Jonny McCambridge: Why Radio 1 was right to edit The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York

Back when I started my music collection consisted of their albums copied onto blank cassettes and songs recorded off the radio. Now, I just have to shout out ‘Alexa’ to hear whatever track I desire

Anyone familiar with MacGowan’s canon will realise Fairytale of New York is one of his least provocative songs.

His gift is an ability to bring poetry to depictions of the rough edges of society and in making us believe that he is a participant in his tales, rather than an onlooker.

Fairytale demonstrates this perfectly. It remains a beautiful piece of storytelling which has somehow resisted becoming stale.

Like all artists MacGowan has the right to express himself as he chooses, without fear of censorship or interference.

But I still think Radio 1 was right, for their audience, to edit the words of his most famous composition. Unlike other Pogues songs, Fairytale was a deliberate attempt to enter the mainstream. Because of its festive theme and popularity it is relentlessly played in settings where children and young adults will hear it.

Furthermore, I find it a peculiar argument that appreciation of the song is any way lessened by replacing two words of abuse with two more moderately abusive words. It makes not the slightest difference to me.

Besides, if I am ever overcome with a desperate desire to hear it in its original state, all I have to do is shout for Alexa.

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