1987 is a pretty bleak Christmas. The year is marked by disasters. The British economy is wrecked. It is a time when everyone could use some yuletide joy. Challenged by their producer, Elvis Costello, to write a Christmas hit, the Irish-Anglo punk band The Pogues believe they are the ones to provide some egg-nog infused nourishment to the people. Fairytale of New York is what founding member, Jem Finer, and lead singer, Shane MacGowan come up with which will eventually be considered a holiday hallmark - but despite its title, it is no traditional winter warmer. The song descends from nostalgia and euphoria to vitriol and melancholy in the space of four and a half minutes. Fairytale of New York will eventually be certified 4x Platinum in the UK. Christmas fans will go on proudly singing those stinging lyrics. And yet, years later a dark cloud settles over the song’s legacy...

This episode was written by Rory Boyle

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