SHANE MACGOWAN’S contribution to a new documentary chronicling The Pogues icon’s career is set to include subtitles following complaints from film critics that he was difficult to understand.
Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan chronicles the life and career of one of Ireland’s most distinctive musical talents.
However, according to director Julien Temple, the interviews with the London-born musician that featured in the film proved indecipherable when the film was initially screened for the press.
Following feedback from critics, subtitles were added to the scenes involving MacGowan.
Temple revealed the change to BBC News, explaining that understanding the Pogues legend’s “strange mixture of Irish and English” was something of “an acquired listening skill”.
The filmmaker was keen to stress, however, that the decision to add substitles was one taken by the distributors rather than himself.
“We certainly knew that in the States we would have to possibly subtitle it,” he said. “In the end it is a decision for the distributors to make.”
MacGowan’s unique accent and vocal style isn’t the only reason for a potential issue.
For many years, the singer did not have a full set of teeth.
That changed in 2015 when he had a new set installed as part of an intensive nine-hour dental procedure. The upshot is that new teeth have also impacted MacGowan’s speech patterns.
Shane MacGowan in 2014 (Image: Getty)Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan is due to be released on DVD and video-on-demand this coming December 7 and will also be broadcast on the BBC in 2021.
In each instance, viewers will be given the choice of whether they wish to use subtitles when watching the film.
MacGowan has been busy promoting the upcoming release of the new documentary.
He courted controversy last week after branding the BBC’s decision to censor The Pogues’ festive hit Fairytale of New York “ridiculous” in an interview with the Metro.
The interview also saw MacGowan refute the comments he made in the new documentary suggesting he disliked the signature Christmas hit.
The songwriter sought to clarify those remarks, explaining he was simply a bit bored of the song.
