themed week // Fun., Sleigh Ride

Fun. are an American indie rock band, formed by Nate Ruess (lead vocals), Andrew Dost (bass guitar, keyboards and vocals) and Jack Antonoff (drums). On live performances, they also count with Nate Harold, Emily Moore and Will Noon.
This young band, formed in 2008, has released two albums: Aim and Ignite in 2009 and Some Nights in 2012. They have also released two live albums: Fun. live at Fingerprints in 2010 and iTunes Sessions in 2012. More information about them here.

Sleigh Ride is a popular orchestral piece composed by Leroy Anderson. This piece's original idea was in July 1946 but it was only concluded in February 1948. The lyrics came later, when Mitchell Parish wrote them in 1950.
A curious fact about this song is that although Sleigh Ride is usually associated with Christmas and it's also common to see the song on Christmas compilations, the lyrics never mention a holiday or religion matter.

Ella Fitzgerald, Neil Diamond, Spice Girls, KT Tunstall and She & Him are some of the amount of artists that covered this song.
This Fun.'s version is going to appear on a special Christmas compilation named Holidays Rule that counts with artists from jazz to pop like Paul McCartney or Rufus Wainwright.

"Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling, "Yoo hoo",
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you."

Fun. + Janelle Monáe, We Are Young

Fun. is an American indie pop band created in 2008 by Nate Ruess (after the break-up of The Format) inviting Andrew Dost from Anathalo and Jack Antonoff from Steel Train.

They've released an album Aim and Ignite in 2009 which was mostly well received by critics.
From that album we can recognize songs like Walking The Dog or All The Pretty Girls.

Their new album is going to be released tomorrow under the name Some Nights.
After signing with a new label - Fueled by Ramen - fun. began the work for Some Nights being really influenced by Kanye West and other hip-hop artists. With this album they created an interesting mix of indie pop, rock and hip-hop.
Some Nights was inspired by "how personalities can change on any given night".
Adam Knott from Sputnikmusic wrote about the album that "The energy and personality which flood out of every melody give this album its own stamp of authority".

The first single taken from Some Nights is We Are Young which features Janelle Monáe.
This song was covered by Glee on the episode Hold On to Sixteen.

"Now I know that I'm not all that you got

I guess that I I just thought maybe we could find a ways to fall apart

But are friends in back

So let's raise a cup

Cause I found someone to carry me home"