Waiting For That Rate- The George Michael/Wham! Singles Discography Rate- The Winner Is....
- Thread starter gezza76
- Start date
Jesus To A Child is beautiful but, for me, is a bit like Older & Cowboys and Angels in being a song that I appreciate more when I’m in a certain mood.
Must be very unusual for a song to be given such a high profile premiere so far in advance of it’s release. If that ‘94 live version is ever officially released my OCD would be half-wanting to file it with the LWP era!
On the subject of Outside, I agree that it’s basically the older sibling of Amazing. There’s nothing particularly special about it as a song, but it’s origin - and the video - make all the difference to how I feel about it.
Post-Wham!, George had always seemed such a serious artist and when the “incident” happened I remember fearing the worst about how he might react. But to come back with a bop that made light of the whole situation (as well as poking fun at the arresting coppers in the video) was an absolute masterstroke.
Must be very unusual for a song to be given such a high profile premiere so far in advance of it’s release. If that ‘94 live version is ever officially released my OCD would be half-wanting to file it with the LWP era!
On the subject of Outside, I agree that it’s basically the older sibling of Amazing. There’s nothing particularly special about it as a song, but it’s origin - and the video - make all the difference to how I feel about it.
Post-Wham!, George had always seemed such a serious artist and when the “incident” happened I remember fearing the worst about how he might react. But to come back with a bop that made light of the whole situation (as well as poking fun at the arresting coppers in the video) was an absolute masterstroke.
A very similar opinion to that of Andy (Lou and Andy) from Little Britain!
Andy:
Tell him that "Jesus to a Child" aside, I find his output emotionally vapid.
I thought this may end up being the winner!! Wrong again.
I believe he was showing the middle finger to Sony. 'Oh, what a shame I don't have any new studio recordings you could possibly release! I guess I'll just play this totally unfinished little ditty live.' Mike Oldfield kept Tubular Bells II from Virgin for similar reasons, fulfilling the contract with a 60:00 album without anything resembling a single on it, then went to Warner's and gave them TB2.
Please be Careless Whisper.
Would be ironic if a song George himself (Careless Whisper) didn't think much of, ended up winning...
1984 release
1985 release
1986 release
LAST CHRISTMAS:
HIGHEST SCORE: 11 X 1 @nanafan 10 X 18 @Blaahh @Vasilios @Sprockrooster @Auntie Beryl @mrdonut @WhatKindOfKylie? @Hairycub1969 @marie_05 @Gnuh Gnuh @pranavc @Rooneyboy @Aester @Eric Generic @Scoundrel_Days @MilesAngel @phoenix123 @Cowboystyle @berserkboi
LOWEST SCORE: 5 X 1 @CorgiCorgiCorgi
AVERAGE SCORE: 8.891
RELEASED: DECEMBER 1984
PEAK POSITION: UK#2
UK POSTION: 3,100,000+
VOTE HISTORY:
After 5 votes: #3
After 10 votes: #4
After 15 votes: #5
After 20 votes: #4
After 25 votes: #6
After 30 votes: #7
After 35 votes: #7
SMASH HITS SAID: “And the public gets what the public wants…..The mega-duo celebrate a mega golden year with another mega hit- no doubt about that. Well it is Christmas and George finds himself in the clutches of a young love crisis while Andrew looks on sympathetically and the Wham!ettes swoon. For all musicologists out there note the close similarity to Peaches & Herb’s cream –curdling duet “reunited”
RECORD MIRROR SAID: “Predictable schmaltzy seasonal love story from Pinky and Perky. This must be the tenth song in the last six months to have lifted the chord structure of Peaches and Herb’s “Reunited”. Obviously a hit, but I’d rather listen to the Queen’s speech myself”.
The quintessential Christmas song? Well it must be up there as this remains the biggest selling song in Chart history not to make No 1 after being held off by Band Aid, it has sold almost 2 million or 3.1 million including streams- a phenomenon. Here’s the surprise, there are two separate 7” mixes (one only released in other territories) with different ad libs, the song was partly re-recorded for the 1985 remix and spliced with an edited version of the “Pudding Mix” (the original 12” version) which then became the version we all hear every year and appears on compilations. So if you have the 1984 vinyl version then hold on to it.
Andrew later revealed that the song came about when they were visiting George's parents:
"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, 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.”
A favourite with the bookies for the festive top spot it, the promo gets a similar amount of airtime each year which has somewhat blunted the greatness of the song, it remains the only one of Wham!’s last 5 singles to miss No 1. It’s tale of unrequited love was typical boyband fodder with the prerequisite sleigh bells and of course George’s warm tones to lift it above the genre and give us something truly magical.
This is the first track to have been consistently in the top 10 of the rate from the get-go!
Popjustice said:
@nanafan (11) “The only track that was ever in contention for my 11. It's an amazing record. The best Christmas record ever made and I don’t ever see it not being a loved Christmas classic each year. The video is perfection too.”
