Today is officially a “marvelous day” in Dolly Parton’s life since she practically willed Beyoncé’s cover of “Jolene,” on the just-released Cowboy Carter album, into existence a couple of years ago.
Back when Trevor Noah was hosting The Daily Show, he asked Parton about a rumor he’d heard that she would like Beyoncé to put her spin on it. As included in a recent Threads post, Noah wanted to know why, with 400 extant versions of the tune already in the universe, she was so set on Bey?...
Back when Trevor Noah was hosting The Daily Show, he asked Parton about a rumor he’d heard that she would like Beyoncé to put her spin on it. As included in a recent Threads post, Noah wanted to know why, with 400 extant versions of the tune already in the universe, she was so set on Bey?...
- 3/29/2024
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” has been a left-field Christmas classic since Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl first sang it in 1987, but this year — three weeks after MacGowan’s death (and 23 years since MacColl’s) — the song feels more maudlin. The Libertines recently gave the song a couple of performances in tribute.
In the first, the group’s Pete Doherty and Carl Barât recorded a typically free-wheeling performance and posted it to Instagram, leaning deep into the tune’s natural sodden sentimentality. “Rip Shane, this one’s for you,...
In the first, the group’s Pete Doherty and Carl Barât recorded a typically free-wheeling performance and posted it to Instagram, leaning deep into the tune’s natural sodden sentimentality. “Rip Shane, this one’s for you,...
- 12/21/2023
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Glen Hansard and Lisa O’Neill performed during the funeral of Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan on Friday, December 8th, singing the band’s 1987 hit “Fairytale of New York.”
MacGowan wrote “Fairytale of New York” with his Pogues bandmate Jem Finer, and their original recording also features Kirsty MacColl on vocals. In addition to becoming perhaps the band’s best-known single, it’s also become a Christmas mainstay, keeping its hold on the UK charts every year around the season.
Backed by members of The Pogues, Hansard and O’Neill gave a faithful rendition of “Fairytale of New York,” even getting audience members to stand up and dance in the aisles. Watch an emotional video of the moment below.
Elsewhere during MacGowan’s funeral, Spider Stacy led The Pogues in a performance of “The Parting Glass,” and Nick Cave gave an emotional rendition of “A Rainy Night in Soho.” And as funeral procession made its way through Dublin,...
MacGowan wrote “Fairytale of New York” with his Pogues bandmate Jem Finer, and their original recording also features Kirsty MacColl on vocals. In addition to becoming perhaps the band’s best-known single, it’s also become a Christmas mainstay, keeping its hold on the UK charts every year around the season.
Backed by members of The Pogues, Hansard and O’Neill gave a faithful rendition of “Fairytale of New York,” even getting audience members to stand up and dance in the aisles. Watch an emotional video of the moment below.
Elsewhere during MacGowan’s funeral, Spider Stacy led The Pogues in a performance of “The Parting Glass,” and Nick Cave gave an emotional rendition of “A Rainy Night in Soho.” And as funeral procession made its way through Dublin,...
- 12/8/2023
- by Abby Jones
- Consequence - Music
Jason Kelce, All-Pro center for the Philadelphia Eagles, and his brother, Travis Kelce, All-Pro tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, recently teamed up to cover The Pogues’ seminal Christmas song, “Fairytale of New York.” Now, in light of Shane MacGowan’s passing, Jason Kelce is paying tribute to the Pogues singer.
“Shane’s prowess as a singer, songwriter, and poet was truly a gift to this world. He could make you feel what he was saying, attaching his soul to his music,” Kelce said in a statement to Consequence. “‘Fairytale of New York’ has long been one of my favorite songs (not just Christmas songs), as it gets to the roots of love, anger, resentment, sacrifice, and ultimately companionship. It lays out what relationships really are, that they are something bigger than yourself; and with Christmas time as the background, the theme works all too well. It was an...
“Shane’s prowess as a singer, songwriter, and poet was truly a gift to this world. He could make you feel what he was saying, attaching his soul to his music,” Kelce said in a statement to Consequence. “‘Fairytale of New York’ has long been one of my favorite songs (not just Christmas songs), as it gets to the roots of love, anger, resentment, sacrifice, and ultimately companionship. It lays out what relationships really are, that they are something bigger than yourself; and with Christmas time as the background, the theme works all too well. It was an...
- 12/1/2023
- by Scoop Harrison
- Consequence - Music
Raise a farewell toast for Shane MacGowan, one of rock’s most fiendishly brilliant growlers, snarlers, songwriters, storytellers, and blackguards. Shane was the resident Celt-punk genius of The Pogues, one of the great Irish bards of his or any other era, which is why the world is mourning his death on Thursday. But Shane’s demise has been predicted so many times, over 65 years of hard living, it’s bizarrely shocking that the end has finally come. Hell, in one of his best-loved songs, “The Sick Bed of Cuchulain,” he interrupts his own funeral,...
- 12/1/2023
- by Rob Sheffield
- Rollingstone.com
Nobody in the history of music ever sounded quite as decadently downtrodden (or whiskey-drowned, -sodden) as Shane MacGowan on “Fairytale of New York,” the soppy Christmas carol the Pogues’ first released as a single in 1987. But as the luck of the Irish would have it, Kirsty MacColl was fortuitously available to take the piss right out of him. When he sings, “I could have been someone,” she rejoins with the perfect uppercut: “Well, so could anyone.” The witty repartee and the song’s sing-along merriment made it an instant hit in Ireland,...
- 11/30/2023
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Shane MacGowan, lead singer for The Pogues, has died at the age of 65. MacGowan had been in the intensive care unit following a diagnosis of viral encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. He later passed away on November 30th.
Shane MacGowan’s distinct vocals and the band’s melding of punk aesthetics and Celtic tradition helped make The Pogues one of the most revered bands of its genre. With songs like “Dirty Old Town”, “Haunted” and “The Irish Rover”, The Pogues positioned themselves as an undeniable presence. The Pogues garnered a new level of popularity with their song “Fairytale of New York”, an annual favorite around the holiday season, despite its rough edge and questionable language. Paired with the late Kirsty MacColl (who passed away in 2000), the song – released on the band’s 1988 album “If I Should Fall from Grace with God” – stands as one of the catchiest and somehow...
