Love that he's doing this and with this song but I detest the whole "Season" format bollocks. This IS NOT TV. Dude, you're too cool for this crap format. BTW, thank you for the ridiculous amount of awesome content and please do continue to kick ass. ...but this is not moving with the times and getting it right--you had it right! ❤🔥
This song is universally loved. I was once on a Karaoke bar in Osaka - Japan, people from all over the world and THE WHOLE BAR WERE SINGING IT TOGETHER
I’m an Uber driver, I love this song like most people, and one night I was driving a couple home and this came on the radio. The woman said she loved this song, I cranked it up to 20 and we ROCKED out on it! 😅😅 SUCH A GREAT SONG 🎶
same in Malaysia lol (I also got mistaken for Ed Sheeran and no amount of convincing would persuade them otherwise - in the end they decided I was undercover - free drinks so eventually I stopped arguing)
Rick; I understand the talent you and your team have for putting these together but good lord, the preparation, the isolation tracks, the tablature (how to play or ear training) and research for putting these videos together is just absolutely amazing. I’m a lurker and rarely comment, I just wanted to let you know I enjoy them.
Mr Brightside is the most British (non-British) song ever! It’s a classic and has almost become a British classic even though The Killers are from Las Vagas, Nevada, USA
You’ll never know the power of this song until you’re in a packed bar at 1 am and hundreds of people sing along as loud as they can because that’s exactly how they feel
I have listened to this song hundreds of times. And you found a way to make me feel like I'm hearing it for the first time. That is why this series is so special. Thank you for bringing it back, Rick!
In my opinion, "We took a walk that night but it wasn't the same/We had a fight on the promenade out in the rain" is one of the best opening lines of any record.
@@RickBeato I always liked this track, Rick but it’s overproduced and overly compressed dynamically, distorted and clipped. I wish more musicians/bands would just play in room and use the natural acoustic. It’s just fatiguing to listen to and definitely suffers the Loudness War to compete with iPod shuffle and now streaming. Too much Post Production is making music sound computerized, digital and unnatural. That’s why people think analog sounds better and that one day AI will one take over. As a musician you STILL need it know how to play in a room. Back in the days you have go pay your dues on the road. That feeling has been missing for a VERY long time in recorded music because the plug-ins have gotten better than analog gear which cost a fortune. The challenge today is how to makes something tasteful and frugal in a endless amount of production “value.” Nobody records “flat” mono anymore either. It’s all plugins,presets digital Eq, limiters and compressors which is ok for dance/pop music played in a club I guess. Listen to U2 in 80s recordings Or Fleetwood Mac and you get the natural sound and feel. Bono voice was so powerful naturally and his range was phenomenal. It’s just doesn’t sound right to my ears anyway. It’s gotten far worse with streaming and play counts then Radio was since dynamic range compression and loudness most ordinary people believe sounds better. That’s my two cents anyway.
As the bass player in a cover band, this was one of my favorites to play. It kept me on my toes throughout the song because every verse, chorus was slightly different and had the bass line jumping all over the place. Challenging, but fun!
Accurately deconstruct Thats all you had to say. “Flabbergasted” did the job of conveying what you were attempting to with “insanely.” Yet, bc of the internet, you felt the need to throw in that hollow adjective with no rhyme or reason.
When you listen to the song, the whole seems so simple, but when you break it down, each part is so dynamic and sounds so different. I've always loved this song, but your analysis makes me realize why it's so good and why I love it even more now.
Technically it's not 1:1 Ode to Joy. Just the first few notes, but it resolves differently. Which is actually a great way to refference a piece without copying it outright
@@pocok5000 What's even better is that this song was recorded as a demo, shopped in the UK along with 3 other abandoned songs, and the band kept it for it spontaneity, and thus released it on the album. Surprised Rick didn't mention it. Multiple songs on the album were recorded in this fashion, originally as demos and then kept for the very same reason. Goes to show that a very good demo can really, really take you places ;) Probably the RRHOF in 5 years when they are eligible.
The lyrics are just incredibly relatable. Who hasn't driven themself half mad obsessing over an ex and what they're doing now? Combine that with a melody that is easy for pretty much anyone to sing along with and you have a timeless smash hit.
I love the “it was only a kiss, it was only a kiss” echo because it sounds like he’s trying to reassure himself but can’t! I can’t explain it, but it’s powerful to me.
This has never been my favorite song by The Killers, but I also never realized how much is actually going on in the song. It seems so deceptively simple, but so many neat little tricks that you don't really notice but all serve their purpose. And that's exactly why we love these videos! Keep them coming!
@ghost mall Totally in accordance. I would always go for the melodic euphoria of "All these things" over the bleak obsession of Mr Brightside (an iconic song, but not my favourite).
@ghost mall Agreed. It was played seemingly 5 times an hour back in the day. This video is probably the first time I've _enjoyed_ hearing that song in nearly 20 years.
One of my friends was with The Killers for 6 years as a touring member. I can’t say enough about his playing or the band’s playing! Top notch all the way around.
This song...I used to play this song with my old cover band every weekend. It is POWERFUL, man, let me tell you. It pulls the emotion out of you and makes you that much of a better musician having played it. Kudos to The Killers for having written and recorded it.
Rick pointed out the dissonance with the guitar and synths in the pre-chorus “… and taking control part.” What makes this song so great and so freaky catchy is how that dissonance just totally resolves and points everything in a completely aligned single direction with the “Jealousyyyyyy …” chorus. I mean, our brains are literally hardwired to seek that chorus harmony and alignment after the sonic dissonance. Such a great song!!
I love how the tune echoes “Ode to Joy”, which is ironic because the song is so melancholy. I also appreciate the sentiment expressed in the lyrics: He’s an ambitious, determined guy chasing his destiny, and the heartbreak of betrayal is eating him alive but he’s angry about it blunting his purpose. A brilliant song in every way, musically and lyrically.
@ghost mall, any recommendations for Killers songs with a bass line that a beginner could handle. I have a friend learning bass and I love The Killers.
Oh yes. Welcome back WMTSG. It's like a favourite old friend dropping in for a drink. Sheer quality. You have made my appreciation for music so much deeper with your insight and gift for explanation Rick. Thank you so much for all you give us.
