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== Lyrical confusion ==
== Lyrical confusion ==
There has been considerable confusion and debate over the line "Are we human, or are we dancer?" in the song's chorus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/11/19/brandon-flowers-wound-up-over-miquoting-of-killers-human/|title=Brandon Flowers Wound Up Over Misquoting of Killers’ “Human”|date=November 19, 2008|publisher=Rolling Stone|accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref> Debate raged across the internet over whether the lyrics said "denser" or "dancer", a misunderstanding which invoked conflicting interpretations of the song's meaning.<ref name=EW>Vozick-Levinson, Simon (September 25, 2008), [http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/09/killers-human-s.html "Does the Killers' 'Human' have the silliest lyrics of the week?"] EW.com . Retrieved [[2009-01-27]].</ref><ref>Spence, Darren (January 16, 2009), [http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/music/Chart-Choice-Darren-Spence/article-618689-detail/article.html "Chart Choice"]. . Retrieved [[2009-01-27]].</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'''s Pop Watch section called this line the "silliest lyrics of the week".<ref name=EW/> They were puzzled by the interpretation, stating "most dancers are generally human".<ref name="EW">{{cite web|title=Does the Killers' 'Human' have the silliest lyrics of the week?|publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=2008-09-15|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/09/killers-human-s.html|accessdate=2008-09-26}}</ref> Ganz with ''Rolling Stone'' called the line "classic Killers' nonsense."<ref name=CG/>
Initially there was confusion and debate over the line "Are we human, or are we dancer?" in the song's chorus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/11/19/brandon-flowers-wound-up-over-miquoting-of-killers-human/|title=Brandon Flowers Wound Up Over Misquoting of Killers’ “Human”|date=November 19, 2008|publisher=Rolling Stone|accessdate=November 20, 2008}}</ref> Debate raged across the internet over whether the lyrics said "denser" or "dancer", a misunderstanding which invoked conflicting interpretations of the song's meaning.<ref name=EW>Vozick-Levinson, Simon (September 25, 2008), [http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/09/killers-human-s.html "Does the Killers' 'Human' have the silliest lyrics of the week?"] EW.com . Retrieved [[2009-01-27]].</ref><ref>Spence, Darren (January 16, 2009), [http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/music/Chart-Choice-Darren-Spence/article-618689-detail/article.html "Chart Choice"]. . Retrieved [[2009-01-27]].</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'''s Pop Watch section called this line the "silliest lyrics of the week".<ref name=EW/> They were puzzled by the interpretation, stating "most dancers are generally human".<ref name="EW">{{cite web|title=Does the Killers' 'Human' have the silliest lyrics of the week?|publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=2008-09-15|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/09/killers-human-s.html|accessdate=2008-09-26}}</ref> Ganz with ''Rolling Stone'' called the line "classic Killers' nonsense."<ref name=CG/>


On the band's official website, the biography section states that Flowers is singing "Are we human, or are we dancer?" and also says that the lyrics were inspired by a disparaging comment made by [[Hunter S. Thompson]] as reference to literary works and thoughts of Friedrich Nietzsche.<ref name="IslandRecords">{{cite web|title=The Killers official website @ islandrecords.com|publisher=[[Island Records]]|date=2008-10-06|url=http://www6.islandrecords.com/site/artist_bio.php?artist_id=547|accessdate=2008-10-06}}</ref> In an interview with ''Rolling Stone'', Flowers said that he was irritated over the confusion about the lyrics and also that fans were unhappy with the song's dance beat: "It's supposed to be a dance song, [the beat] goes with the chorus...If you can't put that together, you're an idiot. I just don't get why there's a confusion about it."<ref name=Hiatt>Hiatt, Brian ([[2008-12-25]]), [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/25020239/the_killers_inside/2 "The Killers Inside"]. ''Rolling Stone'' (1068/1069):78-81</ref>
On the band's official website, the biography section states that Flowers is singing "Are we human, or are we dancer?" and also says that the lyrics were inspired by a disparaging comment made by [[Hunter S. Thompson]] as reference to literary works and thoughts of Friedrich Nietzsche.<ref name="IslandRecords">{{cite web|title=The Killers official website @ islandrecords.com|publisher=[[Island Records]]|date=2008-10-06|url=http://www6.islandrecords.com/site/artist_bio.php?artist_id=547|accessdate=2008-10-06}}</ref> In an interview with ''Rolling Stone'', Flowers said that he was irritated over the confusion about the lyrics and also that fans were unhappy with the song's dance beat: "It's supposed to be a dance song, [the beat] goes with the chorus...If you can't put that together, you're an idiot. I just don't get why there's a confusion about it."<ref name=Hiatt>Hiatt, Brian ([[2008-12-25]]), [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/25020239/the_killers_inside/2 "The Killers Inside"]. ''Rolling Stone'' (1068/1069):78-81</ref>
(in fact the lyrics undoubtable clearly says "cut the cord" ,so,is almost inimaginable to misunderstand this text..)


