good as well...