Plus: Killers, Coldplay Do Xmas; Drake to Host Junos

Coldplay, Killers Drop Christmas Singles
Coldplay and the Killers ushered in December by releasing Christmas singles and videos, titled "Christmas Lights" and "Boots" respectively. Both are available on the bands' websites. The Killers' video was directed by Jared Hess (Nacho Libre, Napoleon Dynamite) and Starbucks will donate 5 cents for every time the video is viewed via the Starbucks Share program. [Coldplay.com and KillersMusic.com]

Michael Cera Joins Indie Supergroup Mister Heavenly
Actor Michael Cera has joined up with indie semi-supergroup Mister Heavenly, which features Modest Mouse's Joe Plummer, Islands' Nick Thorburn and Man Man's Honus Honus. He performed with the band in Seattle Monday night and is expected to stay on for the rest of their December West Coast tour. [Pitchfork]

Johnny Marr "Forbids" British Prime Minister From Being a Smiths Fan
British Prime Minister David Cameron may be a Smiths fan, but the feeling isn't a mutual one for Johnny Marr. The former Smiths guitarist took to Twitter on Thursday to say, "David Cameron, stop saying that you like The Smiths, no you don't. I forbid you to like it." [Twitter via Spinner]

Drake to Host Canada's Juno Awards
Canadian native Drake has signed on to host the Juno Awards (the country's equivalent of the Grammys) in his hometown of Toronto on March 27. "I am beyond honoured to be hosting this monumental Juno Awards in the greatest city on Earth," the MC said in a statement. [AllHipHop.com]

Plus: Jay Weinberg Joins Against Me!; New MJ Lawsuit

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Song Stories

“The A Team”

Ed Sheeran | 2011

This debut track from the then-20-year-old British singer-songwriter has a dark story behind it. Sheeran says he culls songwriting inspiration from "viewing other people's situations," which, for the heroine in "The A Team," involves drug addiction and prostitution that began as a teen. Sheeran paints the woman's trials with haunting imagery such as "But lately her face seems/Slowly sinking, wasting/Crumbling like pastries." "I did a gig at a homeless shelter, [and the song] is about one of the women there. It's her story," he said.

More Song Stories entries »

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