The music is really good, but let’s be honest - what really makes this song GREAT are the gut wrenching and honest lyrics that only a true artist can deliver and stir the listener. Thank you so much for the video, like everyone is mentioning so far - really happy the series is back - some of the best content to watch here on YT.
@@erikhuseth1578 Thats the point? Why does one have to sing in tune like a dutiful little choir boy? That frantic angst(And now this is happening and then this and then this and ughh its making me so sick to think about and it gets worse and worse and worse...) and the deapan delivery are part of WHY the lyrics are so powerful. This is a young mans seeing a girl hes crushing on(or possibly an ex he still has feelings for) in the arms of another guy likely cooler and better looking and probably more confident and running amok with the possibilities.
Dave Keuning isn't recognized for being a great guitarist, but he is the entire reason why I wanted to first pick up a guitar. I love this band. Got to see them at Lollapalooza back in 2017 and will get to see them again this May. Can't wait.
No one ever talks about the lyrics in this song but it contains one of the all time classic hanging innuendos. "Now they're going to bed, And my stomach is sick, And it's all in my head, But she's touching his..." and your mind just jumps to the dirty word... and then he pauses and says 'chest'! Makes me smile every time.
DOnt think I ever got "that" out of it. You know where its leading, but I never pictured Brandon saying "sex" here. The song is a snapshot of a young mans mind going insane seeing a girl hes crushing on in the arms of a cooler, more confident guy and that teenage angst carrying your thoughts to conclusions that only serve to poison your feelings into jealousy.
It's crazy to me that there are all these elements that I never caught in a song such as this. You would think as a listener it is not needed, but then you hear why it is. Like why that one seasoning that you only add a teaspoon of to a massive pot of chili can make all the difference. Thank you Rick for doing this!
Music arrangement is truly about filling up the space with subtleties that add up to become one with the leading parts driving the song forward. On their own, certain elements might sound thin or questionable, but just like an orchestra, everyone has their important role to play.
The engineer deserves a ton of credit for this song. That gained-up bass with that sweet synth fill this song up under that arpeggiod (is that a word?) guitar. So powerful.
@@JonathanMarsala actually bought Hot Fuss because of this song. Non of the other songs did much for me, sounded like a disjointed mix of New Order and early Depeche Mode, then My gf at the time lend me a copy of Sam's Town, did nothing for me. Not saying they are Bad, just not My cup of tea. People tend yo have different musical tastes, You know?
As a bass player I might be biased, but for me the running bass line in the pre-chorus is what makes this song so damn catchy. That distorted bass gives the song so much angst.
The Killer's basslines are some of the most underrated out there. Once you realize how insane Somebody Told Me is it brings out a whole other appreciation for it.
Rick, I teach drums at a School Of Rock in south Austin and I’ve told so many of my students and fellow instructors about your channel and how educational it is for music lovers. Keep up the great work and please do more of WMTSG videos!
Mr Beato - The way that you take a song that everyone has heard a million times, dissect it under a microscope and expose subtleties missed a million times is magic. A true service to the music community. I don't know if you've already picked your songs for the season, but a breakdown of "Obstacle 1" by Interpol would be interesting, I think. Like "Mr brightside" it's a dense song with a lot of moving parts. Thank you so much for what you do!
I also love the wide-eyed enthusiasm Rick has when doing these. He never lets the analytical aspect detract in the slightest from the passion he has for music and for sharing it with us mere mortals. 😂
I've been complaining about that for ages, though I like other artists, Ariel Pink, sufjan Stevens, Chromatics, Phoenix, churches, beach house, mgmt, grimes, royksopp, oof
Elliott Smith. It’s shocking Rick hasn’t delved into Elliott. Prodigious classically trained musician who played every instrument and songwriting guitar playing as good as anyone in the nineties. @rickbeato !
Ronnie Vannucci (Jr.) is hands-down the best overlooked drummer in current popular music. Really, what he does for their music is often underappreciated, but really is so integral to their sound since the beginning. No other drummer would have been the right drummer.
As an interesting side note, the Drumeo channel did an episode where they played this song without the drum track for Dirk VerBeuren, the drummer for Megadeath, and had him come up with his own drum part. Was an interesting take on the song, but demonstrates just how integral Ronnie’s original drum track was to this song. I’d recommend it for a fun watch.
I love this series because it consistently points out to me how much a producer and mixing engineer matter in how a song turns out. All of the little things that happen behind the front of the song (like the synth parts or dual guitar part in the chorus) help so much, and i'm sure much of that was felt out in the studio with the producer.
Hot Fuss, front-to-back, is a solid contender, in my opinion, for a top 10 debut album in music history. So good any way you listen to it, and it gets added meaning as a concept album
@@John-tr5hn You can't really call a solo album by a person who was a singer in a hugely popular band for 5 years a "debut album" - he did nothing that he hadn't already been doing. He didn't write the music. He wrote lyrics and vocal melodies, the same as he had always done. Viva Hate is a 90% great album, but just not a debut album. Stone Roses, if you discount the earlier singles, is a master debut album.
I absolutely love, LOVE!, that you covered this song! The Killers are probably my favorite rock band of the last 20 years. There’s a reason why this song has been on the charts in different countries since 2004. Brilliant song, and one of the best debut albums of a band ever. EVER!
@@323johnnybravo, I’ll go to a football game at the college where I teach, and these 19, 20-year olds are screaming this song! They know it! I love it, and it just brings up the crowd into a rock show atmosphere. I just love this band. Lol There are great bands, and, perhaps there are great arena rock bands; they are both.
Yay! So glad you're back doing WMTSG! The Killers song that really lights me up is "The Man". Fabulous Brandon Flowers vocals, so interesting musically. A banger.
I strongly agree. I even went back into my archive when that song came out and realized that I owned Hot Fuss and never really gave it a chance. It's a solid album. I need to look into the stuff that came out in the 15 years between the two. 😆
Rick, these videos demonstrate how simple it is to take a great song for granted. Breaking down the mechanics of why we love certain music is rewarding, thank you for this.
This album and THIS song… such a great record and if there was ever a time for a new rock band to break through and give us melodic, powerful tunes - it’s now. Big songs you can sing along to
There's an emotion in Brandon's voice that hits so well. I think they have objectively more interesting songs musically off later albums, but I suppose it's the simplicity of this one that makes it a hit
You should try some of Brandons solo work, it's absolutely phenomenal. And not just because he managed to convince Charlize Theron to star in one of the music videos!
