Sam Ryder would “love” The Pogues to beat him to Christmas Number One

Shane MacGowan’s widow Victoria Mary Clarke has reacted to the news that The Pogues’ ‘Fairytale of New York’ was beaten to Christmas Number One by Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’. Writing on X, she posted a link to the George Michael/Andrew Ridgeley track and said: “I love Wham!!! We loved George.” Wham! claimed the top spot on Friday (December 22), finally landing the coveted Christmas Number One for the first time after 39 years. I love ❤️ Wham!!! We loved George ❤️ Wham! – Last Christmas (Official Video) https://t.co/k1nrzqC8X3 via @YouTube— @victoriamary (@Victoriamary) December 24, 2023It made history as having the longest-ever journey to the UK Christmas Number One, after being held off the top on its original release in 1984 by Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’.

Last Christmas by Wham! has made pop history, topping the Christmas chart for the first time since it was released almost four decades ago.

Wham! have earned the Christmas Number One with their iconic holiday hit ‘Last Christmas’ after attempting to land the spot for 39 years.The track was penned and produced by the late George Michael with the aim of landing the Christmas Number One in 1984. However, ‘Last Christmas’ was kept off the top spot upon release by Band-Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’, a track that would go on to become the second best-selling single of all time.Today, almost four decades later, ‘Last Christmas’ has earned the festive top spot.

The Libertines have covered The Pogues‘ ‘Fairy Tale Of New York’ in tribute to the band’s late frontman, Shane MacGowan.The band – comprised of Pete Doherty, Carl Barât, John Hassall and Gary Powell – shared a video on their official Instagram page of Barât playing the famous Christmas tune on the piano with both him and Doherty singing along. The caption of the video read: “RIP Shane, this one’s for you matey x”.Two days later, they posted another video of the whole band performing ‘Fairy Tale Of New York’ while on stage during one of their intimate shows.” Another one for Shane x,” read the caption.MacGowan was laid to rest on December 8 after he died from pneumonia in hospital, aged 65, on November 30.

David Byrne has curated a Christmas playlist which features The Pogues, Phoebe Bridgers, Prince and more.Created as part of NPR’s Fresh Air series, the 19-track playlist spans different genres with songs to get anyone fully in the holiday spirit. Byrne described the playlist as “something that will bring a little joy to the holidays.”While speaking to NPR, the former Talking Heads frontman explained why the band never wanted to make a holiday album.

NME about how her campaign is about “how climate change affects us all”.Louise Harris released the stirring ‘We Tried’ in November, with the track already having topped the UK iTunes singles chart. Broadcaster Chris Packham has got behind her bid for a Christmas hit, while iconic musician and producer Brian Eno describing the song as “a powerful weapon”.Harris, 25, from Hertfordshire, was arrested after performing the track at a peaceful protest outside Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s home at the end of November.

Wham! taking the lead for the peak position on the charts.The news follows a neck-and-neck race between the iconic ‘80s pop duo Wham! And Eurovision star Sam Ryder over the past week, with their respective songs ‘Last Christmas’ [1986] and ‘You’re Christmas To Me’ [2023].At the first look at the race last week, just 42 chart units stood between the two taking the top spot on the UK charts, however, this week it has been revealed by the Official Charts that Wham! are in pole position, and have widened the gap between Ryder’s Amazon Music original track – which remains at Number Two.However, it doesn’t seem likely that the charts will stay this way until Christmas, with Ryder set to play a fan-exclusive gig tonight (December 19) in Shoreditch, London, in a push to promote the song in time for Christmas Day.Similarly, today (December 19) The Pogues are sharing a special, limited-edition physical run of their own iconic Christmas song ‘Fairytale Of New York’ in a push to climb the charts.Originally released in 1988 and featuring Kirsty MacColl, the track is being reissued in memory of the band’s late singer Shane MacGowan, who died “peacefully” in hospital from pneumonia on November 30. He was 65 years old and his funeral took place in Nenagh, County Tipperary on December 8.All proceeds from the reissue will be donated to the Irish charity Dublin Simon Community, and the release also arrived alongside a fan campaign to get Fairytale of New York to Christmas Number 1 for the first time.The push for the top position on the charts has also been endorsed by Shane MacGowan’s widow, Victoria Mary Clarke.