Shane MacGowan’s distinct vocals and the band’s melding of punk aesthetics and Celtic tradition helped make The Pogues one of the most revered bands of its genre. With songs like “Dirty Old Town”, “Haunted” and “The Irish Rover”, The Pogues positioned themselves as an undeniable presence. The Pogues garnered a new level of popularity with their song “Fairytale of New York”, an annual favorite around the holiday season, despite its rough edge and questionable language. Paired with the late Kirsty MacColl (who passed away in 2000), the song – released on the band’s 1988 album “If I Should Fall from Grace with God” – stands as one of the catchiest and somehow...
- 11/30/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Shane MacGowan, the lead singer and songwriter of Celtic punk band The Pogues, who mashed up Irish folk music with raw rock, has died. He was 65.
A statement from MacGowan’s family said he died at 3.30 am U.K. time on November 30 after a long illness.
On social media, MacGowan’s wife Victoria Mary Clarke paid tribute to him: “Shane will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life … I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him.”
Born on December 25, 1957, near Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England to Irish immigrant parents, MacGowan tapped into the Irish folk music tradition, combining it with poetic lyrics — inspired by the language of the Bible, literature, and mythology — and the raw and raucous rhythms of...
A statement from MacGowan’s family said he died at 3.30 am U.K. time on November 30 after a long illness.
On social media, MacGowan’s wife Victoria Mary Clarke paid tribute to him: “Shane will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life … I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him.”
Born on December 25, 1957, near Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England to Irish immigrant parents, MacGowan tapped into the Irish folk music tradition, combining it with poetic lyrics — inspired by the language of the Bible, literature, and mythology — and the raw and raucous rhythms of...
- 11/30/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Shane MacGowan, The Pogues founder who sang Christmas classic Fairytale of New York with Kirsty MacColl, has died aged 65.
MacGowan’s wife Victoria Mary Clarke shared the news in a post on Instagram, saying: “Shane will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life.”
“There’s no way to describe the loss that I am feeling and the longing for just one more of his smiles that lit up my world,” added Clarke. “You will live in my heart forever. Rave on in the garden all wet with rain that you loved so much.”
A spokesman for MacGowan told the BBC he “died peacefully at 3.30am this morning (30 November) with his wife and and sister by his side.”
MacGowan had suffered from health issues over the past few years and was reportedly released from hospital last week...
MacGowan’s wife Victoria Mary Clarke shared the news in a post on Instagram, saying: “Shane will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life.”
“There’s no way to describe the loss that I am feeling and the longing for just one more of his smiles that lit up my world,” added Clarke. “You will live in my heart forever. Rave on in the garden all wet with rain that you loved so much.”
A spokesman for MacGowan told the BBC he “died peacefully at 3.30am this morning (30 November) with his wife and and sister by his side.”
MacGowan had suffered from health issues over the past few years and was reportedly released from hospital last week...
- 11/30/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Shane MacGowan, the Celtic punk legend and revered frontman of The Pogues, has died at the age of 65.
MacGowan’s wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, confirmed his passing on Thursday (November 30th). “the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese,” she wrote in a social media post. “I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures.”
An exact cause of death was not disclosed, but MacGowan had been hospitalized in recent weeks.
A gifted lyricist whose excessive consumption of...
MacGowan’s wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, confirmed his passing on Thursday (November 30th). “the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese,” she wrote in a social media post. “I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures.”
An exact cause of death was not disclosed, but MacGowan had been hospitalized in recent weeks.
A gifted lyricist whose excessive consumption of...
- 11/30/2023
- by Carys Anderson
- Consequence - Music
Turns out Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift might have something in common besides being at the top of their respective professions. As demonstrated by his appearance on his big brother Jason Kelce’s cover of The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York,” Swift’s latest beau can at least carry a tune. Stream it below.
Recorded for A Philly Special Christmas Special — an upcoming holiday charity album from Jason Kelce and his Philadelphia Eagles teammates Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata — the cover features Jason taking on Pogues vocalist Shane MacGowan’s parts, while Travis sings Kirsty MacColl’s vocals. Together, they transform “Fairytale of New York” from a call and response between a jaded couple and turn it into a song about Philadelphia and their sibling rivalry.
“You’s a lush, you’re a crumb bum, you smell like some old scum,” Jason sings. “Washed up...
Recorded for A Philly Special Christmas Special — an upcoming holiday charity album from Jason Kelce and his Philadelphia Eagles teammates Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata — the cover features Jason taking on Pogues vocalist Shane MacGowan’s parts, while Travis sings Kirsty MacColl’s vocals. Together, they transform “Fairytale of New York” from a call and response between a jaded couple and turn it into a song about Philadelphia and their sibling rivalry.
“You’s a lush, you’re a crumb bum, you smell like some old scum,” Jason sings. “Washed up...
- 11/15/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
It has taken Peggy Seeger nearly 70 years to bring out a new version of the world famous love song inspired by and written for her.
Peggy, 87, first recorded “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” in 1957, when it was composed by her lover, fellow singer and activist Ewan MacColl. It was later made famous by Roberta Flack. Peggy stopped performing it in 1989 when MacColl, by then her husband, died.
“People would ask me to sing it at concerts, but I just kept breaking down,” she told me when I interviewed her at her home in Oxford. But she has now found novel inspiration to bring out a new version of the song.
Sitting opposite Peggy, sister of fellow American-born radical songwriter Pete Seeger, you can see why she was MacColl’s muse. The luminosity that bewitched him then is as bright now.
Peggy, who has lived in Britain for most of her life,...
Peggy, 87, first recorded “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” in 1957, when it was composed by her lover, fellow singer and activist Ewan MacColl. It was later made famous by Roberta Flack. Peggy stopped performing it in 1989 when MacColl, by then her husband, died.
“People would ask me to sing it at concerts, but I just kept breaking down,” she told me when I interviewed her at her home in Oxford. But she has now found novel inspiration to bring out a new version of the song.
Sitting opposite Peggy, sister of fellow American-born radical songwriter Pete Seeger, you can see why she was MacColl’s muse. The luminosity that bewitched him then is as bright now.
Peggy, who has lived in Britain for most of her life,...
- 3/24/2023
- by Simon Walters
- The Independent - Music
Shane MacGowan of the Pogues has given fans an update on his health after he was rushed to hospital in December.
In early December, MacGowan, 65, was admitted to hospital due to an infection.
