December 1, 201015 yr Coldplay and the Killers get Christmas started (positive 'Christmas Lights' Telegraph review) For almost a decade, Simon Cowell had the Christmas number one locked down. Even Cliff Richard couldn’t shift his talent show winners from their moment at the top of the festive charts. Novelty songs about Santa, reindeer, elves and baby Jesus fell on deaf ears. Recording studios packed away their sleigh bells. Children’s choirs went out of business. But after the success of last year’s rebel internet campaign that saw Rage Against The Machine grind X Factor winner Joe Mcelderry into the pop dust, it looks like the field is wide open again. Two of rock’s biggest bands are dusting off their snow boots to take a tilt at the Christmas title. First up are The Killers with what is becoming an annual Christmas treat, a song called “Boots”. Frontman and songwriter Brandon Flowers takes his cue from an opening sound clip of Jimmy Stewart from the Christmas classic It’s A Wonderful Life :“I’m not a praying man but if you’re up there and you can hear me, show me the way”. Set against gentle, melancholic verses of self doubt, the chorus lifts up with a glimpse of family togetherness. Flowers sings of cinnamon candles and snowball fights, while the band gather behind him, church bells ring, and, yes, even the carol singers are back in business. It’s a genuinely lovely song, although perhaps a shade too bittersweet to challenge Cowell’s lung busting karaoke crew. All proceeds go to the RED charity to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. But the big one is surely Coldplay’s much anticipated return with “Christmas Lights” (which will be released on iTunes today at 8pm). If anyone can craft an old fashioned Christmas anthem, it’s Chris Martin, and he is taking no prisoners. Like The Killers offering, the mood is caught between doubt and reverie, but when the chorus gets going it brings to mind the ageless folkiness of Paul McCartney’s Mull Of Kintyre. “May all your troubles soon be gone,” sings Martin, to ringing pianos and swooning strings. “Oh Christmas lights, keep shining on.” It may be formulaic and sentimental, but it has a real warmth and spirit to it, a kind of log fire singalong quality that makes it first real contender for Christmas classic status that I have heard in many years. It is, in keeping with the spirit of the age, a strictly non secular Christmas record. The band perform in a theatre, beneath the Latin inscription, Credo Elvem Etiam Vivere… which translates as I Believe Elvis Lives. http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/neilmccormick/100049441/coldplay-and-the-killers-get-christmas-started/
December 1, 201015 yr Actually, my local tesco got Christmas started by selling wrapping paper in OCTOBER. but nice article! :P
December 1, 201015 yr Thank you! Nice article. :cheesy: I like the Killers but that song is rather boring, no competition for our boys imo. :heart:
December 1, 201015 yr Thanks for posting the article. I really liked reading this: "..., but it has a real warmth and spirit to it, a kind of log fire singalong quality that makes it first real contender for Christmas classic status that I have heard in many years." :thumbsup: :dance:
December 1, 201015 yr The boys will beat the Killers into pulp...*evil laugh* :evilgrin: muahahahahah!
December 1, 201015 yr The killers Xmas song is the worst song they've ever recorded. Don't waste your money, in fact - give the £1.79 straight to the aides charity just avoid having to be put through 'boots'
December 1, 201015 yr yeah, let's keep the Christmas spirit.... :lol: Hahahah! But it's obvious that Coldplay's Christmas Lights is perfect, better than Boots. I mean, Boots?! What title is that for a Christmas song? :freak: Christmas Lights rule. :lol:
December 1, 201015 yr The killers Xmas song is the worst song they've ever recorded. Don't waste your money, in fact - give the £1.79 straight to the aides charity just avoid having to be put through 'boots' It's not that bad:thinking: i liked it but i bet it's nothing compared to Christmas lights:D.
December 1, 201015 yr The killers Xmas song is the worst song they've ever recorded. Don't waste your money, in fact - give the £1.79 straight to the aides charity just avoid having to be put through 'boots' It's nowhere near their best songs, but I don't consider it the worst Killers song ever, Happy Birthday Guadalupe isn't that great either. I quite like it to be honest.
December 1, 201015 yr If TK would have released Don't Shoot Me Santa or A Great Big Sled or Happy this year it'd be an interesting competition, but Boots is boring.
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