== Chart performance ==
== Chart performance ==

Revision as of 19:22, 26 April 2009

"Human"
Song
B-side"A Crippling Blow"

"Human" is a song by alternative rock band The Killers, and was released as the first single from the band's third studio album Day & Age.[1] The song was leaked onto YouTube on September 21, 2008, a day before it was scheduled to be played for the first time on Zane Lowe's evening show on BBC Radio 1. It began receiving airplay on September 22, 2008, with a digital release on September 30, 2008. It became the third song by the band to enter the top 5 of the UK singles chart. It was their first top ten hit in the Netherlands (peaking at #2). The song was released on a 7-inch picture disc throughout the world in various dates in November, with a B-side entitled "A Crippling Blow".

Background

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine's Smoking Section, Brandon Flowers described "Human" as "Johnny Cash meets the Pet Shop Boys". Flowers stated that the song was created with Stuart Price during their work with him on the Sawdust album, and has changed very little since then. He confessed to not putting it on Sawdust as "it was too good".

The cover art for the single is a portrait of the band's guitarist Dave Keuning, and is one of the four portraits drawn by Paul Normansell for the album.

On November 25, 2008, the song was available as downloadable content for the game Guitar Hero World Tour.

This track has also been remixed by popular trance DJs Armin van Buuren and Ferry Corsten.

Reception

An interview in The Observer newspaper stated that the track "is a cross between New Order and Bruce Springsteen - that should please fans of 'Mr. Brightside'." Chris Williams of Billboard gave a positive review, echoing The Observer's description of "merging a Boss-like melody over a New Order-injected rave-up." He also praised the song for "stretching the soundscape of alternative rock, which has increasingly become difficult to differentiate between mainstream rock".[2] Music Radar complimented the song in their review of Day & Age, saying "A gentle, phased, clicky guitar riff opens this gorgeous nod to the gentle side of '80s new wave."[3] Caryn Ganz with Rolling Stone gave the tune three-and-a-half stars, calling it "delicious."[4]

"Human" was voted the Best Song of 2008 by the readers of Rolling Stone.[5]

Lyrical confusion

Initially there was confusion and debate over the line "Are we human, or are we dancer?" in the song's chorus.[6] Debate raged across the internet over whether the lyrics said "denser" or "dancer", a misunderstanding which invoked conflicting interpretations of the song's meaning.[7][8] Entertainment Weekly's Pop Watch section called this line the "silliest lyrics of the week".[7] They were puzzled by the interpretation, stating "most dancers are generally human".[7] Ganz with Rolling Stone called the line "classic Killers' nonsense."[4]

On the band's official website, the biography section states that Flowers is singing "Are we human, or are we dancer?" and also says that the lyrics were inspired by a disparaging comment made by Hunter S. Thompson as reference to literary works and thoughts of Friedrich Nietzsche.[9] In an interview with Rolling Stone, Flowers said that he was irritated over the confusion about the lyrics and also that fans were unhappy with the song's dance beat: "It's supposed to be a dance song, [the beat] goes with the chorus...If you can't put that together, you're an idiot. I just don't get why there's a confusion about it."[10]

Chart performance

In the US "Human" debuted at number 13 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart, and has reached number six thus far.[11] It is the band's sixth top ten hit on the chart. The song debuted and peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the chart week of October 18, 2008,[12] giving The Killers their third top forty hit there. It reached number 3 on the UK Singles chart and on the Canadian Hot 100, the song debuted at number nine.[13] It debuted at number 34 on the New Zealand RIANZ chart,[14] and entered at number four on the Norway Top 20 before reaching number one.[15] "Human" reached the top ten on the Irish Singles Chart and in Sweden.[16][17] The song debuted at number 48 on the Australian Aria Charts and peaked at number 28.[18]

Music video

File:Humanvideo .JPEG
The Killers on the video.

