# A Fairytale of New York -- Best Xmas song? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 8, 2000, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644 "2000-12-08T16:45:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/21 "2000-12-09T09:10:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by casdave \* > \*\ ***Ruadh** you are a total musical thug!!! : ) > \*\* I didn’t say _I_ like it! Just wanted to know if he’d heard it. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/22 "2000-12-09T13:21:55Z")
‘Christmas Rapping’ by the Waitresses. Don’t no why I like this song so much, but I do… ‘Christmas at Ground Zero’ by Weird Al. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/23 "2000-12-09T18:32:56Z")
**RuadH** Phew!! That was a close call, I don’t ever want to be that frightened again. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/24 "2000-12-09T20:46:12Z")
I’ve always liked _Fairytale_. But what about the holiday Dreidel song in _Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics_? “Courtney Cox. I love you. You’re so hot. On that show.” ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/25 "2000-12-09T21:50:50Z")
Another vote for “Fairytale of New York” for best Christmas song. Why oh why can’t the people programing the piped in Christmas music at work screw up and play that one (intead of “Christmas Wrappings” yet again. No offence, lawoot.) Then there’s William Burrough’s “The Junky’s Christmas”. Ok, it’s not a song. Best Christmas recording? I mean who better to personifies the festive holiday spirit than Bill? ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/26 "2000-12-09T21:57:13Z")
Hmm. I think I’ll be controversial and vote for _I Was Born On Christmas Day_ by Saint Etienne, featuring Tim Burgess of The Charlatans. ---
**Author:** ![ellis555](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e36b37/32.png) [@ellis555](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ellis555)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2000, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/27 "2000-12-09T23:50:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xizor \* > \*\*The best one is by The Kinks, but I fail to remember the title, it goes something like: > > “Father Christmas, gimme some money > we got no time for your, silly noise > we’ll beat you up if you don’t hand it over > save all the toys, for the little rich boys” \*\* It’s called “Father Christmas.” The Boss’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” gets a close vote behind the Pogues from me. -ellis ---
**Author:** ![socialxray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@socialxray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/socialxray)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2000, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/28 "2000-12-10T00:39:12Z")
> [@](#): > > The Ramones had a good one, too. “Happy Christmas; I don’t wanna fight tonight…” Hate to be picky, but it’s “_Merry_ Christmas, I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight.” Great song, though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2000, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/29 "2000-12-10T08:20:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by woodstockbirdybird \* > \*\*“Fairytale of New York” is my favorite Christmas song, too, but my girlfriend hates it. She especially hates Kirsty MacColl’s voice, and she complains that the song sounds like something out of a Broadway musical. I can’t seem to set her straight. Maybe I’ll have her read this thread. \*\* How can anyone hate Kirsty’s voice? Especially after Shane sings, “I could have been someone” and she responds, “Well so could anyone”. Shivers up my spine everytime, I swear… ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2000, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/30 "2000-12-10T11:28:01Z")
Growing up with BBC Radio 1’s idea of “original” Christmas programming has left me vomiting blood at the opening to **“Fairytale of New York”** , Jonah Lewie’s **“Stop The Cavalry”** , Slade’s **“Merry Xmas Everybody”** (entering the UK charts on _seven_ occasions) and Roy Wood & Wizzard’s **“I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday”**. I’m not even going into **“Mistletoe And Wine”** by Cliff Richard or **“Rocking Around The Christmas Tree”** by Mel Smith and Kim Wilde. Another possibly good one, though, is **“Christmas Wrapping”** by The Waitresses. Well, it’s better than the ones above. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2000, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/31 "2000-12-10T22:39:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ruadh \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > > **My favourite Christmas song is _A Fairytale of New York_ by The Pogues.** > > Have you heard the Ronan Keating (of Boyzone) version yet? \*\* **ruadh** , dear, please tell me this is some sort of sick joke. And YES, **FTONY** is the best Christmas Song ever. Period. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/32 "2000-12-12T00:51:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by betenoir \* > \*\*Another vote for “Fairytale of New York” for best Christmas song. > > Why oh why can’t the people programing the piped in Christmas music at work screw up and play that one (intead of “Christmas Wrappings” yet again. No offence, lawoot.) \*\* None taken. I don’t listen to commercial radio much anymore, beside talk on my way to and from work. So I have it on a CD, and play it when I feel like it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/33 "2000-12-19T17:41:24Z")
Sorry to put a downer on this thread, but Kirsty McColl died in a boating accident today – [BBC News](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/newsid_1078000/1078192.stm). ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/34 "2000-12-19T17:50:29Z")
:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(☹ Oh man how sad. Her voice… shit. ( I was just thinking of this thread to mention Jethro Tull’s _A Christmas Story_) This news really sucks. I’m going to go put FTONY on now and think of her. What a loss. ---
**Author:** ![dustMagnate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/fbc32d/32.png) [@dustMagnate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dustMagnate)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/35 "2000-12-19T18:31:48Z")
My God: I had no idea it was she who sang “There’s a Guy Down at the Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis”, an unrequited love/blistering rockabilly number that is now one of my all-time favorite songs. I miss her already.[http://allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=B4816](http://allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=B4816) ---
**Author:** ![dustMagnate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/fbc32d/32.png) [@dustMagnate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dustMagnate)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/36 "2000-12-19T18:37:29Z")
Sorry for the link thing. Kirsty bio at > **[AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands](https://www.allmusic.com/?p=amg&sql=B4816)** > > AllMusic provides comprehensive music info including reviews and biographies. Get recommendations for new music to listen to, stream or own. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/37 "2000-12-19T19:02:34Z")
I have her on video singing _Miss Otis Regrets_ and _Just One of Those Things_ backed up by The Pogues on _Red, Hot & Blue_. The news is a total pisser. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/38 "2000-12-19T20:03:36Z")
Tragic news about Kirsty MacColl. Fairytale of NY has to be at the top of my list of favourite Xmas songs. I also really like Sting’s Gabriel’s Song, as well as Ave Maria by the Vienna Boy’s Choire. All those songs bring a shiver to my spine, particularly the last two. Also I like Holly Cole’s version of 2000 miles, Christmas Blues, and I’d like to catch a ride with Santa Clause. And that’s saying something 'cuz I’m jewish. Let’s face it, the Dreidle song just can’t compete. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/39 "2000-12-19T20:27:28Z")
One Christmas song I must also mention is **Merry Christmas from the Family** by **Robert Earl Keene** (sp?). That has to be the funniest Christmas song ever. It’s about a redneck family Christmas. If you have Napster, do yourself a favor and give this one a listen. Damn shame about Kirsty McColl. I didn’t know that she was the one who originally did “They Don’t Know About Us.” ---
**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fairytale-of-new-york-best-xmas-song/44644/40 "2000-12-19T22:13:04Z")
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