Written by: Alex Green

The death of Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan has prompted many to speculate that the band’s evergreen “Fairytale Of New York” (a duet with Kirsty MacColl) could hit #1 in the UK.

Although “Fairytale of New York is the most played Christmas track of the 21st century in the UK and it has landed in the UK Top 20 nineteen different Christmas seasons since it was released in 1987, it has never landed at #1.

The song that prevented it from the top spot in 1987? The Pet Shop Boys’ cover of “Always On My Mind.”

Named after J.P. Donleavy’s 1973 novel A Fairytale of New York, modern folklore has suggested that the song, which was originally written in 1985, was composed to win a bet with Elvis Costello, who challenged the Pogues to write a Christmas anthem.

The result of this wager is perhaps the greatest Christmas song ever written. MacGowan himself knew the song had an enduring quality—in a 2020 interview he declared the track to be the Pogues’ “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

MacGowan’s death has prompted his devoted fans to flock to social media and lobby for the song to top the charts.

The late singer’s birthday falls on Christmas Day, which would only amplify the significance of the achievement.