Our readers give their verdict on Ed Sheeran’s Fairytale of New York

Ed Sheeran and Anne Marie

It takes a brave man to do a cover version of a classic like Fairytale of New York, especially as it’s a duet and you have to do it on your own. But Ed Sheeran has never been one to shirk a challenge.

The superstar singer has always loved the original version by the Pogues with Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl on vocals.

No one could better that, but Ed thought that he could at least do it differently. His version got the thumbs up from MacGowan.

Victoria Mary Clarke, the wife of the Pogues legend said: “Shane loves when people cover his material and Ed’s version is really good. He loves it.

“I don’t understand a lot of the criticism. Some people were even suggesting Ed shouldn’t have covered it because he’s English, well, Shane was actually born in England!

“We love Ed, in fact he’s more than welcome to call around while he’s over in Dublin. We’d love to see him for a sing-song.”

What really matters, though, is what the public think. Here’s what some of our readers had to say.

Loved it! She is not quite as good as Kristy McCall.

Nice effort ed but no one can do it like Shane.

Think I like it even better than the original.

Love both the original and this cover . Well done, thank you.

I would like anything Ed Sheeran sings!

Nothing will be as good as the original, but it was an enjoyable version by Ed.

Nothing as good as the original!

I like it…he did a great job. He’s not going to do it like Shane…he did it like Ed. Love both versions.

Can’t say what I think, I’d get banned!

It’s Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl for me!

A big song to take on good effort shame they had to change the words.

What do you think? Take a look at the video below.

By Patrick Kehoe

Pat Kehoe is a writer for Irish Music Daily. His favourite Irish music bands are the Dubliners and Planxty.