Almost a decade after his passing away, George Michael Still echoing through speakers around the world through his heritage – and this year it is officially recognized again.
The late singer writer has received a nomination of the Ivor Novello Award 2024 in Most performed work Category for “Last Christmas”, the evergreen holiday form he wrote, produced and arranged entirely on his own at just 21 years old. It is not just a seasonal staple-it is a constant chart climber, cultural touch stone, and now, again, an award winner.
The nomination marks George Michael’s first ivor Novello nods for over twenty years, giving his career a total of 13. It also comes after a milestone for “Last Christmas”, which hit No. 1 on the UK’s single diagram for the second year in a row last December. In the United States, the song cracked the 3 best on Billboard Hot 100 – its highest position yet – longitudinal record placements on Billboard’s streaming songs and digital song sales diagrams.
It is the type of stay that few songs achieve – and a reminder of songwriting genius behind it. George Michael remains the only solo songwriter in IVOR Novello History that has been crowned Songwriter of the year Three times (1985, 1989, 1997). He also has six IVOR victories overall.
The nomination feels particularly gripping this year and arrives at the heels in George’s Long-delayed 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction and renewed cultural limelight. From duets with Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston to hits such as “Faith”, “Freedom! ’90” and “Careless Whisper”, his catalog continues to influence – and inspire – new generations of artists and listeners.
“Last Christmas” may have started as a heart -damaged song wrapped in glitter, but its impact has snowballing to something much greater: a legacy. And now, once again, it makes history.
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