New Song: Latest Track From ’20th Century Paddy’ (Shane MacGowan Tribute) By U2, “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah”

I posted back in March about a new tribute album coming out in November (the 13th, to be specific) honoring the Pogues late frontman Shane MacGowan. The tribute album is called 20th Century Paddy – The Songs Of Shane MacGowan. 

I have to admit, much like my recent post about Steve Earle and Los Lobos’ new song (“Volver A Celaya”), I was only the most casual fan of the Pogues. Rum, Sodomy And The Lash was the only LP I’d spent time with. Although there were a handful of songs I’d caught up with over the years.

But then in March they released the first single from the tribute album and it was Springsteen doing a stunning version of “A Rainy Night In Soho.” That song is an absolute home run. It sent me crashing through a number of Pogues’ albums.

Since then they’ve released three other songs from the album (as of today it’s four other songs). In the old days of B&V I posted about every single released from upcoming albums I was going to write about. I think I’d posted about 4 different songs from the Cult’s Hidden City even before the album came out. When the LP finally did come out I barely had anything to say, I’d said it all already.

Needless to say, I don’t do that any more. I usually write about first single and then wait for the LP to comment further. Although I broke that rule for the new Stones album, commenting on both “In The Stars” and “Jealous Lover” when they each came out. What can I say, we don’t have rules around here, more like “guidelines.”

But as is my usual “procedure” I held back from writing about the additional songs they’d release from 20th Century Paddy. They’ve all been pretty superb, especially the songs from Kingfisr and the Dropkick Murphys (who seem to be built to cover the Pogues). Imelda May does a nice job on “Haunted” but sadly she chose to team up with Johnny Depp – who at this point is just a pile of old scarfs with a hat and shades propped on top – and to paraphrase Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade, she “chose poorly.”

But today the tribute folks released a single from venerable Irish rock band U2, their cover of “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.” I felt I had to say something. U2 have had quite an interesting year in 2026. First, they released not one but two stunning EPs – Days Of Ash and later Easter Lily – that were some of their best music in years. I combined both EPs onto one playlist to create an “album.”

U2 then released a “meh” single “Street Of Dreams” that was supposed to be the first single from their upcoming, as yet unnamed, album. They followed that up quickly with a collaboration with DJ Martin Garrix, “Fireflies.” I think I liked “Fireflies” better than “Street Of Dreams”

And now, as if U2 is planning some sort of onslaught, we get this great tribute song for the Pogues’ Shawn MacGowan. I’ve spent all day today, since the wee small hours, listening to U2’s version and the Pogues’ version back to back. I have to admit, I wasn’t familiar with this great song until today, so thank you U2 for that.

I like U2’s version of this song, but I have to admit it lacks some of the muscularity of the original. And I have to say, the choice to leave out the sax solo was a tactical error, it’s an essential part of the original. U2 still keep the spirit of the rocking original, complete with the falsetto “Oo-oo-oo-oo’s” but it feels more pop. The Edge does a nice harmony vocal.

And who amongst us doesn’t wish we’d written the line, “I love your lips and I love your eyes, I love your breasts, I love your thighs, Oh yeah.” Oh yeah, indeed.

The Pogues’ version just sounds slightly more passionate and unhinged to me, and I mean that in a good way. The Pogues sound like a bar fight is about to break out… U2 sounds like they’re asking you to dance. Andrew Rankin is going after the drums on the Pogues’ version like he’s mad at them and I love it.

I still really like this U2 version, although it won’t change anybody’s life like the Springsteen’s “Rainy Night In Soho” did mine. They are having a mostly great year this year. I think everybody should check out this track as well as the already released stuff from 20th Century Paddy. This is a fun tribute album.

Cheers!