Kings Of Leon have written a Christmas song but it might be too Christmassy

2 hours ago7 min read

In a move that feels both delightfully predictable and wonderfully out of character, the rock stalwarts Kings of Leon have dipped their pens into the eggnog fountain, confessing they’ve penned a Christmas song. The revelation, delivered with the band's signature Southern drawl of cool, came with a self-aware caveat that’s as charming as it is telling: the track might just be too Christmassy.Frontman Caleb Followill reportedly quipped, 'I mean, how many jingle bells can you put on a song?' a line that perfectly encapsulates the tightrope every serious artist walks when approaching the holiday genre. The Followill brothers, having built a career on anthemic, gravel-and-grace rock ‘n’ roll since their early-aughts explosion with albums like 'Aha Shake Heartbreak,' are no strangers to crafting songs that feel both intimate and stadium-sized.Their foray into yuletide tunes places them in a long and often treacherous lineage of rock bands attempting to capture the holiday spirit without sacrificing their artistic integrity. One immediately thinks of The Killers’ long-running, charity-driven ‘Christmas in L.A. ’ series, or U2’s ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),’ each act bringing their own distinct sonic fingerprint to a season often dominated by schmaltzy production.For Kings of Leon, a band whose sound is rooted in the raw, humid energy of Nashville and the swagger of 70s rock, the challenge is particularly fascinating. Will their Christmas offering lean into the melancholic, twang-inflected warmth of ‘Cold Desert,’ or will it channel the propulsive, sing-along joy of ‘Use Somebody’? The mention of an overabundance of jingle bells suggests a conscious effort to avoid the cloying pitfalls that ensnare so many, hinting at a track that might use the holiday as a thematic backdrop rather than its entire raison d'être.This is a band, after all, that has matured from garage-rock prodigies into Grammy-winning mainstays, their songwriting evolving to explore themes of family, faith, and redemption—concepts that align surprisingly well with the Christmas narrative, albeit from a less sanctimonious angle. The music industry’s Christmas single has long been a strategic play, a potential perennial revenue stream that can outsell an entire album catalogue for decades, as evidenced by the eternal reign of Mariah Carey.For Kings of Leon, this isn’t just a novelty; it’s a calculated entry into a market that craves both nostalgia and authenticity. The critical and commercial reception will be a fascinating barometer of their enduring appeal.Can they deliver a song that feels both like a genuine Kings of Leon record and a new holiday classic, something to be played alongside Bing Crosby and Wham! without breaking the mood? Or will it be a well-intentioned but forgettable stocking stuffer? Their hesitation, that worry about being 'too Christmassy,' is perhaps the most promising sign of all. It reveals an artist’s mindfulness, a desire to give their fans a gift that doesn’t feel cheap or manufactured, but one wrapped in the same gritty, soulful paper we’ve come to expect from them. It’s the musical equivalent of a carefully chosen, heartfelt present, and the rock world is waiting with bated breath to see what’s inside the box.

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#Christmas song

#new music

#holiday music

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