My kids introduced me to this song when it came out. I can still remember driving from Key West to the main land singing this song with them at full volume. Awesome memories. Still one of my favorites.
A song I must've heard a thousand times and you somehow manage to show me something I haven't heard in it before. This series is unbelievably good. Thank you Rick!!
I had always kind of thought of this song as one of the last really great pop songs that was heavily guitar based. But the lyrics and feel of the song were so great to me that I didn't really pay a lot of attention to the details like I usually do for most songs I love. This breakdown was superb. There's so much great stuff going on in this song. My subconscious must have realized that because I've always really loved this song. Thank you.
Such a great song…the drive underneath from the kick pushes this song ahead….a great example of the “pocket” and leading time. You feel like this song is being driven forward and gaining intensity throughout.
I'm so glad you highlighted the importance of the bass on this! Mark Stoermer's bass playing is severely underrated in my opinion and that entire first album is filled with absolutely genius bass lines from him.
I've listened to "Mr. Brightside" I think 40 million times (conservatively) in the 20 years since it came out, and I've noticed and appreciated so many of the song's subtle hooks--but there were *still* things I hadn't picked out, like how sick those drum fills are. That's how jam-packed with cool textural elements this song is.
One of my favorite songs. The tear down makes me love it even more. The isolation you did of each section was so amazing to listen to. Mr. Brightside will always be my crazy hands in the air, shake your feet, yell at the top of lungs, act weird and rock on song. ❤ Rick you have opened up my eager EYES!
So glad to see WMTSG is back. I think a lot of us started watching this channel because of it. Also, now that I hear the isolated parts of this song, I see why it always sounded so empty when my band played it.
Thank you so much for doing this Rick. The Killers are a phenomenal and underrated band. Saw them live for the Sam’s Town tour and it was one of the best shows I’ve ever been to.
@@imc123456789 I think they mean underrated in the sense that their later albums have not received as much attention, especially after Day & Age. The Killers are still going strong but I bet most people wouldn't know it.
How are they underrated? There're one of the biggest rock bands of the 2000's. They got almost 20 millions listeners on spotify. The only band of the same era that has more is the Arctic Monkeys. The Killers sell out stadiums are headline festivals.
OMG I was so afraid that you had no intention of bringing these back, I'm so relieved! I can't wait to see which songs you will be discussing in this series 😍
One thing about this song that seems overlooked is Flowers’ intonation on his inhales. I think it adds to the emotion-desperation of the song. And the chorus guitar hits on some Fleetwood Mac sound. With the breakdown - great analysis of a great song.
I could listen to an hour if you analyzing this song, great work! What’s great is the untrained listener is caught by how simple the melody is, but the artist can pick out all these nuances so both groups can be satisfied. Excellent song, unlike anything else. Truly unique
Wonderful song choice! This reminds me of how great for guitar driven music the early 2000s have been, soo many great bands and nobody could imagine that all would end just a few years later.
When I saw The Killers live I was fortunate to be close enough to really watch their playing. The music was great , the performance was great, the musicianship absolutely captivated me. They were TIGHT and incredibly focused in their playing without a loss of enthusiasm. I just stood there and took it all in like an idiot, LOL. Musical innovation like this brings me hope for the masses.
I just found this song like 6 months ago, I had probably heard it in the background at events or on the radio, but never paid much attention to it... today as of 2023, it is one of the greatest songs ever recorded in my opinion =)
This song undeniably has “it”. Something special. Something that makes you FEEL something. It’s top tier music, born of quality songwriting and production that tickles the ears and mind. The Killers struck gold with this masterpiece.
This is a song where I kind of roll my eyes at the beginning but by the chorus I'm singing my lungs out. It really is a perfect example of a song that utilizes a tense, long buildup with a hook at the chorus that is just so satisfying.
There is an urgency and a pause about this song - a cutting edge (the song) and a bleeding edge (me). Above all, there is a magic, that goes beyond the notes they’re hitting. Rick, you have done the best job of any I’ve seen to capture WHERE that comes from - the synth below the guitar, the delay in one speaker and a perfect melody in the other, the eager eyes. I listen to a lot of music, as I’m sure you do, but this, to me, is the perfect song
How in the world can artists, producers and the abhorrent music companies NOT let Rick make these unbelievably amazing videos…! Me, a consumer, just bought The Killers best of because of this video…..
I've always felt like the dissonance between the vocals and bass line worked so well with this one. The genius of it is in the meaning of the song. It's meant to be that way. Amazing.
I discovered this song in 2015 (I'm 64) and considered it a masterpiece on first hearing. It stopped me in my tracks. Your analysis has enriched my appreciation of it and I am sincerely grateful to you for that. However, I have to say, I think you missed a key aspect of 'what makes this song great', and that is the, oh so powerful, emotional impact of the song. The song brings back so palpably the emotions of youth experiencing infidelity of one's heart's desire seen with another. So it is the wonderful technical musical aspects of the song, as you so impressively reveal, in combination with the lyric, and the evocative recollection (or current experience) of powerful emotion of a man's youth. Rick you are a treasure. I love and so admire your work, knowledge and skills. And I love that your musical interest is so wide ranging - even more so than mine. Huge appreciation.
Amazing comeback with these series, Rick! Season 2 had better include Iron Maiden or The Offspring. Those are bands that I bet people are waiting forever to see on a What Makes This Song Great.
@@HamiltonRb I didn't mean just those two bands (to be honest, they're nowhere near my top choices either), I also meant all the bands Rick never or hardly ever featured on this series.
Yes! Yet another example of Rick taking a great song that I have heard hundreds of times and breaking it down to understand just why it’s so great. Thank you!!!
One of the best series on UA-cam -- Thank you for bringing it back, Rick!! Excellent song to start season 2. My band played it almost every gig for years, and no one ever tired of it....not us, not the audience....thats a great song.
Rick……You MUST MUST MUST GET Alex and Geddy on your show. The world wants to hear from them. They are the GREATEST! I know you RESPECT them ALOT…….PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try and get them on! Love your show……❤❤❤❤❤!
