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An Alternative Fairytale Christmas

I’ve been thinking about the all time best christmas song for some time which is hard when it’s a bright sunny October day outside.

Many Christmas song for me just drive me insane. They’re over jolly or over played. They are not what I want to hear and not what I feel when I’m doing my Xmas shopping late in December on Oxford Street.

‘Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy’ I enjoy, purely for the Bowie and Bing intro banter ‘Ello I’m David Bowie, I live down the road!

That aside, I’m always drawn to one song and one song only and that song is…

The Pogues fearuring Kirst McColl -- Fairytale of New York.

Written by Shane MacGowan & Jem Finer, the single was released in1987 from the album ‘If I should fall from grace with God’ by The Pogues and that alone takes me back to my early twenties and some fond memories.

Fairytale of New York was reissued in 1991, 1995 2005

Who can argue with the lyrics of Shane MacGowan…

It was Christmas Eve babe Fairytale of New York Christmas
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me, won’t see another one
And then he sang a song
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
And I turned my face away
And dreamed about you

Got on a lucky one Shane MacGowan Kirsty McColl Pouges
Came in eighteen to one
I’ve got a feeling
This year’s for me and you
So happy Christmas
I love you baby
I can see a better time
When all our dreams come true

They’ve got cars
Big as bars
They’ve got rivers of gold
But the wind goes right through you
It’s no place for the old

When you first took my hand
On a cold Christmas Eve
You promised me
Broadway was waiting for me

You were handsome
You were pretty
Queen of New York City
When the band finished playing
They howled out for more
Sinatra was swinging
All the drunks they were singing
We kissed on the corner
Then danced through the night

The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing ‘Galway Bay’
And the bells were ringing
Out for Christmas day

You’re a bum
You’re a punk
You’re an old slut on junk
Living there almost dead on a drip
In that bed

You scum bag
You maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray God
It’s our last

I could have been someone
So could anyone
You took my dreams
From me when I first found you
I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can’t make it all alone
I’ve built my dreams around you

Click here for more information on Shane MacGowan and the Pogues.

Click here to buy alternative Christmas music at the store

Technorati Tags: alternative, christmas, Fairytale, irish, kirsty mcColl, New York, shane macgowan, xmas

Edited: October 15th, 2009

10 Indie Alternative Covers of Xmas Songs

Just before you smash your stereo into a thousand pieces at the prospect of hearing another jingly jangly santa-pop radio hit, remember that next week you’ll need it because you’ll be throwing your own holiday party! Now that’s what I call a dilema, but put down that burning hot pan of mould wine and think twice before sending your boombox to a watery grave.

You don’t HAVE to whack on the same old traditional jumbo to mark out the party as truly festive. I concede that any decent Christmas party play does simply have to include the default standards, but does it have to be at the expense of our sanity? The tunes start doing my head in and after hearing the same tracks at every shop, bar, and telly commercial.

So, here is my own non-traditional xmas compilation. Most of the songs have classic lyrics so everyone can sing along plus the melodies cater to even the shapest pair of Indie ears. It’s a win-win. Now, where did my santa outfit go?

1. Thanks for Christmas -- XTC. This song is upbeat and sure to start off any Christmas party on the right foot. The lyrics hit everyone’s favorite Christmas traditions; decorating the tree, snow falling down and spending time with loved ones.

2. Christmas Party, by The Walkmen. The intro to this track sound like an old Christmas radio show monologue. Then straight into a cheeky 50’s lounge style song making you feel the need to do the Mash Potato around the living room.

3. Jingle bell Rock, by The Arcade Fire. Indie style, everyone knows it. undisputable.

4. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), by Death Cab for Cutie. A lovely , low-key song about longing for that certain somebody at the most special time of the year.

5. A Change at Christmas, by the Flaming Lips. This one embraces all the old-school values of Christmas. Peace on earth and all that jazz! (p.S- it’s not jazzy)

6. Last Christmas, by Jimmy Eat World. A perfect Jimmy Eat World song. The lyrics are a little depressing, but no is Christmas (occasionally)

7. Maybe This Christmas, by Ron Sexsmith. What a classic. An inspiring track about the possibilities and emotions that Christmas time may unearth!

8. Blue Christmas, by Bright Eyes. Did somebody say this was an Alternative Christmas song list? well it wouldn’t be complete without a Bright eyes song. Elvis eat your heart out.

9. All I Want For Christmas is You, by My Chemical Romance. A swift romp, sing-along lyrics and flowing booze makes for a lively xmas bash. Get everyone boogying with this version of a timeless xmas classic

10. Santa, Bring My Baby Back to Me, by Belle and Sebastian. Another track missing a loved one. Brilliant band too. Add this to your playlist to balance out all the Eggnog rowdy-ness.

Technorati Tags: alternative, Bright Eyes, change, cover, last, MCR, party, santa, sexsmith, songs, xmas

Edited: October 13th, 2009

Rock & Metal Alternative Xmas Songs

Here’s my Rock and Metal alternative all time christmas songs!

It’s dark and brutal and a bit like Norway but better than Cliff f***** Richard!

Steven Tyler - Aerosmith Christmas Rocker

1) GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN – Ronnie James Dio

The drama, the majesty, RJD makes this song his own and worthy of my alternative christmas no.1.

2) MISTRESS FOR CHRISTMAS – AC/DC

OKay AC/DC at Christmas doesn’t sound much different to AC/DC any other time of the year but it’s AC/DC for heaven’s sake! In at number 2 for the title alone!!

3) NO PRESENTS FOR CHRISTMAS -- King Diamond It’s the mid 80’s and this is the first satanic heavy metal Christmas song ever recorded. Classic holiday stylings are skewered with Diamond’s operatic vocal styling -- a classic.

4) RUN RUN RUDOLF – Lemmy Kilmister, Billy F. Gibbons & Dave Grohl.

The Motorhead frontman and friends takes this Chuck Berry classic and runs it through the decibel machine. Not quite Overkill but definately no sleep ’til Boxing Day.

5) THE KING IS DEAD – Helstar

Taken from the album’T'was the Night of a Hellish Xmas’, and I’m sure it was, if you were round my place.

6) DECK THE HALLS – Twisted Sister A Twisted Christmas

A Ramones esq pop drunken sing-a-long anthem from A Twisted Christmas! The other video below is for Have Your Self a Merry Little Christmas ‘cos I like the Ramones chants towards the end