Fairy tale of New York AIBU

[crashdoll]

I was convinced one of lines went as follows;
"Happy Christmas you old fucking cunt of a man"
Now, I find out I was wrong and I'm devastated. This has ruined my Christmas!

AIBU to feel that my version was much better?

[laptopdancer]

Can I just ask why people like it so much?

[ArielTheBahHumbugMermaid]

Firstly the tune. Secondly the instrumentation. Thirdly the aching sadness of the lyrics. Fourthly the love expressed in it. Fifthly Irish inspired music is generally quite jolly and catchy.

[PeppermintLatte]

Everything Ariel said. It's just a masterpiece IMO.

[JenaiMathis]

Yup, what Ariel said.

It's two imperfect people who have been together for a very long time in an imperfect relationship. Not dysfuntional, just not all sunshine and roses. It's beautiful.

[goralka]

I love it - best Christmas song ever and a memorial to the lovely Kirsty..
also to add to what Ariel said, it's the duet thing and the reality of a relationship gone bad.

[ArielTheBahHumbugMermaid]

Sixthly the harmonies. There's something inherently catchy and sinaglongable about harmonies in thirds. Almost anyone can do them.

[laptopdancer]

Ah, thanks for the reply :)
I think thats why I dislike it...the tune grates on me and I hate the irish folky thing and her voice (sorry, sad to say when she has passed away but its not for me). I find the words to gritty and not like any thing Id relate to.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes]

It seems like a real Marmite song, love it or hate it. It's weird that I should hate it really as a lot of my favourite recordings a duets and I love harmonies. I like the Pogues (or did, haven't listened to them for years), Kirsty has a lovely voice and yet there's something about this song that really sets my teeth on edge, it's very twee and doesn't come over as being the least bit authentic to me at all, just staged and insincere.

[boschy]

Omifuckinggod, I have just heard it MURDERED on our local news. A band in Tunbridge Wells have issued a 'swing' version. Kneecapping too good IMHO.

[WelshMaenad]

I love FTONY with a passion. So many fab memories. My favourite, I think, Christmas 2001, I was young, single, solvent and thinner. I was getting drunk in an Irish bar in Cardiff with my lovely friend Andrew. FTONY came on and he pulled me up to dance and we just twirled like the giggling, drunken buffoons we were, him spinning me round until I couldn't breathe for laughing, whilst he did a credible Shane McGowan impression. We've lost touch, I'm really sad and I miss him but every time I hear that song it makes me grin.

[MoominmammasHandbag]

Love the Pogues, love Fairytale of New York, but the Kirsty MacColl bit, well I think many singers could have done an equally good job.
Kirsty MacColl always came across as lovely in interviews and her death was tragic but I do think she was quite overrated. All her best releases were covers. I think she got a very big leg up in the business from her father and her husband's reputations.

[proofreader]

She was certainly well-connected -
but lovely anyway....
and not to hijack they are in FTONY
Happy Christmas!

[weblette]

Hello to the other Strange Communion fans. St Stephen St Murders is an ace song. Sol Invictus is also a fave. May have to buy the Tracey Thorn too...

[BustyDeLaGhetto]

I have met Shane McGowan loads. He used to own a pub called Filthy McNastys in Islington which was my local for years and he was always there cadging cigarettes. He was thoroughly bad news and lots of fun.

[AlienRefucksLooksLikeSnow]

I went there busty to try and get pissed hang out with him, he wasn't there!

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

I do love FTONY, I think it's overplayed though, but what Xmas song isn't?