In 1984, Wham! released “Last Christmas” as the flipside of the single “Everything She Wants” (which is, by the way, a pretty good song). I didn’t pay much attention, having found “Young Guns (Go for It!)” to be silly, “Bad Boys” to be negligible and “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” to be one of life’s greatest tortures.
As the years passed, covers of “Last Christmas” kept showing up in my collection and the song finally grew on me. I still don’t care for the original version by Wham!
In fact, I would argue that the original is one of the weaker versions of the song. To back up my claim, here’s some musical evidence.
To lead things off, three Swedish acts – Le Sport, Montt Mardié & Mr. Suitcase – team up for a bright, poppy danceable rendition.
The second is from the lo-fi British indie-rock band minuteman, led by former Ultrasound keyboardist Matt Jones. Their album Resigned to Life was released in 2002 and then they seemed to disappear, with Jones moving on to other projects. (Read more about the band here and here. They are not to be confused with the Minutemen.)
Marcella Puppini, Stephanie O’Brien and Kate Mullins sing as the Puppini Sisters, sort of as a tribute to the Andrews Sisters and the Boswell Sisters. Like those previous sister acts, the Puppini Sisters provide the kind of close three-part harmonies most typically associated with the Forties, but they also sing works by Blondie, Kate Bush and The Smiths.
To close things out, one from the alternative/electro/mash-up outfit Soulwax (who sometimes perform as 2 many DJs). The Belgian band is fronted by brothers David and Stephen Dewaele. In 1998, they released a promotional single under the name “Soulwaxmas;” their version of the song utilizes a drum sample of their own song “Cut Some Slack.” I see they’re doing Soulwaxmas Christmas shows at Brixton Academy this month, as well as other locations in Europe. Jealous!
Le Sport, Montt Mardié & Mr. Suitcase – Last Christmas
minuteman – Last Christmas — BUY
The Puppini Sisters – Last Christmas — BUY
Soulwax – Last Christmas
One Response
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dave Says:
Swearing At Motorists version here:
http://vimeo.com/17744064