In the United Kingdom it has also sold over 3.52 million copies and is the longest-charting single on the UK Singles Chart Top 100, having spent 365 weeks (7 years) on the chart as of June 10, 2023.
Missed these! Great song Rick - I spent hours trying to get this lick down when the song came out. The guitar part at 17:00 always reminded me of Beethoven's Ode to Joy
Love your channel Rick. Although with this song, it’s not just the music that makes it great. Mr. Brightside has over 530 million hits because of Brandon Flowers incredible vocals and because of his performance in the video, with his facial expressions. It is a 3 1/2 minute love story that no one wants to experience, but we feel for him because regrettably he did. The lyrics are what sets this song apart. They are gut wrenching.
I have heard this song hundreds of times and the small details that I never notice, especially the strength of the bass and how much it leads and the elements from each hook, has made me appreciate the song even more. ❤
I was worried he wasn’t doing these anymore. And then he comes back with this song. Rick is the man.
Love that he's doing this and with this song but I detest the whole "Season" format bollocks. This IS NOT TV. Dude, you're too cool for this crap format. BTW, thank you for the ridiculous amount of awesome content and please do continue to kick ass.
...but this is not moving with the times and getting it right--you had it right! ❤🔥
Best song choice. Such a 'killer' song
Hear, hear. No disrespect to the other videos, but this series was/is the real reason I sub to this channel.
i love these “what makes this song great” invaluable information for anyone trying to learn music production! please don’t ever stop making them
Rick kind of did one on Duran Duran's Ordinary World last week. Just wasn't titled as such.
This song is universally loved. I was once on a Karaoke bar in Osaka - Japan, people from all over the world and THE WHOLE BAR WERE SINGING IT TOGETHER
That must have been a kick ass moment
GOTTA GOTTA BE DOWN CAUSE I WANT IT ALL
all of them were singing it in english?
I’m an Uber driver, I love this song like most people, and one night I was driving a couple home and this came on the radio. The woman said she loved this song, I cranked it up to 20 and we ROCKED out on it! 😅😅 SUCH A GREAT SONG 🎶
same in Malaysia lol (I also got mistaken for Ed Sheeran and no amount of convincing would persuade them otherwise - in the end they decided I was undercover - free drinks so eventually I stopped arguing)
Rick; I understand the talent you and your team have for putting these together but good lord, the preparation, the isolation tracks, the tablature (how to play or ear training) and research for putting these videos together is just absolutely amazing. I’m a lurker and rarely comment, I just wanted to let you know I enjoy them.
👍👍👍
Same!!! Kudos to Rick and team!
Mr Brightside is the most British (non-British) song ever! It’s a classic and has almost become a British classic even though The Killers are from Las Vagas, Nevada, USA
*Vegas. And it's an American classic.
@@alexdrakeus1772Well duh
@@alexdrakeus1772 it's still on the charts in the UK after 20 years.
Similarly to the British classic Sweet Caroline.
You’ll never know the power of this song until you’re in a packed bar at 1 am and hundreds of people sing along as loud as they can because that’s exactly how they feel
I don't know, some of use are tuned to feel the power of a song, regardless of the setting.
Or a stadium a half hour or so outside Detroit...
@@raymondduck6492 its not the song you're feeling the power of in that specific setting
I thought the same thing. This song, a bar in a college town on a Friday night.. unrivaled
In any setting.
This song is just amazing haha.
I have listened to this song hundreds of times. And you found a way to make me feel like I'm hearing it for the first time. That is why this series is so special. Thank you for bringing it back, Rick!
Same here! There is so much that I had never heard from this song before after listening to this breakdown 😂
this is also not the version of the song you'd hear on the radio or spotify so that's why it sounds new
Couldn't have said it better
He breaks down all the little things you somehow always knew were there but never really appreciated 😊
I can’t say it better than this.
The entire album Hot Fuss was , and still is, a masterpiece. I was blown away the first time I heard it, and it's still one of favorite albums.
In my opinion, "We took a walk that night but it wasn't the same/We had a fight on the promenade out in the rain" is one of the best opening lines of any record.
I agree. It's a killer debut album, and Jenny was a Friend of Mine is one of the best opening tracks ever.
Every song on that album could easily be a single
One of the few albums to have no bad/filler songs, every single one was great.
@@the_katman2181 What I came here to say.
I love when Rick says “Yeah kinda tricky to play” then proceeds to play it perfectly! 😂 love to see this series back!!
Well, it’s tricky for other people to play haha!
@@RickBeato Tricky to play on a Fender Strat with the long scale when you get to the lower register stuff. Need Holdsworth finger stretches.
@@RickBeato Rick, not the right place maybe, however may I ask you if you have ever reviewed Jamiroquai? Hope you’ll read this, cheers.
@@RickBeato I always liked this track, Rick but it’s overproduced and overly compressed dynamically, distorted and clipped. I wish more musicians/bands would just play in room and use the natural acoustic. It’s just fatiguing to listen to and definitely suffers the Loudness War to compete with iPod shuffle and now streaming. Too much Post Production is making music sound computerized, digital and unnatural. That’s why people think analog sounds better and that one day AI will one take over. As a musician you STILL need it know how to play in a room. Back in the days you have go pay your dues on the road. That feeling has been missing for a VERY long time in recorded music because the plug-ins have gotten better than analog gear which cost a fortune. The challenge today is how to makes something tasteful and frugal in a endless amount of production “value.” Nobody records “flat” mono anymore either. It’s all plugins,presets digital Eq, limiters and compressors which is ok for dance/pop music played in a club I guess. Listen to U2 in 80s recordings Or Fleetwood Mac and you get the natural sound and feel. Bono voice was so powerful naturally and his range was phenomenal. It’s just doesn’t sound right to my ears anyway. It’s gotten far worse with streaming and play counts then Radio was since dynamic range compression and loudness most ordinary people believe sounds better. That’s my two cents anyway.
@@RickBeatoplease check out the almighty Cog from Australia, there are so many tracks of theirs worthy of an episode!!
" That melancholy mood that makes you want to listen to it again "
Right on the money!
I’m happy you changed your mind not to retire this series Rick. It’s the best thing in UA-cam, glad it’s back.
So so happy that you decided to rescind on your decision to do these. Some of the greatest case studies in music to be found, IMHO.
