Five years ago, in the early hours of Christmas Day 2016, George Michael was found dead in his bed at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
His sister Melanie, who later moved into his luxurious mansion, also died there, in bed, three years later on Christmas Day 2019. The siblings were extremely close and suffered from similar health problems.
George died from a weakened enlarged heart and fatty liver and also his sister, who was diabetic, suffered from hypertensive heart disease, as well as from obesity and bronchopneumonia. However, many claimed that Melanie had died of a broken heart.
The singer’s sudden death at the age of just 53 shocked the world. He was the lead singer and solo performer of the Wham! an English pop duo formed in 1981, consisting of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley.
Their song “Last Christmas” is an undisputed Christmas classic, even though it has very little to do with Christmas, because it describes a failed relationship. Only the phrase “Last Christmas,” when the relationship finishes, refers to the festive season.
The song was originally released in December 1984 and was the UK’s best-selling single never reaching the top of the singles chart. It was only at the beginning of this year that it reached #1 on the UK singles chart for the first time, 36 years after its release. In doing so, it broke the record for the longest time taken for a single to peak at the top of the charts.
After George Michael’s death, many of his private acts of kindness were revealed. For example, he was the mysterious benefactor who kept Highgate, the London borough where he was born, lit up every Christmas, he worked anonymously at a homeless shelter or paid off strangers’ debts.
In this video he makes his last filmed appearance without a beard.
[Chorus:]
Last Christmas
I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away.
This year
To save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special.
Last Christmas
I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away.
This year
To save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special.
Once bitten and twice shy
I keep my distance
But you still catch my eye.
Tell me, baby,
Do you recognize me?
Well,
It’s been a year,
It doesn’t surprise me
(Merry Christmas)
I wrapped it up and sent it
With a note saying, “I love you,”
I meant it
Now I know what a fool I’ve been.
But if you kissed me now
I know you’d fool me again.
[Chorus:]
Last Christmas
I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away.
This year
To save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special.
Last Christmas
I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away.
This year
To save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special.
Oh, oh, baby.
A crowded room,
Friends with tired eyes.
I’m hiding from you
And your soul of ice.
My god I thought you were someone to rely on.
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on.
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart.
A man under cover but you tore me apart, ooh-hoo.
Now I’ve found a real love, you’ll never fool me again.
[Chorus:]
Last Christmas
I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away.
This year
To save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special.
Last Christmas
I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away.
This year
To save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special.
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart (I gave you my heart)
A man under cover but you tore him apart
Maybe next year I’ll give it to someone
I’ll give it to someone special.
🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
Cinque anni fa, nelle prime ore del giorno di Natale del 2016, George Michael fu trovato morto nel suo letto nella sua casa di Goring-on-Thames, nell’Oxfordshire.
Sua sorella Melanie, che in seguito si trasferì nella sua lussuosa villa, morì anche lì, a letto, tre anni dopo, il giorno di Natale 2019. I due erano estremamente legati e soffrivano di problemi di salute analoghi.
George morì per problemi cardiaci (cardiomiopatia dilatativa accompagnata da miocardite) ed epatici e anche sua sorella, che era diabetica, soffriva di cardiopatia ipertensiva, oltre che di obesità e broncopolmonite. Ad ogni modo, molti sostennero che Melanie era morta di crepacuore.
La morte improvvisa del cantante all’età di soli 53 anni fu uno shock il mondo. Micheal era il cantante e interprete solista dei Wham! un duo pop inglese formato nel 1981, composto da George e da Andrew Ridgeley
La loro canzone “Last Christmas” è un classico natalizio, anche se ha ben poco a che fare con il Natale, perché parla di una relazione fallita. Solo la frase “Last Christmas”, quando la relazione finisce, si riferisce alla festività.
La canzone uscì nel dicembre 1984 e fu il singolo più venduto nel Regno Unito, senza mai raggiungere la vetta della classifica dei singoli. È stato solo all’inizio di quest’anno che ha raggiunto per la prima volta il numero 1 nella classifica dei singoli del Regno Unito, 36 anni dopo la sua uscita. In tal modo ha battuto un record: il tempo più lungo impiegato da un singolo per raggiungere la vetta della classifica.
Dopo la morte di George Michael, sono stati rivelati molti dei suoi atti privati di gentilezza. Per esempio era il misterioso benefattore che teneva Highgate, il quartiere londinese in cui era nato, illuminato a festa ogni Natale, lavorò anonimamente in un asilo per senzatetto o pagò i debiti di sconosciuti.
Nel video fa la sua ultima apparizione senza barba
Lo scorso Natale (Wham!)
