Did The Killers Copy This Famous Song?!

The Killers are back with new music. Yay! I wasn't sure about this song at first. It's called "Boy". However, after listening more carefully there's a lot more going on that I thought and it's actually pretty cool. What do you think? And Is it bold of them to use that synth patch that sounds incredibly like that other AMAZING hit song? Thoughts and concerns in the comments please. Thank you.
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[@zombieparrot2606]

Remember they’re from Vegas, and “Mirage” might well be a literal reference to the iconic hotel ( which has sported the well know Sgt. Pepper era photo of the Beatles).

[@OnBrandMedia1]

that's exactly what it is. I think there are/were literal plans to implode and rebuild a new casino

[@jackiosue4733]

For sure it’s both

[@jameskilgour387]

The Killers will always have a special place in my heart as they got me into rock music. Day and Age was my first album when I was 8 and they've consistently been good (and occasionally great) since. I think Pressure Machine is their best work since then by a mile and I'm excited to still call myself a fan after all this time.

[@TimArnoldIsMe]

I hear some strong Flock of Seagulls in the chorus us as well!. It’s like an entire decade distilled into a single song.

[@augustwildflower]

Thank you for this Justin, your videos seem to scratch an musical itch in my brain that others don’t get to! That B chord was the moment, together with the soaring melody, that got me on first listen too. Great song.

[@keironrose2653]

2 minutes of breaking down the tour name. Brilliant 🤣 Here here Justin 🙌

[@jonpeachey1917]

If The Darkness ever did a covers album A Little Respect would be fantastic

[@JackMellor498]

As a synth-pop guy myself, I get so much geeky satisfaction to know you’re quite the synth guy too, Justin! I mean I know your music with The Darkness is hard rock/glam rock or metal, if you did more solo stuff and it was more synthesiser-ish just know that I’d personally never complain even if Darkness fans do. 😅 I see that DX7 tattoo!

[@l.anders8867]

If i remember correctly, Justin mentioned playing on keyboards earlier in life. In one of the early Darkness videos, he plays a keytar. On the north America tour, he played a keytar on stage.

[@gamingflixx]

You should review/breakdown their 2007 song Tranquilize.

[@aliceinavalon]

This song gives me a lot of similar vibes to The Perfect Kiss by New Order, especially the versions that have been performed in recent concerts. Lots of depth and space.

[@davisanaiz6742]

I get more Erasure

[@gregclarkreasons]

Imploding the Mirage was actually an awesome record

[@rickhynes2693]

It was brilliant from start to finish!

[@samansiddiquie1902]

A lyrical masterpiece, yes. Beautiful yet simple songs.

[@michaels3436]

The Killers always Rock it. They are my favorite band ever. (sorry.😂) I have loved everything they do and they have really had a renaissance recently with Imploding the Mirage etc. I can’t wait to see what they do next. I love your breakdowns as well and every time you release a video I get excited to see the breakdown .😂😂

[@scrltt6372]

Blows my mind when musicians can pick out the chord progression on first listen. Must make music all that more exciting

[@charliebluechaos4963]

Oooo. This is one of the bands that I thoroughly enjoy but never actually followed. Very true to their established sound which I believe, beyond their compositions, makes their overall output very pleasant. That guitar tone is very cool, the synth very awesomely retro, and those horses are beautiful ♡ Much love to you Mr. Hawkins Very cool

[@BlueTelevisionGames]

Here’s a cool idea… What if you did a live stream where people could submit videos of their bands and you could react and share your thoughts on the music? Could be a lot of fun… Keep up the awesome videos. You are my new favorite channel.

[@JustinHawkinsRidesAgain]

Thank you!!

[@08emily89]

I love ‘Shot at the Night’ by The Killers. It was released a couple of years ago but it didn’t get very far at all! In fact I never even heard it on the radio on any station

[@matthewlacey5307]

That is a bloody masterpiece

[@thornton]

I do hate singles that are released within the greatest hits, without the fans getting to have their say about whether it is actually a greatest hit first... but omg, that one would get in anyway

[@aliceinavalon]

That's one of my favorite songs! Definitely such an underrated song!

[@Pikkle_Sokks]

I always thought that one sounded like Steve Winwood's "Higher Love"

[@08emily89]

I’m shocked so many people feel the same about ‘Shot at the Night’ incredible song and I never understood why none of my friends ever heard it.

