Christmas Rock: The Pogues

hennemusic is rockin’ some Christmas favorites to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season.

In the mid-80s, Celtic punk band The Pogues issued one of the most popular holiday songs of all time, teaming up with Kirsty MacColl for “Fairytale Of New York” on their “If I Should Fall From Grace With God” album.

Upon its release, the song hit #1 in Ireland and the UK, where it has returned to the top 10 on both charts in the many years that followed.


The Pogues – Fairytale Of New York

The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl – Fairytale Of New York

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Raise your green glass today and celebrate the feast of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland.

Some fun facts:

• St. Patrick was born in Britian, not Ireland.

• St. Patrick used the three-leaf clover – or “Shamrock” – to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.

• One estimate suggests that there are about 10, 000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.

• According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves on a clover is 18!

• In 2008, the same man who discovered an 18-leaf clover found a 21-leaf clover!

• Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

• The city of Chicago puts dye in the Chicago River to turn it green for a few hours today.

• Translated from Gaelic, "pogue mahone" means "kiss my arse". So, music from The Pogues and The Mahones, it is!

The Pogues - Rum Sodomy & The Lash - Dirty Old Town

The Pogues – Dirty Old Town (1985)



The Mahones - Draggin' the Days - Across the U.S.A.

The Mahones – Across The U.S.A. (1994)



Thin Lizzy - Vagabonds of the Western World - Whisky in the Jar (Full Length Version)

A couple of classics from some killer Irish bands:

Thin Lizzy – Whiskey in The Jar (1973)



The Boomtown Rats - Best of the Boomtown Rats - Rat Trap

The Boomtown Rats – Rat Trap (1978)