Today is going to be short on words, heavy on tunes. Without further ado…

Let’s start with the one version that has never been done before. No other artist has attempted this genre, nor has anyone previously emailed me about this. I present, the Dead Cat Orchestra, performing Last Christmas done in the style of dead/dying cats, basically a dude wailing meows. (submitted by Jacob Nathan)

Dead Cat Orchestra – Last Christmas

Next we have a great banjo-led version by Stockholm’s The Linedance Fever. Man I really dig this version. I know it sounds like I say that a lot, but anything that doesn’t sound like a mimic of the Wham! version catches my attention. You have to remember, we’re going to break 500 covers of the same song this year. Anything that stands out from a crowd that large deserves some major credit in my book. And The Linedance Fever certainly stand out. If you took the Erlend Oye version from way back when, and then switched it over to a more raucous, foot-stomping version like the Boss Hoss version, you would get this. Really really good. Check out their Myspace page for a pretty rad cover of Wicked Game also.

The Linedance Fever – Last Christmas

Next we have a handful of tips we got from Guuzbourg from Christmas A Go Go, beginning with Colorado’s Emily Knurr. She does a pretty intriguing low key, somewhat lo-fi keyboard version that I quite like. Her non-LC tunes are great as well, no denying it. Girl can sing!

Emily Knurr – Last Christmas

We are Vapour deliver a cool little ditty, that’s close to the original and yet really distinct. It’s hard to describe unless you hear it.

We Are Vapour – Last Christmas

Lastly, Tiger House follows with a good follow up to We Are Vapour. You follow me? It’s great, although I don’t have anything super specific to call out about it. I think you’ll like it.

Tiger House – Last Christmas

Ok so this was still somewhat heavy on words. More from Christmas A Go Go to come later!

Saskatchewan aren’t just another boy band from Orlando, despite what they would have you believe. Like Ennui, they dabble in that lo-fi hazy guitar sound, which is easily enjoyed often and on repeat. Their cover sounds like it might have been recorded on the surface of a 1960’s imagining of Venus, if that makes any sense. It does to me anyways.

This comes from the free Hey, It’s Christmas! album but we found them via Santas Working Overtime. They’re also having a sale on their bandcamp site where you can name your price on any of their recordings, so go and make sure to spend a little something so they can buy Christmas gifts.

Saskatchewan – Last Christmas

In a pretty heavy shifting of gears, let’s delve into DJ Schalupy’s panflute remix. Which to me, defies description. It doesn’t help that I couldn’t find any info on Mr./Miss Schalupy while poking around the webs. But it’s pretty much what it says. I’ll add one extra bit of a thought though. It sounds like it might have been remixed with beats of one of those old ’80s Casio keyboards.

DJ Schalupy – Last Christmas (Panflute Remix)

And with another jump, we turn to Frank Turner’s live acoustic version, which is pretty great. He definitely has no lack of enthusiasm in his presentation! He’s described as being a folk/punk, and I can hear that a bit here, but moreso in his non-Last Christmas tunes. And in a break from tradition, if we may, you can check out one of this other tunes in video form below.

Frank Turner – Last Christmas (Live)

You can pick up his most recent album on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, and Rdio

Oh my goodness. Six years ago, without much thought behind it, myself and a friend decided to offer to the world an unnecessary and unasked for gift in the form of an uncurated collection of covers of Wham!‘s holiday standard “Last Christmas.” Besides underestimating the number of people who’d be interested in such a thing, we never thought it would lead to various radio and blog interviews, an MTV news interview, hanging out with bands, or even being interviewed for a graduate thesis on the topic of cover songs.

Even more impressive is the fact that every year more and more covers are released and sent to us! Keep them coming! We are but a small crew with limited resources, so any help in corralling songs and leads is a great help. Additionally if any of you, dear readers, are up for the challenge of guest posting or even better, recording “Last Christmas” just for us, then by all means get in touch!

