Wham 'most played Christmas song' Nov 29, 2008
The Pogues come third with Fairytale of New York, recorded with the late Kirsty MacColl and first released in 1987 ... Fairytale of New York - The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl 4. (BBC News -- Entertainment)
Holiday Guide Nov 24, 2008
Fairytale of New York by the Pogues with Kirsty MacColl; Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis by Tom Waits; Please Daddy (Don t Get Drunk This Christmas) by, take your pick, John Denver, Alan Jackson or the Decemberists; and Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton. ATLANTA HOLIDAY FUN. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
An indie songbird with substance Aug 18, 2008
A feisty strummer with a throaty delivery, MacDonald sounds nothing like her heroes - the Libertines, Travis, and the Killers - and more like a gutsy Dolores O'Riordan or an earthier Kirsty MacColl. That doesn't stop her from hijacking the Killers' "Mr. Brightside," a staple of her live show, from the glittering Vegas strip to the dusky Glaswegian alleyways. (Boston Globe)
Sour but sweet Jul 3, 2008
In the past he's tackled everything from New Kids on the Block's 'Step By Step' to Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day' with the late Kirsty MacColl ("I love that one!" he exclaims). So it's clear the Lemonhead knows a thing or two about reinterpreting others' songs. (iAfrica.com)
Pop-rocker Marshall Crenshaw gets serious and walks the walk Jan 22, 2008
"I pulled something I had written with Kirsty MacColl off the shelf and sent it in," recalls the Detroit-born musician from his home in upstate New York, where he lives with his wife and two children, 10 and 8. "The song, All I Ever Wanted, was a single in England (in 1991). I wrote the music, she wrote the lyrics. Later, when film (about a rock band that scores a hit in 1964) came out and I saw how good it was, I thought, `I could have gotten a song in this movie.'". (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Radiohead CD tops album chart Jan 7, 2008
None of the three Christmas hits in last week's top 40 - by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, Mariah Carey and Wham. - remained on the chart. (BBC News -- UK)
Police arrest man after death of former Radio 1 DJ Jan 1, 2008
Tuesday January 1 2008. DJ Kevin Greening enjoys a cocktail at the Detroit bar in London, as part of the 'Absolut Bar Stars' event, organised by the Terrence Higgins Trust in 1999. (Guardian Unlimited)
Cheap, lousy backtracking at the BBC Dec 28, 2007
This Christmas another song has superseded it: the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl s Fairytale of New York. On December 18, Radio 1 announced that it was dubbing out the word faggot from MacColl s line you scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot because it was offensive. (Times Online)
Shane Is 50 - And I'm Picking Up The Tab! Dec 28, 2007
"Seeing Fairytale back in the charts again is great. It's a real tribute to Kirsty MacColl really, she made that song. I was staggered that a radio station decided to censor a few of the words, then they changed their mind. What was that all about?". MacGowan toured again this year with The Pogues and has big plans for 2008. (Sky News)
Leon Jackson completes X Factor Christmas hat-trick Dec 25, 2007
The old Pogues and Kirsty MacColl hit, Fairytale Of New York, completed the top four after BBC Radio One offered the single a publicity boost. The station decided to remove the word faggot from the well-known chorus because it was felt it might cause offence to some, before admitting they had made a mistake and reinstating it. (Times Online)
Which has been the most-played festive song for five years? Dec 25, 2007
The song is a duet between Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl ... Fairytale of New York - The Pogues/Kirsty MacColl 2 ... The song is a duet with Kirsty MacColl, who died in 2000. (BBC News -- UK)
'X-Factor' Alums Rule U.K. Holiday Charts Dec 25, 2007
by the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl rose again 8-4. After hitting No. 2 in 1987, the track has now reached No. 3, No. 6 and No. 4 in the last three holiday seasons. (Billboard.com)
Festive double for X Factor stars Dec 25, 2007
Fairytale of New York, by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, rose to four in a week when BBC Radio 1 briefly - but controversially - censored its lyrics ... Pogues/Kirsty MacColl, Fairytale of New York 5. (BBC News -- Entertainment)
