Wham! The hidden meaning in ‘Last Christmas’
‘Last Christmas’ stands out for its extensive coverage during the holiday season, with artists like The xx and Taylor Swift putting their spin on it. Coldplay, Carly Rae Jepsen, and others have also taken on the challenge of reinterpreting the iconic George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley track. Yet, none have captured its essence quite like the original.
Released in 1984, the song recounts a past relationship where the narrator once gave their heart to someone special, only to have it broken. Despite their sincere affection and gift-giving during the festive season, the recipient of their love ended up hurting them by giving it away “to someone special”. The lyrics convey a sense of betrayal and the pain of realising that the love they had given was not cherished or reciprocated as they had hoped.
The lyrics originated in Michael’s childhood bedroom after he retreated upstairs to put pen to paper, leaving Ridgeley downstairs. As Ridgeley recalled to The Mail On Sunday in 2017: “We’d had a bite to eat and were sitting together relaxing with the television on in the background when, almost unnoticed, George disappeared upstairs for an hour or so. When he came back down, such was his excitement, it was as if he had discovered gold which, in a sense, he had”.
“We went to his old room,” he continued, “The room in which we had spent hours as kids recording pastiches of radio shows and jingles, the room where he kept a keyboard and something on which to record his sparks of inspiration, and he played me the introduction and the beguiling, wistful chorus melody to ‘Last Christmas.’ It was a moment of wonder.”
He added: “George had performed musical alchemy, distilling the essence of Christmas into music. Adding a lyric which told the tale of betrayed love was a masterstroke and, as he did so often, he touched hearts.”
Although the song perfectly exemplifies how pop music – especially Christmas pop music – draws together elements of nostalgia, heartbreak, hope, love and loss, a deeper delve into Michael’s past and personal endeavours might reveal the song in a new, previously unseen light. For instance, looking back, it’s evident how Wham’s earlier songs hinted at themes of defiance and unrequited feelings, possibly reflecting Michael’s concealed homosexuality at the time.
The music video for the song further accentuates this notion of Michael leading dual lives — a cheerful public persona contrasted with a more intimate, fleeting romance. Scenes of a festive Christmas setting are juxtaposed with nostalgic recollections of past love. According to Wham’s manager, Simon Napier-Bell, Michael envisioned the song within a comprehensive “Christmas package”, intending a snowy video and a grand celebration embodying the essence of the pop duo.
Michael often grappled with the aspects of fame typical for a pop star, including the media and public having such a keen interest in his personal life. The song’s storyline unfolds with moments of Michael’s character expressing his feelings through gifts and gestures. As the video concludes, Michael’s character is left alone, feeling somewhat dejected. It wouldn’t be difficult to deduce an allegory here: Michael gives and gives while the world takes.
The juxtaposition of holiday cheer with something darker and unsettling parallels Michael’s own experiences, as does the portrayal of troubled heterosexual relationships. There’s heartbreak and disappointment at the crux of such a joyous rhythm — but maybe that’s OK in the end because there’s hope for next year. When Christmas comes again, hopefully, it’ll be more special.
