ED SHEERAN has courageously covered the Christmas institution that is The Pogues' Fairytale of New York.
Sheeran teamed up with Irish trad group Beoga and pop singer Anne-Marie to perform the song on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge last night.
The song is one that most artists have avoided covering over the years, considering Shane McGowan's unique delivery and back and forth with Kirsty McColl. That effort to avoid increased when Ronan Keating butchered the song a few years ago.
However, Ed was not deterred despite admitting before the performance that the decision to cover the song was a risk: "It’s a cover that you shouldn’t really touch … I’m going to get murdered for doing this cover. BUT it’s Christmas!"
You can judge for yourself whether or not Ed got it away with it.
Invariably, many on Twitter weren't pleased with the upbeat cover.
Ed Sheeran does a "Keating", playing fast and loose with the lyrics in a truly dreadful cover of Fairytale Of New York. You cannot improve on perfection, so don't even try, you hobbit. https://t.co/p6nIIYQCA2
— Barry Glendenning (@bglendenning) December 12, 2017
Phase II of the #Brexit negotiations - and the EU has to stand behind Ireland on stopping Ed Sheeran singing Fairytale of New York #TheFecker
— Josef O'Shea (@josefoshea) December 13, 2017
Although some had more of a positive reaction to Ed's rendition.
Ed Sheeran singing Fairytale of Newyork is sooo good😍
— Sarah J Clark (@sarahjo99) December 13, 2017