It's what got me interested in this channel and pretty much what usually draws me back to this channel so I agree!
He said he was retiring the series and there were literal riots!
It's my favorite series. I love hearing the isolated tracks and how they fit together in the finished song.
'Choking on your alibis'
Wonderful lyric
one of the most iconic songs of the 2000s- probably the most in a live context, everyone sings and jumps along
This one and When You Were Young. Timeless masterpieces.
This song, along with with, "Killing in the Name," and "Smells Like Teen Spirit," are songs that everyone at a concert will sing along to.
As the bass player in a cover band, this was one of my favorites to play. It kept me on my toes throughout the song because every verse, chorus was slightly different and had the bass line jumping all over the place. Challenging, but fun!
I'm a bass player and this is a very fun song to play!
I love the bass in this song. Severely overlooked imo
I’m the bass player in my band and I also sing it lol, talk about concentrating.
I'm sorry you got stuck with this band
Spot on dude for sure
Rick is a fucking national treasure. I'm flabbergasted about how he can just so insanely accurate deconstruct these tracks/songs.
This 💜👌
👍
Accurately deconstruct
Thats all you had to say. “Flabbergasted” did the job of conveying what you were attempting to with “insanely.”
Yet, bc of the internet, you felt the need to throw in that hollow adjective with no rhyme or reason.
@@keengkai8175Who takes the time to write this kind of comment in the modern world
When you listen to the song, the whole seems so simple, but when you break it down, each part is so dynamic and sounds so different. I've always loved this song, but your analysis makes me realize why it's so good and why I love it even more now.
The final chord and bass segment were Beethoven's Ode to Joy. Lots of hidden gems.
aw finally someone else noticed that
THAT’S what that is. I knew i recognised it.
The solo
Technically it's not 1:1 Ode to Joy. Just the first few notes, but it resolves differently. Which is actually a great way to refference a piece without copying it outright
YESSSS!!! I’m so happy to see someone else say it!
I understood about 10% of this and LOVED 100% of it. These song breakdowns are so great.
This was the first song that The Killers wrote. Insane.
what's even better is that they weren't a one hit wonder.
@@pocok5000 What's even better is that this song was recorded as a demo, shopped in the UK along with 3 other abandoned songs, and the band kept it for it spontaneity, and thus released it on the album. Surprised Rick didn't mention it. Multiple songs on the album were recorded in this fashion, originally as demos and then kept for the very same reason. Goes to show that a very good demo can really, really take you places ;)
Probably the RRHOF in 5 years when they are eligible.
It Shows. Not that their other material is any better.
@@andresbarriga5305 Totally. I'd rather listen to all the Andres Barriga hits on the airwaves.
@@andresbarriga5305 it shows how? Explain yourself.
The lyrics are just incredibly relatable. Who hasn't driven themself half mad obsessing over an ex and what they're doing now? Combine that with a melody that is easy for pretty much anyone to sing along with and you have a timeless smash hit.
That entire album is excellent. "Smile Like You Mean It" is my favorite.
"Cause I'm Mr. Brightside" is the perfect phrase ending. It sounds so fantastically ironic and heartfelt.
Modern classic. I'll be honest this is my fave series on youtube
Song was 20 years ago, it’s just a classic now
Can we take a moment for the fabulous heartbreaking lyrics & heart wrenching vocal performance ♥️
Agreed. The reason this song is so great is at least 50% it's sing-along-ability.
I love the “it was only a kiss, it was only a kiss” echo because it sounds like he’s trying to reassure himself but can’t! I can’t explain it, but it’s powerful to me.
This has never been my favorite song by The Killers, but I also never realized how much is actually going on in the song. It seems so deceptively simple, but so many neat little tricks that you don't really notice but all serve their purpose. And that's exactly why we love these videos! Keep them coming!
@ghost mall Totally in accordance. I would always go for the melodic euphoria of "All these things" over the bleak obsession of Mr Brightside (an iconic song, but not my favourite).
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine is killer with that bassline.
@ghost mall Agreed. It was played seemingly 5 times an hour back in the day. This video is probably the first time I've _enjoyed_ hearing that song in nearly 20 years.
At about 16:10, I was reminded of Beethoven’s 9th symphony.
One of my friends was with The Killers for 6 years as a touring member. I can’t say enough about his playing or the band’s playing! Top notch all the way around.
My homeboy Brandon Flowers wrote this song! Great dude and one he’ll of a morman
@@kane6529 How many wives does he have? Ha!
@@kane6529 you mentioned his weakest point but hey, no one's perfect I guess.
This song...I used to play this song with my old cover band every weekend. It is POWERFUL, man, let me tell you. It pulls the emotion out of you and makes you that much of a better musician having played it. Kudos to The Killers for having written and recorded it.
Were you the tambourine player?
@@plopperator tamborine players aren't cheap at union rates
@@plopperator Pretty sure you are
@@plopperator He played the skin flute.
yeah man. There is (probably) a law in the UK that if this isnt played at your wedding you arent officially married
Rick pointed out the dissonance with the guitar and synths in the pre-chorus “… and taking control part.” What makes this song so great and so freaky catchy is how that dissonance just totally resolves and points everything in a completely aligned single direction with the “Jealousyyyyyy …” chorus.
I mean, our brains are literally hardwired to seek that chorus harmony and alignment after the sonic dissonance.
Such a great song!!
I love how the tune echoes “Ode to Joy”, which is ironic because the song is so melancholy. I also appreciate the sentiment expressed in the lyrics: He’s an ambitious, determined guy chasing his destiny, and the heartbreak of betrayal is eating him alive but he’s angry about it blunting his purpose. A brilliant song in every way, musically and lyrically.
Wow, never realized how crucial the bass is in building excitement in this song. Awesome, love that this series is back!
@ghost mall, any recommendations for Killers songs with a bass line that a beginner could handle. I have a friend learning bass and I love The Killers.
@@My-Channel_forever Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine has a bassline that really pops
@@tastefulsubstance - Thank you!
All their songs rely heavily on the bass although mostly goes unnoticed but they have great fillers and drive the Melody
Oh yes. Welcome back WMTSG. It's like a favourite old friend dropping in for a drink. Sheer quality. You have made my appreciation for music so much deeper with your insight and gift for explanation Rick. Thank you so much for all you give us.
