Here’s the latest in the race for Christmas Number One with Wham! facing off The Pogues and Sam Ryder

The Pogues‘ Spider Stacy and The Mary Wallopers rang in the New Year by paying tribute to Shane MacGowan with a rendition of ‘Streams Of Whiskey’ on Jools Holland‘s Hootenanny.The Irish folk band performed the 1984 track alongside Stacy, who featured on the tin whistle, on the annual show. You can view it below.Posting on Twitter, The Pogues re-shared the performance and wrote: “For Shane, Streams of Whiskey with ⁦@marywallopers & ⁦@spiderstacy on Jools’ Hootenanny last night.

Shane MacGowan’s widow Victoria Mary Clarke has reacted to the news that The Pogues’ ‘Fairytale of New York’ was beaten to Christmas Number One by Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’. Writing on X, she posted a link to the George Michael/Andrew Ridgeley track and said: “I love Wham!!! We loved George.” Wham! claimed the top spot on Friday (December 22), finally landing the coveted Christmas Number One for the first time after 39 years. I love ❤️ Wham!!! We loved George ❤️ Wham! – Last Christmas (Official Video) https://t.co/k1nrzqC8X3 via @YouTube— @victoriamary (@Victoriamary) December 24, 2023It made history as having the longest-ever journey to the UK Christmas Number One, after being held off the top on its original release in 1984 by Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’.

Last Christmas by Wham! has made pop history, topping the Christmas chart for the first time since it was released almost four decades ago.

Wham! have earned the Christmas Number One with their iconic holiday hit ‘Last Christmas’ after attempting to land the spot for 39 years.The track was penned and produced by the late George Michael with the aim of landing the Christmas Number One in 1984. However, ‘Last Christmas’ was kept off the top spot upon release by Band-Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’, a track that would go on to become the second best-selling single of all time.Today, almost four decades later, ‘Last Christmas’ has earned the festive top spot.

Wham! have secured the Christmas 2023 number one single with Last Christmas, having missed out on the title for 39 years. The pop duo, comprised of the late George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, landed the top UK chart spots for their first and second albums and also found success with a number of hits – including Last Christmas in December 1984.

The Libertines have covered The Pogues‘ ‘Fairy Tale Of New York’ in tribute to the band’s late frontman, Shane MacGowan.The band – comprised of Pete Doherty, Carl Barât, John Hassall and Gary Powell – shared a video on their official Instagram page of Barât playing the famous Christmas tune on the piano with both him and Doherty singing along. The caption of the video read: “RIP Shane, this one’s for you matey x”.Two days later, they posted another video of the whole band performing ‘Fairy Tale Of New York’ while on stage during one of their intimate shows.” Another one for Shane x,” read the caption.MacGowan was laid to rest on December 8 after he died from pneumonia in hospital, aged 65, on November 30.

David Byrne has curated a Christmas playlist which features The Pogues, Phoebe Bridgers, Prince and more.Created as part of NPR’s Fresh Air series, the 19-track playlist spans different genres with songs to get anyone fully in the holiday spirit. Byrne described the playlist as “something that will bring a little joy to the holidays.”While speaking to NPR, the former Talking Heads frontman explained why the band never wanted to make a holiday album.

NME about how her campaign is about “how climate change affects us all”.Louise Harris released the stirring ‘We Tried’ in November, with the track already having topped the UK iTunes singles chart. Broadcaster Chris Packham has got behind her bid for a Christmas hit, while iconic musician and producer Brian Eno describing the song as “a powerful weapon”.Harris, 25, from Hertfordshire, was arrested after performing the track at a peaceful protest outside Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s home at the end of November.

Olly Alexander has said shares his hopes to “fly the flag for the country in the gayest way possible” when he performs as the UK’s entry at Eurovision 2024.The Years & Years singer will represent the country next year in Malmö, Sweden – the hometown of this year’s winner Loreen – as revealed during the Strictly Come Dancing final this weekend.He will succeed the UK’s previous contestant Mae Muller, who finished second to last in the 2023 competition.The artist previously shared on social media that it was “very difficult to keep quiet”, but that he has “wanted to do this for a long time.”In a statement released Saturday (December 16), the ‘King’ singer vowed to “fly the flag for the UK in the gayest way possible” and “put on an unforgettable performance”.While details about the song currently remain under wraps, Alexander has confirmed that it was co-written by Danny L Harle, who has produced Dua Lipa‘s new song ‘Houdini‘ alongside Tame Impala‘s Kevin Parker.“It’s gonna be electronic, something you can dance to,” Alexander told the BBC. “But I can’t say much more than that.“I just can’t wait to get out there and meet the fans and everyone else taking part,” he added.

