“Fairytale of New York” – The Pogues w/ Kirsty MacColl
(Words/music: Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan, available on If I Should Fall From Grace With God, Island 1988)

Each year around this time, the number of people who claim “Fairytale of New York” as their favorite Christmas song swells just a little bit.  Understandably, of course, as this is a rare charismatic holiday song amidst a sea of mall muzak and overplayed standards.  MacColl and MacGowan sing with such convincing personality – MacGowan’s voice seems destined for telling a drunk’s story, and MacColl plays his foil with brassy, beautiful charm.  Even without getting into the story, MacGowan’s gruffness, MacColl’s melancholy, and the swelling instrumentation behind them communicates all of the emotions that play out – revelry, melancholy, regret, and hope.

Beyond the song’s vocal and melodic charms, the two lovers’ story resonates with many, particularly in a season of commercialism and abstract love.  Yes, the protagonists seem to be at rock bottom – MacGowan’s character is sobering up in jail while MacColl is dying from a drug addition.  However, despite their frustration, bitterness, and regret they never fall entirely into despondence.  MacColl comes closest, accusing MacGowan of stifling her potential, yet it’s right after she claims that anyone could “be someone.”  Instead, however the song plays out – whether it’s all in MacGowan’s head or whether this is a split screen / split narrative scene – both characters focus on the hopeful Christmases in their past.  Maybe it’s the optimist in me, but it seems like they do this not to point out that they are hopeless, but rather as a way of recapturing any shred of their dreams, ultimately realizing that the only thing they have left is each other, no matter how much they irk each other.  Even if they’re shells of their former selves, there’s hope that somewhere deep is a shred of what inspired their dreams in the first place.

I think it’s this sense of hope even in the bleakest times that resonates.  Even in tough times, Christmas represents a moment of joy and hope for many people.  In a strange way, MacGowan and MacColl’s characters find joy in their loved ones, even if they’re referring to each other in less than affectionate language.  Hopefully we can find that too without having to hit the same nadir they experience.

Happy Christmas if you celebrate it, and I hope that it’s a time of peace, hope, and reprieve for all who need it.

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