His wife Victoria Mary Clarke later announced that the singer had been diagnosed with encephalitis, an uncommon condition that causes the brain to swell and can be life-threatening.
Those with serious cases can be left with problems such as seizures, hearing loss, and blindness.
Hours before midnight on New Year’s Eve (31 December), the “Fairytale of New York” musician gave fans an update on his condition.
“Hi friends, I’m sitting here suffering from encephalitis,”said MacGowan in a video. He was wearing sunglasses and a cross necklace in the clip.
“The light is killing me,” he said, explaining his choice of eyewear. “But I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year and Happy Christmas and many more.
In early December, MacGowan, 65, was admitted to hospital due to an infection.
His wife Victoria Mary Clarke later announced that the singer had been diagnosed with encephalitis, an uncommon condition that causes the brain to swell and can be life-threatening.
Those with serious cases can be left with problems such as seizures, hearing loss, and blindness.
Hours before midnight on New Year’s Eve (31 December), the “Fairytale of New York” musician gave fans an update on his condition.
“Hi friends, I’m sitting here suffering from encephalitis,”said MacGowan in a video. He was wearing sunglasses and a cross necklace in the clip.
“The light is killing me,” he said, explaining his choice of eyewear. “But I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year and Happy Christmas and many more.
- 1/1/2023
- by Annabel Nugent
- The Independent - Music
TV viewers have been left in floods of tears after watching the BBC’s adaptation of The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse.
Based on Charlie Mackesy’s 2019 illustrated book about a group of animals who become unlikely friends, the half-hour TV adaptation featured an all-star voice cast including Idris Elba and Tom Hollander.
The episode aired on Christmas Eve on BBC One, with viewers admitting that the “beautiful” and simple animation “broke” them.
“The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse on @BBCOne is absolutely stunning,” one viewer tweeted. “What beautiful, beautiful animation. I’m a blubbering wreck.”
“A classic that is sure to be a regular Christmas staple. Not ashamed to say that I cried like a baby!” another commenter wrote.
One viewer called it “the most beautiful thing you’ll watch this Christmas”, while another said it was “heart-warming and life-affirming stuff”.
“â.â.Spellbinding,...
Based on Charlie Mackesy’s 2019 illustrated book about a group of animals who become unlikely friends, the half-hour TV adaptation featured an all-star voice cast including Idris Elba and Tom Hollander.
The episode aired on Christmas Eve on BBC One, with viewers admitting that the “beautiful” and simple animation “broke” them.
“The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse on @BBCOne is absolutely stunning,” one viewer tweeted. “What beautiful, beautiful animation. I’m a blubbering wreck.”
“A classic that is sure to be a regular Christmas staple. Not ashamed to say that I cried like a baby!” another commenter wrote.
One viewer called it “the most beautiful thing you’ll watch this Christmas”, while another said it was “heart-warming and life-affirming stuff”.
“â.â.Spellbinding,...
- 12/26/2022
- by Isobel Lewis
- The Independent - TV
TV viewers have been left in floods of tears after watching the BBC’s adaptation of The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse.
Based on Charlie Mackesy’s 2019 illustrated book about a group of animals who become unlikely friends, the half-hour TV adaptation featured an all-star voice cast including Idris Elba and Tom Hollander.
The episode aired on Christmas Eve on BBC One, with viewers admitting that the “beautiful” and simple animation “broke” them.
“The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse on @BBCOne is absolutely stunning,” one viewer tweeted. “What beautiful, beautiful animation. I’m a blubbering wreck.”
“A classic that is sure to be a regular Christmas staple. Not ashamed to say that I cried like a baby!” another commenter wrote.
One viewer called it “the most beautiful thing you’ll watch this Christmas”, while another said it was “heart-warming and life-affirming stuff”.
“â.â.Spellbinding,...
Based on Charlie Mackesy’s 2019 illustrated book about a group of animals who become unlikely friends, the half-hour TV adaptation featured an all-star voice cast including Idris Elba and Tom Hollander.
The episode aired on Christmas Eve on BBC One, with viewers admitting that the “beautiful” and simple animation “broke” them.
“The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse on @BBCOne is absolutely stunning,” one viewer tweeted. “What beautiful, beautiful animation. I’m a blubbering wreck.”
“A classic that is sure to be a regular Christmas staple. Not ashamed to say that I cried like a baby!” another commenter wrote.
One viewer called it “the most beautiful thing you’ll watch this Christmas”, while another said it was “heart-warming and life-affirming stuff”.
“â.â.Spellbinding,...
- 12/26/2022
- by Isobel Lewis
- The Independent - TV
Jennifer Coolidge has praised an impressionist who impersonated her on the latest episode of Saturday Night Live.
The 61-year-old actor and comedian is best known for her roles in films such as Legally Blonde, American Pie and Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries.
On Saturday (16 December), Chloe Fineman parodied the actor on SNL, lying on a piano in a gold sequin dress, recreating the actor’s iconic nasally voice and facial expressions in a video titled “Jennifer Coolidge is impressed by Christmas stuff.”
Fineman is one of SNL’s featured players.
Coolidge herself was impressed with the impersonation, writing on Twitter: “Wow! A massive thanks to @Nbcsnl!! and to the exceptionally brilliant impressionist Chloe Fineman with your hilarious imitation!!.”
She added: “Also congrats to the new cast members”.
Coolidge further revealed that she previously worked her “ass off” to become an SNL cast member but didn’t make it.
“I know...
The 61-year-old actor and comedian is best known for her roles in films such as Legally Blonde, American Pie and Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries.
On Saturday (16 December), Chloe Fineman parodied the actor on SNL, lying on a piano in a gold sequin dress, recreating the actor’s iconic nasally voice and facial expressions in a video titled “Jennifer Coolidge is impressed by Christmas stuff.”
Fineman is one of SNL’s featured players.
Coolidge herself was impressed with the impersonation, writing on Twitter: “Wow! A massive thanks to @Nbcsnl!! and to the exceptionally brilliant impressionist Chloe Fineman with your hilarious imitation!!.”
She added: “Also congrats to the new cast members”.
Coolidge further revealed that she previously worked her “ass off” to become an SNL cast member but didn’t make it.
“I know...
