What's your favorite Christmas song ever? Well, I'm willing to bet it's not "The Little Drummer Boy," but beyond that, there's a lot to go with. If you're from one of the largely English-speaking island-nations off the west coast of continental Europe, though, there's not a bad chance it's the ballad "Fairytale of New York," by the great Irish punk / celtic-traditionalist band The Pogues and the (still-heartbreakingly) late British singer Kristy MacColl, from The Pogues' 1988 album If I Should Fall From Grace With God. In the event you don't know this track, Merry Christmas .... In the event you do, Merry Christmas to you, too -- and here's a re-edit you probably haven't heard before.

The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York (Helsbo's Re-Edit)

On iTunes: The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl / "Fairytale of New York"