On a day of grief for one of Ireland's most memorable voices, there were also spontaneous outbursts of joy in memory of Shane MacGowan. On Westland Row, in the aisles of the St Mary's of the Rosary in Nenagh, the power of MacGowan's music won out over the sad permanence of his voice's silencing. MacGowan's life and music were celebrated to the full, in a way that felt both authentic and unique to Ireland.
With all that in mind, it was odd but perhaps not surprising to see Dave Fanning pop up on the BBC on Friday with another slightly too honest eulogy for a departed Irish musician.
SEE ALSO: Shane MacGowan's Funeral Featured One Of The Best Ever 'Fairytale Of New York' Covers
Dave Fanning on Shane MacGowan
In an year where Ireland has lost a number of iconic voices, the former 2FM institution has been frequently on the airwaves to eulogise. Fanning has had to deal with a bit of blowback to his comments. He apologised to Christy Dignam's family for comments that he said were in 'poor taste' after the Aslan singer's sad passing. He also apologised for a tweet critical of the Ryan Tubridy/Noel Kelly Dáil hearing, which he called a 'nonsensical Oireachtas Nuremberg trial'.
Fanning featured on the BBC today to discuss Shane MacGowan's music, and while he didn't say anything that merits an apology, he's nonetheless shown that he struggles to read the room on these sad but celebratory occasions.
A clip from that interview has been widely shared where Fanning makes it clear he didn't think MacGowan was on par with the likes of Lennon and McCartney. He says:
'There was a quote I think from Bruce Springsteen, from somebody, I think it was Brice Springsteen, saying he was the greatest songwriter ever. He isn't. Shane wrote a bunch of great songs. But Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote 100 powerful songs. John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote 200. Nick Cave, who'll be there today, he to me, is the best artist of the last 30 years, he's written 50. Shane did great stuff, but he wouldn't be my number one in the world.
He's at it again. pic.twitter.com/LCq8kCKHaI
— KM2 TV Archive (@KillianM2) December 8, 2023
READ ALSO: Pogues Call Out UK Newspaper For 'Terrible' Shane MacGowan Obituary
Fanning, of course, knew MacGowan well, and while it's a perfectly valid opinion, it just didn't need to be aired today, especially considering the flak that followed the Dignam comments.
On one level, you could perhaps admire Fanning for staying true to the role he feels he needs perform on these occasions; a warts-and-all eulogiser. But at the same time, no one really wants to have a conversation about MacGowan's place in the rock pantheon on this of all days. The music is transcendent. Let's celebrate the miracle of it and leave it at that.
Bruce Springsteen's take on MacGowan was that his songs would be sung 100 years from now, and it's hard to disagree.
Here's Fanning speaking to MacGowan back in 1994.