- 12/19/2022
- by Ellie Muir
- The Independent - TV
“Fairytale of New York” is a drunken hymn for people with broken dreams and abandoned hopes. It is, therefore, a perfect contrast to some of the perkier perennial favourites we wheel out each Christmas.
The song begins with its narrator, an Irish immigrant, being thrown into a drunk tank to sleep off his Christmas Eve binge.
Hearing an old man sing the Irish ballad “The Rare Old Mountain Dew”, he begins to dream about his memories of the female character in the song, and so begins the story of two people who fell in love in America, only to see their plans of a bright future dashed.
Some of the best songs combine uplifting instrumentation with lyrics that are downright miserable, and such is the case for “Fairytale of New York”. It has none of the gooeyness of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” or Wham!
The song begins with its narrator, an Irish immigrant, being thrown into a drunk tank to sleep off his Christmas Eve binge.
Hearing an old man sing the Irish ballad “The Rare Old Mountain Dew”, he begins to dream about his memories of the female character in the song, and so begins the story of two people who fell in love in America, only to see their plans of a bright future dashed.
Some of the best songs combine uplifting instrumentation with lyrics that are downright miserable, and such is the case for “Fairytale of New York”. It has none of the gooeyness of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” or Wham!
- 12/16/2022
- by Roisin O'Connor
- The Independent - Music
“Fairytale of New York” is a drunken hymn for people with broken dreams and abandoned hopes. It is, therefore, a perfect contrast to some of the perkier perennial favourites we wheel out each Christmas.
The song begins with its narrator, an Irish immigrant, being thrown into a drunk tank to sleep off his Christmas Eve binge.
Hearing an old man sing the Irish ballad “The Rare Old Mountain Dew”, he begins to dream about his memories of the female character in the song, and so begins the story of two people who fell in love in America, only to see their plans of a bright future dashed.
Some of the best songs combine uplifting instrumentation with lyrics that are downright miserable, and such is the case for “Fairytale of New York”. It has none of the gooeyness of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” or Wham!
The song begins with its narrator, an Irish immigrant, being thrown into a drunk tank to sleep off his Christmas Eve binge.
Hearing an old man sing the Irish ballad “The Rare Old Mountain Dew”, he begins to dream about his memories of the female character in the song, and so begins the story of two people who fell in love in America, only to see their plans of a bright future dashed.
Some of the best songs combine uplifting instrumentation with lyrics that are downright miserable, and such is the case for “Fairytale of New York”. It has none of the gooeyness of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” or Wham!
- 12/16/2022
- by Roisin O'Connor
- The Independent - Music
Every year we hear the same Christmas songs again and again and again, the playlist seldom changing.
While the supermarkets might stick rigidly to Slade and Wizzard, and the high street coffee shops prefer the gingerbread-and-eggnog stylings of Michael Buble, Norah Jones or the Rat Pack, variation is minimal and certain tracks just will not go away.
You might wonder how much cash the writers of the more ubiquitous seasonal standards squirrel away every year and whether it’s really possible to live on the royalties.
In Nick Hornby’s novel About a Boy (1998), Will Freeman does precisely that, living an agreeably idle bachelor life on the proceeds of a festive single written by his late father.
The truth is, it’s hard to say for sure precisely how much The Pogues or Mariah Carey have coined from their work as the Performing Right Society (Prs) does not reveal the...
While the supermarkets might stick rigidly to Slade and Wizzard, and the high street coffee shops prefer the gingerbread-and-eggnog stylings of Michael Buble, Norah Jones or the Rat Pack, variation is minimal and certain tracks just will not go away.
You might wonder how much cash the writers of the more ubiquitous seasonal standards squirrel away every year and whether it’s really possible to live on the royalties.
In Nick Hornby’s novel About a Boy (1998), Will Freeman does precisely that, living an agreeably idle bachelor life on the proceeds of a festive single written by his late father.
The truth is, it’s hard to say for sure precisely how much The Pogues or Mariah Carey have coined from their work as the Performing Right Society (Prs) does not reveal the...
- 12/13/2022
- by Joe Sommerlad
- The Independent - Music
As tradition would have it, director James Gunn released an all-new mixtape across digital streaming platforms marking the Nov. 25 premiere of “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special” on Disney+.
Set to an assortment of Christmas tunes hand-selected by Gunn, the holiday special follows Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Drax (Dave Bautista) on a quest to kidnap actor Kevin Bacon from Earth and bring him back to Peter (Chris Pratt) as a Christmas gift.
The corresponding playlist — titled “Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Awesome Mix” — consists of 11 tracks, which are a mixture of needle drops and original songs used in the one-off. Gunn enlisted the help of Rhett Miller, frontman of the Old 97’s, to write the special’s comedic opening number, “I Don’t Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here).”
“When I wrote a song for the #GotGHolidaySpecial I asked my pal @rhettmiller to write with me & then said,...
Set to an assortment of Christmas tunes hand-selected by Gunn, the holiday special follows Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Drax (Dave Bautista) on a quest to kidnap actor Kevin Bacon from Earth and bring him back to Peter (Chris Pratt) as a Christmas gift.
The corresponding playlist — titled “Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Awesome Mix” — consists of 11 tracks, which are a mixture of needle drops and original songs used in the one-off. Gunn enlisted the help of Rhett Miller, frontman of the Old 97’s, to write the special’s comedic opening number, “I Don’t Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here).”
“When I wrote a song for the #GotGHolidaySpecial I asked my pal @rhettmiller to write with me & then said,...
- 12/1/2022
- by Katie Reul
- Variety Film + TV
The BBC has revealed that Radio 2 will play a censored version of “Fairytale of New York” for the 2022 Christmas period.
Every year, when the festive season rolls around, the song makes headlines due to its lyrics, which contains the word “f****t”.
The 1987 track, which is performed by Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues frontman Shane McGowan, is considered offensive due to the word’s use as a homophobic slur.
However, some argue that the context of the song means the word should be interpreted as traditional Irish slang for a “lazy person”.
The ongoing debate has led to several radio stations deciding to play a version of the track in which the line “you cheap, lousy f****t” is replaced with “you’re cheap and you’re haggard”, taken from a live MacColl performance from before her death in December 2000.
Until recently, Radio 2 had kept the original lyric, despite...
Every year, when the festive season rolls around, the song makes headlines due to its lyrics, which contains the word “f****t”.
The 1987 track, which is performed by Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues frontman Shane McGowan, is considered offensive due to the word’s use as a homophobic slur.
