New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony
Music Entertainment, announces Last Christmas, the soundtrack album, inspired by the music of
George Michael and Wham!. The soundtrack features "This Is How (We Want You To Get High)" a brand new
George Michael song, classic
Wham! songs including "Last Christmas," "Everything She Wants" and
George Michael's best loved tracks from his solo years.
Speaking of her meeting with
George Michael that led to the making of the film,
Emma Thompson said: "The wisdom and emotional scope of George's lyrics have always amazed me. So many feel like they were written for the movie."
"After I met
George and experienced his compassion and understanding up close, I realized that in fact the movie was written for those lyrics."
All songs were written, arranged and produced by
George Michael, except "This Is How (We Want You To Get High)," which was co-written and co-produced by
George Michael and
James Jackman, and they will appeal to fans who grew up with his music and introduce a new generation to
George Michael's extraordinary musical virtuosity and range.
The making of the film began when the acclaimed British film producer
David Livingstone (best known for the BAFTA Award winning feature film, PRIDE and the Renee Zellweger feature, JUDY) spoke of his love of Wham!'s (George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley) iconic hit, "
Last Christmas" to the Oscar-winning actor, producer and screenwriter, Emma Thompson.
That conversation sowed the germ of a winning idea: to make a film inspired by "Last Christmas," so in
Spring 2013,
Emma Thompson visited
George Michael at his London home who gave her his blessing.
Highlights include the much-loved hits, "Faith," "Fastlove," "Freedom '90," and "Too Funky" alongside such surprises as "Heal The Pain," "Waiting for that Day" and the MTV UNPLUGGED version of "
Praying For Time" (which
George himself adored) and the fabulous Older track, "Move On." Then when
Emma Thompson heard the new track, "This Is How (We Want You To Get High)," she instantly knew it had to be part of Last Christmas.
The film Last Christmas is out in theatres today and the United Kingdom on November 15th and on assorted dates throughout the rest of the world until December 27th.
Last Christmas:
Last Christmas
Too Funky
Fantasy
Praying For Time
Faith
Waiting For That Day
Heal The Pain
One More Try
Fastlove Part1
Everything She Wants
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Move On
Freedom! '90
Praying For Time (MTV Unplugged version)
This Is How (We Want You To Get High) - Previously Unreleased
Emilia Clarke (HBO's Game of Thrones), Henry Golding (A
Simple Favor, Crazy Rich Asians), Michelle Yeoh and
Emma Thompson star for director Paul Feig (A
Simple Favor, Spy, Bridesmaids) in Last Christmas, a romantic comedy inspired by a
George Michael beat, from a screenplay by Academy Award® winner Thompson (Sense and Sensibility, Bridget Jones's Baby) and playwright Bryony Kimmings.
Kate (Emilia Clarke) harumphs around London, a bundle of bad decisions accompanied by the jangle of bells on her shoes, another irritating consequence from her job as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop. Tom (Henry Golding) seems too good to be true when he walks into her life and starts to see through so many of Kate's barriers. As London transforms into the most wonderful time of the year, nothing should work for these two. But sometimes, you gotta let the snow fall where it may, you gotta listen to your heart ... and you gotta have faith.
Last Christmas features the music of
George Michael and Wham!, including the bittersweet holiday classic of the film's title. The film will also premiere brand new unreleased material by the legendary Grammy-winning artist, who sold more than 115 million albums and recorded 10 No. 1 singles over the course of his iconic career.
The film is produced by BAFTA winner
David Livingstone for Calamity Films, by Emma Thompson, and by Paul Feig and
Jessie Henderson for Feigco Entertainment. The film is executive produced by
Sarah Bradshaw.
