The Pogues’ 1987 Christmas song “Fairytale of New York” has returned to the top 40 charts in the UK. After Pogues singer Shane MacGowan died in Dublin on November 30, 2023 at the age of 65, fans online came together to plan to stream the band’s track so excessively that, ideally, it would be at the top of the UK charts by Christmas – and can thus properly honor the deceased musician.
Victoria Mary Clarke supports the plan
Fans shared their intention to catapult “Fairytale of New York” to the top of the charts, especially on “X”. For example, under the hashtag “christmasnumberone” one user said: “We are so sad about the passing of Shane MacGowan RIP Let’s get ‘Fairytale of New York’ to number 1 for Christmas this year.”
When asked about the move in an interview with BBC Radio 4, MacGowan’s wife Victoria Mary Clarke said she was “very much in favor” of her late husband’s song topping the charts again. “That would be nice, wouldn’t it? He should be Christmas number one. He absolutely should.”
Just 18th place, but soon to be further ahead?
“Fairytale of New York” was released in 1987 as a duet with Kirsty MacColl and only reached second place in the UK charts at the time. The track is now just a few days after MacGowan’s death at number 18 on the British charts climbed.