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!

Good day to you! Let’s get started, shall we?

We start with Japanese duo Q;indivi and their cover from 2009’s Winter Celebration album. Fan and LC reader wohdin sent this last year, and we’re just now getting to it, the shame! It’s an upbeat, fun version without being obnoxious, which as we all know is a fate that many a cover song can suffer. Wohdin would like it to be know that this duo is worth more attention than they receive, so please check them out and support their music! I have to say their site is a bit trippy when you first get there, almost like an art installation. Reminds me of sites before the whole web 2.0 social media boom. Anyone remember how awesome the Donnie Darko movie site was?

Q;indivi – Last Christmas

Visual Moon is up next, with a genre crossing version. It has parts of smooth poppy beats, autotune, crunchy guitars, and a sincere aim to please. It appears they are a young Mongolian band, but I was having a little trouble finding an official site of theirs. If you have any info, please comment!

Visual Moon – Last Christmas

Pittsburgh’s Ennui give us a fun version, I’m not quite sure how to define it though. It’s not dissimilar from Wham!‘s original, but it also has a lo-fi vibe to it, but not overly so. Their non-Last Christmas music is part of the hazy, lo-fi grouping, which I particularly enjoy (think Washed Out, Youth Lagoon, etc). You can grab a free download of the awesome Coconino here, as well as find the rest of their music. Don’t miss “We Are Young,” great stuff as well!

Ennui – Last Christmas

And lastly for today, we have a way relaxed out hip-hop version from Mr. Gikko and Mosch. There’s something about hip hop versions that usually work, and this is no exception. Mr. Gikko has a bit of an Eminem thing happening, with his intonation but the part by Mosch isn’t in English, and I can’t make out the language actually, I would think Austrian, but I can’t say for sure. But I think I’m right. Don’t be mad at me if it turns out to be German. Please note this version has EXPLICIT LYRICS!

Mr. Gikko & Mosch – Last Christmas

And holy crap! Check this out! Please someone get me this for Christmas!

Today we have a nice, well-rounded assortment for you. Like a George Michael-shaped box of chocolate sweets, left on your doorstep in the middle of the night by an admirer unknown, with only a simple note: “Enjoy!”

This first one by Dan Tran might seem like a low-energy a cappella version at first, but don’t be fooled! Once those low-energy electronic beats kick in, and the low-energy synth keyboards start unenthusiastically jamming out, you’ll realize that Dan Tran has produced one of the best low-energy electronica versions of Last Christmas that we’ve ever featured.

Dan Tran – Last Christmas


Hold on to your socks! After Mr. Tran’s milquetoast version, you might be feeling a little drowsy. And then The Maine come along and blow your mind with their incredibly-faithful-to-the-original version. They start off strong, and plateau from there.

The Maine – Last Christmas

You can find the whole Maine holiday EP for download at amazon for a measly $2.98! Go get it!

Time to start classing things up, dear readers. And as we all know, there are 3 pillars to a classy song: 1) Don’t have lyrics. 2) Invest in disco drummer. 3) Tell your piano player to “make it sound like the theme to Wings.” Mission accomplished, Wonder Girls. You’ve classed it up in spades.

Wonder Girls – Last Christmas

The South Korean Wonder Girls look to have had a rough start with members being injured, replaced and then the whole being involved in a van accident while touring. Don’t fret! They have prevailed and are the first South Korean group to enter the Billboard Hot 100 with their single “Nobody.” You can also find that on Amazon.

Right from the start, you can tell Germany’s Amen Am Arsch are going to deliver a special one. Their drummer counts it off on the hi hat, some super-distorted crunchy guitar comes in, and then a tough-sounding dude does a lackluster GM impersonation. I’ll have to admit, it’s not that great. But once the tough-sounding dude starts to do what he does best (sounding tough) things start to get interesting. It quickly becomes a pretty decent hardcore version. They start changing up the tempo, and right around the 2:00 mark, it’s pretty awesome. If only they hadn’t wasted so much time in the beginning. Check out their version of “Rudolph” on their myspace, it’s guaranteed to frighten your friends and loved ones!

Amen Am Arsch – Last Christmas


We’ll wrap things up with this pretty downtempo live version, but why during the first verse do we get a Jamaican accent?

Oi vey, here we go! We hope to make amends here as we kick 2009. Waaaaaay back in ’06 we hastily labeled Dalida, “some french lady” without fully realizing her musical accomplishments. Dalida not only does she have the world first diamond record, 55 gold records and been honored on a postage stamp, but she also has what we’re calling the earliest cover version of “Last Christmas!” Her single for “Reviens Moi” was released in 1985, which beats Alex Montez & Centerfold’s 1989 cover. Dalida’s success story is also full of tragedy, but today we hope to make up for our past dismissiveness.

Dalida – Reviens-moi

Reader Daniel tipped us onto this version by Ukrainian boy band 4 Kings. A little funky, a little dancey, a little like many of the others we’ve heard. At this point in game boys, you’re going to need to do something to stand out.

4 Kings – Last Christmas

Take I’m So Look You for instance. This cute little Japanese DJ gives us one of the best takes yet, in my opinion. You have to remember, we’re pushing a 400 song count, so anything that isn’t a straight cover will make an impression. +1 to I’m So Look You!

I’m So Look You – Last Christmas


Here’s another great one by German (!!!) Michael Jackson impersonator, Giuseppe Ruisi that merges “Last Christmas” with “Billie Jean!” A total protonic reversal! I think MJ would have been proud. Also check out his appearances on Das Supertalent below.

Giuseppe Ruisi – Last Christmas
Giuseppe Ruisi – Last Christmas (karaoke version)