[@sydguitar99]

Brandon Flowers is just such a unique songwriter, even the songs people don't like, I feel have some good qualities

[@DeeTeaDee]

I think he has shown nothing promising since their third album. Seriously. Just an all out CHORE getting through his stuff ever since

[@pinupnurse1977]

@@DeeTeaDee Battle Born has been a grower and there are some great lyrics on there. Lots of great songs since. The Man, MOSW and Pressure Machine to name a few

[@DeeTeaDee]

@@pinupnurse1977 mate. They ARE few. VERY. Lets be honest. He’s annoying as well. He’s too busy trying to be ultra skinny to write a decent tune. Agh i just cant stand their music it’s dreadful

[@pinupnurse1977]

@@DeeTeaDee how is he annoying? He runs and he doesn't smoke or drink, that helps being slim? Are you only a rock star if you drink, do drugs and go to rehab? Couldn't disagree more about the music tbh. Seen them live a few times and they are awesome.

[@DeeTeaDee]

@@pinupnurse1977 ive seen em about 5 times. But everything after day & age is just a proper CHORE to listen to. Seriously watered down, dull music. Same BEAT. Always sounding like it’s building to something. Never any pay off. Just god awful monotonous drab . No, he doesn’t have to be a junkie. Just make decent songs. Stop trying to be something he aint. He tries to be this manly, american troubadour type figure like a springsteen. Then you see him live and he’s just a pipsqueek running round WHALING out of tune coz of it. He’s like a peter pan type silhouette without the strings. Just so poor man .

[@AngusClarkGTR]

Flowers explained the meaning behind the song title to Apple Music: "I'm obviously using the imagery of Las Vegas - we implode things, we have a casino called The Mirage - and just the idea of this facade that we can put on and how stressful that can be. I think getting rid of it and replacing it with what's real can be such a relief and can be something that we could all strive to do."

[@lanawilkerson2219]

He’s the best lyricist

[@GolfTool]

The Killers are from Las Vegas so Imploding the Mirage could also be a play on words given the famous casino by the same name.

[@williamballard2964]

Indeed!!! That was me first thought. 🧐

[@glengamble526]

Most likely…

[@joanquerzoli2662]

Imploding his dreams and ties to Vegas to move to Utah for his wife’s mental health. He is a good man.

[@pinupnurse1977]

It's what they do to old hotels in Vegas, implode them. The Mirage hotel is actually due to to be imploded. Shame cos its a lovely hotel (bar the cruel dolphin habitat)

[@Vladdie777]

Love the killers! Have you reviewed Pressure Machine album? Its different to their usual but I loved the downstated music

[@blueskybry]

Reminds me of the stuff that Brandon was doing on 'The Desired Effect', which isn't a bad thing. I enjoy it when they get their 80s on 🙌

[@musiciansteve7785]

Hi Justin, I’m 15 and am a massive fan of both your channel and The Darkness. As a guitarist and singer in a rock band, I’m trying to explore my higher vocal range outside of a falsetto context. When did you become able to do your “head belt”, and utilise your high range without sounding like you’re in a choir? Please keep the videos coming, I’m going to see you guys live at vibrations festival soon, and I can’t wait

[@mintyapricot]

Waiting on you to release an 80s goth synth album... please?

[@robinmayenfels9675]

I absolutely love The Killers, I do hope though that they bring the guitars more prominently into the mix again. They have some great riffs but the guitars faded into the background on a couple of their newer releases.

[@iliketrains3495]

They were quite prominent on Pressure Machine, especially on Cody

[@FuckThatYo]

They faded on some of their older albums as well. The song “Human” comes to mind.

[@iliketrains3495]

@@FuckThatYo Human is one of their more guitar centric songs, especially in the first verse

[@FuckThatYo]

@@iliketrains3495 Thinking I must have been misremembering the song, I just gave it a listen. Sure there’s a guitar doing a little picking, far in the background, but it’s far from being a “guitar-centric” song. It sure as hell isn’t anything like When You Were Young. That is an example of a guitar centric song. Human is basically synth-pop.

[@My-Channel_forever]

Guitar World: Do you think people don’t see what you do sometimes? KEUNING You mean, because I’m not a shredder? GW Exactly. KEUNING Probably, but that’s okay. I care about the songs, the band, the overall statement. [laughs] Although sometimes people think my guitar parts are keyboard parts. That does bother me sometimes.

[@StrangeDevice]

Good day to you, one and all. It is I, Justin Hawkins, host of Nova. Later in the show, I’ll be joined by Neil Degrasse Tyson…

[@StrangeDevice]

Because of the implosion/explosion analy…never mind. I’ll be quiet now.

