Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. Are you wondering what’s up with this thing that you’ve seen around the internet called Whamageddon? And you’re confused? If so, we’re here to help.
That’s right, it’s a Christmas tradition that I’ve grown to love so much, and hopefully you will too: A game called Whamageddon that feels impossible to win. And it’s everywhere on social media — maybe you’ve seen a friend talk about it on Facebook or X (formerly Twitter).
What’s it all about? How can you win it? Let’s dive in:
Whamageddon? What?
Yep! It’s the game you didn’t know you needed in your life.
I need to know more
This has to do with the George Michael-led band Wham! and the song Last Christmas.
The rules work like this: Your mission is to NOT hear Last Christmas between December 1 and Christmas Eve on the 24th. If you do, you document it and that’s that. Game over.
There are rules to this thing?
Yup! There’s an official website! And another rule is that you can listen to remixes and covers of the song as much as you’d like. It’s just the original that counts.
This seems silly and pointless
It most certainly is silly but it’s not pointless. Think about how hard it is to NOT hear this song. You have to avoid the radio, especially stations that play holiday music. You have to duck it at pharmacies and supermarkets. You have to not hear it in that Uber you took, or that trivia night at your local bar.
It’s SO HARD.
WTH is #whamageddon And how have I lost ALREADY!? pic.twitter.com/JogmdB4AVV
— ESPN 1000 (@ESPN1000) December 19, 2023
People really document it?
Sure do:
December 19th, and I'm still winning the Whamageddon game!
— Louie Eckhardt (he/him) (@louieeckhardt) December 19, 2023
#Whamageddon , I'm out 😔 pic.twitter.com/LMTY3ABu1h
— Bob Scott (@BobScot48804242) December 19, 2023
Freiburg fans were in the holiday spirit despite seeing their team beaten 2-0 by West Ham, still belting out Last Christmas. 🎄
Don't worry if you're playing Whamageddon, cover versions don't count. 😉pic.twitter.com/ebRbK8Pm9M
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) December 15, 2023
Just been #Whamageddon’d in a fish restaurant.
— Saskia (@ms__chief) December 19, 2023
Where did this come from?
Four friends named Thomas Mertz, Rasmus Leth Bjerre, Oliver Nøglebæk and Søren Gelineck came up with the concept about 18 years ago, Mertz told CBS News.
“We kind of realized this song was being played constantly, over and over. It was just in really heavy rotation,” said Mertz. “And instead of getting annoyed with it, we decided to make a game out of it and have a little bit of fun.”
In 2016, Mertz created a Facebook page to see if others would be interested in the annual game and it “took off,” he said.
