The Pogues ‘Fairytale of New York’ to be released as charity 7” vinyl single

Following the sad passing of The Pogues talisman, Shane MacGowan’s family, friends, and the band themselves are releasing their Christmas classic ‘Fairytale of New York’ as a 7” single with all profits from sales going to Dublin Simon Community – a charity loved and supported by Shane and his widow Victoria Mary Clarke.

 

And to celebrate the man himself, they are backing the campaign to get the track to number one this Christmas. Amazingly, ‘Fairytale of New York’ has never topped the charts! It is unquestionably one of the most loved and adored songs of the Christmas period consistently topping polls as people’s favourite Christmas song, but the track has never hit the coveted number-one position! When originally released in 1987 it hit a chart high of number two being held off that year by the Pet Shop Boys’ ‘Always On My Mind’.

 

In a recent interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, Victoria Mary Clarke said, “It would be nice, wouldn’t it? It should be the Christmas number one. It absolutely should.”

 

Emma Kilkenny, Head of Fundraising & Communications at Dublin Simon Community said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to The Pogues and Shane McGowan’s family for their generosity in creating such a special legacy for Dublin Simon Community with this release.  Music is an emotional and visceral gift that can lift spirits and bring hope to people at their lowest point.

 

“We share the truly magical memory of Shane’s performance at the very special Christmas Busk recorded in St Patrick’s Cathedral during the Covid lockdown.  The Christmas Eve Busk is a beating heart at the core of Dublin Simon’s fundraising and Shane was always a very welcome and truly amazing addition to this special event.”

 

The 7’ single will come with ‘Fairytale of New York’ on the A-side with an instrumental version of the track on the B-side. The vinyl can be pre-ordered from here. £6 / €6.90 from the sale of each product will be donated to Dublin Simon Community.

 

Although never topping the charts, ‘Fairytale of New York’ has made the Top 20 21 times (including this year) and is one of the most loved and enduring Christmas songs ever. This beautiful duet between MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl tells the tale of a couple who have fallen on hard times and find themselves down on their luck during the holiday period. It flies in the face of other traditional and much loved Christmas songs, with MacGowan and MacColl’s heart-wrenching yet beautiful performance being full of hope and despair whilst all underpinned with the beautiful melodies that is unmistakably The Pogues.

 

About Dublin Simon Community

For almost 55 years Dublin Simon Community has been working to end and prevent homelessness.  Originally founded as a soup run by a group of students from Trinity & UCD, the organization was founded on the values of community, respect, inclusion, and non-judgment.  Today Dublin Simon continues to operate with these founding values and more, delivering low-threshold supports like Street Outreach, emergency accommodation, addiction treatment and healthcare services, independent housing and a range of homelessness prevention supports for people from all walks of life, working to end homelessness for people every single day.

 

The Simon Christmas Eve Busk has been a sacred tradition for more than a decade, surviving through Covid in virtual form thanks to the dedication of the brave and talented buskers, but now boldly back on Dublin’s Grafton Street each year.  Shane McGowan was amongst those amazing Busk veterans who supported this event by lending his talents and voice to the chorus for change for people experiencing homelessness.

 

For more details visit www.dubsimon.ie

Charity Number CHY 5963

 

Merry Christmas from all of The Pogues family and friends