Music news by Miles Brohier
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Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’ tops the UK singles chart this
Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’ has topped the UK singles chart this week. The song climbed a single to end the five week reign of ‘That’s So True’ by Gracie Abrams. The Christmas anthem has George Michael dominating the vocals despite having Andrew Ridgeley as a fellow group member. When ’Last Christmas’ was released back in December 1984, the aim was to make it to the prestigious Christmas No.1 spot. But Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know Its Christmas’ prevailed owing the then prevailing situation in Ethiopia and Sudan. At the time ‘Last Christmas’ settled for No.2. In 1985 it came back and peaked at No.6. In 2020 the song topped the UK chart for the first time and it 2021 missed out to peak at No.2. In 2022 and 2023 the song topped the chart and this year is back for the third year in a row. Meanwhile all the cast members of the video for ‘Last Christmas’ made in 1984, gathered in the Swiss Alps town of Saas-Fee recently to rekindle that moment 40 years ago when George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley who made up Wham made the song video. It was part of a documentary process. Back in 1984 all the cast members were in their 20s while today all of them are in the 60s. Pepsi & Shirley the famous back up singers of Wham were present too as a monument with the words Last Christmas, was unveiled.
Tom Grennan’s Amazon Music original ‘It Can’t Be Christmas’ highest entry in the UK charts
Tom Grennan’s Amazon Music original ‘It Can’t Be Christmas’ has been the highest entry to the UK top 10 singles chart this week. It has climbed from 25 to land at No.6 and is also tipped as a potential Christmas No.1 in a rather crowded atmosphere. ‘It Can’t Be Christmas’ is Grennan’s second solo UK top 10 hit and overall five taking into account the three songs on which he was a featured artist.
Kelly Clarkson seasonal hit crosses over to the UK top 10 singles
After trying at the upper echelon of 11 years it has finally paid off for the US singer and TV host Kelly Clarkson. Her Seasonal offering ‘Under The Tree’ crossed into the UK top 10 singles chart to land at No.10, rising from 12. Back in 2003 ‘Under The Tree’ peaked at No.30. Its popularity has grown over the years and has thus managed graduate to the top 10.
Pharrell Williams appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
The Grammy award winning musician and fashion designer Pharrell Williams was appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador on 17th December. Later the ‘Happy’ hitmaker addressed 800 people which included school students, fashion and music students who had gather for the screening of his biopic Piece by Piece.
TW LW
1 2 Last Christmas – Wham
2 1 That’s So True – Gracie Abrams
3 5 All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey
4 3 APT – Rose & Bruno Mars
5 6 Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
6 25 It Can’t Be Christmas – Tom Grennan
7 10 Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms
8 13 Fairytale of New York – Pogues ft: Kirsty MacColl
9 11 Santa Tell Me – Ariana Grande
10 12 Underneath The Tree – Kelly Clarkson
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