@Sprockrooster (10) “Is this the part where everybody showcases how many amazing covers this already stellar track spawned. The song just exudes a festive feeling, so to no surprise every cover is a Christmas classic by default. Let me shout out Britt Nicole. Because I can”
@Blaahh (10) “Dec 1st can’t come soon enough...”
@mrdonut (10) “The Pudding Mix is the essential version of Last Christmas, its opening is the stuff of genius. I’m giving this a 10 because goodness knows how many times I’ve heard this song either voluntarily or not over the decades but it always works so brilliantly. Truly the work of an amazing songwriter”
@Hairycub1969 (10) “This is without any doubt my all-time favourite Christmas song. I could listen to it on a loop throughout December! I think I’ve mentioned this before…when my oldest brother at the time turned and said to me after hearing this for the first time “He’s quite a good songwriter isn’t he? that George Michael” – my jaw dropped to the floor (he absolutely hated the first album – probably because my sister played the cassette to death during 1983/1984)
I love the melody and the arrangement of the song and the video! The UK’s biggest selling Number two single of the 1980’s – only five songs in that decade sold more copies! I can’t wait for James Dean Bradfield to still be covering this song in concert when he’s a silver Daddy in his 60’s! Woof!
Best praised by Pete Burns (Dead or Alive): It’s such a gorgeous pop record!”
@Rooneyboy (10) “The best Christmas song. Ever. The video is bloody lovely too. Reminds me of childhood Christmases.”
@berserkboi (10) “An absolute classic - so much so even queen Dalida was inspired to release a French cover of it!”
@gezza76 (9.5) “It has, at its heart, a real longing and sincerity that means I can’t be harsh about this one. I TRIED to strip out the fact that I hear it every year and focus on the words and the verses, George’s voice sounds great and full of warmth. It helps that I love Christmas but the Pudding Mix is really where this comes into its element. I recall buying the original 1984 7” version in the 90s at a record fair and being VERY disappointed with the way it sounded”
@rawkey (9) “I'm really only deducting a point because it's not Christmas...”
@Untouchable Ace (9) “I can tolerate the original, but all covers are disgusting. I'm pretty sure the brooch is upside down. Also he's totally into the guy with the wood.”
'
@letuinmybackdoor (8) “Objectively a 10 but its relentless ubiquity loses it points, sorry”
@Epic Chocolat (7.5) “Not a personal fave, but I like the fact that it's a holiday classic. Good for George.”
@Ray (7) “(I am ignoring the bit of airplay it got.)
The production of this, 80s as it is, is gorgeous – unlike that of 'Careless Whisper'. His voice hasn't quite developed yet at this point, which is not to say it sounds unpleasant. Then the jingle bells enter and I want to bite someone's head off. Once they fade out we are back to this beautiful pop song that's like 'Careless Whisper', but with all the bits I dislike removed. The chorus is, frankly, genius – 'but the very next day you gave it away' sung at this tempo to this melody is pure gold. The double-tracking of the backing vocals, um, could have been done a bit better. The coda is great. If the jingle bells weren't so very DO YOU HEAR IT'S CHRISTMAS MAYBE WE WERE NOT CLEAR ENOUGH ABOUT IT and my general dislike for xmas songs, this would have been a 9 or more.”
@Ana Raquel (6.5) “ I'm scoring a Christmas song higher than 5 you should be honored tbh”
@br0dy (6.5) “If this wasn't such a cultural touchstone, I'm not sure I would even particularly like it?”
Promo
12" Pudding Mix
Andrew later revealed that the song came about when they were visiting George's parents:
"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, 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.”
A favourite with the bookies for the festive top spot it, the promo gets a similar amount of airtime each year which has somewhat blunted the greatness of the song, it remains the only one of Wham!’s last 5 singles to miss No 1. It’s tale of unrequited love was typical boyband fodder with the prerequisite sleigh bells and of course George’s warm tones to lift it above the genre and give us something truly magical.
This is the first track to have been consistently in the top 10 of the rate from the get-go!
Popjustice said:
@nanafan (11) “The only track that was ever in contention for my 11. It's an amazing record. The best Christmas record ever made and I don’t ever see it not being a loved Christmas classic each year. The video is perfection too.”
@Sprockrooster (10) “Is this the part where everybody showcases how many amazing covers this already stellar track spawned. The song just exudes a festive feeling, so to no surprise every cover is a Christmas classic by default. Let me shout out Britt Nicole. Because I can”
@Blaahh (10) “Dec 1st can’t come soon enough...”
@mrdonut (10) “The Pudding Mix is the essential version of Last Christmas, its opening is the stuff of genius. I’m giving this a 10 because goodness knows how many times I’ve heard this song either voluntarily or not over the decades but it always works so brilliantly. Truly the work of an amazing songwriter”
@Hairycub1969 (10) “This is without any doubt my all-time favourite Christmas song. I could listen to it on a loop throughout December! I think I’ve mentioned this before…when my oldest brother at the time turned and said to me after hearing this for the first time “He’s quite a good songwriter isn’t he? that George Michael” – my jaw dropped to the floor (he absolutely hated the first album – probably because my sister played the cassette to death during 1983/1984)
I love the melody and the arrangement of the song and the video! The UK’s biggest selling Number two single of the 1980’s – only five songs in that decade sold more copies! I can’t wait for James Dean Bradfield to still be covering this song in concert when he’s a silver Daddy in his 60’s! Woof!
