Tis the season
Whilst wandering round Marks & Sparks up at Hempstead Valley they were playing the obligatory christmas tunes. Suprisingly M&S can't afford an official music license (even the co-op have got one - we heard "Biology" by Girls Aloud today) and so there was a rendition of my most hated seasonal song - The Fairytale Of New York.
It sounded like this version has been recorded by some random female singer, who sounded like she was on Folk Idol, and a growly irishman, who sounded like he'd been on the Jamiesons all night. When it came to the line "you scumbag,you faggot..." the lyrics were changed to "you scumbag, you're haggard...".
In the context of this song is faggot really that offensive? I know that may sound a little un-pc and i'm being naive but it could genuinely mean that the geezer is nothing better than a ball of grissle coated in sloppy gravy. Discuss...
Then to top it off they still included the line "merry christmas your arse, thank god it's our last". Surely your average M&S shopper would take more offence at the word arse being sung at them whilst browsing through the trouser suits.
posted by Keef at 8:59 PM
13 Comments:
Keith - In no way shape or form should you slight this song. But for someone that owns both Shampoo records what can you say.
9:32 PM
I actually own only the first Shampoo record. I hat this record, it is overplayed, overrated toss.
And as previously stated the best christmas song is Mariah Carey, with Shakey at number 2.
10:51 AM
I believe the Roman Keating/Maire Brennan version took similar liberties with the 'faggot' line but I've only ever managed to listen to it once so can't be sure. Having said that Ronan and Maire are probably the aural equivalent of M&S (good quality but a bit too fucking staid).
If we're gonna do this, my favourite Christmas songs ever are:
1. 'Fairytale Of New York' - Pogues
2. 'All I want for Christmas is You' - Mariah
3. 'It's Christmas (Baby Please Come Home' - Darlene Love
4. 'Lonely This Christmas' - Mud
5. 'Sleigh Ride' - every recording artist ever
And the worst is that Lennon one (even today of all days).
Shampoo ruled, as do Girls Aloud (Biology is like a magic eye picture - I finally found a chorus in it last night). Girl Power!!
12:32 PM
I think my biggest problem with Fairytale... is that it is so utterly overplayed and doesn't feel christmassy enough.
My top 5 -
1. Mariah - All I Want For...
2. Shakey - Merry Christmas Everyone
3. Mud - Lonely This Christmas
4. Elton - Step Into Christmas
5. This is tied with Little St. Nick by the Beach Boys (especially the "run, run reindeer" harmonies) and Santa Baby (sung by loadsa peolpe but the version that sounds like Madonna on the I'm Breathless album is best)
2:39 PM
I can't believe there is no Crosby/Bowie on either of your lists. Sad. I cracked open the best christmas album in the world...ever today and it have the Ronan version on it. Shocking. Also a very cool song about a spaceman being the star that guided the three wise men to "baby jesus" (head was nodded) and then the music came out lalalalalalala. Lilly didn't know what to make of it.
4:22 PM
"A spaceman came a-travelling" is a cast-iron fucking classic. As is Bowie and Bing, you're right it should have been in the top 5. To be honest I love Christmas music so much I could have done a top 20.(or Holiday music, as itunes refers to it - accurate yet extremely annoying in a way that I can't quite put my fingers on)
Also god is "hark the herald angels sing, glory to the Newble king" (well that's what I'm hearing anyway).
5:32 PM
Question - Do many people buy your brother drinks around Christmas Eve seeing as his birthday is the next day? DeBurgh is mental. Classic tune but the words are nuts. I'm going to be burning a christmas album this weekend but without shakey it doesn't seem right.
6:04 PM
I'm just pleased that someone else in the universe has heard of the Elton Xmas classic "Step into Xmas". Rob was starting to think it was a bad dream I once had. # Step into Christmas, The admission's free-ee-ee#
1:51 PM
Yay for Shakey! Although that must be the *one* of his pre-butlins period that I don't have on Vinyl.
Am I gonna get roasted for offering Chris Rea - Driving Home for Christmas? Only it's usually playing on the radio as I trundle down the A303 on Christmas Eve. I'll also put in a vote for Slade if only because it's my birthday song.
Top five would include:
- Nat King Cole: Christmas Song
- Chubby Checker: Jingle Bell Rock
- Booker T & MGs: Jingle Bells
- Elmo & Patsy: Grandma got run over by a raindeer
Fairytale is certainly overplayed, but for once with good reason.
The Lennon one is primarily ruined by the choir at the end.
The *only* thing of merit to have emerged from Chris de Burgh EVER is the spermatazoa that lead to his daughter.
Oh - and Shampoo did indeed rock. I had the single and just found out a mate went to school with them. You can keep yer Girls Aloud fer dog-food though :/
4:32 PM
That should be spermatozoan shouldn't it?
In my defense - I am really quite drunk and just waiting for 5pm....
4:33 PM
Quite drunk pre 5pm? Oh how I long to have a job in the UK. Lunchtime drinking is incredibly frowned open over here. Holiday party tonight. Whoo Hooo. Note: Holiday party. I have been corrected numerous times when I call it a Crimbo party. For the record I just sent Stu a Doug and Bob McKenzie recording of the 12 days of christmas. It's an instant classic
6:53 PM
Oh Jim, I was so proud that none of us had used that awful abbreviation of Christmas and i'd hoped we could have gone the full festive season without saying CRIMBO.
I think i hate that word as much as "Fairytale..."
Rufous - I don't think you deserve roasting for offering Rea, just some mild tutting. It is quite seasonal though. I'd quite like to hear the Booket T version of Jingle Bells.
I assume Elmo & Patsy aren't the Sesame Street and Strictly Come Dancing stars i'd like them to be
10:05 AM
Leef I apologise but since being cut off from blighty I find myself getting all cockney at times and wearing Ben Sherman.
4:58 PM
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