And before we get started with the grueling task of sorting and listening and delivering some Whamtastic gems to you throughout the month, we want to say a hearty and heartfelt thank you for your support going on six years now…six years! I still can’t believe it. We’re becoming as much a holiday tradition as fruitcake is.

Ok ok, I know you want me to just shut up already and get on with the tunes, but just one more second! The full sets to the right represent the ground we’ve covered in years past; there are no individual song links in old posts beyond links to the artists’ Amazon or iTunes respective stores or sites where applicable. All should be up to date, but as always, if you find something odd or weird in the sets or our numbering, please let us know! Here we go!

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At the end of last season, we got the tip on Element of Crime’s slow, easy going take on “Last Christmas.” I honestly can’t think of anything better than starting with a German band’s cover. It sounds optimistic, hopeful and jaunty. It’s as if over the course of the song, we’re traveling with them, away from the heartbreak of last Christmas toward a new year, the wailing guitar at the end crying as if to say “Don’t go! Sorry about being a jerk!” Tough shiz guitar, we’re moving on.

Element of Crime – Last Christmas

This comes from their Fremde Ferden album that has a bunch of other great covers. You can find more on the German Amazon MP3 store or iTunes store.

Now listen and listen good…there is no such thing as too many 8-bit versions of “Last Christmas!” you hear me world?! Every time I hear one, I picture an old NES Christmas game of some sort, with Santa trying to save Christmas or something, this song being the level 4 background jam. And like all old NES games, the enemies are all ridiculous. Like evil chomping gift-wrapped presents or reindeer possessed, and when Santa hits them with a candy cane they snap-to-it and you get points and stuff. Someone make that please.

Active Knowledge – Last Christmas

Well I’ll be. If Clare and her Reasons aren’t the cutest sack of stocking stuffers this side of the Mississippi. While this cover is great, I don’t think it’s representative of how great they really are! While researching them, I came across their album, Arrow, great stuff! Cute lady singing her heart out and a Genesis cover. Can’t go wrong there. This track is good though; she’s pretty endearing, oh that Clare. This track was part of a free download their label Frog Stand offered last year, which if anyone knows how to find, please comment!

Clare and the Reasons – Last Christmas

Find them on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify and Rdio!. I Especially dig the track “Ooh You Hurt Me So.” I wouldn’t be surprised to find out these guys have been tapped for a slew of advertising backing tracks.

I’m a huge fan of bands releasing holiday singles, even if only online for their fans to grab. I’ve got a soft spot for Rooney’s pop/rock sound, so you can imagine how tickled I was to find they are offering three holiday tracks with any purchase from their online shop! Hurry over and get a Rooney cd for a friend who doesn’t know them or a shirt for yourself and then enjoy the free tracks! Oh, and of course one of those tracks is “Last Christmas!” Personally, I favor their version of “Little Saint Nick” because it’s more suited to their sound, but all the offerings are superb inclusions on your holiday mixes.

Rooney – Last Christmas

You can also buy their new release, Eureka, from Amazon MP3.

We have gotten a number of emails regarding this version from the Puppini Sisters and for good reason. It’s awesome! This cover has already been circulating around music blogs pretty heavily over any other track off their recent holiday album, Christmas with the Puppini Sisters. Their sound has been described as part of retro’s futuristic vanguard (not sure what that means) but it’s a great sound for Christmas, to be sure. Be sure to grab the whole album on amazon.

The Puppini Sisters – Last Christmas

Lastly, we have LA’s recently defunct Metro Station. If you think you haven’t heard Metro Station, quit kidding yourself, you know that song “Shake It,” sure you do. Don’t lie to me! Well it’s those guys. I really wish they had done something similar with this version, you know a poppy-rocky-gyrate-your-body-dance version, but they take the safe route and deliver a decent, yet traditional, cover.

Metro Station – Last Christmas

Check out the video below: