Tag Archives: The Pogues

Fairytale of New York

Shane MacGowan celebrated his 53rd birthday yesterday and I’m sure that the celebrations are still in full swing. I wouldn’t be surprised if he sang a song or two and perhaps even my favourite Christmas song got an airing. My sister and I have been fans of MacGowan and The Pogues for over twenty years and I still remember the first time we heard Fairytale of New York. It was late November in 1987 and we had both been surprised to hear that the lead single from their third album would be a Christmas song. We thought that only acts like Wham! and Shakin’ Stevens released Christmas songs and couldn’t imagine The Pogues doing one. Nevertheless, Irish DJ Dave Fanning had announced that he would be giving the song its first spin on his radio show and we tuned in to listen to it. The song began with just a piano and MacGowan’s distinctive voice. The use of the piano wasn’t all that unusual as that instrument had been to the fore a year earlier on Rainy Night in Soho. As we listened, the words sounded like some of MacGowan’s best material and were as far from traditional Christmas fare as you could imagine. After a couple of verses, the rest of the group came in, the tempo increased and the familiar vocals of Kirsty MacColl proved a perfect counterpoint to Shane’s growl. The song turned into a symphony and it even sounded like there were strings on it! By the time the song reached the chorus, it was apparent that this had the makings of a fine song. Then the tone of the song completely changed and Shane and Kirsty started a slagging match as they traded insults with each other. The rather mild uses of “bum”, “punk” and “old slut on junk” gave way to a sentiment that I hadn’t heard in a Christmas song up to that point. Kirsty sings:

You scumbag, you maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray God it’s our last

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Peeling in the Years

John Peel died on this day six years ago and Webbie over at Football & Music has decided to commemorate the great man by getting bloggers and users of social media to put up a track from a Peel session by one their favourite acts. You can read more about it and find out what other bloggers are up to over at Keeping It Peel. Peel started recording sessions in 1967 and these continued right up to his death in 2004. Unsurprisingly, The Fall recorded the most (24) with David Gedge matching that figure as part of The Wedding Present and also Cinerama. Some of the biggest acts from the British Isles such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Radiohead and U2 never recorded a Peel session, while Lulu, The Shadows, Gerry & the Pacemakers and Terence Trent D’Arby actually did. Many Irish acts made the short trip across The Irish Sea to the BBC studios and today I present a session track from eight of these

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Poguetry In Motion


I mentioned on Wednesday that I’d be spending Patrick’s Day immersing myself in Irish culture. I had planned to take it easy on St Patrick’s Eve, but shortly after writing the post I got an unexpected text from a good friend of mine. It didn’t take too much for Tom to persuade me to call over to his place for a few drinks and to watch Chelsea take on Inter Milan in the Champions League. Watching English football teams is one of the most popular pastimes amongst Irish males and the tie was nicely balanced at 2-1 to the Italian team. I brought along an 8-pack of Bulmers cider (the Irish one, not the English one). The game was quite close, but Inter scored near the end to ease their passage into the quarter-finals. As the number of cans got fewer and fewer, Thomas put on one of the best Irish films of recent years, In Bruges (it’s in Belgium). The next morning, Tom’s lovely lady Linda made an Irish breakfast for the three of us. Even though Linda was unable to offer any evidence as to the food’s heritage, I had no reason to believe that it wasn’t an Irish one. It was cooked and eaten in Ireland and it even tasted like an Irish breakfast. After that, Tom checked out Cheltenham and we watched the Irish trainers, horses and riders cleaning up. After Linda cleaned up, she dropped me home. My thanks to Thomas and Linda for a lovely Irish day

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Greetings From Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore


I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy St Patrick’s Day. My own name is Pat, my late father’s was Paddy and my youngest nephew is called Patrick. So, here are a few songs from Irish singers about Pats, Paddys and Patricks as well as one “sung” by a Pat. I’m planning to spend the day absorbing myself in Irish culture. I’m not sure exactly what that’s going to entail, but I’ll let you know how it turns out