The Pogues’ ‘Fairytale Of New York’ is set to be released on 7-inch vinyl for charity.Frontman Shane MacGowan was laid to rest on December 8 after he died from pneumonia in hospital, aged 65, on November 30. His family, friends and the band themselves are now releasing their Christmas classic single to raise money for charity.All proceeds from the sales will go to Dublin Simon Community – a charity supported by Shane and his widow Victoria Mary Clarke.According to a press statement, the release is also to “celebrate the man himself” by getting the song, which has never topped the charts, to Number One.The 7-inch single will come with ‘Fairytale Of New York’ on the A-side with an instrumental version of the track on the B-side.

Sam Ryder has admitted that he would “love” for The Pogues’ ‘Fairytale of New York’ to beat him to this year’s Christmas Number One spot.The Eurovision star is one of the competitors in this year’s race, with his single ‘You’re Christmas to Me’, taken from the film Your Christmas or Mine 2.However, since the news broke of the death of Shane MacGowan, fans of his festive classic are rallying to get that track to the Christmas Number One. It has never gone above second place in the UK charts, peaking there on its initial release in 1987.

The Pogues performed together for the first time since 2014 at Shane MacGowan’s funeral to play a version of ‘The Parting Glass’. Watch the video below.The Pogues frontman passed away “peacefully” on November 30, having died from pneumonia aged 65.

Shane MacGowan’s funeral today (December 8).The Irish singer-songwriter and former Pogues frontman died from pneumonia in hospital, aged 65, on November 30. It came after he had been diagnosed with encephalitis and had been in ill health.As reported by BBC, the procession took place between 11am and 11:45am GMT around the south inner city, close to where MacGowan lived in Ballsbridge.

The Darkness have paid tribute to the late Shane MacGowan at a recent show in Dublin by leading the crowd through a sing-along of The Pogues’ signature song, ‘Fairytale of New York’. At the band’s show at Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre on December 3, they performed the cover towards the end of the set, with frontman Justin Hawkins singing minimally, frequently pointing the microphone towards the crowd as an invitation to lead the sing-along, against sporadic guitar accompaniment.The band posted a clip of the performance on X yesterday (December 7), writing: “Thanks for the sing-a-long Dublin.

The Murder Capital covered The Pogues‘ ‘I’m A Man You Don’t Meet Every Day’ in tribute to Shane MacGowan during a recent live performance in Ireland.The Dublin punk group were performing as part of Other Voices Festival on Friday (December 1) at St James’ Church in Dingle when they remembered the late Pogues frontman, who died last week, aged 65.The five-piece performed an a cappella version of The Pogues’ 1985 song from album ‘Rum Sodomy & the Lash’, only occasionally using the sparse rattle of a tambourine for the haunting rendition.Frontman James McGovern asked the crowd to “join us if you know it”, before performing their version of the song. “Love you, Shane,” he said as they closed out the set.A post shared by The Murder Capital (@themurdercapital)The Murder Capital are the latest band to pay musical tribute to the late Irish singer-songwriter.U2 covered The Pogues’ ‘A Rainy Night in Soho’ in tribute to MacGowan during their latest show at the Las Vegas Sphere.

The Pogues’ ‘A Rainy Night in Soho’, in tribute to the late Shane MacGowan. Watch the video below.On November 30, it was announced that MacGowan passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and friends.The next night, Hansard was among the guests on RTE’s The Late Late Show, performing the classic song alongside Pogues member Terry Woods, and the musicians Moya Brennan, Camille O’Sullivan, Aidan Gillan and Liam Ó Maonlaí.On the show, Hansard said: “He’d say find the truth in that lyric.

The Pogues‘ Christmas hit ‘Fairytale of New York’ has re-entered the Top 40 following the news of frontman Shane MacGowan‘s death.On November 30, it was announced that MacGowan passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and friends. Since the news, fans have begun rallying to get the song to Number One.MacGowan’s wife Victoria Mary Clarke has now joined the campaign, saying she was “very much in favour” of the track topping the charts.

“Fairytale of New York” songwriter died at 3 a.m. Thursday with his wife and family by his side.

Shane MacGowan's cause of death has been revealed by his heartbroken widow after she announced the late singer's passing on Thursday, November 30.

Kiefer Sutherland learned after meeting the late Shane MacGowan for the first time at a bar in the ’90s. A 2019 anecdote shared by the “24” star is making its resurgence Thursday amid news that the Pogues frontman has died at age 65. During an appearance on Ireland’s “The Late Late Show,” Sutherland, 56, told host Ryan Tubridy about the time he ran into Sinead O’Connor, Van Morrison, Ronnie Wood and MacGowan at a Dublin club.