JON BON Jovi might want to give Ireland a wide berth after recording a cover of The Pogues' Fairytale of New York that has been dubbed “much, much worse than you could imagine”.
The Livin on a Prayer musician covered the track as part of his new festive covers album A Jon Bon Jovi Christmas, which has been released to spread a little cheer over the holiday season.
Unfortunately, it’s had the opposite effective among fans on Twitter, who have taken to social media in their droves to advise people against listening to Bon Jovi’s reworking of the Shane MacGowan classic.
Described as “horror beyond imagination” by one listener, another warned: “2020 has been pretty terrible, but nothing comes close to how terrible Bon Jovi’s version [of] ‘Fairytale of New York’ is.”
“Jon Bon Jovi’s version of ‘Fairytale of New York’ is much, much worse than you could imagine – not least because he took on both roles himself,” a third added.
It was labelled “too awful” by one critic while another declared: “Just listened to the Bon Jovi version of Fairytale of New York and I can honestly say, with no exaggeration whatsoever, that my day is ruined.”
2020 has been pretty terrible, but nothing comes close to how terrible Bon Jovi’s version Fairytale of New York is! 🤮
— James Lyden (@JAMESDLYDEN) December 8, 2020
On the radio just now, they turned off Jon Bon Jovi's cover of Fairytale of New York halfway through because it's just too awful.
— Mark A Latham (@aLostVictorian) December 8, 2020
Just listened to the Bon Jovi version of Fairytale of New York and I can honestly say, with no exaggeration whatsoever, that my day is ruined.
— Dublin By Pub (@dublinbypub) December 8, 2020
'what this world needs is Jon Bon Jovi covering Fairytale of New York' said no one ever
— Heather (@H2_OH) December 7, 2020
The Pogues cover is one of three festive reworkings on the album, alongside Tom Petty’s Christmas All Over Again and Elvis Presley’s If I Get Home On Christmas Day.
However, it’s Bon Jovi’s version of the Irish favourite that is grabbing all the attention not least because it features the singer performing what was originally a duet between MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl all by himself.
One fan joked: “If you think YOU’RE having a bad day, listen to Jon Bon Jovi duetting with HIMSELF on ‘Fairytale of New York’.”
It’s also notable for omitting the controversial slurs “f****t” and “slut” which both featured in the original.
Yet in a bizarre twist, the US rocker has penned the alternative lyrics:
“You’re a bum, you’re a braggart/You’ve lost all your swagger,
And the word around town is you ain’t much in bed,
You’re a squirrel ‘cause you’re nuts, You’re a kick in the guts,
happy Christmas my arse I’ll be glad it’s our last”
You can listen to Jon Bon Jovi's version of Fairytale of New York below - but you have been warned:
The controversy comes just weeks after Bon Jovi sparked mass confusion across Ireland after claiming U2 frontman Bono was beaten up by “Orangemen” as a boy.
