The Pogues’ raucous Christmas classic, “Fairytale of New York” has been officially declared the most played holiday song of the century in Britain.
The Daily Express reports that the Shane McGowan/Kirsty MacColl duet has had more plays on radio, TV and the web since 2000 than any other Christmas track. Ironically, the song didn’t make it to #1 when first released, because the Pet Shop Boys’ “Always on My Mind” took the Christmas top slot in 1987.
Also in the Top 5, as compiled by music licensing organization PPL, were Wham!’s “Last Christmas” in second place, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” at #3, Wizzards’s “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday” at #4 and Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” at #5.