[@thecakecadet8450]

I don't understand how anyone can not like the killers they are brilliant

[@thomasaghotmail]

I like about 5 or 6 of their songs. Alot. But the rest is just...meh.

[@Paulnap]

Their first and second albums are great, then they started to get more pop and derivative 80s rehash like this exact song. Also, their albums are way too overcompressed and distorted. Great band nonetheless.

[@gamingflixx]

@@ifwecouldvote I wouldn’t say that. They have some brilliant rock/dark songs. Jenny Was a Friend of Mine, Smile Like You Mean It, When You Were Young, Uncle Jonny, Tranquilize, Running Towards a Place in particular are bangers.

[@ifwecouldvote]

@@gamingflixx Yeah, just not my thing. I understand sonically and theoretically why those songs work, but I understand that for a lot of pop music that I also can't stand.

[@Amy-hy6zn]

i love the killers so much. every record they put out shows how they have changed and grown over the years, and i can’t wait to see what they release next. i’d go so far as to say they’ve never released a bad track.

[@BigSunn0]

I think it’s weird that we have mormon rock stars.

[@TjTj74]

We have a new genre-Mock😉

[@brainstew4you952]

I loved them for a few years and found out they were Mormons and it turned me away from them. Then I decided to try to ignore that aspect. I love their music. I love their 80s New Wave music sound. Erasure is top 10 bands for me.

[@martinheath5947]

From Las Vegas as well

[@schneibgamer1]

Christian rock exists but Mormon rock crosses the line huh

[@davidfaustino4476]

They aren't rock stars. They're just a rock-ish group of guys.

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

They're from Vegas. I think "Imploding the Mirage" is a reference to the planned destruction of the Mirage Hotel by Controlled Demolition Inc., to make room for a new facility.

[@tobistathers3252]

I have never commented on a KZbin video. But I think it's important everyone know I believe your magnum opus is the theme tune for Graces Amazing machines. Criminally underated. That being said - your a total legend - love your music in its entirety.

[@erichakanson7010]

I've seen the video for this song so before I watch Justin's review, I wonder how many people hear "Just Can't Get Enough" from Depeche Mode in it?

[@evv1978]

Yeah. A bit. Well it's Vince Clarke again!

[@williamdouglas1977]

Just dropping in to mention Orville Peck. His live performance on Jimmy Kimmel is UNREAL ! Check it out !

[@joshuailes7040]

My favourite band. The mirage is in reference to a hotel in Vegas I believe. The title track on that album is incredible.

[@yusufamir3010]

His voice reminds me of robert smith at some points during the song

[@altered7144]

Yes, it does. Not a bad thing either 🖤

[@aprilkurtz1589]

Yep, this sounds very much like a Cure song. Which is great.

[@ozzyb663]

The guitar lick is from Roxy Music's wonderful 'More Than This'.

[@NooceneSounds]

That high synth line is very similar to the hook of "City of Blinding Lights" by U2

[@jediquigley2192]

Very catchy song, after a couple of listens I was hooked 😊

[@dotl8084]

Love the fucking Killers, love The Darkness. Happy I got a chance to see them in span of five months. Good fucking times.

[@harryymcp4760]

Please do I Love You by Fontaines DC. I think the words will interest you more but the arrangement and structure is interesting too

[@2degucitas]

I heard it just an hour ago on the local radio and when the synth started I instantly thought "Erasure A Little Respect". On the very same station I've heard at least 5 songs borrowing guitar licks, chord progressions, etc. from famous songs.

[@witch_haunts_ghost]

Erasure! Gary Numan! Depeche Mode! you are talking things that are right in my wheelhouse. Incidentally, in the Erasure video for "Oh l'amour", the singer is wearing pants and a vest too! Maybe he's thinking about Mormon's as well. Is the Gary Numan song "are friends electric?" I listened to the Killers early this week and thought it was definitely a great homage to '80's synth. I love how you just start playing the songs and you already can smash out what key/notes are in it! Fucking genius. Another fantastic video.

[@Yourmother1990-r7y]

Gary Newman, music for chameleons.

[@jessethetodd]

Justin - "Imploding the Mirage" can be taken metaphorically as you so eloquently explore...but it's really a nod to their Las Vegas roots, with "The Mirage" one of the largest and most famous casinos, and "imploding" being the practice in Vegas of literally imploding the structures of old, defunct casinos to make room for the new ones. Growing up in Vegas especially in the 80s and early 90s it seems that at least once a year another of the once iconic Las Vegas landmarks like the Stardust or the Sands or the Dunes would be "imploded" to make way for the new.

