Are We Dancer? Finding Meaning in The Killers' song "Human" | AmorSciendi

Are We Human or Are We Dancer? I try to answer this question.
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[@yetimelly523]

The singer wrote this song about his mom dying. I believe he's reflecting on the death of his mom and saying are we going to live our lives to the fullest (Human) and do what we want, or are we going to dance for the overlords (bosses). Hes saying that he (the son) is dying inside because his mother is dying. So part of him is dying. So he asks the question on the deathbed, "Are we Human, or are we dancer." Meaning if you live your life as a conformist then this life will be WITHOUT grace, good, virtue, romance, devotion, and the soul. So we should all live as a "Human" before we die.

[@stevevalandra5924]

Nice try. But Flowers is a Mormon.

[@JacobBen94]

The moment when you realise you can be both a HUMAN and a DANCER at the same time

[@allforsomething]

I love the Killers AND this song has always driven me crazy with what sounded like bad grammar. But of course that couldn't be. I appreciated your musings and the evidences you provided. Thought provoking! Thanks.

[@AmorSciendi]

Thanks Heather

[@crystalyoung2545]

Looks like the most common lyrics found says “denser”. Sounds more fitting or grammatically correct to 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@DerekNS74]

It’s actually not bad grammar. He is using the word Dancer as an equivalent descriptor to Human, with the same grammatical form.

[@kagitsune]

I feel like I just listened to the most erudite shitpost of all time. I loved it. 😆 But the real question you didn't address is: why is "dancer" singular?? 🤔 Are we together, as all humans, one giant dancer? Does life or grammar have any meaning?? 😱

[@christinehayes3903]

I AM...dancer...NOT DANCERS...I AM HUMAN...I AM DANCER...(the dancer, a dancer...but when you take out the words...the and a...you get to essence...I AM DANCER

[@johnreese7973]

@@christinehayes3903 you are dancer

[@rosevazquez3261]

Loved the analysis 🧡

[@god_ynwa]

My friend caught me in tears because of how I interpret this song.... I know I have never felt the true love of a human nor have I loved one. The world may be a stage but I'm not dancing to anybodies tune. I am a human 1st and there is no 2nd. I love you all unless you hurt my family.

[@bientapvien]

This song is used in gym cycling and I have loved it from the melody to the lyrics. Thank you for you interpreting it.

[@jacquelinewalsh9112]

Great work

[@patrickvilar_]

Good point of view. I'm a dancer, indeed we become closer to the divine when dancing. And yes, the argument points to the direction of seeing ourselves like something else, more then logical existence. Thanks for your video

[@theiconographer24]

I appreciate the risk taking with a different point of inspiration. I think willingness to try something new in your video perfectly encapsulates your argument for being the dancer- unbound, unfettered, free. I always love hearing your thoughts on any subject. Keep them coming.

[@Seeme-C.]

I think the music of the Killers is the best music in the world. So much Heart.

[@Seeme-C.]

I think everything is alright. when you listen to Music and You feel free. Most of the people are good people. It is always good to know.unless you live in an Illusion. Negativity is never a good thing. helps you seeing things clearly. that have always been there. Thanks to Brandon Flowers. for the wonderful music. I am looking forward to seeing the next Killers Videos on KZbin. Brazil.

[@Seeme-C.]

Have you been waiting for an answer? I am sorry.

[@Seeme-C.]

❤

[@taylorcwimberly]

Oh, woah. This is a bit crazy... I had this CD on repeat when it came out.. recently came back around to it. I have always heard it as "are we human, or are we denser?" In the sense you described of aligning with our divinity, awareness of our mortality, the duality, as we as a species are currently experiencing ascension to a dimension with a higher frequency.

[@WhatsSoGreatAboutThat]

I like this new stuff you're trying! :D Applying art theory to popular culture is my favourite type of stuff, haha. Really liked this one!

[@JohnSmith-xl4sx]

That was great!

[@D0ct0rCinema]

I love to hear what you have to say about pop culture! It's a unique perspecitve.

[@user-og7eh8pv8h]

My intuition hinted to a similar interpretation after hearing this song today. Some deep spiritual transcendental stuff.

[@sunilrampuria7906]

Nice video, I thought you'd mention Barthes in the end.

[@AmorSciendi]

I've got other videos that mention Barthes. The one on Charles worth, for example. Also, my next one....