[Coro:]
L’ultimo Natale
ti ho dato il mio cuore
ma i proprio il giorno dopo l’hai buttato via.
Quest’anno
per evitare le lacrime
lo regalerò a qualcuno di speciale……
Ferito una volta e doppiamente cauto
mi tengo a distanza ma tu attiri il mio sguardo
Dimmi piccola, mi riconosci?
Beh, è passato un anno, non mi sorprende
(Buon Natale) L’avevo incartato e spedito
con una sola nota “ti amo,”
ed era ciò che intendevo
Ora so che sono stato stupido,
ma se mi baciassi adesso so che mi inganneresti di nuovo…..
Una stanza affollata, amici dagli occhi stanchi.
Mi sto nascondendo da te e dalla tua anima di ghiaccio.
Mio Dio, pensavo fossi qualcuno su cui poter fare affidamento.
E io? Io penso che fossi una spalla su cui piangere
un volto di amante con il fuoco nel cuore
un uomo sotto copertura, ma tu mi hai fatto a pezzi
Ora che ho trovato un vero amore e tu non mi ingannerai più.
Despite George being mainly responsible for this song, as he was with most Wham! songs, he gave Ridgely all full rights.
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Did he? Was it one of his innumerable acts of generosity?💖
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Yup. What a Goodbye present! Financial security for life!
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Wow! What a great Man👍🌹
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Wonderful post Luisa. We have been hearing this lovely song for weeks. I did not know about his sister dying in similar circumstances and that George was such a generous hearted person. Thank you for sharing it with us. Hope you had a good Christmas and wishing you a Happy New Year! ☺️💕
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Thank you for your wonderful comment 🙏🙏🙏
I wish you a New Year full of joy and serenity , too 💖💖💖💖💖
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What are the odds of 2 siblings dying on Christmas Day a few years apart. I did love his music, in the day. Thanks for sharing Luisa. Allan
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I am happy that you enjoyed this post, dear Allan, 🎶🎶🎶
Thank you for the reflection and, as always, for your constant presence and support🙏💝🙏
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Adoro questa canzone, è una tra le più belle dei Wham.
Bei tempi!
❤️
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Vero! Anche a me riporta tanti bei ricordi.🙏🌹🙏
Buon pomeriggio, Natalia
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Buona serata 😘
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⭐💜⭐💜⭐
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He was legendary!
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He was, indeed 🎵 🎶
Thanks for your nice feedback!
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A lovely post Luisa. xxx
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I am so glad you appreciated the post,
Have a lovely week, dear Shehanne 💖
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You too.
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💓🌹💓
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Never forgotten!
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You are right! A great song and a great artist!
🎶💜🎶💜🎶
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La canzone è molto bella, a me è sempre piaciuto molto, buon pomeriggio.
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Grazie, Silvia cara, e buon pomeriggio 🎶💜🎶💜🎶
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George Michael was a legend! I do think too many people have done terrible versions of Last Christmas, and that makes me sad
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I agree with your opinion and thank you for sharing your thoughts on great George Michael and his wonderful song🙏🙏🙏
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You’re welcome!
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This song has gained quite the popularity, it’s a very catchy and nice one as well.
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Thank you, dear Daphny, for your lovely comment. 🎶💕
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You’re most welcome 😊
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💓💓💓
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Ottima scelta, buona serata a te carissima Luisa 🎶🎄🎄🎶
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Grazie, Dani e buona serata a te 🌟💕🌟
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I half expected to say, before I read your post, that I didn’t care for his lifestyle much, but adored his music. I now realise that he did much more than I knew.
I always thought his death was a tragic waste, and I also now see that it wasn’t quite like how I thought either – and I certainly never knew about the circumstances surrounding his sister’s death.
This is an excellent post Luisa, and I’m so pleased that I read it because I can now put George Michael back up the list of one of my favourite solo male artists, where I always thought he should have belonged. 💙
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In one of the first comments, one of our friends, Mister Bump UK spoke about another of his great acts of generosity, He said that George, despite being mainly responsible for this song, as he was with most Wham! songs, gave Ridgely all full rights, which meant financial security for life!💜💜💜
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I read that Luisa and I realised then that he was a far better individual than I imagined. Such a shame that he’s no longer with us 💙
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🙏💗🙏💗🙏
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In one of the first comments, one of our friends, Mister Bump UK spoke about another of his great acts of generosity, He said that George, espite being mainly responsible for this song, as he was with most Wham! songs, gave Ridgely all full rights, which meant financial security for life!💜💜💜
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Lovely story, beautifully told. I may be one of the few that doesn’t care for the song. When he died, I vaguely remember hearing of his anonymous good deeds.
