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
Fiesta (The Pogues song) Fiesta (The Pogues song) "Fiesta" is a single by The Pogues, featured on their 1988 album "If I Should Fall from Grace with God". It was written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan, based on a Spanish fairground melody Finer had picked up (this melody is an appeal or lure from a sausages kiosk named "salchichas Uranga (sausages Uranga)" in the feasts of the city of Almería -Feria de Almería-, in southern Spain). The refrain quotes "Liechtensteiner Polka" by Edmund Kotscher and Rudi Lindt. The lyrics refer to the Spanish city of Almería, as well as former bassist Cait O'Riordan's