Hey!
For this week, after asking around and a poll on Instagram, I decided to start this off with the Killers. As I said before, they’re one of my favourite bands, so this should be fun.
I’m going to link the YouTube audio in each song title, so if you haven’t already heard it, then you can go do that. Just click/tap the title in the list.
Today’s top 5 song list is: “Mr Brightside”, “When You Were Young”, “Somebody Told Me”, “All These Things That I’ve Done”, and “The Man”.
Let’s go!
Mr Brightside
This song probably has one of the most recognisable intros ever. I mean, come on. This is the song that gets played at every party and that everybody knows. It’s repetitive, but this song will always make me smile.
It’s part of what I like to call the “Brightside Series”, which also includes Miss Atomic Bomb and (possibly) Get Trashed. I may do a further post on this, if I run out of ideas.
This always has been, and probably always will be, one of my favourite songs. The pace of the words and the way it’s sung echoes the pain behind why it was written. This song is not only great, it’s heartfelt, and no cover of it (I’m looking at you, Vamps) will ever match the way in which Brandon Flowers sings it. I’m serious. It would be sacrilege.
There are a ton of remixes, but once again, nothing will ever beat the original.
I’m not surprised that this is on top of Google Play’s list, because it genuinely hasn’t left the UK charts since 2004. So apparently, the UK agrees with me when I say this is one of the best songs ever written.
When You Were Young
I have to admit, I was a little surprised by this one. It’s pretty popular, but not as well known as, say, “Somebody Told Me”.
But hey, I’m not complaining.
Once again, the guitar opening for this song is incredible, and whatever that is that’s doing the “da da da da da” is awesome. This is one of the songs that has what I call an Inexplicable Happy Moment, purely for the bit where it goes “He doesn’t look a thing like Jesus, but he (random thing in the background) talks like a gentleman, like you imagined when you were young.”
Or the part that begins “They say the devil’s water/ It ain’t so sweet/” and builds to a guitar climax? That’s what I’m talking about when I say this song is pretty energetic.
As for the meaning, well, my interpretation is that it’s being sung to someone who’s waiting for someone, to help them out of their situation, and the song uses Jesus as a metaphor for this. They’re telling the person that “he doesn’t look a thing like Jesus”, almost saying that good can come from places they don’t expect it. The man in the song doesn’t look like Jesus, but he “talks like a gentleman”, and this suggests that people aren’t always what you think.
That was surprisingly deep. Huh. Guess those analysis lessons in English were useful, after all.
Somebody Told Me
This song doesn’t make any sense. If any of you want to go look up the meaning, feel free, but I’m just going to leave this one for now and visit SongMeanings later.
It’s really repetitive, but still awesome. It’s more synthesizer heavy than, say, Mr Brightside or When You Were Young, but eh. I still love it.
I can’t say that it’s one of my favourites, purely because there are other Killers songs I like better (Read My Mind, anyone? On Top?) but you’ve gotta love the energy, and it’s just a riot overall.
This, along with Mr Brightside, Smile Like You Mean It, and All These Things That I’ve Done, is one of the four I’ve actually heard on the radio. It’s also on Hot Fuss, so it’s another one that people will name if I ask them about the Killers.
It’s not incredibly well known, but it’s up. This song has a special euphoria of its own, which is down to the fact that this song kinda makes you want to jump up and down. Also, nobody understands, or maybe that’s just me.
Oh well.
All These Things That I’ve Done
Where do I start? I mean, if I say “I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier”, you know what I’m talking about.
I like how this song starts out a little quieter than the rest, and builds up to the “Over and in/Last call for sin/While everyone’s lost/The battle is won/With all these things that I’ve done.” at the end.
And by the way, it’s “the gold hearted boy I used to be”. Not cold. I’m not crazy, I swear.
This song is more of a slow burner, with the louder part coming at the end, but honestly, it’s fun to scream “I GOT SOUL BUT I’M NOT A SOLDIER” at the top of your lungs in a large group of people.
The low guitar during the middle 8 is one of my favourite parts. Honestly, I don’t think Dave Keuning is appreciated enough.
And to point out why people know this song… well, we all saw that Samsung advert, didn’t we?
The Man
The fifth and final song on our list for today is also the most recent. This was released pre-Wonderful Wonderful, but I didn’t actually listen until the album came out. This is one of my favourite Killers songs, because it’s almost impossible not to dance to. It also has an Inexplicable Happy Moment, but we’ll get to that later.
So. Listening to this song, it sounds a little self-centered, but it’s apparently about the singer (Brandon Flowers)’s experiences and what it was like when Hot Fuss took off. Anyway, it’s not everyone’s favourite, but I like it.
The Inexplicable Happy Moment comes when the song says “Right hand to God/ First in command/ My testimony/ When I take the stand” and then there’s a pew noise that was my first Inexplicable Happy Moment. I’m not crazy, okay.
Also, the pause just before “fame” is awesome.
Overall, this song should be a party song everywhere, because it’s got a good beat to it and it’s just one of those song that you have to dance to. Good for Monday mornings.
Conclusion
My verdict: I love it, but I already knew these guys.
Honourable Mention (not on the list): Tidal Wave (Bonus Track)
I’m aware this is a bonus track, but it’s a beautiful song and an example of Brandon’s best vocals in my opinion. It’s here if you want to listen.
This post may have been slightly biased, and I say this while sitting in my Killers tour hoodie. Eh.
A few of the artists I do I’ll already be familiar with, and some I won’t. The ones that I’m not will be slightly more reactions and slightly less background. Also they might be a little shorter.
Coming off of that, I wasn’t expecting this post to be nearly this long, but I’m happy with it. I want to do other music-based things that aren’t top 5s, but for now I’m going to stick with that. If album reviews come a little late, that’s the reason.
Secondly, I only have so many ideas, so please comment any artist suggestions or anything you think I could change. Or give me your opinions. Or just say hi.
Thanks!
(Eventually I’ll come up with something clever to end with but until then, bye!)
Top 5 Everything 