[@WeAreYouthCulture]

I really love this video. My ten-year-old daughter and I were discussing what the lyrics mint and we decided to see what KZbin had to say. I love that you incorporated a bigger conversation about philosophy and philosophers which will hopefully open the door to study that with my daughter. The song also has a special place in my heart because I was in Mobile DJ at the time it became very popular. I feel that song elicits a sense of hopeful joy when facing our own frail and finite lives. This is extremely fitting for a wedding celebration thats full of the hope of a new relationship, family and life. Often being observed by older generations and humming with the tensions past dramas and lost hopes. In other words, pair this song with a lot of alcohol and a strange mix of family members and emotions and you have a kick-ass dance party!!😉

[@AmorSciendi]

Glad you enjoy it. I agree. The stranger the groups of people you're listening with, the better this song is

[@DanHernbrott]

I like your interpretation of modern art, I think you bring a unique perspective. But I think you should focus on whatever you're interested in! I'm here for it, you never fail to make me consider something new.

[@dimmicho]

very inspiring approach (solid imo), gives tremendous added value to the song!! very good work, philosophical(mostly platonic🧐☝️) greetings from Greece 😄 PS. Modern, not ancient Greece 😅

[@johnreese7973]

I always felt dancer was meaning a spirited creative that transcends life, and human being reference to the dying body. Which is closer to your take on the lyrics. I love the song, and the wacky grammar is perfect to me

[@paulbanales4232]

I really like this song, I didn’t know about the Hunter S Thompson origin, I interpreted the song similar to your aesthetic theory

[@elliott0234]

Why have you only got 12k views on such a philosophical and beautiful question and answer within the song? For me I feel like human is a man that strives for war, death and destruction while dancer is well... a dancer, a creative person such as you said, someone, something to be oggled by others and dreamt upon, the thing that the human protects for there can be no creation without destruction.

[@Bsjs7uu]

"This song has the most ridiculous bad lyrics" "And the I killed her"

[@beverlypenney1270]

you are bang on buddy, I recently flew across the country to visit my best friend and he died 4 hours after I got there of a sudden heart attack after we had dinner ..he wandered off and died a half a block from the gay bar we were at ..it was tragic and we were very close... but he went quickly as we all wish we do ..this song which I had not heard in years suddenly was on the air waves ..is now helping me heal while grieving his death ..I heard it a day after his funeral and for some reason have heard it at least once a week on different stations ..its about energies leaving us peacefully is my interpretation ..Hunter Thompson ..what evs

[@willemvandebeek]

I don't mind you going more the Nerdwriter1 route and diversify your content; I am looking forward for what more is to come from this decision.

[@antonjr679gt]

This was my dad's best friends song before he died of cancer

[@WeAreYouthCulture]

I also think that the full context of the Thompson quote supports your theory. Doesn't the Thompson quote suggest that we have lost our ability to truly be dancers because we're too afraid to step out of line. As if to say our inner Aristotle has suffocated our enter inner Plato.

[@kibrika]

I always percieved the second question as an addition - are we human or are we also dancer.

[@robertbaillargeon3683]

I remember the lyrics to that song really sticking out to me when it was popular. To me, it seemed like it almost--but not quite--made sense. I ended up spending a lot of time thinking about what it might mean without really making any progress in a way that I wouldn't have if the song was either clearly nonsense or easy to parse.

[@pscheidt]

The first genius part of the song is its use of 'dancer' instead of the usual plural. The author did have the option of using plurals for both sides of the dichotomy. The second is surpassing the Thompson quote by fleshing out the dichotomy between body and spirit. Just because the song was influenced by the quote does not mean it does not disagree with him.

[@AmorSciendi]

Good point

[@stevevalandra5924]

His theory makes more sense.

[@Rumbleghost]

On the topic of the use of the singular Dancer instead of the plural Dancers, I wonder about a possible reference to Shiva, the Dancer or maybe even MDMA.

[@bjornhegner6947]

The lyrics clearly need interpretation. Maybe the author did not intend to convey one simple message but wanted us to think about these issues and find our own answers. I like the interpretation put forward here. Maybe it was, in fact, the author's direction of thinking as well, but he would never have the time and the words to explain it to the general audience as perfect as it has been in this video!

[@AmorSciendi]

Thanks! That's so nice of you to say

[@JJEMcManus]

It was worth going to listen to the song first. I wonder if 12Tone could add anything in terms of analysis.

[@forpestermester]

My guess is that it originally may have been about being "human or cancer" until the record company ordered a change in the lyrics to not make a potential "feel-good" hit-single offensive or misanthropic

[@runeodin7237]

So, according to your theory, 'dancer' is in singular because mankind should be thought as one big organism ('dancer') which transcends the life of every single deadly human, or what? That would also mean that 'human' and 'dancer' in reality are two sides of the same coin. Thanks for your analysis, it made me really think.

