On this, its 25th anniversary, bookmakers Paddy Power have offered odds of 20/1 for it to become this year's Christmas No.1. In Ireland the bookies are giving odds of 9/1 for it hitting the top spot. The song is also tipped to be this year's Top Christmas Cracker which is the highest placed previously released Christmas single with odds of 1/33 ahead of Slade, Wham and Mariah Carey.
It would be brilliant to see Fairytale of New York as this year's Christmas chart topping tune. It is definitely my favourite Christmas song and it deserves recognition on its 25th anniversary.
The Pogues themselves are supporting the cause, with a one-off UK show on Thursday 20th December at the London O2 Arena. In the media there will be a documentary on the story of the song on BBC 6Music on 15th December at 12pm. The song will also be the main subject of ITV1’s ‘Nations Favourite Christmas Song’ on Saturday 22nd December.
The single has been reissued by Warner Music on iTunes and as a limited edition 7" vinyl. What started off as a limited run of singles for die hard fans is becoming a serious contender for this year's Christmas number one! The original single, the video and the instrumental track is available in a digital bundle from iTunes for just £1.50 for all three.
With the travesty of X Factor threatening to claim Christmas No.1 with a cheesy Christopher Maloney ear-bleedingly bad power ballad, I feel that the release of the 25th anniversary edition of Fairytale of New York gives all of us real music fans the opportunity to put this much loved and arguably the best ever Christmas song back at the top of the charts where it belongs.
Let's give Fairytale of New York the fairytale ending it so deserves!
The Pogues ‘Fairytale of New York’ 25th Anniversary single is available on limited edition 7” vinyl now on Rhino UK and digitally on iTunes. The Pogues play the London O2 Arena on 20th December.