Half a century for the rogue Pogue Dec 24, 2007
It's hard to know whether MacGowan is better known today for Fairytale of New York, the filthy, tender duet he and the late Kirsty MacColl first belted out in 1987, or for his legendary thirst. The song, which he penned with fellow Pogue Jem Finer, returns like the debauched ghost of Christmas past to haunt pubs and clubs each December. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
I could swear I have heard it on TV Dec 24, 2007
On December 18, BBC Radio 1 was forced to reverse a decision to bleep lyrics from the cult Christmas song Fairytale Of New York, by the Irish group the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. Listeners decried the censorship and expressed their preference for the full, salty version which includes the words slut and faggot. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
* His 'Fairytale' isn't over yet Dec 24, 2007
It's hard to know whether MacGowan is better known today for Fairytale of New York, the filthy, tender duet he and the late Kirsty MacColl first belted out in 1987, or for his legendary thirst ... Biggest commercial success: Reaching No. 2 on the UK charts with Kirsty MacColl duet, Fairytale of New York, in 1987. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
"X Factor" winner tipped for Christmas number one Dec 21, 2007
Last year's X Factor winner Leona Lewis is in third place with "Bleeding Love", while "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl has received a boost from the BBC's aborted attempt to censor it. Bookmaker William Hill has slashed the odds on Jackson from 1-6 to 1-20. (Reuters UK)
Shane MacGowan continues to cause ripples Dec 20, 2007
Written by Shane MacGowan and sung by the much-mourned Kirsty MacColl, the line from Fairytale of New York has been an unlikely source of angst for Radio 1, which decided this year to bleep the word faggot , but then changed its mind. MacGowan is something of an anti-hero: legendarily drunken, he was expelled from Westminster School at 14 for possession of drugs and has only occasionally since then shown signs of sobriety. (Times Online)
Leon set for Christmas number one Dec 20, 2007
Radio 1 initially bleeped out the word "faggot" from the duet between Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan and the late Kirsty MacColl in case it offended listeners but changed its mind after complaints. Castaldo added that it did not seem that Leon's song would sell as well as last year's Christmas number one by previous X Factor winner, Leona Lewis. (BBC News -- Entertainment)
BBC backs down on plan to censor 'Fairytale of New York' Dec 19, 2007
The emotionally gritty song boils over as the late Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues' Shane MacGowan engage in a vocal domestic that rings bells in households across the world every year ... But on Monday, Radio 1 broadcast a version that muffled the words "faggot" and "slut" prompting an angry response from listeners, Kirsty MacColl's mother and even the show's presenter. (Independent)
Radio 1 relents in Pogues row Dec 19, 2007
Shane MacGowan traded insults with Kirsty MacColl in the song ... But after a day of criticism from listeners, the band, and the mother of singer Kirsty MacColl, they changed their minds ... Kirsty MacColl died 13 years after the track's release. (BBC News -- UK)
Fairytale of hypocrites Dec 19, 2007
I am both perplexed and angered by the storm of controversy over the sweet Christmas pop song, Fairytale of New York by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. The furore is not about the use of the word "faggot" in the lyrics, but the fact that BBC Radio 1 decided to bleep out the f-word. (Guardian Unlimited)
BBC censors The Pogues' Christmas classic Dec 18, 2007
Fairytale of New York, by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl, has been re-released for the festive period and is a contender for the coveted Christmas number one slot. The Pogues' frontman Shane MacGowan. (Telegraph.co.uk)
Melua/Cassidy Duet Tops U.K. Singles Chart Dec 18, 2007
by the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl climbed 12-8 to become a top 10 hit for, remarkably, the third year running, and fourth time in total. Other Christmas favorites given new life via download sales were Wham. (Billboard.com)
Radio 1 censors Christmas standard Dec 18, 2007