However, some argue that the context of the song means the word should be interpreted as traditional Irish slang for a “lazy person”.
The ongoing debate has led to several radio stations deciding to play a version of the track in which the line “you cheap, lousy f****t” is replaced with “you’re cheap and you’re haggard”, taken from a live MacColl performance from before her death in December 2000.
Until recently, Radio 2 had kept the original lyric, despite...
- 12/1/2022
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - Music
This post contains spoilers for the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
Even more than bringing beloved characters such as Rocket Raccoon and Peacemaker to the big screen, James Gunn is famous for soundtracks. The Awesome Mixes were highlights of both Guardians of the Galaxy movies, and the arena rocker “Do You Want to Taste It” by Wigwam made Peacemaker a viral hit. So when Gunn announced that he was making a holiday special with the Guardians, expectations were high for the all-time greatest collection of Yuletide hits. And, boy, does the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special exceed expectations.
The special finds Peter Quill feeling down because he’s stationed on Knowhere with a bunch of non-Terrans at Christmastime. While no one else on the team really knows or understands Christmas, not even new member Cosmo the Spacedog (voiced by Maria Bakalova), they all pitch in to create the Yuletide spirit.
Even more than bringing beloved characters such as Rocket Raccoon and Peacemaker to the big screen, James Gunn is famous for soundtracks. The Awesome Mixes were highlights of both Guardians of the Galaxy movies, and the arena rocker “Do You Want to Taste It” by Wigwam made Peacemaker a viral hit. So when Gunn announced that he was making a holiday special with the Guardians, expectations were high for the all-time greatest collection of Yuletide hits. And, boy, does the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special exceed expectations.
The special finds Peter Quill feeling down because he’s stationed on Knowhere with a bunch of non-Terrans at Christmastime. While no one else on the team really knows or understands Christmas, not even new member Cosmo the Spacedog (voiced by Maria Bakalova), they all pitch in to create the Yuletide spirit.
- 11/25/2022
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
While there were plenty of reasons for fans to be excited about the “Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special,” one was certainly the soundtrack. Writer/director James Gunn took great pride in putting together the curated soundtrack for the first “Guardians” movie in 2014, which not only became a hallmark of the franchise but also kicked off a slew of imitators.
Gunn took the same care in choosing the songs for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and, of course, this holiday special for which he put his Christmas music knowledge to the test.
Below, we’ve put together a complete list of all the songs in the “Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special,” which includes an original song written by Gunn and performed by Old ‘97s called “I Don’t Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here).”
The special is currently streaming on Disney+, and the 42-minute interlude between...
Gunn took the same care in choosing the songs for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and, of course, this holiday special for which he put his Christmas music knowledge to the test.
Below, we’ve put together a complete list of all the songs in the “Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special,” which includes an original song written by Gunn and performed by Old ‘97s called “I Don’t Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here).”
The special is currently streaming on Disney+, and the 42-minute interlude between...
- 11/25/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Update 12/1: The Red Hot organization honored World AIDS Day with a 30th anniversary reissue of Red Hot + Blue, releasing a PBS NewsHour piece and a message from Dr. Anthony Fauci. “Today on World AIDS Day I want to commend the Red Hot (+Blue) Organization for 30 years of art and activism that have provided critically needed assistance in the fight against AIDS,” he said. “Thank you for raising awareness and millions of dollars, including the grant that helped establish our long time community activist partners The Treatment Action Group (Tag...
- 12/1/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
Between 1984 and 1986, the Pogues released some of their best material: their 1984 debut Red Roses for Me and Rum Sodomy & the Lash, produced by Elvis Costello, which combined punk, traditional Irish music and classic rock.
A new box set, The Pogues: The BBC Sessions 1984 – 1986, collects the extensive live recordings the band made for the BBC during that time (pre-order here).
The set, out released on October 30th, will feature 23 tracks from six separate live sessions, including appearances on shows by John Peel, David “Kid” Jensen, Phil Kennedy and Janice Long. It’s full of classics,...
A new box set, The Pogues: The BBC Sessions 1984 – 1986, collects the extensive live recordings the band made for the BBC during that time (pre-order here).
The set, out released on October 30th, will feature 23 tracks from six separate live sessions, including appearances on shows by John Peel, David “Kid” Jensen, Phil Kennedy and Janice Long. It’s full of classics,...
- 9/9/2020
- by Patrick Doyle
- Rollingstone.com
Debbie Harry and Jesse Malin took on the Pogues’ classic “Fairytale of New York” over the weekend during a concert celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Clash‘s London Calling. The concert, held at New York’s Bowery Ballroom in support of the Joe Strummer Foundation, saw the pair joining forces to offer their own version of the punk song.
In the clip, the Blondie frontwoman sings the lines of Kirsty MacColl while Malin steps in for Shane Macgowan with the help of Malin’s band. The song was presented...
In the clip, the Blondie frontwoman sings the lines of Kirsty MacColl while Malin steps in for Shane Macgowan with the help of Malin’s band. The song was presented...
- 12/16/2019
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
Louisa Mellor Mar 3, 2017
To mark the publication of her new book, #Help: My Cat’s A Vlogging Superstar!, we chatted to the brilliant Rae Earl…
In the course of my conversation with Rae Earl about her new children’s book, the following topics came under discussion: Kirsty MacColl, the Playmobil Funko Willy Wonka figure, running marathons, Krysten Ritter’s fringe on Gilmore Girls, David Tennant on stage (“the only time Hamlet’s ever made any sense to me!), the layout of Stamford Morrisons' car park, the sound design on Jackie, McDonalds coke, the sanctuary of public toilets, Piers Morgan, Rory Gilmore’s paramours (“I’m a Jess fanatic and I won’t have any nonsense about Dean or Logan”), Anne Widdecombe, level crossings, Nazis and vomit.
See related Broadchurch series 3 episode 1 review Broadchurch series 3: air date confirmed Doctor Who: Steven Moffat quits, Chris Chibnall new showrunner Chris Chibnall interview: Broadchurch,...
