FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK
by THE POGUES FT KIRSTY MACCOLL


Firmly established as one of the UK’s all time favourite Christmas songs, Fairytale Of New York has returned to the Top 40 every year since 2005, but remains one of the most popular songs never to have reached the top of the chart.

Originally released in 1987 and peaking at Number 2 (and pipped to that year’s Christmas Number 1 by Pet Shop Boys’ Always On My Mind), the song was initially written by Pogues’ late frontman Shane MacGowan with fellow Pogues founder Jem Finer for the band’s 1986 debut album Poguetry In Motion, with the band’s bassist Cait O’Riordan on accompanying vocals.

It wasn’t until the band began working with producer Steve Lilywhite that they recorded a version they were happy with, this time with Kirsty MacColl duetting with MacGowan. The sad death of MacGowan in November 2023 followed 23 years after MacColl’s passing, a week before Christmas in December 2000.

A swell of support around Shane MacGowan's passing has seen fans of The Pogues hoping that 2023 could be the year that Fairytale Of New York finally goes all the way and lands the coveted Christmas Number 1 as a fitting tribute to the frontman. See the full list of 2023 Christmas Number 1 contenders.

Fairytale Of New York - The Pogues

Music video

Chart history of FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK

Official Charts logo Official Singles Chart

Chart facts

  • Peak position2
  • LabelPOGUE MAHONE
  • Catalogue numberNY7
  • First Chart Date

Weeks on chart

  1. 0No1
  2. 36Top 10
  3. 79Top 20
  4. 94Top 40
  5. 119Top 75
  6. 133Top 100

Chart run

= Peak position = This week

9 weeks - 05/12/1987 to 30/01/1988

2 weeks - 13/02/1988 to 20/02/1988

5 weeks - 31/12/2005 to 28/01/2006

7 weeks - 02/12/2006 to 13/01/2007

6 weeks - 01/12/2007 to 05/01/2008

7 weeks - 29/11/2008 to 10/01/2009

6 weeks - 28/11/2009 to 02/01/2010

7 weeks - 20/11/2010 to 01/01/2011

6 weeks - 03/12/2011 to 07/01/2012

7 weeks - 24/11/2012 to 05/01/2013

6 weeks - 30/11/2013 to 04/01/2014

6 weeks - 29/11/2014 to 03/01/2015

5 weeks - 10/12/2015 to 07/01/2016

5 weeks - 08/12/2016 to 05/01/2017

5 weeks - 07/12/2017 to 04/01/2018

5 weeks - 06/12/2018 to 03/01/2019

5 weeks - 05/12/2019 to 02/01/2020

7 weeks - 26/11/2020 to 07/01/2021

7 weeks - 25/11/2021 to 06/01/2022

6 weeks - 01/12/2022 to 05/01/2023

7 weeks - 23/11/2023 to 04/01/2024

7 weeks - 21/11/2024 to 02/01/2025

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Official Charts logo Official Singles Chart Update

Chart facts

  • Peak position3
  • LabelWARNER BROS
  • Catalogue numberGBAHT8703085
  • First Chart Date

Weeks on chart

  1. 0No1
  2. 27Top 10
  3. 39Top 20
  4. 45Top 40
  5. 55Top 75
  6. 63Top 100

Chart run

= Peak position = This week

6 weeks - 25/11/2014 to 30/12/2014

4 weeks - 06/12/2015 to 27/12/2015

4 weeks - 04/12/2016 to 25/12/2016

4 weeks - 03/12/2017 to 24/12/2017

5 weeks - 02/12/2018 to 30/12/2018

6 weeks - 01/12/2019 to 05/01/2020

8 weeks - 15/11/2020 to 03/01/2021

6 weeks - 21/11/2021 to 02/01/2022

5 weeks - 27/11/2022 to 01/01/2023

7 weeks - 19/11/2023 to 31/12/2023

8 weeks - 17/11/2024 to 05/01/2025

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Chart facts

  • Peak position3
  • LabelWARNER BROS
  • Catalogue numberGBAHT8703085
  • First Chart Date

