7.05
Kristy MacColl "Fairytale Of New York" (vocalist)
gonna need someone to keep those wayward bastids i drafted in line, and who better than a tough as nails British lass who stood toe to toe with none other than legendary hell raiser Shane McGowan - the fact that she winds up in his arms at the end, rather than the ER, speaks volumes
this selection also allows me to pay tribute to the NYC Irish, and to honor one of the most incredible ladies to ever grace our presence - such a tragic end to a beautiful old soul's life.
she is most known from her guest appearance here, but, she had herself a nice little pop career pre and post Pogues. her marriage to powerhouse producer Steve Lilywhite certainly helped, and she guested on work by artists such as the Smiths, Robert Plant, Talking Heads, Shriekback, Big Country, Abba, the Wonder Stuff, Simple Minds ...
this is painful to recount, but - of all the folks chosen in this draft so far, the circumstance of her death is certainly the most heart breaking ... while vacationing in Mexico, a powerboat strayed into waters reserved for swimmers - in the act of saving her son's life she was killed instantly, as she stood in front and pushed him away to safety :( just inexplicable sadness there, i can't even. damn. God bless her.
on a personal note, regarding this song, my Grandfather on my mom's side emigrated here in 1916 (post Easter Rebellion), from County Clare ... and on the ship, yes, they were regaled with tales of "streets paved with gold" (though the lyric here says 'rivers') - needless to say, arriving to the Irish slums of NYC proved far from that. but the resiliency to make the most of even the most dire situations kept him going ... evident in the two fisted fighting spirit up in this tune - yeah, the 'drunk tank' (much like the 'Paddy Wagon') invented back in the day to corral those crazy Irish newcomers.
oh, and NYC ... my love affair continues.
*R.I.P. Kristy*