[@ironmaiden795]

I love unexpected majors/minors! Check out Epic III from the Hadestown musical, the melody he sings has one of the most beautiful unexpected majors. Excellent songwriting!

[@vdbdg]

A little borrowing here, a little ripoff there, and the end product will be forgotten by Christmas. But I’d give Justin a Like 👍

[@michaelwest8417]

Justin! "That" bit you cant put your finger on is ripped off from Duchess by the Stranglers!!!!....surely???😁❤

[@jonreynolds1655]

Brilliant breakdown Justin ... you absolute legend ...love your content, keep it coming my friend (well your not actually my friend but wish you were ...haha) ...tks Dude 🙂

[@sassafrakatz8357]

yay hi justin, love the channel really refreshing content

[@Tids_]

Only just saw you with Pat Finnerty so I know you'll love Blind Melon. Please cover them soon, maybe the song Soup (more open to interpretive critique) rather than their better known songs. Shannon would approve of your critique too. Love your work man 👌

[@iliketrains3495]

BEATO

[@JohnnyLaps]

They have been copying Queen since they started.

[@martinsane]

For the love of Pete, if your next album isn't entitled "ostinato" it will be an incredible missed opportunity.

[@bobbybroosta1231]

You’re really good at not letting us know if you like the song or not. True professional

[@stef2432]

these analysis, they really are the daily break from the world chaos, my favourite videos

[@workwithglenmurray]

Awesome review. Thank you.

[@mikeydubbs8565]

What about that one song by The Killers that’s clearly lifted from Barbarism Begins at Home by The Smiths? I can’t be the only one who hears that

[@FuckThatYo]

I fucking love Erasure’s “A Little Respect”. It really reminds me of the early phase of the relationship I shared with the love of my life for eleven great years, until she left me last November. Life sucks.

[@markhill6821]

That synth line you talk about at 8m 30 secs sounds like City of blinding lights by U2. Brandon sounds a lot like Robert Smith from The Cure in this song, The cure are epic. Love watching these Justin. Thank you

[@bradleymartin8606]

Justin, remember you were on the first slot at main stage T In The Park 2014? was my first festival and The Darkness were the first band I seen ever at a festival....and I caught your pick. Great to you see you doing your KZbin shit now man. God bless.

[@GrassBenji]

You should review danger by panda bear and sonic boom. Released yesterday by two massive musicians. Sounds like a sexy 60's modern beauty so good I can't recommend enough

[@joelknouse3072]

Absolutely fascinating how you can pick out the chord designations. As a humble bass player I only know simple root letter chords. The 5th,6th & 7th is beyond my pay grade💷

[@nikoletta7678]

I can also hear some Pet Shop Boys in there.

[@sassafrakatz8357]

Also LOVE Erasure...

[@vandolmatzis8146]

absolutely.

[@Roo_730]

This song is like a tea bag of Erasure steeped in a mug of The Cure.

[@astraliguana9485]

Have to say, something about parts of this makes me want to listen to some early Killing Joke. Might just be an 80s thing though

[@Igziabeher]

Do British people pronounce Erasure as Eurasia or is it just Justin?

[@youngandrew66]

There's no bigger Anglophile than Brandon flowers. His charming man with j Marr at Glastonbury was epic

[@abbyhuntley3171]

Absolutely! Honestly when I first ever heard The Killers, I thought they were English!

[@tc3068]

The Gary Numan song you’re looking for is Music For Chameleons. You should do a Gary Numan episode!

[@SelfXmusic]

Hey Justin. I love your KZbin channel. Quick question/suggestion: Everytime you show the music video while you are still in the frame, the audio is mono, but everytime you only show the music video fullscreen it's stereo. Why is that? And can you fix that? ;) Please and thank you! =)

[@mrcodhead67]

As well as the obvious borrowing from Erasure's A Little Respect, part of it reminds me of Love's Great Adventure by Ultravox.

[@daviddamien7122]

It's 'City of Blinding Lights' and 'Respect'. Funny how the name made you think of U2.

[@conshea7382]

Vince Clarke called he wants his doot de doot de doot de doot back

[@FreeCatCheese]

Who's Gonna Drive Ya Home Tonight?