Weeks on chart

  1. 0No1
  2. 43Top 10
  3. 50Top 20
  4. 55Top 40
  5. 65Top 75
  6. 69Top 100

Chart run

= Peak position = This week

5 weeks - 06/12/2014 to 03/01/2015

5 weeks - 10/12/2015 to 07/01/2016

6 weeks - 01/12/2016 to 05/01/2017

6 weeks - 30/11/2017 to 04/01/2018

5 weeks - 06/12/2018 to 03/01/2019

5 weeks - 05/12/2019 to 02/01/2020

8 weeks - 19/11/2020 to 07/01/2021

7 weeks - 25/11/2021 to 06/01/2022

7 weeks - 24/11/2022 to 05/01/2023

7 weeks - 23/11/2023 to 04/01/2024

8 weeks - 21/11/2024 to 09/01/2025

Buy

Official Charts logo Official Video Streaming Chart

Chart facts

  • Peak position3
  • LabelWARNER BROS
  • Catalogue numberGBAHT8703085
  • First Chart Date

Weeks on chart

  1. 0No1
  2. 20Top 10
  3. 41Top 20
  4. 53Top 40
  5. 61Top 75
  6. 66Top 100

Chart run

= Peak position = This week

6 weeks - 29/11/2014 to 03/01/2015

7 weeks - 26/11/2015 to 07/01/2016

7 weeks - 24/11/2016 to 05/01/2017

7 weeks - 23/11/2017 to 04/01/2018

4 weeks - 13/12/2018 to 03/01/2019

5 weeks - 05/12/2019 to 02/01/2020

6 weeks - 03/12/2020 to 07/01/2021

5 weeks - 09/12/2021 to 06/01/2022

5 weeks - 08/12/2022 to 05/01/2023

7 weeks - 23/11/2023 to 04/01/2024

7 weeks - 28/11/2024 to 09/01/2025

Buy

Official Charts logo Official Singles Sales Chart

Chart facts

  • Peak position2
  • LabelWARNER BROS
  • Catalogue numberGBAHT8703085
  • First Chart Date

Weeks on chart

  1. 0No1
  2. 7Top 10
  3. 32Top 20
  4. 51Top 40
  5. 62Top 75
  6. 71Top 100

Chart run

= Peak position = This week

6 weeks - 29/11/2014 to 03/01/2015

6 weeks - 03/12/2015 to 07/01/2016

7 weeks - 24/11/2016 to 05/01/2017

7 weeks - 23/11/2017 to 04/01/2018

6 weeks - 29/11/2018 to 03/01/2019

6 weeks - 28/11/2019 to 02/01/2020

7 weeks - 26/11/2020 to 07/01/2021

7 weeks - 25/11/2021 to 06/01/2022

6 weeks - 01/12/2022 to 05/01/2023

7 weeks - 30/11/2023 to 11/01/2024

6 weeks - 28/11/2024 to 02/01/2025

Buy

Official Charts logo Official Singles Downloads Chart

Chart facts

  • Peak position1
  • LabelWARNER BROS
  • Catalogue numberGBAHT8703085
  • First Chart Date