So glad you decided to bring this format and series back - it's the best music analysis series on UA-cam.
The music is really good, but let’s be honest - what really makes this song GREAT are the gut wrenching and honest lyrics that only a true artist can deliver and stir the listener. Thank you so much for the video, like everyone is mentioning so far - really happy the series is back - some of the best content to watch here on YT.
Not if you’re a guitarist or bassist or drummer 😉
It's like two notes and he can't even sing them in tune. So no.
@@erikhuseth1578 Thats the point? Why does one have to sing in tune like a dutiful little choir boy? That frantic angst(And now this is happening and then this and then this and ughh its making me so sick to think about and it gets worse and worse and worse...) and the deapan delivery are part of WHY the lyrics are so powerful. This is a young mans seeing a girl hes crushing on(or possibly an ex he still has feelings for) in the arms of another guy likely cooler and better looking and probably more confident and running amok with the possibilities.
@@Cryogenius333 Sounds like olivia rodrigo lyrics but with the sexes changed. Maybe if she sang out of tune people would take her more seriously
Hot fuss has got to be one of the greatest debut albums of all time
Facts! I honestly love their first two albums soooo much that I don’t even know if I can fully separate them honestly
The murder trilogy is fascinating as well but I’ll always love Mr. Brightside.
Truer words have never been spoken!
Respect.. but Meatloaf, Boston, and Hootie might have something to say about that
Dave Keuning isn't recognized for being a great guitarist, but he is the entire reason why I wanted to first pick up a guitar. I love this band. Got to see them at Lollapalooza back in 2017 and will get to see them again this May. Can't wait.
No one ever talks about the lyrics in this song but it contains one of the all time classic hanging innuendos. "Now they're going to bed, And my stomach is sick, And it's all in my head, But she's touching his..." and your mind just jumps to the dirty word... and then he pauses and says 'chest'! Makes me smile every time.
DOnt think I ever got "that" out of it. You know where its leading, but I never pictured Brandon saying "sex" here. The song is a snapshot of a young mans mind going insane seeing a girl hes crushing on in the arms of a cooler, more confident guy and that teenage angst carrying your thoughts to conclusions that only serve to poison your feelings into jealousy.
It's crazy to me that there are all these elements that I never caught in a song such as this. You would think as a listener it is not needed, but then you hear why it is. Like why that one seasoning that you only add a teaspoon of to a massive pot of chili can make all the difference. Thank you Rick for doing this!
Music arrangement is truly about filling up the space with subtleties that add up to become one with the leading parts driving the song forward.
On their own, certain elements might sound thin or questionable, but just like an orchestra, everyone has their important role to play.
The engineer deserves a ton of credit for this song. That gained-up bass with that sweet synth fill this song up under that arpeggiod (is that a word?) guitar. So powerful.
Not The Killers fan but this song is pure rock/pop perfection. Hook after hook after hook in all fronts.
Have you actually listen to them? Like more than 3songs cus bro they are incredible
@@JonathanMarsala actually bought Hot Fuss because of this song. Non of the other songs did much for me, sounded like a disjointed mix of New Order and early Depeche Mode, then My gf at the time lend me a copy of Sam's Town, did nothing for me. Not saying they are Bad, just not My cup of tea. People tend yo have different musical tastes, You know?
@@kothrising4762 she was the one dude
I get, it obviously can't be for everyone
@@kothrising4762 I mean, considering where they got their name, the New Order call isn't off the mark, but that's precisely what I love about them.
@@kothrising4762 - Weird, didn't think I'd like Sam's Town but I love that cd too. Another one I can listen to every track on and don't ever skip one.
As a bass player I might be biased, but for me the running bass line in the pre-chorus is what makes this song so damn catchy. That distorted bass gives the song so much angst.
The Killer's basslines are some of the most underrated out there. Once you realize how insane Somebody Told Me is it brings out a whole other appreciation for it.
It's the sound I always wanted my bass to have but I could never afford the gear to make it happen.
Really? I love the bass sound but it’s not hard to get-crank the tone, add some overdrive, and play with a pick.
I always sing that part too
So you've never played through an amplifier at all?^^@@freedomruss
Rick, I teach drums at a School Of Rock in south Austin and I’ve told so many of my students and fellow instructors about your channel and how educational it is for music lovers. Keep up the great work and please do more of WMTSG videos!
Mr Beato -
The way that you take a song that everyone has heard a million times, dissect it under a microscope and expose subtleties missed a million times is magic. A true service to the music community. I don't know if you've already picked your songs for the season, but a breakdown of "Obstacle 1" by Interpol would be interesting, I think. Like "Mr brightside" it's a dense song with a lot of moving parts. Thank you so much for what you do!
I also love the wide-eyed enthusiasm Rick has when doing these. He never lets the analytical aspect detract in the slightest from the passion he has for music and for sharing it with us mere mortals. 😂
I agree, I love hearing things in these songs I’ve never heard before
Would love to see some more 2000s alt/indie rock songs in this series! Stuff like Interpol, The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, Death Cab 👍
Yes. And some Elliott Smith. I'd love Rick to explain why Waltz #1's melody is so riveting. All in dorian apparently.
Definitely need to hear interpol’s obstacle 1 broken down. Amazing.
I've been complaining about that for ages, though I like other artists, Ariel Pink, sufjan Stevens, Chromatics, Phoenix, churches, beach house, mgmt, grimes, royksopp, oof
Elliott Smith. It’s shocking Rick hasn’t delved into Elliott. Prodigious classically trained musician who played every instrument and songwriting guitar playing as good as anyone in the nineties. @rickbeato !
Ronnie Vannucci (Jr.) is hands-down the best overlooked drummer in current popular music. Really, what he does for their music is often underappreciated, but really is so integral to their sound since the beginning. No other drummer would have been the right drummer.
His playing with the Rentals was killer as well
As an interesting side note, the Drumeo channel did an episode where they played this song without the drum track for Dirk VerBeuren, the drummer for Megadeath, and had him come up with his own drum part. Was an interesting take on the song, but demonstrates just how integral Ronnie’s original drum track was to this song. I’d recommend it for a fun watch.