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Thank you so much for this nice comment and for your constant support, Pat ! I’m really grateful for it. 🙂
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Appreciate the same support from you. 💞🎉🥳
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🌟💗🌟
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Una canzone ritmata che dona allegria, quella necessaria a voltare la pagina delle delusioni. Molto gradita,grazie!
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Sì, hai proprio ragione: il ritmo sembra rendere meno cocente la delusione 🌹🎶🌹🎶
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Without a doubt, a singer out of the ordinary. An extraordinary song for its powerful voice. You choose a very iconic song for these parties. Greetings Luisa. Wonderful week.
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I totally agree with you: he was an extraordinary singer and a great Man🌹🌹🌹
I wish a wonderful week to you too 🌟🌟🌟
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Come sempre un bellissimo post❣❣❣ Mi è dispiaciuto molto quando è trapassato e soltanto leggendo il tuo articolo mi sono resa conto che sono passati ben cinque anni, mi sembra eri!!! Buona serata carissima 😘
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Anche a me è dispiaciuto molto 💜💜💜
Grazie per il messaggio, e buona serata
🙏😘💕😘🙏
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This is my favorite Christmas song! I always have it set as my ringtone every Christmas. I had no idea he died on Christmas day. How sad! Thanks for sharing this!!
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Thank you for reading and commenting, dearest Michelle 🤗🤗🤗
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Mi è sempre piaciuto tanto
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Anche a me, Paola cara
Buona serata!💕💕💕
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A te Lu🕯
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😘
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Che triste destino, povero George Michael ! La canzone Last Christmas in questi giorni l’ho ascoltata parecchie volte perchè è molto dinamica ,anche se il testo come giustamente hai fatto notare, non è per niente natalizio. Ho piacere che sia arrivata in cima alla classifica, anche se in ritardo!!! 🙂
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Chissà se, da qualche parte nello spazio attorno a noi, ne ha provato piacere…
Sai che in uno dei commenti ho scoperto che, pur essendo lui l’autore di questa canzone, ne ha attribuito la paternità all’altro membro dei Wham!, lasciandogli quindi tutti i diritti?
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Una persona davvero generosa e altruista, che gli fa molto onore!!! Difficilmente nel mondo degli artisti accadono queste cose. Ora lo apprezzerò anche di più. Grazie Luisa per avermelo detto!!! 🙂
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Grazie a te, Vitty carissima🙏💓🙏💓🙏
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Such a sad loss of a talented and generous human. I did not know about his sister’s story. Another sad ending. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you very much for your reading and kind comment.🙏💜🙏
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Thank you! 💐
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Oh, cara Luisa! This song is timeless. George Michael is epic! Thank you for another “Last Christmas” of the season.🎄🥂✨
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I am so happy to receive your appreciation for my post🙏💗🙏
… in the meantime I’m still trying to figure out what your riddle refers to😯😘
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Oh, I’m so glad, dear Luisa. I will give you a hint: regard the riddle as something philosophical. It will be easier to get the sense then. 🙂 😉🍰☕🎄
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Thank you for the hint!!! 🙏😘🙏
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Good info also visit http://www.lovetheorist.com
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👍💜💜💜
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Non sapevo che fosse così generoso. Ora che lo so ascolterò, se possibile, con maggior piacere questa bella canzone 🎶
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Era una persona eccezionale 💝💝💝
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Ho sempre pensato fosse una brava persona, e mi sono fatto l’idea che soffrisse molto del fatto di dover tenere celata la propria omosessualità. Poi si liberò di questo “segreto” e credo che visse meglio con se stesso.
Lo vidi in concerto all’Arena di Verona, le sue canzoni mi sono sempre piaciute, ed in effetti era un ottimo autore, cantante e performer.
Ci manca.
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Grazie per questa bella testimonianza, Andrea caro 🙏🎶🙏🎶🙏
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solo tantissimi CUORI
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💓💝💗💕💖❣️
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[…] Last Christmas 🎶 […]
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Thanks a lot for reblogging 🎶💜🎶💜🎶
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So talented musician George Michael , my two son’s favourite singer 👩🎤
So young age he no more in this world and we always remembered
through his music, such a sweet voice , inspiring 🌷🙏♥️🌷
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Thanks for your lovely words, Thattamma. You’re right, George Michael was a great artist, and a wonderful person, too 🎶💓🎶
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🌷🙏❤️🌷
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❤
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un grande cantante e una bellissima canzone.
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Senza ombra di dubbio! 🌹🎶🌹
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bella serata
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Anche a te, con tanto affetto 🌹
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I never knew this!!
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