Shane MacGowan responds to Jon Bon Jovi's cover of 'Fairytale of New York'
The cover has been slammed by many on social media
Last updated 10th Dec 2020
Shane MacGowan has defended Bon Jovi frontman Jon Bon Jovi’s much-maligned cover of The Pogues’ 1987 festive classic ‘Fairytale of New York’.
On Monday (7th December), Jon Bon Jovi announced that as “an early holiday gift” for fans he has released a three-song festive collection called ‘A Jon Bon Jovi Christmas’, featuring covers of ‘Fairytale of New York,’ Tom Petty’s ‘Christmas All Over Again’, and Elvis Presley’s ‘If I Get Home on Christmas Day.’
Frequently voted as the greatest Christmas song of all time in polls and the most-played Christmas song of the 21st century in the UK, it was always a bold move for Jon Bon Jovi to cover ‘Fairytale of New York’, and, unsurprisingly, it has been duly savaged by some on social media.
One Twitter user wrote: “Just listened to the Bon Jovi version of Fairytale of New York and I can honestly say, with no exaggeration whatsoever, that my day is ruined.”
Listen to Jon Bon Jovi's cover of 'Fairytale of New York':
Jon Bon Jovi’s take on ‘Fairytale of New York’ sees him sing both Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl’s parts and also change the infamous swearing lines to “You’re a squirrel ‘cause you’re nuts / You’re a kick in the gut.”
Perhaps indicative of the cover’s widespread lack of appeal, the video on Bon Jovi’s YouTube channel has almost three times more dislikes (1.5k) to likes (542) at the time of writing.
The most-liked comment reads: “Those of us in the US with the ability to hear would like to humbly apologize to the good people of Ireland for this dumpster fire of a song cover. I'd rather listen to Yoko Ono's "music". 2020, you've outdone yourself!”
Despite the outpouring of critical comments online, Shane MacGowan has praised Jon Bon Jovi’s take on the track.
Shane’s wife Victoria Mary Clarke wrote on Twitter: “Shane says @BonJovi is a talented guy and he likes the version, and he thinks it’s interesting and soulful.”
Offering her own view, Clarke added: “I think everyone who wants to judge others for their versions should have to sing it themselves to qualify!”
The Pogues’s official Twitter account - which is not run by Shane - had a less complimentary view of the cover.
The account retweeted controversial comments by Irish musician Rob Smith, who called it (amongst other things) “the worst thing to ever happen (in) music… Thanks a lot, Jon. Kid’s crying now saying “Christmas is ruined”.
They replied: “What Rob said.”
Such is its enduring popularity, The Pogues' ‘Fairytale of New York’ is currently at Number 8 on the Official Singles Chart.
The real names of famous rock stars, including Bon Jovi:
Cozy Powell’s real name: Colin Trevor Flooks
Alex Lifeson’s real name: Alexandar Živojinović
'Lifeson' is a semi-literal English translation of the Yugoslavian surname Živojinović, which means 'son of life'
Ginger Baker's real name: Peter Edward Baker
John 5’s real name: John William Lowery
Yngwie Malmsteen’s real name: Lars Johann Yngwie Lannerback
Rudy Sarzo’s real name: Rodolfo Maximiliano Sarzo Lavieille Grande Ruiz Payret y Chaumont
Eric Carr's real name: Paul Charles Caravello
Vinnie Vincent’s real name: Vincent John Cusano
Tina Turner’s real name: Anna Mae Bullock
King Diamond’s real name: Kim Bendix Petersen
Joey Tempest's real name: Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson
Michael Monroe’s real name: Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm
Mikkey Dee’s real name: Micael Kiriakos Delaoglou
Jonathan Cain’s real name: Jonathan Leonard Friga
Nikki Sixx's real name: Frank Ferrano
Steven Adler’s real name: Michael Coletti
Axl Rose's real name: William Bruce Rose
Bon Scott's real name: Ronald Belford Scott
Fish’s real name: Derek William Dick
Eddie Vedder's real name: Edward Louis Severson III
Peter Criss’ real name: George Peter John Criscuola
Freddie Mercury's real name: Farrokh Bulsara
Flea's real name: Michael Peter Balzary
Perry Farrell's real name: Perry Bernstein
Geddy Lee’s real name: Gary Lee Weinrib
Mick Mars' real name: Robert Deal
Tré Cool's real name: Frank Edwin Wright III
Courtney Love's real name: Courtney Michelle Harrison
Pat Smear's real name: Georg Albert Ruthenberg
Gene Simmons' real name: Chaim Klein Witz
Spike’s real name: Jonathan Gray
Iggy Pop's real name: James Newell Osterberg, JR.