Weeks on chart

  1. 1No1
  2. 19Top 10
  3. 64Top 20
  4. 92Top 40
  5. 111Top 75
  6. 128Top 100

Chart run

= Peak position = This week

6 weeks - 10/12/2005 to 14/01/2006

7 weeks - 02/12/2006 to 13/01/2007

6 weeks - 01/12/2007 to 05/01/2008

7 weeks - 29/11/2008 to 10/01/2009

6 weeks - 28/11/2009 to 02/01/2010

7 weeks - 20/11/2010 to 01/01/2011

6 weeks - 03/12/2011 to 07/01/2012

7 weeks - 24/11/2012 to 05/01/2013

6 weeks - 30/11/2013 to 04/01/2014

6 weeks - 29/11/2014 to 03/01/2015

6 weeks - 03/12/2015 to 07/01/2016

7 weeks - 24/11/2016 to 05/01/2017

7 weeks - 23/11/2017 to 04/01/2018

6 weeks - 29/11/2018 to 03/01/2019

6 weeks - 28/11/2019 to 02/01/2020

7 weeks - 26/11/2020 to 07/01/2021

7 weeks - 25/11/2021 to 06/01/2022

6 weeks - 01/12/2022 to 05/01/2023

6 weeks - 30/11/2023 to 04/01/2024

6 weeks - 28/11/2024 to 02/01/2025

Buy

Official Charts logo Official Physical Singles Chart

Chart facts

  • Peak position3
  • LabelWARNER BROS
  • Catalogue numberWEA400CD
  • First Chart Date

Weeks on chart

  1. 0No1
  2. 5Top 10
  3. 17Top 20
  4. 35Top 40
  5. 60Top 75
  6. 85Top 100

Chart run

= Peak position = This week

6 weeks - 31/12/2005 to 04/02/2006

4 weeks - 23/12/2006 to 13/01/2007

6 weeks - 22/12/2007 to 26/01/2008

9 weeks - 06/12/2008 to 31/01/2009

6 weeks - 05/12/2009 to 09/01/2010

2 weeks - 20/11/2010 to 27/11/2010

1 week - 25/12/2010

5 weeks - 17/12/2011 to 14/01/2012

1 week - 17/03/2012

7 weeks - 15/12/2012 to 26/01/2013

1 week - 09/02/2013

1 week - 28/09/2013

1 week - 12/10/2013

1 week - 09/11/2013

1 week - 30/11/2013

4 weeks - 14/12/2013 to 04/01/2014

1 week - 18/01/2014

1 week - 16/08/2014

1 week - 13/09/2014

1 week - 18/10/2014

6 weeks - 29/11/2014 to 03/01/2015

1 week - 17/01/2015

1 week - 21/02/2015

4 weeks - 28/12/2023 to 18/01/2024

2 weeks - 01/02/2024 to 08/02/2024

1 week - 14/03/2024

1 week - 17/10/2024

3 weeks - 07/11/2024 to 21/11/2024

6 weeks - 05/12/2024 to 09/01/2025

Buy

Official Charts logo Official Vinyl Singles Chart

Chart facts

  • Peak position2
  • LabelRHINO
  • Catalogue numberGBAHT8703085
  • First Chart Date

Weeks on chart

  1. 0No1
  2. 3Top 10
  3. 3Top 20
  4. 4Top 40
  5. 4Top 75
  6. 4Top 100

Chart run

= Peak position = This week

4 weeks - 28/12/2023 to 18/01/2024

Buy

End of Year Singles Chart

Chart facts

  • Peak position73
  • LabelWARNER BROS
  • Catalogue numberWEA400CD
  • First Chart Date

Weeks on chart

  1. 0No1
  2. 0Top 10
  3. 0Top 20
  4. 0Top 40
  5. 3Top 75
  6. 5Top 100

Chart run

= Peak position = This week

2 weeks - 02/01/2005 to 07/01/2006

1 week - 05/01/2008

1 week - 31/12/2021

1 week - 31/12/2023

Buy

Official Charts logo Official Irish Singles Chart

Chart facts

  • Peak position1
  • LabelWARNER BROS
  • Catalogue numberGBAHT8703085
  • First Chart Date

Weeks on chart

  1. 1No1
  2. 22Top 10
  3. 31Top 20
  4. 41Top 40
  5. 43Top 75
  6. 43Top 100

Chart run

= Peak position = This week

5 weeks - 07/12/2017 to 04/01/2018

5 weeks - 06/12/2018 to 03/01/2019

4 weeks - 12/12/2019 to 02/01/2020

6 weeks - 03/12/2020 to 07/01/2021

6 weeks - 02/12/2021 to 06/01/2022

6 weeks - 01/12/2022 to 05/01/2023

6 weeks - 30/11/2023 to 04/01/2024

5 weeks - 05/12/2024 to 02/01/2025

Buy

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