While much of the UK is busy trying to survive another round of “Whamageddon,” we’ve unearthed a George Michael clip that’s absolutely worth sacrificing your streak for. Shot at Wembley Arena in December 2006, the footage captures what many fans consider the ultimate live performance of “Last Christmas.” The moment has clearly struck a nerve, too — the video has already pulled in more than 4.2 million views in under a year on YouTube.
Music Man readers can watch the performance below, but longtime Wham! fans may want to keep some tissues nearby. This clip places George Michael’s legacy firmly in the spotlight.
The scene opens in near darkness as sleigh bells echo through Wembley, before the lights burst on and silver glitter and artificial snow rain down over the buzzing crowd. Out steps George Michael, dressed head to toe in gold, moving effortlessly through the snowfall as he launches straight into the song’s instantly recognizable chorus.
The audience wastes no time joining in, shouting every lyric back at him in what feels like one massive holiday sing-along. Between George’s unmistakable dad-dance moves and the thunderous crowd vocals, the energy never dips. At several points, he hands lines over to the audience entirely, letting them carry the song as proof of just how deeply it still resonated.
George’s warmth shines throughout the performance. He sings with precision and ease, flashing a genuine smile and delivering his spoken “Merry Christmas” line as if addressing an old friend rather than a packed arena. What’s most striking is how completely he commands the Wembley stage on his own — performing a song he first released more than three decades earlier, yet receiving the same overwhelming love as if Wham! were standing beside him.
After George Michael’s passing on Christmas Day in 2016, Wham! bandmates Pepsi, Shirlie, and Andrew Ridgeley reflected on his connection to the holiday season in an interview with Smooth Radio. They explained that George loved everything about Christmas — the gifts, the decorations, the candles, and the sense of togetherness. More than anything, they said, he appreciated that Christmas was bigger than fame itself. For once, he wasn’t the center of attention — everyone shared the moment equally.
So why does this performance still resonate so strongly all these years later?
“Last Christmas” reached a major milestone recently, celebrating its 40th anniversary with yet another return to the top of the UK charts. After initially peaking at #2 in 1984, the song has hit #1 three years in a row since 2022 and is already climbing again, sitting near the top with plenty of time left before Christmas.
Then there’s “Whamageddon,” the annual challenge to avoid hearing the song at all during the festive season — a tradition that’s somehow turned the track into a holiday-era Rick Roll. But honestly, if you’re going to lose, this is the way to do it.
George Michael’s Wembley performance isn’t just a great live clip. It’s a reminder of his singular talent and the lasting emotional power of “Last Christmas” — a song that, decades later, still knows exactly how to hit home.