Played this song hundreds of times in a cover band in the early 2000’s. Crowd favorite.
also been playing it since then, and I can confirm it still kills to this day! All ages, all crowds
I love this series because it consistently points out to me how much a producer and mixing engineer matter in how a song turns out. All of the little things that happen behind the front of the song (like the synth parts or dual guitar part in the chorus) help so much, and i'm sure much of that was felt out in the studio with the producer.
This song has way more to it than I ever would have thought! Takes me back to high school in the mid 00s. It was a huge song.
Hot Fuss, front-to-back, is a solid contender, in my opinion, for a top 10 debut album in music history. So good any way you listen to it, and it gets added meaning as a concept album
Agreed, Appetite For Destruction and Hot Fuss are some of the debut albums ever
Throwing Copper
@@connieb6161 Throwing Copper wasn't Live's debut album, though.
I'd add Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville and Morrissey's Viva Hate to that list.
@@John-tr5hn You can't really call a solo album by a person who was a singer in a hugely popular band for 5 years a "debut album" - he did nothing that he hadn't already been doing. He didn't write the music. He wrote lyrics and vocal melodies, the same as he had always done. Viva Hate is a 90% great album, but just not a debut album. Stone Roses, if you discount the earlier singles, is a master debut album.
I think how they sneak in of a riff on Ode to Joy in the bridge. It makes me smile every time.
I absolutely love, LOVE!, that you covered this song! The Killers are probably my favorite rock band of the last 20 years. There’s a reason why this song has been on the charts in different countries since 2004. Brilliant song, and one of the best debut albums of a band ever. EVER!
Iv seen them live 3 times now and when they perform this song everyone in the stadium sings along. It’s amazing.
@@323johnnybravo, I’ll go to a football game at the college where I teach, and these 19, 20-year olds are screaming this song! They know it! I love it, and it just brings up the crowd into a rock show atmosphere. I just love this band. Lol
There are great bands, and, perhaps there are great arena rock bands; they are both.
Yay! So glad you're back doing WMTSG! The Killers song that really lights me up is "The Man". Fabulous Brandon Flowers vocals, so interesting musically. A banger.
I strongly agree. I even went back into my archive when that song came out and realized that I owned Hot Fuss and never really gave it a chance. It's a solid album. I need to look into the stuff that came out in the 15 years between the two. 😆
@@TheBrokenLife I highly recommend the album "battle born". Hugely underrated IMO
@@TheBrokenLife Sam's town has some great songs
I dont give a damn
This is so 80's sounding ! Love it. Reminiscent of The Chameleons, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Killing Joke, The Cure...
Rick, these videos demonstrate how simple it is to take a great song for granted. Breaking down the mechanics of why we love certain music is rewarding, thank you for this.
This album and THIS song… such a great record and if there was ever a time for a new rock band to break through and give us melodic, powerful tunes - it’s now. Big songs you can sing along to
There's an emotion in Brandon's voice that hits so well. I think they have objectively more interesting songs musically off later albums, but I suppose it's the simplicity of this one that makes it a hit
You should try some of Brandons solo work, it's absolutely phenomenal. And not just because he managed to convince Charlize Theron to star in one of the music videos!
@@slimydroid Crossfire was our first dance at our wedding! 💒💃🍾
Great choice for this episode.
Alan Moulder's mixing had a lot to do with how powerful this album hits.
Alan is the man!
Did Alan moulder mix it? I thought he wasn’t involved until sams town?
This CD lived in my car on continuous repeat for like 6 months... So good.
My kids introduced me to this song when it came out. I can still remember driving from Key West to the main land singing this song with them at full volume. Awesome memories. Still one of my favorites.
A song I must've heard a thousand times and you somehow manage to show me something I haven't heard in it before. This series is unbelievably good. Thank you Rick!!
I had always kind of thought of this song as one of the last really great pop songs that was heavily guitar based. But the lyrics and feel of the song were so great to me that I didn't really pay a lot of attention to the details like I usually do for most songs I love. This breakdown was superb. There's so much great stuff going on in this song. My subconscious must have realized that because I've always really loved this song. Thank you.
Such a great song…the drive underneath from the kick pushes this song ahead….a great example of the “pocket” and leading time. You feel like this song is being driven forward and gaining intensity throughout.
It's Killing Me!
I find it rather boring.
I'm so glad you highlighted the importance of the bass on this! Mark Stoermer's bass playing is severely underrated in my opinion and that entire first album is filled with absolutely genius bass lines from him.
I've listened to "Mr. Brightside" I think 40 million times (conservatively) in the 20 years since it came out, and I've noticed and appreciated so many of the song's subtle hooks--but there were *still* things I hadn't picked out, like how sick those drum fills are. That's how jam-packed with cool textural elements this song is.
One of my favorite songs. The tear down makes me love it even more. The isolation you did of each section was so amazing to listen to. Mr. Brightside will always be my crazy hands in the air, shake your feet, yell at the top of lungs, act weird and rock on song. ❤ Rick you have opened up my eager EYES!
So glad to see WMTSG is back. I think a lot of us started watching this channel because of it.
Also, now that I hear the isolated parts of this song, I see why it always sounded so empty when my band played it.
This song is pure magic. Something that’s unexplainable. Every single time I play this the dancefloor lights up like fire.
Thank you so much for doing this Rick. The Killers are a phenomenal and underrated band. Saw them live for the Sam’s Town tour and it was one of the best shows I’ve ever been to.
Underrated ? I don't think so. They're huge.
I love love love The Killers. Thank you so much for featuring them. Super underrated American rock band that has been going strong for over 20 years.
Underrated? This song has been charting literally since it came out.
It is a perfect song, though.
@@imc123456789 I think they mean underrated in the sense that their later albums have not received as much attention, especially after Day & Age. The Killers are still going strong but I bet most people wouldn't know it.
How are they underrated? There're one of the biggest rock bands of the 2000's. They got almost 20 millions listeners on spotify. The only band of the same era that has more is the Arctic Monkeys. The Killers sell out stadiums are headline festivals.
Amazing song from an incredible album. Proof that interesting arrangements hit people harder than difficult technical passages.
9:33 The lead vocals in the chorus sound so much like the 1st Wave 80s music that exploded when I was in college in the early 1980s. Cool sound.
@ghost mall I love that I'm seeing you everywhere in the comments 😆
The Killers and Stranger Things feel like a predestined match.