[@gracielasaenz9300]

The lyrics are human or Denser. Spiritual meaning 3 D. Or Enlightenment .blessings. 2020 namaste Love a mom energy ❤️

[@DerekNS74]

The song was based on the Hunter S Quote. He has said so.

[@geoffstamp9077]

I love this song, along with Radio Gaga (Queen) it seems to be a nod towards our technical advancements which are physical and, particularly in this song, seem to be at the expense of art and feelings, "grace, virtue, good, soul, romance, devotion" and of course,"dancer". At first I thought your argument, Amor Sciendi, was tenuous and then you brought in Plato and Aristotle and I had to salute you for that! I find myself agreeing with you at least some of the way towards a dichotomy set up in the words of the song. Of course, you conveniently forget the reference to some form of transport at the beginning, even could be a train speaking: "line, platform" and "open door" that would make any station master "nervous"! You do not give any explanation for these images in the first stanza. Now, in the final bridge before the chorus is repeated twice, there is a reference to dreaming of home, maybe in an overnight sleeper? Communication has been cut: "There is no message we're receiving"; one party is trying to find out if everything is all right with the other; "Is your heart still beating?" Of course, the answer is in the chorus: "My sign is vital" yet illness, death or just lack of feeling could be suggested by "My hands are cold". Yet we have a saying in English: Cold Hands, Warm Heart. Of course, as with all obscure lyrics or poetry, one could spend a lifetime trying to understand them and achieve nothing at the end. Someone told me it was not "dancer" but "denser". (Are we human - bad, or denser - even worse?) I felt it would have been a pity if that were so. I feel uplifted by dancer because as you say eloquently as an art form it is above our physical and natural earth-bound being. What is wrong with a nation of dancers? Art extends the human psyche so that it can think up the amazing technical achievements of today and tomorrow. But I cannot help but think of the art nouveau train speeding through the night in the opening and closing graphics of Agatha Christie's Poirot, the BBC's mystery series Jan. 1989-Nov 2013. Once the stew is made who remembers what went into it? Begs the question: what state was Brandon Flowers in when he penned "Human". But thanks to the Killers for a cracking piece of music and to Amor's clever explanation.

[@GabrielKnightz]

This maybe a more pertinent question now than ever, partly because of the times and more specifically this video. What are your thoughts on video games as art, and more specifically a game called *"The Stanley Parable"* One could argue it is by far one of the most immersive and complex form, combining music and visual expressions and lore and performance and cinematics and interaction in a single experience. (ps: if you Do decide to play it, please consider going in blind, as a long time subscriber of your channel i guarantee you'll love it, at the very least come away having experienced something truly unique.)

[@AmorSciendi]

I'm totally on board with the idea of video games as art. In fact I'm often lamenting that I don't experience that art form enough. I think I'd like it as a vehical for narrative. I'm afraid it's left me behind. I haven't played a video game since 2005, and they got so complicated. I'll give that game a try as a starter project.

[@GabrielKnightz]

They don't have to be triple a block buster types with a big production behind them, there are ones that are brilliant in their simplicity, as simple as moving with the arrows and Left and Right click and still pack a pure narrative punch as well as any movie or book. Performances that can move one to tears or leave speechless or simply be cathartic. If you're interested in the mentioned types, ones to check out would be, Firewatch. What Remains of Edith Finch. Her Story.

[@christopheresker8542]

That was......interesting. Once the cat's out of the bag - that the author was, in fact, referencing Hunter S. Thompson, then all the air just breathes its last, and the sad, latent, cheerful, cheerish defense is just lost. Clearly, in this case, you were human, and not dancer.

[@corbinlegrand]

To be fair he only said the song was inspired by the quote. Perhaps he shares your viewpoint and your interpretation is correct. I always thought the same as you.

[@AmorSciendi]

That's a good point. Either way, I love what he created.

[@sungame21]

Human in Sanskrit meaning dispenser of divine goods (in resonance with what you are saying here) gives this song the possibility of multidimensional interpretations. Nothing wrong with having several ways of understanding this... haiku of sorts. Life is full of opposing constructs. As prophet Lehi tells his firstborn in the wilderness: For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

[@docforest4851]

Interesting interpretation which is more like my interpretation, though its not in agreement with the author. I was recently having a philosophical debate about dancing…how at one time, it would have been an instinctual reaction to beat and music, but somewhere along the line we decided people were good or lousy at it. Then dancing became a series of regimented movements. Many people don’t want to dance because they are afraid of humiliation, but thats not what dancing should be about. We were all created as dancers.

