Entertainment
Christmas
retro record
‘Fairytale of New York’ remains a Christmas classic despite that one very problematic lyric
least festive song of the season.Despite its cult status, The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” might just be the most anti-Christmas song out there. From a New York City drunk tank, an Irish immigrant reminisces on his lost youth and bickers with his lover –– brought to life by the perfectly feisty voice of Kristy MacColl –– on Christmas Eve.In a genre defined by Mariah Carey-esque gloss and capitalist dreams, frontman Shane MacGowan’s disillusioned perspective appealed to a cynical subsection of the LGBTQ+ community.