Hozier’s Performance on Saturday Night Live
Hozier delivered an impressive rendition of “Too Sweet” and a cover of The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” on Saturday Night Live. You can watch the recording of the performance below.
Return to the Show
Last night (December 21), the acclaimed singer-songwriter made his first appearance on the show since debuting in 2014. Introduced by Martin Short, he showcased his hit single ‘Too Sweet’, which is part of this year’s surprise release, the Unheard EP.
This March album includes four previously unreleased tracks, all crafted during the “Unreal Unearth” recording sessions. In April, “Too Sweet” achieved remarkable success, making Hozier the first Irish artist to top the Billboard chart since Sinéad O’Connor, and he was later recognized in Barack Obama’s annual list of favorite songs for the year.
Covering “Fairytale of New York”
The “Take Me To Church” artist also performed the 1987 classic “Fairytale of New York.” Originally sung by Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues’ Shane MacGowan, this Christmas tune has sparked debate recently due to its use of homophobic slurs within the lyrics. Hozier’s backup singers modified the lines to “You’re cheap and jaded.”
In 2019, this controversy resurfaced when actress and screenwriter Ruth Jones faced scrutiny after including the lyrics in that year’s Gavin and Stacey Christmas special. Following the BBC’s announcement to censor the lyrics, Lawrence Fox criticized the broadcaster on Twitter, instigating a response from the band’s official account.
In a recent interview with NME, surviving members of The Pogues—James Fearnley, Jem Finer, and Spider Stacy—shared their thoughts on the ongoing debate.
When asked about their stance on the cultural discussions surrounding the song, Stacy referenced the public conflict with Fox, stating, “We don’t want to be dragged into anything on behalf of people like Lawrence Fox.”
Hozier sings The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” tonight on SNL pic.twitter.com/6YC6RNdj1k
— Vocals Hozier (@hoziersvocalss) December 22, 2024
He further commented: “When the BBC announced they would censor these lyrics, I saw a tweet where one person expressed their love for The Pogues. They mentioned that every Christmas, they hear drunken individuals shouting that word in the streets when singing along to ‘Fairytale of New York,’ recalling the many instances when they were bullied at school for being gay.”
In other news, Hozier has recently been confirmed as a headliner for the Reading & Leeds festival. He is set to share the 2025 festival lineup with Chappell Roane, Travis Scott, and Bring Me The Horizon.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-hozier-perform-too-sweet-and-cover-the-pogues-fairytale-of-new-york-on-snl-3824365?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=watch-hozier-perform-too-sweet-and-cover-the-pogues-fairytale-of-new-york-on-snl