Olly Alexander has said shares his hopes to “fly the flag for the country in the gayest way possible” when he performs as the UK’s entry at Eurovision 2024.The Years & Years singer will represent the country next year in Malmö, Sweden – the hometown of this year’s winner Loreen – as revealed during the Strictly Come Dancing final this weekend.He will succeed the UK’s previous contestant Mae Muller, who finished second to last in the 2023 competition.The artist previously shared on social media that it was “very difficult to keep quiet”, but that he has “wanted to do this for a long time.”In a statement released Saturday (December 16), the ‘King’ singer vowed to “fly the flag for the UK in the gayest way possible” and “put on an unforgettable performance”.While details about the song currently remain under wraps, Alexander has confirmed that it was co-written by Danny L Harle, who has produced Dua Lipa‘s new song ‘Houdini‘ alongside Tame Impala‘s Kevin Parker.“It’s gonna be electronic, something you can dance to,” Alexander told the BBC. “But I can’t say much more than that.“I just can’t wait to get out there and meet the fans and everyone else taking part,” he added.

The Pogues’ ‘Fairytale Of New York’ is set to be released on 7-inch vinyl for charity.Frontman Shane MacGowan was laid to rest on December 8 after he died from pneumonia in hospital, aged 65, on November 30. His family, friends and the band themselves are now releasing their Christmas classic single to raise money for charity.All proceeds from the sales will go to Dublin Simon Community – a charity supported by Shane and his widow Victoria Mary Clarke.According to a press statement, the release is also to “celebrate the man himself” by getting the song, which has never topped the charts, to Number One.The 7-inch single will come with ‘Fairytale Of New York’ on the A-side with an instrumental version of the track on the B-side.

Mariah Carey welcomed two powerhouse collaborators to the stage for a surprise performance during her holiday concert in New York City on Saturday night (December 9).

The Pogues performed together for the first time since 2014 at Shane MacGowan’s funeral to play a version of ‘The Parting Glass’. Watch the video below.The Pogues frontman passed away “peacefully” on November 30, having died from pneumonia aged 65.

Shane MacGowan’s funeral today (December 8).The Irish singer-songwriter and former Pogues frontman died from pneumonia in hospital, aged 65, on November 30. It came after he had been diagnosed with encephalitis and had been in ill health.As reported by BBC, the procession took place between 11am and 11:45am GMT around the south inner city, close to where MacGowan lived in Ballsbridge.

The Darkness have paid tribute to the late Shane MacGowan at a recent show in Dublin by leading the crowd through a sing-along of The Pogues’ signature song, ‘Fairytale of New York’. At the band’s show at Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre on December 3, they performed the cover towards the end of the set, with frontman Justin Hawkins singing minimally, frequently pointing the microphone towards the crowd as an invitation to lead the sing-along, against sporadic guitar accompaniment.The band posted a clip of the performance on X yesterday (December 7), writing: “Thanks for the sing-a-long Dublin.

Shane MacGowan‘s cause of death has been revealed after The Pogues frontman’s passing last week.The Irish singer-songwriter died from pneumonia in hospital, aged 65, on November 30, as shared by his wife Victoria Mary Clarke in The New York Times.He died “peacefully” and was surrounded by his family, while tributes have since poured in for the ‘Fairytale Of New York’ musician from the likes of Nick Cave and U2.Details around MacGowan’s death come after Clarke shared on social media that her husband was “so determined to live only a few days ago”.In another fresh tribute shared over the weekend, she wrote that “losing Shane has been the thing that I feared most for a very long time, almost since we first got together”.It’s so hard to believe that someone could be so vibrant and beautiful and so determined to live only a few days ago. But so many people are losing loved ones all over the world.

Billboard Hot 100 chart that was released on Monday.That’s almost exactly 63 years after the tinsel tune first hit the Hot 100, at No. 64, on Dec. 12, 1960.Lee’s third career chart-topper — and first since 1960’s “I Want to Be Wanted” — previously peaked at No.

The Pogues‘ Christmas hit ‘Fairytale of New York’ has re-entered the Top 40 following the news of frontman Shane MacGowan‘s death.On November 30, it was announced that MacGowan passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and friends. Since the news, fans have begun rallying to get the song to Number One.MacGowan’s wife Victoria Mary Clarke has now joined the campaign, saying she was “very much in favour” of the track topping the charts.

Bruce Springsteen has written a touching tribute to Shane MacGowan following the news of his death.On November 30, it was announced that MacGowan, lead singer of The Pogues, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and friends. So far, the likes of Pete Doherty and Nick Cave have paid tribute to MacGowan- a running list of tributes can be found here.Now, Springsteen has written his own homage to the iconic singer in a post shared to social media: “Over here on E Street, we are heartbroken over the death of Shane MacGowan.”“Shane was one of my all-time favorite writers,” he continued.

“Fairytale of New York” songwriter died at 3 a.m. Thursday with his wife and family by his side.

Shane MacGowan’s sister Siobhan has said that ‘Fairytale of New York’ “captured what Christmas was like for a lot of people”. Siobhan MacGowan was speaking about the song to Hot Press Magazine, where she said, “I thought it was absolutely amazing.

Shane MacGowan's cause of death has been revealed by his heartbroken widow after she announced the late singer's passing on Thursday, November 30.