Uncle Pat – Ash

Poor Paddy – The Pogues

Paddy Rolling Stone – Shane MacGowan

Rock and Roll Paddy – Shane MacGowan

Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore – Paul Brady

Paddy’s Lament – Sinéad O’Connor

St Patrick’s Day – Damien Dempsey

The Jumbo Breakfast Roll – Pat Shortt

Níl Aon Tinteáin Mar Do Thinteáin Féin*


Seachtain na Gaeilge is taking place in Ireland this week as part of the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. According to its website, “Seachtain na Gaeilge is a non-profit organisation, which promotes the use of Irish language and culture both at home and abroad within a two-week festival held in March every year”. The literal translation of “Seachtain na Gaeilge” is “Irish Week” but in Ireland the concept of time is quite fluid and arbitrary. This year’s celebration of Irish culture began on the 5th of March and will finish on Paddy’s Day. Now, your definition of what constitutes Irish culture depends upon whether you consider yourself to be Irish or not and also upon where you call home. For example, many people who’ve never been to the Emerald Isle will possess an image of the country that has been constructed by Hollywood and the tourist industry. This Ireland is full of green fields, rolling hills and winding roads. The people that populate it are as untamed as their surroundings and filled with Celtic mysticism and Catholic guilt. The men drink far too much alcohol and this usually leads to drunken brawling. The women are just as feisty but are seen as being more religious than their male counterparts and given to having lots of babies

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Music to Watch Girls By

Echo & the Bunnymen

This week’s episode of the current series of Later…with Jools Holland features a more interesting and diverse roster of artists than last week’s one. Echo & the Bunnymen‘s distinctive guitar and vocal sound brought them lots of critical and some commercial success in the eighties. They’ll be playing songs from their latest album, The Fountain. Calvin Harris will be appearing and he’s best known for his hit, Acceptable in the 80s. I’ve included a version from last week’s guests, Editors. The Spaghetti Western Orchestra will be playing their versions of one of cinema’s most successful and distinctive composers, Ennio Morricone. The Pogues also do a fine job of one of Morricone’s most famous themes. Better Times Will Come is the title track of American country singer Diana Jones‘s current album. Biffy Clyro are from Scotland, but they sound like an American rock band to me. Finally, the easy-listening crooner Andy Williams will be playing music to watch the girls go by

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Accentuate the Positive

The result of the 2008 Lisbon Treaty referendum

The result of the 2008 Irish Lisbon Treaty referendum

On the first Friday in October, about half of the Irish electorate will go to the polls in an attempt to pass the Lisbon Treaty into Irish law, having already failed to do so in June 2008. On that previous occasion, a turnout of 53% of the electorate rejected the 28th Amendment to the Constitution by a margin of nearly seven per cent (53.4% against the Treaty as opposed to 46.6% in favour). The Lisbon Treaty is a replacement for the failed European Constitution that was rejected by voters from France and Holland in 2005. Its main purpose is to tidy up all previous treaties such as the Treaty of Rome and the Treaty of Maastricht. So far, Ireland is the only country that hasn’t passed the Treaty and Ireland is also the only country to hold a referendum on the Treaty. The reason that Ireland requires a referendum arises from the Irish Supreme Court decision of 1987 that major changes to any Treaty of Europe would require a mandate from the Irish people. So, the result of Friday’s referendum will not only affect the 4.5 million inhabitants of Ireland, but also the other 490 million citizens that make up the remainder of the European Union

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Lovely Day For a Guinness

The Pour of the Pint

250 years ago, Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease at £45 a year to rent St James’s Gate brewery in Dublin. Tomorrow, September 24th, has been designated as Arthur’s Day and will feature celebrations all around the world. Unsurprisingly, the biggest party will take place in Dublin as dozens of bands will converge on Ireland’s capital city to raise a toast to Arthur. The day begins at 17:59 with an invite-only concert at St James’s Gate itself featuring Tom Jones, Kasabian and Estelle. Four Dublin venues (Vicar St, the Academy, Tripod and Whelan’s) will put on gigs that will include Richard Hawley, Lisa Hannigan, David Gray and the Undertones. And Live at the Local sees Noah & the Whale, Mick Flannery and dozens of other acts perform at 28 Dublin pubs throughout the night. Sounds like it’s going to be a busy day. For those of you who’d like to celebrate Arthur’s Day early or in the confines of your own home, here are a few drinking songs to accompany the creamy pints of stout

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