December has arrived, and thus, Christmastime is right around the corner. Not only is the final month of the year one for getting as many Cyber Monday deals as possible, it's also one for charity. For the seventh year in a row, alternative rockers The Killers have released a Christmas single for charity.
Today (Dec. 2), the Direct Hits band has released the music video for "Christmas in L.A.," with a little help from Dawes. The new single, which will be released on iTunes, will have 100 percent of its sales going toward (RED)'s Global Fund to Fight AIDS.
Though the song title may seem jolly enough, the lyricism of the track is quite somber, telling the story of a struggling actor who can neither land a proper gig nor go home to be with his family for the holidays.
As The Killers lead singer Brandon Flowers and Dawes seamlessly trade off vocal duties, the country-leaning song finds the down-and-out actor missing his family all while feeling increasingly detached from life as a whole. "And I play so many parts / I don't know which one is really me / I don't know if I can take another Christmas in L.A. / Another pitcher of Sangria in an empty beach café," Flowers powers through in the chorus. It's a strong release not just for those looking for something a little melancholy this Christmas season but also as a standard track.
The most poignant part of the song comes when The Killers and Dawes put their own spin on "White Christmas," highlighting the loneliness not just of their own new song but of a holiday classic.
The accompanying music video for "Christmas in L.A." premiered on Rolling Stone this morning and emphasizes the heartbreaking nature of the track.
Starring Owen Wilson, the clip begins with the actor discussing breaking into the industry and eventually the meaning of life with Harry Dean Stanton, though he never really gets the answers he's looking for. Eventually, the video shifts between an animated version of Wilson and his true self, wandering around his apartment and Los Angeles by himself this holiday season.
Watch "Christmas in L.A." below starting Dec. 3. Until then, check it out at Rolling Stone.
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