By Lesley Pastor
Alternative rock band, The Killers, released a new holiday album this past Friday where all proceeds will benefit Bono’s (RED) charity. The holiday album is titled Don’t Waste Your Wishes and features special guests such as Elton John, Jimmy Kimmel, and Ned Humphrey Hansen.
The album opens up with their first track titled “A Great Big Sled” featuring Toni Halliday, lead singer of the rock band the Curve. This track is an uplifting song, which sounds similar to their other albums, the only twist is they added a touch for the holiday season. Throughout the album they have various other special guests all adding their unique touch to the song. The album varies from slow, melody to a fast, uplifting beat lead by trumpets of a mariachi band.
The album has a unique ending. Front man singer of The Killers, Brandon Flowers, invited his fourth grade science teacher, Mr. Ned Humphrey Hansen to join in. The last track on the album titled, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” begins with Flowers giving a short spoken word introduction to whom Hansen is and the meaning behind the song.
When Hansen told his fourth grade class they would be singing a song, Flowers explains that, “The other kids were looking for the nearest escape because they couldn’t bare the embarrassment, but not me. I was wrapped up in it, I couldn’t help myself.” Flowers says, “I felt the power of a song,” to which could be the reason why he chose to cover this song with Hansen, a man who taught him the meaning behind a song.
The Killers, well known for their singles “Mr. Brightside,” “When You Were Young,” and “Somebody Told Me” have released an 11 track album where 100 percent of the proceeds will go to The Global Fund, (via RED) in the fight against AIDS. The album collects previously released holiday songs by the band featuring a new rendition of the song “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” by Bing Crosby.
The album is available exclusively on iTunes and Apple Music but will be available for a limited edition CD on December 9.