Shane MacGowan Irish in London and the United States, and London life in general. These influences are documented in the biography, "Rake at the Gates of Hell: Shane MacGowan in Context". MacGowan has often cited the 19th-century Irish poet James Clarence Mangan and playwright Brendan Behan as influences. Between 1985 and 1987, he co-wrote "Fairytale of New York", which he performed with Kirsty MacColl. In the coming years MacGowan and The Pogues released several albums. In 1997, MacGowan appeared on Lou Reed's "Perfect Day", covered by numerous artists in aid of Children in Need. It was the UK's number one single for
Christmas in New York on his 1990 Christmas album "Julstämning". US jazz singer Linda Bianchi recorded the song on her 2009 Christmas album "Christmas in New York". The Swedish-language version, which was recorded by the Glennmarks Family on the 1983 holiday album "Från advent till jul", the song is called Jul i Gamla stan, with lyrics by Monica Forsberg, reflecting Christmas in the Stockholm oldtown. With these lyrics, the song was recorded by among others Sten & Stanley (1986), Jan Malmsjö (1987), Hasse Andersson (1996) and Cyndee Peters (1986). Christmas in New York "Christmas in New York" is a Christmas song written by Billy