The classic Christmas song 'Fairytale of New York' by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl has long been a festive favorite, but it has also been the center of controversy due to its 'explicit' lyrics.
This festive season, as we all once again enjoy the iconic tune, it takes on added poignancy following the recent passing of The Pogues' frontman, Shane MacGowan, at the age of 65.
The song, originally released in 1987, is a beloved part of Christmas traditions, frequently played at holiday parties and festive gatherings. It holds the distinction of being the UK's most-played Christmas single and has been sold over 1.5 million times worldwide. In 2022, it achieved quintuple platinum status in the UK, certifying three million combined sales.
However, what sets 'Fairytale of New York' apart is its journey through controversy and its subsequent lyric changes.
Yes, we've all been there -- We're at a bar or office party and the song comes on. Everybody is singing along. And then we come to that lyric.
The original lyrics contained homophobic and misogynistic slurs, with Shane MacGowan singing: "You're an old s**t on junk," while Kirsty MacColl responding with: "You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy f****t."
This explicit content sparked debates and even led to the song being banned by the BBC at one point. Eventually, it was reinstated and became a regular part of Christmas rotations, per Metro.
So, what should you be singing instead from now on?
In 2020, BBC Radio 1 made the decision to modify the lyrics by muting the word "s**t" and changing the latter line to: "You scumbag, you maggot, you're cheap and you're haggard." Yes, even this year, my eyebrow raised when this version played over my car radio. I guess so many of us are just so used to the original.
A source for the station told The Sun: “The feeling is that Radio 1’s listeners are younger and may not be as familiar with this song — with the original lyrics seeming quite stark.
"The label have produced a new version, and this Christmas that is the only version which will be broadcast on Radio 1."
The reasoning behind this change, according to a source, was to cater to a younger audience less familiar with the original version.
A BBC Radio 1 spokesperson defended the decision, telling Metro: "We are aware that young audiences are particularly sensitive to derogatory terms for gender and sexuality, and after considering this carefully, Radio 1 has decided to play a version featuring Kirsty MacColl singing alternative lyrics, provided by the record label."
However, the move did not come without backlash from some listeners. Despite this, Radio 2 continued to play the unedited version until 2022 when it adopted the censored version, taking into account listeners' feedback who found some of the lyrics jarring in the current context.
In 2018, Shane MacGowan addressed the controversy, expressing that he was "absolutely fine" with radio stations changing the lyrics. He emphasized that the offensive language was used by a character in the song and reflected the character's persona rather than any intent to offend.
MacGowan explained: "The word was used by the character because it fitted with the way she would speak and with her character. She is not supposed to be a nice person, or even a wholesome person. She is a woman of a certain generation at a certain time in history and she is down on her luck and desperate."
The singer-songwriter further clarified: "If people don't understand that I was trying to accurately portray the character as authentically as possible, then I am absolutely fine with them bleeping the word, but I don't want to get into an argument."
As we enjoy the enduring magic of "Fairytale of New York" this holiday season, let's make sure we're also keeping up with the times.
