An Email About The Killers, Bowie, and More...

Well. I love Bowie. And Hunky Dory is one of my top Bowie records. It's so overlooked because people focus on the Ziggy. But. Check this out...

In the song Queen Bitch -- Bowie was sounding very influenced by his immediate predecessors (he used to be more soul mowtowny, until they succeeded first with the trippy stuff) The Velvet Underground.

You can't say music is mediocre JUST because it is derivative. Sometimes I believe there's nothing original but only blends of some universally good concepts, stories, truths, sounds, whatever.

So I give the Killers points.

If people are going to sing and play well, I don't mind if they reference other respectable acts / musicians. I didn't mind if Bowie tipped his hat to his peer, Lou Reed. I didn't mind if Lou Reed stole a move from Iggy Pop. I don't mind that the Killers took bits of all of them. It's like art history.

So long as they pay tribute, and admit it, so long as they add to the cannonized well of inspiration, instead of just draw from it, I am cool with recordings that show their roots. AND I like the Killers musicianship. That guy can sing well, and strongly.

I actually think Mr. Brightside's vocals are done far more out-front (in terms of their value relative to other instruments) and the melody is delivered with a more direct approach. Bowie is going all performative, and screechy-preachy on Queen Bitch comparitively. Yet, clearly there's a tribute to Bowie in almost everything the Killers do, whether they meant it or not.

Anyway. Listen to the VU's song "Rock & Roll" released a couple of years before Bowie did "Queen Bitch" and you'll see what I'm talkin bout.

But this won't sway whether or not the Killers nice production value and narrative (if not that deep) lyrical content actually puts the ants in your pants.

I think the song I liked most of the Killers, when I was into them, was: Jenny Was a Friend of Mine. And Somebody Told Me. Yep. Those two I loved. Followed by Smile Like You Mean It which comes dangerously close to late-u2 territory.

Anyway. Yeah. They're not Bowie. BUT they're WAY better than Arcade Fire. And I think on par with some stuff like T. Rex, The Strokes, Wilco. But nowhere near worship worthy -- yet. Think they'll be around a while.

The band with the murderous name I really like? The Kills! They are way more enticing to me. But mostly the Keep on Your Mean Side record.

end killers consideration,

lora.

On Jan 31, 2008 11:08 PM, WS Manuel wrote:
>
> killers songs
>
> some are good
>
> some are just okay
>
> this one is mediocre and pales in comparison to the bowie song it emulates
>
> The Killers
>
>
> I'm coming out of my cage
> And I've been doing just fine
> Gotta gotta be down
> Because I want it all
> It started out with a kiss
> How did it end up like this
> It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
> Now I'm falling asleep
> And she's calling a cab
> While he's having a smoke
> And she's taking a drag
> Now they're going to bed
> And my stomach is sick
> And it's all in my head
> But she's touching his-chest
> Now, he takes off her dress
> Now, letting me go
>
> And I just can't look its killing me
> And taking control
> Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
> Swimming through sick lullabies
> Choking on your alibis
> But it's just the price I pay
> Destiny is calling me
> Open up my eager eyes
> 'Cause I'm Mr Brightside
>
> I'm coming out of my cage
> And I've been doing just fine
> Gotta gotta be down
> Because I want it all
> It started out with a kiss
> How did it end up like this cyan=self-reflexion
> It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss
> Now I'm falling asleep green=trying to
> just put it out of mind by sleeping and/or inaction
> And she's calling a cab
> While he's having a smoke
> And she's taking a drag
> Now they're going to bed
> And my stomach is sick
> And it's all in my head
> But she's touching his-chest
> Now, he takes off her dress
> Now, letting me go purple = trying to
> just get over it
>
> Cause I just can't look its killing me
> And taking control
> Jealousy, turning saints into the sea
> Swimming through sick lullabies
> Choking on your alibis
> But it's just the price I pay
> Destiny is calling me
> Open up my eager eyes
> 'Cause I'm Mr Brightside >
> I never...
> I never...
> I never...
> I never...
>
>
>
> "Queen Bitch"
>
> I'm up on the eleventh floor
> And I'm watching the cruisers below
> He's down on the street
> And he's trying hard
> to pull sister Flo
> My heart's in the basement
> My weekend's at an all time low
>
> 'Cause she's hoping to score
> So I can't see her
> letting him go
> Walk out of her heart
> Walk out of her mind
>
> [CHORUS]
> She's so swishy in her satin and tat
> In her frock coat
> and bipperty-bopperty hat
> Oh God, I could do better than that
>
> She's an old-time ambassador
> Of sweet talking, night walking games
> And she's known in the darkest clubs
> For pushing ahead of the dames
> If she says she can do it
> Then she can do it,
> she don't make false claims
> But she's a Queen,
> and such are queens
> That your laughter
> is sucked in their brains
> Now she's leading him on
> And she'll lay him right down
> But it could have been me
> Yes, it could have been me
> Why didn't I say,
> why didn't I say, no, no, no
>
> [CHORUS]
>
> So I lay down a while
> And I gaze at my hotel wall
> Oh the cot is so cold
> It don't feel like no bed at all
> Yeah I lay down a while
> And I gaze at my hotel wall
> But he's down on the street
> So I throw both his bags down the hall
> And I'm phoning a cab
> 'Cause my stomach feels small
> There's a taste in my mouth
> And it's no taste at all
>
> It could have been me
> Oh yeah, it could have been me
> Why didn't I say,
> Why didn't I say, no, no, no
>
> [CHORUS]
>
>