Stepping back into the realm of “Last Christmas” has held a complex set of emotions for Wham!’s Andrew Ridgeley. This journey back to the place where the music video for the 1984 holiday hit was filmed in Saas-Fee, Switzerland, has been a poignant experience. Without his late bandmate George Michael, who passed away unexpectedly on Christmas Day in 2016, Ridgeley feels that the moment is somehow “incomplete.”

The Tale of Wham!’s “Last Christmas” and Andrew Ridgeley’s Bittersweet Journey

The Significance of “Last Christmas”

The original “Last Christmas” music video holds a special place in Wham!’s history. Ridgeley and Michael portrayed friends coming together during the holidays with a twist. The previous year, Michael had given his heart to a girl, only for her to give it away to Ridgeley. This on-screen dynamic added an extra layer of tension and intrigue. Despite the potential for chaos during filming, Ridgeley recalls it as a time filled with joy and camaraderie. “There was a lot that would have made for quite hair-raising outtakes. When George and I arrived, the others had already been enjoying the bar and it was already quite raucous,” he said. “We were a group of friends having a wonderful time together and there was a real sense of camaraderie, togetherness, enjoyment and laughter — the carefree joys of youth.”

George Michael’s Absence and the Passage of Time

Ridgeley’s return to the snowy mountains to film part of the new BBC documentary, Wham!: Last Christmas Unwrapped, has brought both memories and a sense of loss. He expressed his wish that his lifelong friend and bandmate could have been by his side. “But it was incomplete because Yog wasn’t with us,” Ridgeley said. “I think enough time has passed from his death that we’re able to reminisce and look back largely with fondness. He would have wanted us to enjoy being with each other, even if he weren’t there.” In the years since Michael’s death, Ridgeley has found that the passage of time has helped him grapple with his grief. “While it was very difficult in the immediate months after his death, the passage of time does dull the sharpness and gives you a slightly different perspective on things,” he told the magazine. “So now we can remember Yog at Christmas positively.”

Wham! Projects in the Future

Ridgeley has teased more Wham! projects in the future, similar to Last Christmas Unwrapped and last year’s Netflix documentary. This marks a change from the quiet years he’s spent out of the spotlight since the duo split in 1986. “To be a part of something which has that kind of impact on people’s lives is extremely flattering and humbling,” he said. His and Michael’s close-knit friendship in secondary school laid the foundation for their success as a hitmaking duo. And they always had each other to keep them grounded.Wham!: Last Christmas Unwrapped is available to stream on Netflix, allowing fans to relive the magic of this holiday classic.