KC and The Sunshine Band are ready for the holidays!
The “Give It Up” and “That’s The Way (I Like It)” hitmakers are bringing Christmas magic this year with a new remix of their cover of Wham!’s “Last Christmas”! — one of the biggest holiday hits of all time. time.
The Grammy-winning funk band kicks off the holiday season with the energetic “Last Christmas (Eric Kupper Radio Edit),” out Friday — the day after Thanksgiving — but PEOPLE has an exclusive first listen.
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Frontman Harry Wayne “KC” Casey decided to cover Wham! hit because “it’s a timeless holiday classic that holds a special place in people’s hearts,” he tells PEOPLE.
“The song has that universal appeal and nostalgic charm that resonates with listeners, making it a joyous part of the holiday season,” adds Casey, 72. “We wanted to give it our own unique touch, infusing it with our own style and energy, while preserving the magic it created George Michael.”
“Last Christmas (Eric Kupper Radio Edit)” is a remix of KC and The Sunshine Band’s original cover of the ’80s Christmas classic written by George Michael, first released in 2018 on their holiday album, Sunny Christmas.
The 12-track record features multiple covers of Christmas hits like “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” as well as some original songs, including the title track, “A Sunshine Christmas.”
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KC and The Sunshine Band released a 12-track Christmas album in 2018.
Mark Kolbe/VN Singapore via Getty
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It was an important project for Casey, for whom Christmas is “a time of infectious joy and universal togetherness,” he tells PEOPLE.
“It’s that magical age where the world seems to embrace a collective spirit of love, warmth and celebration,” he says. “Music, decorations and shared moments with family and friends create a symphony of happiness.”
“I believe the essence of Christmas is beautifully captured in the power of music, bringing people together and spreading the infectious rhythm of love and positivity,” the “Boogie Shoes” singer says, adding that it’s “a time to dance, sing and share the joy of the holiday cheer with everyone around yourself.”
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Released in 1986, “Last Christmas” became an instant classic and has since been covered by artists including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and the cast of joy.
Earlier this month, Wham!’s other half, Andrew Ridgeley, revealed that he knew the song would be a holiday staple the first time he heard it.
Before taking the stage to honor his Wham! bandmate at the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Ridgeley, 60, spoke with PEOPLE about “Last Christmas,” which was both written and produced by Michael, who died suddenly on Christmas Day 2016 at age 53 .
When asked about the lasting legacy of the holiday hit, he told PEOPLE that it’s “really not a surprise, in a way.”
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“The first time I heard it, it was absolutely mind-blowing,” he admitted. “It sounded like a Christmas classic for all the world. It’s Christmas distillation if you ask me. That’s the essence of Christmas.”
According to Ridgeley, who was also the singer, songwriter and keyboardist for the ’80s pop duo, the song’s “enduring” and “timeless nature” comes as no surprise.
“But it’s a wonderful privilege to be given Wham!, to have one of the all-time Christmas classics — which I think it’s fair to say is likely now,” he told PEOPLE.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education