It's not possible, of course. Despite it being 40 years since the song was released, it's heard everywhere during Christmas time. "Last Christmas" is also topping the Swedish singles chart this year and has been played an astonishing 1.7 billion times on Spotify, which has only existed for 15 years.
I'm not sure I would have believed you if you had told me 40 years ago that it would be number one in Sweden and hopefully elsewhere too. It would have seemed unrealistic, says Andrew Ridgeley and smiles.
"Did they get each other?"
He's doing the interview on Zoom from his home in England after having traveled around the world to talk to journalists about the song, which his childhood friend George Michael wrote, on the occasion of its 40th anniversary.
First and foremost, it's a superb song. It's a beautiful pop song about broken hearts, which also cleverly creates a Christmas atmosphere. But if we could capture what makes a hit song, we would all be writing them, says Andrew Ridgeley and smiles.
The lyrics about broken hearts – and also the video – have been debated for years. Can you confirm how it went for the couple in the song – did they get each other or not?
Who knows, says Andrew Ridgeley and laughs.
We'll never know. There was never a "Last Christmas 2"... But that's also what makes the song so popular, I think. We don't know how it goes the second time they meet. It was bloody smart of him (George) to tell the story on two timelines.
Dream Christmas
In recent days, a TV documentary premiered in England about the video for "Last Christmas", which became iconic. The video was filmed in the Swiss Alps and has become the epitome of the perfect Christmas party with friends. It has set the bar extremely high for people's Christmas parties for 40 years.
Haha, you're actually the first person to ever express it that way. But I can understand what you mean, because the video is like a dream world. It's the perfect Christmas for young people. We were also old enough to feel like adults. I can understand that it might have been hard to live up to how it looked in the video.
The song is still alive. In her new Christmas special on Netflix, Sabrina Carpenter sings "Last Christmas" in a duet with Chappell Roan, two superstars from a new generation who have taken the song to their hearts.
I think George would have loved to see that, and just like me, thought it was wonderful that the song continues to be relevant for young people.
Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael met in school as 12-year-olds. Wham was formed in 1981 and had a string of huge hits. In addition to "Last Christmas", also "Wake me up before you go go", "Careless whisper", and "Freedom".
Wham went their separate ways in 1986 and George Michael, who wrote most of the hit songs, launched a successful solo career. He passed away on Christmas Day 2016, 53 years old.
Andrew Ridgeley tried his hand at a solo music career and acting, as well as racing, after Wham. He has also been involved in charity work, mainly regarding environmental issues.
"I don't have any important traditions, really, and will be with some old good friends. I'll meet my stepson and also my ex, Keren (Woodward, known from the group Bananarama)."