The music video for "Human" was released in mid-October 2008 and directed by Daniel Drysdale. It features the band performing the song in Goblin Valley State Park, Utah. The portraits of the band drawn for the album by Paul Normansell are shown in the video, such as when the band members hold the portraits in front of their faces. Various animals are also shown throughout the video, such as a white tiger, a condor, and a cougar. The video ends with the band watching the sun setting in the desert, which turns into the album cover, also drawn by Paul Normansell.[citation needed]

Track listing

  • iTunes Download
  1. "Human" – 4:05
  • Single
  1. "Human" – 5:03
  2. "A Crippling Blow" – 3:37
  • Promo CD
  1. "Human (Radio Edit)" – 4:05
  2. "Human (Ferry Corsten Radio Edit)" – 4:27
  3. "Human (Armin Van Buuren Radio Edit)" – 3:48
  4. "Human (Stuart Price Club Mix)" – 8:03
  5. "Human (Morel's Pink Noise Mix) - 8:11
  6. "Human (Ferry Corsten Club Mix)" – 6:55
  7. "Human (Armin Van Buuren Club Mix)" – 8:12
  • 7" Vinyl Single (Picture Disc, #/5000)
  1. "Human" – 4:09
  2. "A Crippling Blow" – 3:37
  • 7" Vinyl Single (White vinyl, cardboard cover. Promo)
  1. "Human" – 4:09
  2. "A Crippling Blow" – 3:37
  • 12" Vinyl Single (Picture Disc)
  1. "Human" – 4:09
  2. "A Crippling Blow" – 3:37

Charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[18] 28
Austria Top 40[19] 7
Canadian Hot 100[20] 9
German Singles Chart[21] 4
Irish Singles Chart[16] 3
Italian Singles Chart[22] 6
New Zealand Singles Chart[14] 17
Norwegian Singles Chart[15] 1
Portuguese Singles Chart[23] 4
Romanian Singles Chart[24] 7
Spanish Singles Chart[25] 5
Swedish Singles Chart[26] 4
Swiss Singles Chart[27] 7
UK Singles Chart[28] 3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[12] 32
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[12] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks[12] 6
U.S. Billboard Pop 100[12] 39
Chart (2009) Peak
position
Belgian Singles Chart[29] 15
Danish Singles Chart[30] 5
Nederlandse Top 40[31] 2
Polish Singles Chart 6

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single
January 24, 2009 		Succeeded by

Sales and certifications

Country Certification Sales
Denmark Platinum
Germany Gold
Sweden Gold
United Kingdom Gold
United States Gold

References

  1. ^ "The Killers' new album details revealed - exclusive". NME. 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  2. ^ "Human-The Killers". Billboard. 2008-10-04. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  3. ^ "The Killers:Day and Age". Music Radar. 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  4. ^ a b Ganz, Caryn (2008-10-16), "Human". Rolling Stone. (1063):80
  5. ^ Rolling Stone. "Readers' Rock List: Best Songs Of 2008 : Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  6. ^ "Brandon Flowers Wound Up Over Misquoting of Killers' "Human"". Rolling Stone. November 19, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
  7. ^ a b c Vozick-Levinson, Simon (September 25, 2008), "Does the Killers' 'Human' have the silliest lyrics of the week?" EW.com . Retrieved 2009-01-27. Cite error: The named reference "EW" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ Spence, Darren (January 16, 2009), "Chart Choice". . Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  9. ^ "The Killers official website @ islandrecords.com". Island Records. 2008-10-06. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  10. ^ Hiatt, Brian (2008-12-25), "The Killers Inside". Rolling Stone (1068/1069):78-81
  11. ^ "Weekly Chart Highlights". Radio & Records. 2008-09-29. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
  12. ^ a b c d e "The Killers > Chart History > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved on December, 4 2008.
  13. ^ "The Killers - Human - Music Charts". Acharts.us. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  14. ^ a b "The Killers - Human (Song)". Charts.org.nz. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.
  15. ^ a b "The Killers - Human (Song)". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.
  16. ^ a b "Search the Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved on December 4, 2008. NB: User needs to enter "Killers" in "Search by Artist" and click "search".
  17. ^ "The Killers - Human (Song)". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.
  18. ^ a b "The Killers - Human (Song)". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved on January 19, 2009.
  19. ^ Austrian singles Chart
  20. ^ "Canadian Hot 100". Retrieved 2008-12-21.
  21. ^ "Chartverfolgung / Killers, The / Single". Musicline.de (in German). Retrieved on January 19, 2009.
  22. ^ "The Killers - Human (Song)". Italiancharts.com. Retrieved on 30 March 2009.
  23. ^ Billboard
  24. ^ Romanian Top 100 Retrieved on February 26, 2009.
  25. ^ http://promusicae.es/listastonos/listas/historial/TOP%2050%20CANCIONES%2009_05.pdf
  26. ^ http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/
  27. ^ [1]
  28. ^ "Human". Chart Stats. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.
  29. ^ "The Killers - Human (Nummer)". Ultratop.be (in Dutch). Retrieved on January 19, 2009.
  30. ^ "The Killers - Human (Song)". Danishcharts.com. Retrieved on January 19, 2009.
  31. ^ "De Nederlandse Top 40 (Week 4, 2009)". Radio538.nl. Retrieved on January 24, 2009.
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