It’s not often you get to sing these words on a Saturday afternoon in the centre of your local town, but it gave me a bit of a thrill to do just that this weekend.
Our singing group concluded its season of ‘gigs’ by performing some show tunes and Christmas songs as part of the Christmas light switch-on celebrations in Spalding. We entertained the shoppers in town that day with tunes from My Fair Lady, Les Miserables, The Sound of Music and Joseph, amongst others. To finish the set we sang ‘Winter Wonderland’ and ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’ and our MD, Craig, channelled Michael Buble with gorgeous renditions of ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time’ and ‘Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas’.
And what did yours truly sing? ‘Fairytale of New York’ by The Pogues. I had a whale of a time singing the Kirsty MacColl part, with Martin in fine voice singing the Shane MacGowan lines. It was a complete contrast to the ballad, ‘If I Loved You’ from Carousel which I had performed earlier in the set. I was a little worried about singing it as the lyrics are a bit coarse and I was conscious that children from the local primary schools were already gathering by the stage (okay, the trailer) to follow us for a choir competition. I had visions of shocked parents complaining about that woman in the red coat (could I have stood out any more wearing that?!) and her potty mouth.
Unlike our last concert which we had recorded and you were able to enjoy here (probably not the right word, considering my Sister Act squawking) there is no video of the performance this time. So instead you will have to make do with The Pogues themselves and just use your imagination….
Hmmm, I'm getting this vision, a lady in red, and now… oh no, bloody Chris de Burgh. Quick, better click the link to The Pogues.
I think we'll sing 'A Spaceman came Travelling' next year just to annoy you, Tim .
That's one of my favourite xmas songs (although makes me feel a little sad as Kirsty is no longer around) and it's not everyday you get to say arse to an audience!
It's a fabulous song to sing and it meant a lot to me to be singing the Kirsty part. So tragic she died so young.
I think it is a very romantic song, building up to the final line "I've built my dreams around you".
I had no clear idea about the lyrics until I read them properly. I agree, the lines at the end are beautiful. The female line is "You took my dreams from me when I first found you" and the male responds "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."
Ah I'm getting all sentimental now, Troy.
My goodness, that's an attention grabbing blog title!
I toyed with "You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot" but thought the one I chose was a bit more punchy…
Sorry we missed it. A School Governor singing about arses would have been well worth freezing for!! Repeat performance at the lunch on Wednesday? x
I was so relieved when I heard our school choir was singing later in the afternoon. I reckon I might have been defrocked, if that's what happens to embarrassing governors? I'm sure the little 'uns would love a rendition next week!
I love that song….and your coat is very festive!
That coat is donkey's years old but is great on a cold and frosty day.
Definitely the best Christmas song ever (The Pogues). Cliff Richard my arse!
I was so honoured to sing it as I agree, it's a cracking song. Mistletoe and wine can't beat the boys from the NYPD choir.
I also thought you looked very festive, and that is my favourite ever Christmas song. Now if only the Sally Army sang it…
Do you get the Sally Army round your way? With all the drug and alcohol references it would be quite apt for them to sing it, I think.
I love "Fairytale of New York", as it happens, was listening to the Pogues at the weekend!
Love the fact that you are standing out in your red coat, very festive.
How many children (or parents) did you shock, by the way? ;o) xx
I've no idea how many I shocked. I scarpered pretty quickly afterwards. Hoping the arse might have passed them by…!
I'm a huge Kirsty McColl fan – just wish I had a voice strong enough to sing that part!
It was great to sing, not too high so I could belt it out and didn't have to go into my head voice. Main problem was the number of words in the first verse of Kirsty's part – but the wind goes right through you, it's no place for the old – was really hard to fit in!