In 2016, the music world lost the iconic George Michael on Christmas Day, just as the holiday classic “Last Christmas” was playing everywhere. Now, another beloved ’80s holiday classic has experienced a loss. The frontman of The Pogues, Shane MacGowan, passed away during the holiday season. He was 66 and had been battling various health issues, making the lyrics of “Fairytale of New York” even more poignant.
The Irish President described MacGowan as “one of music’s greatest lyricists,” and his songs truly capture the essence of love, emigration, and courage. But no song encapsulates these sentiments quite like “Fairytale.” Despite its dark and controversial nature, the song is ultimately one of hope and love.
First released in November 1987, “Fairytale of New York” was initially seen as dark and not in line with the holiday spirit. These elements led to controversy and censorship by the BBC. However, the song defied the odds and became the most-played Christmas song in the 21st century in the United Kingdom.
The song is a duet featuring Kirsty MacColl and tells the story of a down-and-out alcoholic reminiscing about happier Christmases. Despite their extreme lifestyle differences and regrets, there is a glimmer of optimism in the song’s lyrics.
While the song remained a holiday favorite for many years, its crude lyrics stirred debate and backlash. Performances on British television saw lyrics being edited out, and the BBC intermittently censored the song’s slurs. MacColl even altered her controversial lyric during a performance in 1992.
The Pogues, including Shane MacGowan, worked tirelessly on “Fairytale” for two years, and it wasn’t until they brought Kirsty MacColl in that the song truly came together. “Fairytale of New York” has now taken on new meaning following MacGowan’s passing, with his final tweet being a video of NFL star Travis Kelce singing the song.
The legacy of Shane MacGowan and “Fairytale of New York” will continue to live on, honoring a man whose work captured the hearts and souls of people around the world.
