Farewell, Fairytale of New Yorker

[Jaded]

Shane MacGowan has died

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/nov/30/shane-macgowan-pogues-singer-dies

[Mr Larrington]

I bet that news has made Keith a bit nervous.

[Pingu]

That's the christmas No. 1 sorted then.

[spesh]

I bet that news has made Keith a bit nervous.

<ObligKeefHighlanderTrope>

Every time a musician dies, Keith Richards experiences The Quickening.

There can be only one!

</ObligKeefHighlanderTrope>

[IanDG]

 :'(

My favourite Shane MacGowan story is the one in which he rented an apartment from Bono and used to expose himself to passing trains hoping that passengers would think it was Bono

[citoyen]

That's the christmas No. 1 sorted then.

You won't get very good odds on that. (M'colleague has already checked.)

[Steph]

I bet that news has made Keith a bit nervous.

<ObligKeefHighlanderTrope>

Every time a musician dies, Keith Richards experiences The Quickening.

There can be only one!

</ObligKeefHighlanderTrope>

I will repost a joke from Judy Collins:

Every time someone smokes a cigarette, god takes away an hour of their life--- and gives it to Keith Richards

[TheLurker]

I'm surprised he lasted this long.

[woollypigs]

I saw him on a stage at a festival in Denmark back in 96. As I walked past I counted 15 full pints behind him. Tried to listen to what he was saying, cause surely that couldn't be singing yet, since the pints were full, but I didn't understand a thing.

I walked on to find another band at another stage, which sadly had to cancel, as I walked into the tent. The singer had jumped of the stage and broken both legs, at least he finished the song.

So I walked back past the the stage where Shane were now spilling his last pint, of the 15 that was lined up. And now it sounded more like singing and music.

[rogerzilla]

Apparently he was a cheap lousy faggot.

[toontra]

I’ve known Shane from the early days of the Nipps (Nipple Erectors) when we played the same bills in Camden in the late 70’s (Music Machine, Electric Ballroom, etc).  He was always part of the Camden music scene. 

When I moved to London in the early 80’s he was omni-present in the best pubs (Devonshire Arms, Good Mixer and later the Engine Room).  A plethora of stars were drawn into his orbit and it was no surprise to see him sitting with Kate Moss, Elvis Costello, Johnny Depp, etc.  He was always a good source of after-hours drinking holes in Camden and Soho in the days when hours were much more restrictive, but for that (and the lost days as a result) I can’t blame him 

The thing is, he was always the most polite drunk.  I never saw him lairy or obnoxious - just a really sweet, gentle character.  His demise is no surprise but sad none the less.  He was blessed with having an amazingly supportive wife, who will no doubt have been an enormous comfort to him towards the end.

[robgul]

I bet the The boys of the NYPD choir will miss him

[Tim Hall]

I think I only saw the Pogues live once, at the GLC Jobs for a Change thing in Battersea Park, 1985. MacGowan was absolutely shit faced, slurring and could hardly stand. We left after a couple of numbers.

Sally MacLenanne is one of the best songs written. "Some people left for heaven without warning."

[Mr Larrington]

I ended up a barman in the morning.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Sally MacLenanne is one of the best songs written. "Some people left for heaven without warning."

We walked him to the station in the rain
We kissed him as we put him on the train

It's probably the only Pogues song, apart from Fairytale (which I find nauseous in a Whamageddon-like way), that I both know and know that I know. Apart from "Lend me ten pounds and I'll buy you a drink".

Ed: And Dirty Old Town of course. Okay, if I think about this there's probably loads.

[citoyen]

Ed: And Dirty Old Town of course. Okay, if I think about this there's probably loads.

Not really a Pogues song though. Nor is The Irish Rover, which I'm sure you also know.

It's sometimes hard to tell with Pogues songs whether they're genuine traditional folk songs or ersatz McGowan creations, such was his ability to write songs with that timeless quality. Body of an American is a great example (you might remember it from The Wire, sung at McNulty's "wake") for the way it evokes Irish-American folklore.

Rainy Night in Soho will always be my favourite Pogues song.

Dammit, I seem to have a speck of dust in my eye...

Fairytale has been ruined by being overplayed but it's still a songwriting masterclass.

[fd3]

The worms crawl in and the worms crawl out...

[Regulator]

The Grauniad is getting some flack for its obituary of MacGowan.

I think the most obvious mistake is where they describe him as a singer...

[Cudzoziemiec]

Ed: And Dirty Old Town of course. Okay, if I think about this there's probably loads.

Not really a Pogues song though. Nor is The Irish Rover, which I'm sure you also know.

It's a question for another thread though, is a song yours because you wrote it or because you're known for singing it? Both IMO, but that's just IMO.

[citoyen]

Ed: And Dirty Old Town of course. Okay, if I think about this there's probably loads.

Not really a Pogues song though. Nor is The Irish Rover, which I'm sure you also know.

It's a question for another thread though, is a song yours because you wrote it or because you're known for singing it? Both IMO, but that's just IMO.

I agree - especially when it’s a definitive cover you can “take ownership” of a song.

But I was brought up by a hardcore folkie so had Ewan McColl’s version imprinted on my consciousness long before the Pogues did it.

[PeterM]

A curiosity from the mid-1980s: a well refreshed performance of Dirty Old Town on French TV by The Pogues with Alain Bashung, who at that time was capable of matching MacGowan or Gainsbourg drink for drink

[T42]

A curiosity from the mid-1980s: a well refreshed performance of Dirty Old Town on French TV by The Pogues with Alain Bashung, who at that time was capable of matching MacGowan or Gainsbourg drink for drink

But not note for note. Jesus wept.

[PeterM]

But not note for note. Jesus wept.

I didn't say it was good...