To mark the publication of her new book, #Help: My Cat’s A Vlogging Superstar!, we chatted to the brilliant Rae Earl…
In the course of my conversation with Rae Earl about her new children’s book, the following topics came under discussion: Kirsty MacColl, the Playmobil Funko Willy Wonka figure, running marathons, Krysten Ritter’s fringe on Gilmore Girls, David Tennant on stage (“the only time Hamlet’s ever made any sense to me!), the layout of Stamford Morrisons' car park, the sound design on Jackie, McDonalds coke, the sanctuary of public toilets, Piers Morgan, Rory Gilmore’s paramours (“I’m a Jess fanatic and I won’t have any nonsense about Dean or Logan”), Anne Widdecombe, level crossings, Nazis and vomit.
See related Broadchurch series 3 episode 1 review Broadchurch series 3: air date confirmed Doctor Who: Steven Moffat quits, Chris Chibnall new showrunner Chris Chibnall interview: Broadchurch,...
- 3/2/2017
- Den of Geek
Parades and pigskin aside, there wasn't much happening on television during the week of Thanksgiving. But for the past seven days? The box has been overstuffed. While various series are racing toward their seasonal end games, the networks have begun trotting out some early holiday diversions, hoping to capitalize on the viewers who are already eager to surround themselves with mistletoe and holly. There were even a few premieres last week, including a sneak preview of NBC's new sitcom Superstore, the return of Bravo's Top Chef, and a single-episode sneak-peek...
- 12/7/2015
- Rollingstone.com
Christmas is filled with traditions, from roasted turkeys and overfeeding, to rubbish television and a collective of hideous jumpers being worn by the masses. A slightly alternative tradition to these, yet one that is just as, if not more important is The Pogues’ annual set of festive gigs. For years now The Pogues have performed in major cities throughout the UK to sold out crowds in the weeks up to Christmas. The reason for specifically choosing these dates could be for many reasons, such as trying to create a sense of unity among the crowd as they approach the season of goodwill, to help people through the cold nights… or perhaps and this seems likely, because Fairytale Of New York has made Shane MacGowan (Lead Singer) and the rest of the band a ridiculous sum of money.
For those somehow unfamiliar with the band, The Pogues are an Irish punk...
For those somehow unfamiliar with the band, The Pogues are an Irish punk...
- 12/19/2013
- by Patrick Dalziel
- Obsessed with Film
Aled Jones and Lorraine Kelly have performed a Christmas duet together.
The Daybreak presenters sung The Pogues' classic 'Fairytale of New York'.
The pair listened back to the video for the first time on the show today (December 5), having recorded it earlier in the week.
"You said come down, we'll do this for a right laugh, it'll be really funny," Kelly said.
"I've always wanted the chance to sing with Aled - I obviously can't hold a note - you never said it was going to go on the interweb and then on the telly!"
'Fairytale of New York' was first released in 1987 and featured guest vocals from Kirsty MacColl. It reached number two in the UK chart and topped the Irish chart.
It charted again on its re-release in 1991, and has been in the UK top 20 every year from 2005 to 2012.
Catch up on all the latest TV and Movies...
The Daybreak presenters sung The Pogues' classic 'Fairytale of New York'.
The pair listened back to the video for the first time on the show today (December 5), having recorded it earlier in the week.
"You said come down, we'll do this for a right laugh, it'll be really funny," Kelly said.
"I've always wanted the chance to sing with Aled - I obviously can't hold a note - you never said it was going to go on the interweb and then on the telly!"
'Fairytale of New York' was first released in 1987 and featured guest vocals from Kirsty MacColl. It reached number two in the UK chart and topped the Irish chart.
It charted again on its re-release in 1991, and has been in the UK top 20 every year from 2005 to 2012.
Catch up on all the latest TV and Movies...
- 12/5/2013
- Digital Spy
Fred Burns's frank, unflinching documentary is the real – and sometimes surreal – deal, writes Adrian Deevoy
Reading on mobile? Click here to view
"Listen, Johnny Moped were better than the Clash and the Pistols put together," a young Shane MacGowan assured me 30 years ago. I can't remember if he was drinking, but he had a point.
Johnny Moped, punk rock's idiot savants, embodied the daft Diy essence of the times better than any other group. Not for them the artful defiance of Vivienne Westwood's costly clobber or the political posturing of Juanabe conquistadors – the Mopeds came from Croydon and made music for drunk people. Press play on your download of Basically, Johnny Moped and there's Shane in 1977, all self-conscious sneer and spit-spattered shirt up front at the Roxy, pogoing in approximate time to the Mopeds' ramshackle constructions: Incendiary Device, Groovy Ruby, Vd Boiler and Darling Let's Have Another Baby.
Reading on mobile? Click here to view
"Listen, Johnny Moped were better than the Clash and the Pistols put together," a young Shane MacGowan assured me 30 years ago. I can't remember if he was drinking, but he had a point.
Johnny Moped, punk rock's idiot savants, embodied the daft Diy essence of the times better than any other group. Not for them the artful defiance of Vivienne Westwood's costly clobber or the political posturing of Juanabe conquistadors – the Mopeds came from Croydon and made music for drunk people. Press play on your download of Basically, Johnny Moped and there's Shane in 1977, all self-conscious sneer and spit-spattered shirt up front at the Roxy, pogoing in approximate time to the Mopeds' ramshackle constructions: Incendiary Device, Groovy Ruby, Vd Boiler and Darling Let's Have Another Baby.
- 10/2/2013
- The Guardian - Film News
Songwriter Kirsty MacColl's "They Don't Know (About Us)" makes a fitting title track for "Our Nixon." The found-footage documentary, woven from 500 hours of Super 8 shot by Watergate convicts H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, and Dwight Chapin, isn't just a portrait of the Nixon's peculiar boys club. It's a time capsule from a bygone age. And, really, who would have thought the president's chief of staff, domestic affairs advisor, and special assistant spent the early 1970s making home movies along with national policy, carrying cameras as well as clipboards? (Imagine Reggie Love and Rahm Emanuel uploading playful YouTube videos from the campaign trail.) Witnessed from our own era -- an era of armed drones, hacker collectives, and Prism, of staying "on message" and avoiding "gaffes" -- this unorthodox raw material, collected by the FBI in the course of the Watergate investigation, seems almost quaint in its earnestness. "I was just waiting,...
