In the UK, “Fairytale of New York” is consistently voted as the all-time favorite (or favourite) Christmas song. In the US, it has become the only song most people can name by the Pogues.
The song itself is one long contrast between beauty and ugliness: cheerful flutes and drunken insults; images of a snowy New York City and the drunk tank; the hope of Christmas and the lonely reality of broken dreams. Have listen here:
Pop music, especially in the modern rock era (which I define as roughly 1979 to 1999), has a lot of Christmas songs in its catalog. A lot. A whole lot. In fact, way too many.
Like Christmas itself throughout the same era, pop and rock bands have cashed in over the past couple of decades, using Christmas as a reason to offer up specific product. But, no one has really created big hits for other holidays since Bobby “Boris” Picket staked his claim on Halloween in 1962.
Enter Ray Davies. The first time I heard “Thanksgiving Day” in 2005, I could just picture Ray telling his friends that the song isn’t just a Thanksgiving song, but more importantly it’s NOT another Christmas song. After all, Ray and his band The Kinks already conquered the Christmas genre with 1977’s “Father Christmas”!
Have a listen below to Ray perfroming this on the old Conan show in 2005:
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Holiday reruns already? Not really…I just wanted to republish this post from last year for a quick break from discussing Social Media Marketing and PR this week. Let’s talk tunes!
Here’s my list of the best Christmas songs of the Modern Rock Era, which I’m defining as roughly the mid- 1970s through the early 2000s. You will find no Perry Como, Andy Williams, or Bing Crosby here (wait, we do have some Crosby….see #2…) What are your favorites to add?
10. Squeeze – “Christmas Day” (1979)
9. Captain Sensible – “One Christmas Catalogue” (1984)
8. Slade – “Merry Xmas Everybody” (1973)
7. Weird Al – “Christmas At Ground Zero” (1986)
6. Ramones – “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” (2001)
5. Pretenders – “2000 Miles” (1983)
4. The Kinks – “Father Christmas” (1977)
3. Band Aid – “Do The Know It’s Christmas” (1984)
2. David Bowie and Bing Crosby – “Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth” (Recorded / Originally Broadcast 1977; Released 1982)
1. The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl – “Fairytale of New York” (1987)
For the holidays, here’s a change from discussing Social Media Marketing and PR this week. Let’s talk tunes!
Here’s my list of the best Christmas songs of the Modern Rock Era, which I’m defining as roughly the mid- 1970s through the early 2000s. You will find no Perry Como, Andy Williams, or Bing Crosby here (wait, we do have some Crosby….see #2…) I would love to hear your thoughts on these and others!
10. Squeeze – “Christmas Day” (1979)
9. Captain Sensible – “One Christmas Catalogue” (1984)
8. Slade – “Merry Xmas Everybody” (1973)
7. Weird Al – “Christmas At Ground Zero” (1986)
6. Ramones – “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” (2001)
5. Pretenders – “2000 Miles” (1983)
4. The Kinks – “Father Christmas” (1977)
3. Band Aid – “Do The Know It’s Christmas” (1984)
2. David Bowie and Bing Crosby – “Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth” (Recorded / Originally Broadcast 1977; Released 1982)
1. The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl – “Fairytale of New York” (1987)
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