Best praised by Pete Burns (Dead or Alive): It’s such a gorgeous pop record!”
@Rooneyboy (10) “The best Christmas song. Ever. The video is bloody lovely too. Reminds me of childhood Christmases.”
@berserkboi (10) “An absolute classic - so much so even queen Dalida was inspired to release a French cover of it!”
@gezza76 (9.5) “It has, at its heart, a real longing and sincerity that means I can’t be harsh about this one. I TRIED to strip out the fact that I hear it every year and focus on the words and the verses, George’s voice sounds great and full of warmth. It helps that I love Christmas but the Pudding Mix is really where this comes into its element. I recall buying the original 1984 7” version in the 90s at a record fair and being VERY disappointed with the way it sounded”
@rawkey (9) “I'm really only deducting a point because it's not Christmas...”
@Untouchable Ace (9) “I can tolerate the original, but all covers are disgusting. I'm pretty sure the brooch is upside down. Also he's totally into the guy with the wood.”
'
@letuinmybackdoor (8) “Objectively a 10 but its relentless ubiquity loses it points, sorry”
@Epic Chocolat (7.5) “Not a personal fave, but I like the fact that it's a holiday classic. Good for George.”
@Ray (7) “(I am ignoring the bit of airplay it got.)
The production of this, 80s as it is, is gorgeous – unlike that of 'Careless Whisper'. His voice hasn't quite developed yet at this point, which is not to say it sounds unpleasant. Then the jingle bells enter and I want to bite someone's head off. Once they fade out we are back to this beautiful pop song that's like 'Careless Whisper', but with all the bits I dislike removed. The chorus is, frankly, genius – 'but the very next day you gave it away' sung at this tempo to this melody is pure gold. The double-tracking of the backing vocals, um, could have been done a bit better. The coda is great. If the jingle bells weren't so very DO YOU HEAR IT'S CHRISTMAS MAYBE WE WERE NOT CLEAR ENOUGH ABOUT IT and my general dislike for xmas songs, this would have been a 9 or more.”
@Ana Raquel (6.5) “ I'm scoring a Christmas song higher than 5 you should be honored tbh”
@br0dy (6.5) “If this wasn't such a cultural touchstone, I'm not sure I would even particularly like it?”
Promo
12" Pudding Mix
Wait I’m so confused now.
Firstly there is a 1986 reissue with a solo cover? I never knew.
I have the original 1984 vinyl single but probably haven’t listen to it for 30odd years. I know there was a different version with different adlibs but didn’t know this was the original 7”? I think I got it digitally from a compilation. Now That’s What I Call Christmas or something?
Firstly there is a 1986 reissue with a solo cover? I never knew.
I have the original 1984 vinyl single but probably haven’t listen to it for 30odd years. I know there was a different version with different adlibs but didn’t know this was the original 7”? I think I got it digitally from a compilation. Now That’s What I Call Christmas or something?
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There's also an Andrew one for 86
Sorry just done some research (after the event but hey ho)= The 1986 7" has the Andrew cover with the George pic on the back and it's reversed for the 12"
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*starts petition to reprint all Wham! records with the new official band name*
The list of xmas songs I never have enough of:
1. 'I Was Born on Xmas Day' – Saint Etienne
2. 'All I Want For Xmas Is You' – Mimi
This was the list of xmas songs I never have enough of. This one, great as it objectively is, starts grating on me around the 0:45 mark the first time I hear it a day after Halloween and doesn't stop causing me physical pain until it disappears again on December 27.
Don’t think I could ever get bored of Last Christmas, every Christmas.
Last Christmas
Fairytale Of New York
All I Want For Christmas Is You
The holy Christmas trinity in the UK. They make the top ten every year now it seems with streaming.
Last Christmas
Fairytale Of New York
All I Want For Christmas Is You
The holy Christmas trinity in the UK. They make the top ten every year now it seems with streaming.
I have so many versions of Last Christmas, now I'm confuddled as to what ones I've used for which projects!
Last Christmas is the very definition of the term classic. Genius and would be the greatest Christmas song of the modern age for me, if All I Want For Christmas Is You didn't exist.
Damn! I had the ‘84 7” but when I thought my vinyl collection had lost all meaning and value about 16 years ago I slung it all in the bin!
Never seen those 86 covers before, nor had I picked up on any similarities with Reunited either. And here I was at the beginning of this rate thinking I was such a big Stan.
It’s peak of number 2 makes that stat of only 5 other 80s records selling more completely insane.
great song, and impressive consistency with its placing throughout this rate, but glad it didn’t win.
Never seen those 86 covers before, nor had I picked up on any similarities with Reunited either. And here I was at the beginning of this rate thinking I was such a big Stan.
It’s peak of number 2 makes that stat of only 5 other 80s records selling more completely insane.
great song, and impressive consistency with its placing throughout this rate, but glad it didn’t win.