- 8/30/2013
- by Matt Brennan
- Thompson on Hollywood
Classic track 'Fairytale Of New York' has sold over 1 million copies. The song, performed by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl and originally released in 1987, reached the landmark this December and has become the 126th song to achieve the feat. The single peaked at number two in the UK single charts when it first came out. It has managed to enter the top 40 every Christmas since 2005 due to online downloads. Martin Talbot, MD for the Official Charts Company, said: "It is apt that in the year of its 25th anniversary, 'Fairytale Of New York' has entered into the pantheon of the UK's all time favourite (more)...
- 1/2/2013
- by By Frances Taylor
- Digital Spy
London, Jan 2: British rock band Ultravox's 1981 hit 'Vienna' has been named as UK's favourite number two single.
The track topped the survey by BBC Radio 2 and the Official Charts Company to find the greatest song, which missed out on the number one spot.
Vienna was held off the top spot in 1981 by novelty track 'Shaddup You Face' by Joe Dolce, the BBC reported.
Christmas favourite 'Fairytale of New York' by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl came in at second place.
The 1987 hit was beaten to the top by the Pet Shop Boys' cover of Elvis Presley hit 'Always On My Mind.'
Other songs to feature in the top 10 include.
The track topped the survey by BBC Radio 2 and the Official Charts Company to find the greatest song, which missed out on the number one spot.
Vienna was held off the top spot in 1981 by novelty track 'Shaddup You Face' by Joe Dolce, the BBC reported.
Christmas favourite 'Fairytale of New York' by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl came in at second place.
The 1987 hit was beaten to the top by the Pet Shop Boys' cover of Elvis Presley hit 'Always On My Mind.'
Other songs to feature in the top 10 include.
- 1/2/2013
- by Meeta Kabra
- RealBollywood.com
The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl's 'Fairytale of New York' has been named as the UK's mostplayed Christmas song over the past year. Prs for Music has published the new list, which sees the 1987 festive favourite top the list of most popular tracks from December 2011 to December 2012. Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas is You' comes in second place, followed by Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' at three. Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' comes in at four, while classics by John Lennon, Sir Paul McCartney, Wizzard and Slade also feature in the top ten. Bing Crosby's seminal 'White Christmas' only lands at 23, while Sir Cliff Richard's 'Mistletoe and Wine' makes 37. The top 20 in full: 1. The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl - 'Fairytale of New York'
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- 12/14/2012
- by By Tom Eames
- Digital Spy
Kirsty MacColl's tribute concert is to receive an album release for the first time next year. A Concert For Kirsty MacColl will be released as a live LP on February 18, 2013. The gig was recorded live at London's Shepherds Bush Empire on October 12, 2010 in tribute to the late singer, who died in December 2000. Ellie Goulding, Amy Macdonald and Alison Moyet were among the stars who performed covers of some of MacColl's most popular songs. Catherine Tate also performed her own version of MacColl's song 'In These Shoes?', while Phill Jupitus hosted the event. A 'greatest hits' compilation entitled A New England - The Very Best Of Kirsty MacColl will also be released on February 25, 2013. The tracklisting is as follows: (more)...
- 12/10/2012
- by By Tom Eames
- Digital Spy
Michael McIntyre has revealed that he has been banned from future use of 'Fairytale of New York' by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. The comedian explained that he had received a phone call from the band's management asking him to avoid using their tracks. McIntyre included a segment in his Christmas Comedy Roadshow where he tried to sing along with the festive track, but struggled to understand what frontman Shane MacGowan was singing. Speaking at a warm-up gig at London's Soho Theatre, he said: "Last year I was here trying out material (more)...
- 3/14/2012
- by By Tom Eames
- Digital Spy
Santa's on coke, Sherlock's sexed-up and Helena Bonham Carter is newly honoured, but some seasonal institutions should remain beyond parody
When Colombian drugs lords invented Father Christmas as a marketing tool for cocaine, back in the 1980s, they could never have imagined that this red-faced, overweight man, whipping his staff while shooting through flurries of "snow", would one day become beloved by infants worldwide. And when, 4,000 winter solstices ago, the Beaker Folk cast toy clay pots to symbolise the passing year's disappointments, and tossed them into the past from a tiny spring-loaded mammoth, they could not have dreamed that, many millenniums later, we would enact their yearly rite as the Christmas game Buckaroo.
Today, even religious folk accept that the date of Christ's birth was fudged to appropriate pagan celebrations, but all of us were shocked when the BBC slowed the Earth's passage around the sun this year so that...
When Colombian drugs lords invented Father Christmas as a marketing tool for cocaine, back in the 1980s, they could never have imagined that this red-faced, overweight man, whipping his staff while shooting through flurries of "snow", would one day become beloved by infants worldwide. And when, 4,000 winter solstices ago, the Beaker Folk cast toy clay pots to symbolise the passing year's disappointments, and tossed them into the past from a tiny spring-loaded mammoth, they could not have dreamed that, many millenniums later, we would enact their yearly rite as the Christmas game Buckaroo.
Today, even religious folk accept that the date of Christ's birth was fudged to appropriate pagan celebrations, but all of us were shocked when the BBC slowed the Earth's passage around the sun this year so that...
- 1/8/2012
- by Stewart Lee
- The Guardian - Film News
Kirsty MacColl's son has said that he "feels lucky" to still hear the late singer's voice on 'Fairytale Of New York'. MacColl died in a boating accident while on holiday in Mexico with her children Louis and Jamie in December 2000. 25-year-old Louis, who continues to live in their family home, said he was grateful that the star continues to be honoured at the festive period through her appearance on the Pogues classic. "[She was] funny, kind and she didn't take any bulls**t," he told The Mail on Sunday. "She stood up for what she believed in, whether for herself or others who'd been treated unfairly. She'd always try to right wrongs. Mum taught me that life's never that bad if you can do the things you love. "It's so nice, I feel lucky to be able to hear her voice on the radio every year. I love (more)...
- 1/2/2012
- by By Daniel Sperling
- Digital Spy
Educating Essex headmaster Vic Goddard and his deputy Stephen Drew have delivered one of Channel 4's pair of alternative Christmas messages. The broadcast featured candid footage of Drew singing along to 'Fairytale of New York' by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl at his desk, and Goddard talking one-on-one with a pupil in the schoolyard. Drew said: "Education generally is about not giving up on people. I think you'll see schools all across the country who don't give up on people." Goddard described the stereotyping of young people as "sickening", particularly following the summer's riots. He also said he appreciates that some young people will (more)...
