Bars and pubs are being asked to play The Pogues' "Fairytale of New York" at 7 pm on Sunday, December 24 as a Christmas Eve tribute to Shane MacGowan, who passed away on November 30.
It's a fitting tribute to the classic Irish song, written and performed by MacGowan alongside The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, that famously begins: "It was Christmas Eve babe / in the drunk tank ..."
The tribute to MacGowan was first reported on Friday, December 22 by W42st.com, which is keeping a running list of the bars that have signed on to participate in the simple yet poignant tribute.
The tribute is the brainchild of music marketer Eva Pfaff, who told W42st.com that, after watching the funeral for MacGowan, she reconnected with old colleagues from the record industry, and “sentiments arose that resulted in the notion of turning 'Fairytale of New York' into the 'Alice’s Restaurant' of Christmas Eve."
(W42st.com notes that "Alice’s Restaurant," the 1967 song by Arlo Guthrie, has become a staple on Thanksgiving Day at noon across radio stations in the US.)
MacGowan's funeral on December 8 famously featured several live musical performances, including a rousing rendition of "Fairytale of New York" that saw mourners dancing in the aisles of St. Mary of the Rosary Church in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
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Pfaff, who admitted she never even heard the Irish Christmas classic until 2009, told W42st.com: “I just think that the more people who hear this song, the more they will appreciate the complexities of the important relationships in their lives, and maybe recognize the legendary London-born Irish punk poet that brought us this, and so many other stories."
Pfaff added: “‘Fairytale of New York’ is not so much about the holiday, but the brutal truth of how complex relationships are, and how two people can love each other, while forgetting to like each other.
"Or maybe it’s the other way around. Who can say? But the holidays tend to bring it all to bear.”
At the time of publication on Friday afternoon, 11 bars in the Hell's Kitchen area had committed to the special tribute to MacGowan, though given the huge number of Irish bars in New York City, that number is sure to grow.
Here's who is confirmed to participate (so far) in the "Fairytale of New York" tribute to Shane MacGowan on Christmas Eve: American Retro, Back Pocket Bar, Dutch Fred’s, Gossip Bar, Landmark Tavern, Local 42, Pocket Bar 57, Scruffy Duffy’s, The Dickens, The Pocket Bar, and The Three Monkeys Bar.
W42st.com did note that many bars will be closed or closing early on Christmas Eve, preventing them from taking part at 7 pm - Hold Fast, Jasper’s, and Alfie’s said that they will be finding ways to play the song at other times.
Pfaff told IrishCentral on Friday afternoon that the plans came together very quickly but hopes that the tribute can continue in future years and potentially attach a charitable element.
The New York City-based tribute comes amid a wider push to get "Fairytale of New York" to the number one Christmas spot for the first time ever.
The song, which was released in 1987, re-entered Spotify's Daily Viral Songs chart in the USA on November 15 and had climbed to #8 on the chart as of December 21.
You can watch the music video for "Fairytale of New York" here:
If your local bar or pub is participating in this brilliant tribute to Shane MacGowan, share your photos and videos with IrishCentral by tagging us on social media or emailing us at Submit@IrishCentral.com!
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