[@EdenAlbertoSilvestre-bs6cw]

are we human or are we dancer thats so simple...

[@rogercline5377]

Perhaps there's places for both Human and Dancer entities. Perhaps it's left brain/right brain dichotomy. In other words, individuals are combinations of Human and Dancer, some more of one, others more the other. Any answer is fine... life's about finding your own answer and your own way.

[@donngu]

This has got to be the most misheard lyric ever. The actual lyric is “Are we human, or are we Danza”.

[@Yossus]

I'm a firm believer in Death of the Author, meaning that Brandon Flowers as the writer has no more authority over the interpretation of his work than anyone who listens to it. However, it's interesting to apply it to a song (instead of the most common object, books) because Flowers is not only the writer but also the performer. If his interpretation of the lyrics influenced his performance, does that mean he does have a higher interpretative authority in that function? To me - no, he doesn't. Songs belong to their listeners, just like books belong to their listeners.

[@GabrielKnightz]

I was literally planning to read that essay tomorrow, having had the conversation a few days ago. And i still don't know the answer 'Should art be appreciated independent of their artist', is the starry night any more/less enigmatic if we didn't know about the man behind it. Does an author have the right to retcon? It's easy enough to say power to the people but, if we don't acknowledge the true "history" of a piece are we not changing what it truly is? but then should some art come with a little asterisk in the corner. I don't know.

[@silvasilvasilva]

@@GabrielKnightz I think we can only improve things by knowing more about them. We can choose what to focus on and what to leave out, but knowing history and context will not "spoil" our enjoyment, only enlighten it.

[@kagitsune]

@@silvasilvasilva This is similar to my take. For example, I can choose to enjoy problematic literature while also acknowledging the social context and consequences of the work and of the artist's views. At the same time, I can also distance myself from certain works during times of critical political change. Which is why I am taking a break from Vagner and the animated series Attack on Titan right now. In these examples, the artists' views and political leanings (and indeed, the artworks themselves) are currently being weaponized against marginalized people, and I don't want to encourage their hero worship any more.

[@GabrielKnightz]

@Mônica A part of me agrees with that, the first time i was introduced to "Guernica" i honestly thought it was some outsider art, but when i learned it was a conscious representation of the manic chaos of war i had a whole new level of appreciation and respect for it. The issue i guess is when that's reversed, when you really enjoy and relate to something subjectively and it turns out it was made by a horrible person or with horrible intent. Does it change the piece? Should we Not enjoy it then? or Do knowing what it truly is? i don't know. There's a recent video called "Whose Migrant Mother was this? by The Art Assignment" that kind of looks at it if you find it interesting.

[@silvasilvasilva]

@@GabrielKnightz I have seen the video! I believe this is where choice comes into play. We can consciously decide that author and work are not the same and enjoy the latter while not condoning the former.

[@cementeriodelosvivos]

U r a dancer

[@AmorSciendi]

That's very kind of you

[@saint141]

Really? Say goodbye to devotion and love etc. You have to let me go. These are the things that keep us dancer.

[@ManuelRiccobono]

I think that this song is more like a poetry. The fact that it does not give you the answer and also gives you no material to think about the decision, makes you really think about both aspects. For me the meaning of the 2 terms could also be summed up to: Human - having no limitations on what you can do to your life (like moving around the world, the work you want to do, the family you want to have, etc), but you will ever be resteained by social rules on every little decision Dancer - being limited on where you can express yourself (stage), but you will be free to express what you want to do as you prefere (taking everyday decisions without fearing for the consequences). And i really dont know what would be better, because as we are, we as humans need a society to live fully, but we also must follow rules to not ruin life of others people.

[@balazsvastag8750]

I might just be the stupid one here, but i always asumed that he says "denser" not "dancer". So the question would be: Are we human or something that is more dense? Like i don't know, a species that is more stupid than humans. I realise that it doesen't make more sense than "dancer" does, but i just find it strange that noone is talking aboute it. :D

[@TheLegendsOfTamriel]

Uhm sorry buddy but the lyric is Denser not Dancer.

[@jacko6518]

First of all they are not saying the word dancer they are saying dencer. It is about struggling with your beliefs evolution or creation. Humans are we especially created by a God or are we dencer did we evolve from animals and are not anything unique we are dence. That's what the song is about.

[@bichdao1808]

Im a dancer and i feel offended by this song .

[@silvanusfourth6386]

The song is about death. The answer is human. Grow up.