Don't Shoot Me Santa

"Don't Shoot Me Santa"
Single by The Killers
Released	November 27, 2007 (2007-11-27) (see Release history)
Format	Digital download, CD single
Genre	Rock, holiday music
Length	4:03
Label	Island
Producer	The Killers
The Killers singles chronology
"Tranquilize" (2007) "Don't Shoot Me Santa" (2007) "Human" (2008)

"Don't Shoot Me Santa" is a song by Las Vegas-based rock band The Killers. The song was released November 27, 2007 (2007-11-27), as a digital download.^[1] A portion of the proceeds from this song went to AIDS charities as part of the (PRODUCT)^RED campaign, headed by Bono and Bobby Shriver. It is The Killers' second Christmas download single following 2006's "A Great Big Sled".^[2]

Track listing

• CD Single

1. "Don't Shoot Me Santa" - 4:04
2. "Don't Shoot Me Santa" (Enhanced Video) - 4:33

Release history

Region	Date	Format
United States	November 27, 2007 (2007-11-27)	Download
	December 4, 2007 (2007-12-04)	Compact disc
United Kingdom	December 17, 2007 (2007-12-17)

Music video

According to Japanese Vogue, the video for "Don't Shoot Me Santa" was directed, edited, and co-produced by actor/director/model/visual artist Matthew Gray Gubler (from the cast of Criminal Minds) who is also a native of Las Vegas.

The music video starts in a desert with a puppet version of Flowers and a puppet version of Santa in a puppet theater in Santa's trailer. Then, Santa pops up to say his part "I've got a bullet in my gun!" It goes to Flowers tied up in a chair with Christmas tree trimmings and Santa running around him. Later on, Flowers is tied up in Santa's car with Santa driving. It then goes back to the Santa's trailer with Flowers still tied up in a chair watching Santa dig up his grave. The band come up behind 3 small trees, break the trimmings, and escape in Santa's car, trailing him behind. Santa ends up covering up Flowers' puppet, and goes to the band (in puppet form) holding up a sign saying, 'Merry Christmas from The Killers'.

Ryan Pardey

The role of Santa (both singing, and acting in the music video) is performed by Ryan Pardey. He performed this song live, with the band, at KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas in December 2007. He and Flowers were shown dancing together on stage, and he soaked Flowers with a water-gun^{[citation needed]}. The Killers have written a song about Pardey called "Questions With the Captain". The song appears as a hidden track on the end of their B-sides album Sawdust, but can only be found on the CD.

Charts

Chart (2007)	Peak position
Canadian Hot 100	23
UK Singles Chart	34
Irish Singles Chart	49

References

1. ^ "TDon't Shoot Me Santa". Island Records. 2007-11-23. http://www6.islandrecords.com/site/artist_newsinfo.php?artist_id=547. Retrieved 2007-11-25. 
2. ^ The Killers Prep Rarities Comp., Do Xmas Single, Tour Pitchfork Media