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Hozier Brings Christmas Vibes to ‘Saturday Night Live’ With Emotional Performance and Changed Lyrics to ‘Fairytale of New York’


Hozier performed on "SNL's" Christmas edition, and for his second song, the Irish artist paid tribute to the Pogues' classic "Fairytale of New York."

On social media, viewers praised Hozier’s emotional cover of the song that has become a Christmas standard since it was released in 1987, finding it a fitting tribute to the Pogues’ singer Shane MacGowan, who died in 2013, as well as to the late Kristy MacColl, who dueted with MacGowan on the song. “Gorgeous version of ‘Fairytale of New York’ by Hozier & backup singers that did Shane MacGowan & Kirsty MacColl proud,” wrote Sinead O’Brien on X. O’Brien was referring to a line in the original lyrics of the song, now considered offensive: “You scumbag, you maggot, You cheap lousy faggot.”

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