Finding a song for every season: The Killers’ music

I am a self-proclaimed Killers’ fan, but if you look at my Spotify playlists, you will know that. Honestly, I have tried to create playlists not entitled “The Killers” or “Brandon Flowers,” but somehow, their music creeps into everything I make.

For those who don’t know, The Killers are an American rock band that have been around since 2001. Obviously, I was too young to be a fan when they were in their prime, but I am not too young to realize that the lead singer, Brandon Flowers, ages well and that he is always in his prime. In recent years, Brandon Flowers went solo, releasing his album The Desired Effect. However, in September of 2017, The Killers (with Flowers) released Wonderful Wonderful, which is their fifth album. I wish I could say I have a favorite album, but all of them are beautiful. Also, I know the name of their band raises some eyebrows, but they are not creepy at all.

I first discovered The Killers in 2016 when I heard Brandon Flower’s “Between Me and You,” which was recommended by Tenth Avenue North‘s Mike Donehey, who happens to be the lead singer of my favorite Christian band. Most people who are familiar with The Killers know them because of their hit “Mr. Brightside.” Call me a fake fan, but “Mr. Brightside” is actually my least favorite song of theirs mostly because it is overplayed and more appreciated by listeners than their other works.

What I love the most about The Killers is how meaningful the lyrics are in all of their songs. I have so many lyrics in my planner, bedroom, etc. from their music because they have impacted me throughout my time in high school. Also, Flowers is a phenomenal husband and father, even writing sweet songs for his wife. Additionally, none of their music includes vulgar comments or foul language, which makes me love The Killers even more.

I have always thought myself to be one who is above fangirling, but I have realized I am crazier about the band than I thought. I will now proceed to list my favorite songs, even though I like them all. Some of these songs are well-known while others have flown under the radar over the years. I have included a few Brandon Flowers songs, as well.

If you’re feeling misunderstood…“Never Get You Right”

This song is phenomenal for so many reasons and instantly makes me feel better if I’m having a bad day. You can catch me dancing to this song in my pajamas at 9 p.m. on Friday nights. I could practically be a back-up dancer for Flowers. Just hearing the music for the intro of this song makes me nearly burst into tears (in a good way). The chorus goes like this: “And I’ll give you my opinion, it’s the only one I got / They’ll turn you into something whether you are it or not /Through a microscope lens, dissecting your whole life /But they’ll never get you right.” To be brief, he is singing about a girl who grew up with a drunk mother and had a hard life. People make wrong assumptions about her, but Flowers sees right through that, even calling her “a good angel with bad wings.”

If you’re worried about the future…“Be Still” and “Peace of Mind” 

These songs make me sad, but also strangely calm. They focus on how life happens and humans do not have ultimate control of life, but we can still find serenity at times. For some reason, “Peace of Mind” makes me want to ride in a desert, on a camel, in Egypt. This is probably because Cairo is mentioned in the song, but I was getting Egyptian vibes from the moment I heard this song. “Be Still” is just beautiful no matter which lyrics you come in at. My favorite are: “Be still, wild and young / long may your innocence reign” and “rise up like the sun / labor ’til the work is done.” I would highly recommend giving these a listen if you are a senior in high school who is stressed about the future.

If you’re struggling with depression…“Some Kind of Love” and “Rut”

Both of these songs are off The Killers’ latest album Wonderful Wonderful. Brandon Flowers wrote both of these songs for his wife who struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). “Some Kind of Love” even includes vocals from their children, which always brings tears to my eyes. “Some Kind of Love” is written to remind his wife of her strength, love, and grace. “Rut” is written more from his wife’s perspective about what it is like to be mentally ill and it is basically a plea to not give up on her. Both songs are gold and show how much The Killers value family.

If you’re hopelessly devoted to someone you can’t have or if you miss someone in your life…“Here With Me” 

This song makes me miss a ‘boo’ I’ve never had. This music video is slightly strange, because it is directed by Tim Burton, but it is a heartbreaking concept once you understand it. My favorite lyrics from this song: “Don’t want your picture on my cell phone / I want you here with me / Don’t want your memory in my head now / I want you here with me.” This is another song that pulls at my heartstrings, but also reminds me of how grateful I am to have so many loved ones in my life who are actually with me.

If you are unsure about what you want in life…“This Is Your Life”

It’s hard to really classify what season of life this song is for. It is a unique, complex song, but it has such a great tune and it is constantly stuck in my head. The end says “And the sky is full of dreams / But you don’t know how to fly / I don’t have a simple answer / But I know that I could answer / with something better.” I first discovered this at midnight during a weekend youth retreat and stayed up for an hour staring out the window at the moon listening to this song. I know that sounds weird because it totally was, but that is how good the song is.

If you’re a hopeless romantic or a William Shakespeare fan (kind of)…“Romeo and Juliet”

Wow, this song definitely contains some of the sweetest lyrics ever written. The bridge goes: “And I can’t do a love song the like the way it’s meant to be / I can’t do everything but I’d do anything for you / I can’t do anything except be in love with you.” Don’t let the bridge fool you though. This couple is having a lot of struggles, but most of them were out of their control (“the dice was loaded from the start”). You can also catch me dancing to in my pajamas on Friday nights to this song because it really shows that true love is messy but worth it.

If you’re going through a breakup…“Read My Mind” and “The Way It Was.” 

“I don’t shine if you don’t shine” is my favorite quote ever and it just so happens to be from “Read My Mind.” The video was filmed in Tokyo so that’s cool. Also, Flowers is sporting a hideous mustache in this video, but he still manages to look attractive. Obviously these two songs are not the only ones that are good for breakups, but they are the ones that first came to mind. “Miss Atomic Bomb” is also great and it has a neat video that accompanies it.

When you need to be reminded of your inner strength…“Battle Born” and “The Man”

Okay, so “Battle Born” has poignant lyrics, but “The Man” really is more of a silly song. The latter is for those days when you feel like an a prideful teenager who is on top of the world. I also like to listen to “The Man” when I run because it really motivates me to hold it together and try to look cool even when I feel like I can’t breathe.

If you can’t tell from this article, I could go on and on about The Killers. But, I want you to discover for yourself how talented they are. To conclude this article, I will insert a meme from Pinterest that relates to my life.