It may have been done with the most progressive of intentions, but BBC Radio 1's decision to censor a lyric from Kirsty MacColl and Shane McGowan's Christmas standard Fairytale of New York looks rather to have backfired this morning. A decision by Radio 1 chiefs has meant that Fairytale, a ballad apparently conducted between two rowing drunks, has been edited so as to obscure the lines "You cheap lousy faggot" and "an old slut on junk", a decision that was criticised this morning by MacColl's... (Guardian Unlimited -- Media)
Lewis Still Dominating U.K. Album, Singles Charts Dec 11, 2007
by the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl, in its fifth run on the top 40, raced 33-12. Wham. (Billboard.com)
"X Factor" winner Lewis keeps chart rivals at bay Dec 10, 2007
American pop diva Mariah Carey made an impressive showing with "All I Want For Christmas is You" climbing 15 places to number eight while a re-release of "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues featuring the late Kirsty MacColl rose from 33 to 12. Lewis triumphed in last year's "X Factor" television talent show and her single "A Moment Like This" was the 2006 Christmas number one. (Reuters UK)
Leona Lewis Still Strong On U.K. Charts Dec 4, 2007
by the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl, which has become a true Christmas perennial, became a top 40 hit for the fifth time. After reaching No. 2 first time around in 1987, it hit No. 31 in 1991 and has been a top 10 hit for the last two Yuletides, at No. 3 in 2005 and No. 6 last year. (Billboard.com)
Charlie Brooker Nov 12, 2007
"Why? It's such a shame." It's a bit like when Kirsty MacColl died. Completing the pack are former Changing Rooms decorator Anna Ryder Richardson, 200-year-old supermodel Janice Dickinson (played by Steve Tyler from Aerosmith) and ex-Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson (a major figure in the Nuts/Zoo Axis of Wanking). (Guardian Unlimited)
Perfect harmony? Ebony and Ivory voted pop's worst duet Oct 7, 2007
Fairytale Of New York - Kirsty MacColl ogues 3 ... He revealed that Fairytale of New York, by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, would have been number one had it not been for a campaign by fans of the Chieftains song. (BBC News -- Entertainment)
The worlds most musical cities Sep 1, 2007
Fairytale of New York The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. Across 110th Street Bobby Womack. (Suite101.com)
When Elvis is everywhere, where do you go to worship? Aug 16, 2007
Kirsty MacColl had the final word on this topic with her little gem There's A Guy Works Down The Fish Shop Swears He's Elvis. No, we will accept that Elvis Aaron Presley did ascend to that deep-fried peanut butter sandwich place in the sky on August 16, 1977. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Donegan widow in copyright call May 1, 2007
Ms Donegan hopes the CD - which also features tracks from Kirsty MacColl, The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks and Led Zeppelin - will help change the current copyright law. She said: "I just hope the politicians listen to all the tracks on that CD and then give us the same copyright term as the songwriters and photographers. "Hard-working people like Lonnie, who gave so many so much fun, deserve at least this. (BBC News -- Entertainment)
Arctic Monkeys: 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' Apr 23, 2007
It gets worse: drummer Matt Helders recently remarked that the band went "all new rave in East London during recording. Aaaagh! Do we really want to see frontman Alex Turner a sour-faced fellow whos as innately northern as a whippet with an addiction to spam sandwiches - clad in bacofoil pedalpushers waving a glow stick around?Relax. Favourite Worst Nightmare is the work of the same thrillingly frantic indie screwballers who bagged the Mercury Prize with Whatever People Say I Am, Thats What... (Digital Spy)
A toast to The Pogues Jan 21, 2007
Featuring Kirsty MacColl (daughter of Ewan) duetting alongside MacGowan, it is the groups best known moment and testament to its ability to combine humour and an enormous dose of sentimentality. That the political fire still burned bright was best highlighted by the awesome Young Ned of the Hill, a comment on the English occupation of Ireland, which was written and sung by latest addition Terry Woods. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