Alice Cooper's real name: Vincent Damon Furnier
Slash's real name: Saul Hudson
Mike Dirnt's real name: Michael Ryan Pritchard
Ronnie James Dio's real name: Ronald James Padavona
Brody Dalle's real name: Bree Joanna Alice Robinson
Skin's real name: Deborah Anne Dyer
Nicky Wire's real name: Nicholas Jones
Amy Lee's real name: Amy Lynn Hartzler
Bill Wyman's real name: William Perks
Izzy Stradlin's real name: Jeffrey Isbell
Paul Stanley's real name: Stanley Eisen
Vince Neil's real name: Vincent Neil Wharton
Duff McKagan's real name: Michael McKagan
Jack Black’s real name: Thomas Jacob Black
Lemmy's real name: Ian Fraser Kilmister
John Paul Jones' real name: John Baldwin
Joan Jett's real name: Joan Larkin
Eric Clapton's real name: Eric Patrick Clapp
Siouxsie Sioux's real name: Susan Janet Ballion
Rachel Bolan’s real name: James Richard Southworth
David Bowie's real name: David Robert Hayward Stenton Jones
Little Richard's real name: Richard Wayne Penniman
Sid Vicious' real name: John Simon Ritchie
Ace Frehley's real name: Paul Daniel Frehley
Lou Reed's real name: Louis Firbank
Joe Strummer's real name: John Graham Mellor
Marc Bolan's real name: Mark Feld
The Edge's real name: David Howell Evans
Meat Loaf's real name: Marvin Lee Aday
Steven Tyler's real name: Steven Victor Tallarico
Ozzy Osbourne's real name: John Michael Osbourne
Jon Bon Jovi's real name: John Francis Bongiovi
Joey Belladonna’s real name: Joseph Bellardini
Jack White's real name: John Anthony Gillis
Bono's real name: Paul David Hewson
Sting's real name: Gordon Sumner
Billy Idol’s real name: William Michael Albert Broad
Geezer Butler’s real name: Terence Butler
Pat Benatar’s real name: Patricia Mae Giraldo
Bo Diddley’s real name: Ellas McDaniel
Muddy Waters’ real name: McKinley Morganfield
Stevie Nicks’ real name: Stephanie Lynn Nicks
Doro’s real name: Dorothee Pesch
Sebastian Bach’s real name: Sebastian Philip Bierk
Joe Perry’s real name: Joseph Pereira
Jimi Hendrix’s real name: James Marshall Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix)
Zakk Wylde’s real name: Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt
Maynard James Keenan’s real name: James Herbert Keenan
Blaze Bayley’s real name: Bayley Alexander Cooke
Biff Byford's real name: Peter Rodney Byford
M. Shadows' real name: Matthew Charles Sanders
Syd Barrett's real name: Roger Keith Barrett
Chris Jericho's real name: Christopher Keith Irvine
Ginger Wildheart's real name: David Leslie Walls
Paul Di'Anno's real name: Paul Andrews
Phil X’s real name: Theofilos Xenidis
Peter Green’s real name: Peter Allen Greenbaum
Nicko McBrain’s real name: Michael Henry McBrain
Noddy Holder’s real name: Neville John Holder
Steel Panther’s real names
Michael Starr: Ralph Michael Saenz, Satchel: Russell John Parrish, Stix Zadinia: Darren Leader, Spyder: Joe Lester.