Christmas in Ireland

Song of the Day: Nick Cave & Shane MacGowan “What a Wonderful World”

Happy Christmas from Ireland! As I celebrate the day with close family and extended family abroad, I am reminded that I share my December 25th birthday with perhaps Ireland’s most famous Christmas Baby, Shane MacGowan of the Pogues.

Back in Christmas 1992, Shane MacGowan teamed up with none other than Nick Cave to duet on Louis Armstrong’s classic “What a Wonderful World.” In perhaps the booziest, coolest karaoke performance of all time, Nick and Shane — backed by string-laden schmaltz that lays the sentimentality on thick — deliver those indelible lyrics “I see trees of green…” after consuming what sounds like enough alcohol to have put Dean Martin in the hospital.

The overall effect is that of total “end of the evening and we’re the last mates in the bar so f**k it” camaraderie. No matter where you are, or who you’re celebrating with, take a moment to think to yourself, “It’s a wonderful world.” Happy Christmas!