- 12/26/2011
- by By Kate Goodacre
- Digital Spy
Ever since the music charts started 50 years ago, musicians have been consistently blighted by the nation’s inexplicable penchant for “novelty” tracks such as Bob the Builder and Mr Blobby, or for the past several years, the X Factor beating them to one of the most coveted accolades of the year – the Chistmas Number One. To document the greatest songs which never quite made it, we’ve compiled this Top 10 highlighting the most memorable Christmas Number 2’s.
Songs include lounge singer Mike Flowers’ spoof cover of Wonderwall by Oasis, beaten by Michael Jackson’s saccharine Earth Song (1995), Bachman Turner Overdrive’s rock classic You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet which fell at the last hurdle to Mud’s Lonely This Christmas in (1974) and Take That’s Patience, robbed of its glory by Leona Lewis’s A Moment Like This (2006). There are also a few surprises in the form of pop classic Last Christmas by Wham!
Songs include lounge singer Mike Flowers’ spoof cover of Wonderwall by Oasis, beaten by Michael Jackson’s saccharine Earth Song (1995), Bachman Turner Overdrive’s rock classic You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet which fell at the last hurdle to Mud’s Lonely This Christmas in (1974) and Take That’s Patience, robbed of its glory by Leona Lewis’s A Moment Like This (2006). There are also a few surprises in the form of pop classic Last Christmas by Wham!
- 12/20/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
No, this is not going to be an attempt to make a film out of the classic Shane McGowan/Kirsty MacColl tune Fairytale of New York, at least not completely. But new indie romantic comedy Fairytale of New York is looking to hook up a troubled Irish type with a woman, and has snagged Kiefer Sutherland and Kate Bosworth to be the odd couple.We’re not sure we see the combo of Sutherland and Bosworth, but writer Jeff Murphy and director Lee Cleary obviously do. Cleary is gearing the movie up now, for a shoot that will take in Northern Ireland and New York.Sutherland’s playing a cynical yet charming Irish stand-up who travels to the Big Apple and makes a connection with an intriguing American woman (Bosworth). Cue, we assume, Sutherland spending the next few months with a dialect coach.“Fairytale of New York lets us observe...
- 5/15/2011
- EmpireOnline
Shaun Ryder has said that the moment has passed for he and Stacey Solomon to record a cover of 'Fairytale of New York'. The I'm A Celebrity co-stars were rumoured to be releasing a reworked version of The Pogues' 1987 hit, which featured Kirsty MacColl. However, Ryder told Digital Spy: "You wouldn't touch a song like that usually, you just wouldn't touch it. It's a classic tune, right? But because it was Stacey [and] me and we'd just come out of the jungle... "On the spur of the moment when you got asked you say 'Yeah', (more)...
- 12/23/2010
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
Stacey Solomon and Shaun Ryder have announced that they are to planning to record a version of The Pogues' classic Christmas anthem 'Fairytale of New York'. The I'm A Celebrity pair will release the cover of the 1987 track - which also featured vocals from Kirsty MacColl - in the hope of securing the Christmas number one. Ryder told the Daily Express: "We probably (more)...
- 12/15/2010
- by By Christian Tobin
- Digital Spy
AudioPlayer.setup("http://nerve.com/files/players/audio/player.swf", { width: 350 }); The Ten Most Depressing Christmas Songs Ever Recorded The holidays are a bummer. At least Tom Waits knows it. By Jessica Gentile Do you find the forced cheer of Christmas songs perversely depressing? Here are ten gloomy Christmas songs that may, in fact, cheer you up. 1) The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, "Fairytale of New York" Nothing says Christmas like youthful hopes and dreams crushed by alcoholism and drug addiction. Sung from the points of view of former lovers, the song features equal parts regret, melancholy and vitriol, whirling like raging snow. It's one of the most emotional holiday anthems of all time. "Happy Christmas your arse / I pray God it's our last." Amen. 2) Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, "Cold White Christmas" Envision bleak twenty-something circumstances, then add a [...]...
- 12/13/2010
- by Jessica Gentile
- Nerve
The Pogues have announced the dates for their farewell Christmas tour. The Shane MacGowan-fronted band will play a number of concerts in the UK this December, with the shows being billed as "an ultimate seasonal send-off". Tickets for the final Christmas tour go on sale this Friday at 9am. In 1987, the group's 'Fairytale Of New York' featuring Kirsty MacColl reached number two in the charts and has (more)...
- 8/31/2010
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
The campaign seeking justice over the death of singer Kirsty MacColl has announced that it is to stop work. MacColl died in Cozumel, Mexico while on holiday in 2000 after she was hit by a speedboat. Boathand José Cen Yam claimed to be driving the vessel and paid a punitive fine of 1034 pesos (£61) and around £1,325 in damages to MacColl's family, but some eyewitnesses reports suggested that he had not been at the controls. Activists made the decision to end their campaign after the Mexican authorities said that all lines of inquiry had been exhausted and the case was closed. (more)...
- 12/10/2009
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
Even though we're just on the other side of Halloween, the public has already shifted its focus to Christmas. Store displays have shifted, Starbucks has drinks that are eggnog flavored and a handful of lunatics are already considering their Christmas trees. Today marks the first big film release of the holiday season in "A Christmas Carol," the Robert Zemeckis-directed animated feature that stars Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge. (For more on "A Christmas Carol," be sure to check out all the in-depth coverage over at MTV Movies.) There are plenty more holiday-themed platters on the way, but "A Christmas Carol" is the biggest Christmas-related film to hit theaters this season.
But let's face it: Today is November 6, a full 49 days before Santa Claus comes down the chimney. There's no shame in not feeling any yuletide cheer yet, as we're still a few weeks from Thanksgiving. But maybe you never miss a Jim Carrey movie,...
But let's face it: Today is November 6, a full 49 days before Santa Claus comes down the chimney. There's no shame in not feeling any yuletide cheer yet, as we're still a few weeks from Thanksgiving. But maybe you never miss a Jim Carrey movie,...
- 11/6/2009
- by Kyle Anderson
- MTV Newsroom
Wham's 'Last Christmas' has been revealed as the most played festive song of the last five years. The Performing Rights Society, which collects royalties for musicians, said the 1984 hit took first place over Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas'. The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl came third with 'Fairytale Of New York', while Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' (more)...
- 11/28/2008
- by By Sarah Rollo
- Digital Spy
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