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Wham!'s Last Christmas Music Video Gets Remastered And It's Almost Scary How New It Looks

George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley's festive classic is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.
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By 

Entertainment Editor

A remastered version of Wham!’s Last Christmas music video has been released, as the song celebrates its 35th anniversary.

Originally released in December 1984, the original Last Christmas video showed George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley in all their 80s glory, with the former depicted as having a bit of a festive frisson as he and his fans celebrated the festive season.

Over the weekend, a new 4K version of the video was uploaded onto the band’s official YouTube page, racking up 2.6 million views in just a matter of days.

The new version of the video is almost scarily clear, giving the impression it was actually filmed recently on high-tech cameras, with hired actors dressed in 1980s garb.

If you don’t believe us, check out the difference between the original Last Christmas…

 

...and this new remastered version...

 

See what we mean?

Last Christmas was written and produced solely by George Michael, and peaked at number two upon its release, behind Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?, on which the singer also contributed vocals.

Since then, it’s gone on to become a festive staple, with covers from a range of artists including Ariana Grande, Carly Rae Jepsen, Cascada and… the Crazy Frog.

In 2019, Last Christmas also served as the inspiration for the new festive film of the same name, which received a mauling from critics, but has been received slightly better by cinemagoers.

The film – which stars Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding – heavily features the music of George Michael, including a previously-unheard track recorded before his death in 2016.

George Michael
George Michael(01 of23)
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Singer George Michael poses at home with his cat after losing his voice and being forced to cancel a number of live shows in 1980, London. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(02 of23)
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Picture of singer George Michael taken September 1997. Police in Beverly Hills have arrested a man who gave his name as George Michael for 'disorderly conduct'.The man, who gave his occupation as singer, was booked under the name Georgios Panayiotou - the former Wham star's real name - it was confirmed. (Photo credit should read JOHNNY EGGITT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(03 of23)
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Singer George Michael performs on stage as part of the Net Aid concert on 9th October, 1999 at Wembley, London. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(04 of23)
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LONDON - APORIL 19: British pop stars George Michael and Geri Halliwell attend the Capital Radio Awards at the Royal Lancaster Hotel on April 19, 2000 in London. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(05 of23)
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LONDON - MARCH 24: Singer George Michael arrives at the Ivy Restuarant March 24, 2003 in London, England. (Photo by Bruno Vincent/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(06 of23)
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BERLIN - FEBRUARY 16: Singer George Michael arrives at the 'George Michael - A Different Story' World Premiere at Kino International during the 55th annual Berlinale International Film Festival on February 16, 2005 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(07 of23)
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LONDON - JULY 02: Singer George Michael performs on stage at 'Live 8 London' in Hyde Park on July 2, 2005 in London, England. The free concert is one of ten simultaneous international gigs including Philadelphia, Berlin, Rome, Paris, Barrie, Tokyo, Cornwall, Moscow and Johannesburg. The concerts precede the G8 summit (July 6-8) to raising awareness for MAKEpovertyHISTORY. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(08 of23)
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LONDON - DECEMBER 05: (UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS OUT) Singer George Michael (left) and Kenny Goss (right) arrive at the VIP preview screening of 'A Different Story', a documentary based on singer George Michael's life, at the Curzon Mayfair on December 5, 2005 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(09 of23)
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TOKYO, JAPAN - DECEMBER 15: British pop star George Michael attends the Japanese Premiere of his film 'A Different Story' on December 15, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan. The fim will open on December 23 in Japan. (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(10 of23)
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TOKYO, JAPAN - DECEMBER 15: British pop star George Michael and his partner Kenny Goss attend the Japanese Premiere of his film 'A Different Story' on December 15, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan. The fim will open on December 23 in Japan. (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(11 of23)
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LONDON - NOVEMBER 25: Singer George Michael performs at Earls Court on November 25, 2006 in London, England. (Photo by Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(12 of23)
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LONDON - MAY 08: Former Wham! singer George Michael appears at Brent Magistrates Court on May 8, 2007 in London, England. Michael is charged with one count of being unfit to drive while under the influence of drugs after he was found slumped over the wheel of his car at traffic lights in north London on October 1, 2006 in London, England. He appears under his real name Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou. The trial continues May 30-31 and June 8. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(13 of23)
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LONDON - MAY 08: Former Wham! singer George Michael leaves Brent Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to a charge of driving while unfit through drugs on May 8, 2007 in London. He appeared under his real name Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(14 of23)
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LONDON - JUNE 9: Singer George Michael performs the first concert at the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium on June 9, 2007 in London. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(15 of23)
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LONDON - JUNE 9: (UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS OUT) George Michael performs at Wembley Stadium on June 9, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(16 of23)
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LONDON - JUNE 9: (UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS OUT) George Michael performs at Wembley Stadium on June 9, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(17 of23)
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LONDON - NOVEMBER 18: (UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS OUT) Musician George Michael (R) and his partner Kenny Goss arrive at the UK film premiere of 'Sleuth' at the Odeon West End on November 18, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(18 of23)
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SAN DIEGO - JUNE 17: Singer George Michael performs at the Sports Arena on June 17, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(19 of23)
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NEW YORK - JULY 21: Singer George Michael performs at Madison Square Garden on July 21, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(20 of23)
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 19: George Michael arrives by private jet at Perth's private jet base ahead of his national tour, which begins in Perth tomorrow night, on February 19, 2010 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(21 of23)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Singer George Michael (C) leaves Highbury Corner Magistrates Court surrounded by police on August 24, 2010 in London, England. Mr Michael pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs and possessing cannabis after he crashed his car into a photo processing shop in London on July 4, 2010. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(22 of23)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 11: (UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS OUT) George Michael attends a press conference to announce details of a new tour, at The Royal Opera House on May 11, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
George Michael(23 of23)
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MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 11: Singer George Michael performs at Mediolanum Forum on November 11, 2011 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
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