The killers helped bring in what is now called the second coming of new wave in the 2000s.
Finally!! This series is a reason why i love UA-cam overall
OMG I was so afraid that you had no intention of bringing these back, I'm so relieved! I can't wait to see which songs you will be discussing in this series 😍
One thing about this song that seems overlooked is Flowers’ intonation on his inhales. I think it adds to the emotion-desperation of the song.
And the chorus guitar hits on some Fleetwood Mac sound.
With the breakdown - great analysis of a great song.
One of my favorite rock songs of all time. He broke it down perfectly.
I was so happy to see this in my recommended. You're one of the gems of UA-cam, and I really hope you keep this series up
I could listen to an hour if you analyzing this song, great work! What’s great is the untrained listener is caught by how simple the melody is, but the artist can pick out all these nuances so both groups can be satisfied. Excellent song, unlike anything else. Truly unique
Wonderful song choice! This reminds me of how great for guitar driven music the early 2000s have been, soo many great bands and nobody could imagine that all would end just a few years later.
When I saw The Killers live I was fortunate to be close enough to really watch their playing. The music was great , the performance was great, the musicianship absolutely captivated me. They were TIGHT and incredibly focused in their playing without a loss of enthusiasm. I just stood there and took it all in like an idiot, LOL.
Musical innovation like this brings me hope for the masses.
Frankly I love when a band's performance makes me stand there "like an idiot." The sure sign of a great show. :)
They are one of very few bands that sound exactly the same as in studio
I just found this song like 6 months ago, I had probably heard it in the background at events or on the radio, but never paid much attention to it... today as of 2023, it is one of the greatest songs ever recorded in my opinion =)
This song undeniably has “it”. Something special. Something that makes you FEEL something. It’s top tier music, born of quality songwriting and production that tickles the ears and mind. The Killers struck gold with this masterpiece.
What makes this song great? The guy that mixed it.
This is a song where I kind of roll my eyes at the beginning but by the chorus I'm singing my lungs out. It really is a perfect example of a song that utilizes a tense, long buildup with a hook at the chorus that is just so satisfying.
One of the greatest choruses written in the last 30 years
It reminds me of special k by placebo.
There is an urgency and a pause about this song - a cutting edge (the song) and a bleeding edge (me). Above all, there is a magic, that goes beyond the notes they’re hitting. Rick, you have done the best job of any I’ve seen to capture WHERE that comes from - the synth below the guitar, the delay in one speaker and a perfect melody in the other, the eager eyes. I listen to a lot of music, as I’m sure you do, but this, to me, is the perfect song
This was the probably the biggest pop rock hit during my teen years. I would hear it at least a couple dozen times a year for eight straight years.
How in the world can artists, producers and the abhorrent music companies NOT let Rick make these unbelievably amazing videos…!
Me, a consumer, just bought The Killers best of because of this video…..
Right??? Free advertising at its finest. Makes no sense and I don't see the downside for the artists or the labels.
I've always felt like the dissonance between the vocals and bass line worked so well with this one. The genius of it is in the meaning of the song. It's meant to be that way. Amazing.
It is just awesome watching Rick playing the parts, and singling out so many nuances I never noticed before!
Does anyone else feel like a complete genius when you notice something in the track as you’re watching and then 2 seconds later Rick calls it out!?
I discovered this song in 2015 (I'm 64) and considered it a masterpiece on first hearing. It stopped me in my tracks. Your analysis has enriched my appreciation of it and I am sincerely grateful to you for that. However, I have to say, I think you missed a key aspect of 'what makes this song great', and that is the, oh so powerful, emotional impact of the song. The song brings back so palpably the emotions of youth experiencing infidelity of one's heart's desire seen with another. So it is the wonderful technical musical aspects of the song, as you so impressively reveal, in combination with the lyric, and the evocative recollection (or current experience) of powerful emotion of a man's youth. Rick you are a treasure. I love and so admire your work, knowledge and skills. And I love that your musical interest is so wide ranging - even more so than mine. Huge appreciation.
Amazing comeback with these series, Rick! Season 2 had better include Iron Maiden or The Offspring. Those are bands that I bet people are waiting forever to see on a What Makes This Song Great.
Neither band is anywhere near my top choices, but thats what makes music so great, we all like what we like
Yes, after Somebody told me
@@HamiltonRb I didn't mean just those two bands (to be honest, they're nowhere near my top choices either), I also meant all the bands Rick never or hardly ever featured on this series.
@@gabrielpaiva9070 I hear ya. Iron Maiden did have a few songs I like though 👍
Yes! Yet another example of Rick taking a great song that I have heard hundreds of times and breaking it down to understand just why it’s so great. Thank you!!!
One of the best series on UA-cam -- Thank you for bringing it back, Rick!! Excellent song to start season 2. My band played it almost every gig for years, and no one ever tired of it....not us, not the audience....thats a great song.
Rick……You MUST MUST MUST GET Alex and Geddy on your show. The world wants to hear from them. They are the GREATEST! I know you RESPECT them ALOT…….PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try and get them on! Love your show……❤❤❤❤❤!
In the United Kingdom it has also sold over 3.52 million copies and is the longest-charting single on the UK Singles Chart Top 100, having spent 365 weeks (7 years) on the chart as of June 10, 2023.
Thank you Rick for bringing this back, and with such a "killer" song!
Missed these! Great song Rick - I spent hours trying to get this lick down when the song came out. The guitar part at 17:00 always reminded me of Beethoven's Ode to Joy
True, they definitely lifted it from Ode to Joy, it's almost identical.
More of these, please! You mentioned doing Depeche Mode's "Never Let Me Down Again." Please do!
Agreed!
100%
Anything from Depeche Mode from before 1994, please!
Love your channel Rick. Although with this song, it’s not just the music that makes it great. Mr. Brightside has over 530 million hits because of Brandon Flowers incredible vocals and because of his performance in the video, with his facial expressions. It is a 3 1/2 minute love story that no one wants to experience, but we feel for him because regrettably he did. The lyrics are what sets this song apart. They are gut wrenching.
I have heard this song hundreds of times and the small details that I never notice, especially the strength of the bass and how much it leads and the elements from each hook, has made me appreciate the song even more. ❤
It's like finding new things on something you love for ages... so good