Christmas. It is an event unlike any other. It has transformed severely over time: from a moment, to a season of the year; from a sacred observance, to a pan-cultural celebration.

Christmas is both a religious tradition and a pop culture phenomenon.

It is ironic, and somehow fitting, that a simple—yet apparently poignant—pop song can so perfectly embrace both of these aspects of the season. “Last Christmas,” originally recorded by British power-pop duo Wham! in 1984, does not focus on the meaning of Christmas, nor does it try to promote any ideology or belief system. Yet its relevance to the canon of Christmas miscellany is unarguable.

The original release of “Last Christmas” (including the original video), and the extended “Pudding Mix,” are available here for your edification. You are invited to examine them closely, to personally justify their significance in the overarching tapestry of Christmas-themed art.

Be mindful of its relevance as you enter the holiday season; and please join us daily, as we continue our discussion of the song’s cultural—and historical—influence.

Wham! – Last Christmas
Wham! – Last Christmas (Pudding Mix)

You can find this and oh so much more on “The Final” by Wham! from Amazon.com