[@drsarcasm]

He's talking about the practice of imploding old hotels in Las Vegas, and now The Mirage Hotel will soon be no more. Not imploded, just remade into a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. I like your take on it though... 👍

[@gamingflixx]

They write great atypical indie bangers like Mr Brightside, Jenny Was a Friend of Mine, All These Things That I’ve Done, Glamorous Indie Rock n Roll, Running Towards a Place. Then they’ve got the rockers; When You Were Young, Uncle Jonny, This River is Wild, Runaways, Battle Born. Then the synth rockers; Human, Boy, Shot At The Night. Dark ones like Tranquilize, Wonderful Wonderful, West Hills. Their range is fucking great!

[@lololop58]

Looooool that last comment on the white garment omggg 🤣🤣 I’m sold. You just got yourself a new subscriber 🤡

[@rickhynes2693]

The Killers are the best band since 2000. All albums have been really good and they are still dominating it live. 28 million albums sold is actually ripping them off! :)

[@randomcamerajunk6977]

Joel the lump of coal was their greatest moment. Should be up there with Slade.

[@1kosmicgrl]

That Gary Numan but is Music For Chameleons 🦎 Also I rather like the vest and pants combo! Only second to the towel 😅

[@johncollins5552]

Maybe Vince Clarke and Brandon Flowers met in Vegas but these days what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas thanks to social media harrumph! He's the most soulful front man of any arena rock band of the last decade imo, sadly I have yet to see The Darkness as the Galway gig sold out before I knew about it, by all accounts it was mighty!

[@TheMLvegas]

The "Mirage" hotel and casino was purchased by the Hard Rock and the hotel will be Imploded to build the new Hard rock tower. Those of us who've grown up in Las Vegas have watched many historical buildings 'Imploded" to build new... Just FYI

[@jeanproctor3663]

I hear what you mean about pinching the synth riff, but I suppose it isn't copyright protected or anything is it? We need more galloping white horses though because they're very pleasing on the eye. 😁

[@davidsaunders2018]

Hey just loving the channel. Could you tell us about hotleg and your single “cocktails” would you ever play it again?

[@rootieboy]

Part of this song is also influenced by their own songs, Ms. Atomic Bomb and Human. Love that you visited this.

[@Bacchus69]

Part of the song had Saga moment too. A Canadian Eighties prog. rock band.

[@MrAdam8787]

Imploding the Mirage is blowing up a hotel in Vegas.

[@RobCrawford23]

Unless of course they are referring to the Las Vegas hotel, as they use the term implode when taking down multistory buildings

[@BassPlayerAvailable]

I bet that major chord is lifted from how the same thing happens in Little Respect on the second verse.

[@Caffeine_Club]

Pop has truly eaten itself.

[@ZXFrankie]

Didn’t know you were such an 80s boy Justin, love it 😀

[@Buesifluesterer]

80ies was such a cool decade for music lowers with so many things happening! If I could go back only 1 day…

[@ZXFrankie]

@@Buesifluesterer Me too 😀

[@DarraghC]

fr davids 'words', the first song i ever learned to sing...i was 6. Great tune.

[@MrGnuifje]

Funny you should mention FR David's Words. It seems to have been a major inspiration to Save your tears by The Weeknd Can't stand either song! I seem to be in a minority of one on that though.

[@AdamForeman]

It has a hint of the Cure too

[@MumboMaya]

I see Brandon Flowers I click. Also remember The Killers are from Vegas so they got a lot of influence from other Vegas bands

[@vandolmatzis8146]

You have musical knowledge beyond your ears. Wow.

[@themodernmonarchist]

I love the killers

[@SirKeirStarmtrooper]

You should do a video about new order after all they inspired the killers’ name

[@caged7tiger]

I love the killers but have to be aware that they wear their 80’s influences on their shoulders. You could hear Phil Collins, Bowie and Depeche Mode all in one tune… but that doesn’t mean they’re not great songs. John Mayer said it best how he created an illusion of something that you think you’ve heard before and realize it’s actually something very new on his “Sob Rock” album

[@daved4716]

I've to ask ... On your right arm DX7?? Keyboard reference?? 😁😁😁

[@stephenpatrick7010]

Great podcast , finding myself here more and more.

[@rachelboot8540]

Music for Chameleons was the Gary Numan song you were thinking of, and i CANNOT hear it without thinking of Alan Partridge : kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKDOcpV3m7mZecU

[@marshsundeen]

I love the song Boy. I assume Erasure might be listed as writers. It is clearly using A Little Respect.

[@markobrien5352]

Thanks!

[@JustinHawkinsRidesAgain]

Thanks Mark!