Killers' Brandon Flowers Settles Debate Over 'Human' Lyrics

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by Jason Gregory
Friday, October 31, 2008
Photo by: WENN
filed in: Indie

Killers' Brandon Flowers Settles Debate Over 'Human' Lyrics

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The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers has finally explained the lyrics to the band's new single 'Human'.

The words in the song's chorus - “Are we human?/ Or are we dancer?” - have left critics and fans bemused since the song debuted last month.

While some have argued that Flowers lyrics aren't grammatically correct, others have claimed that he actually sings “denser” instead of “dancer”.

In an interview with MTV, Flowers confirmed that the lyric was “dancer” and that it was taken from the Hunter S. Thompson quote - 'We're raising a generation of dancers'.

“I guess it bothers people that it's not grammatically correct, but I think I'm allowed to do whatever I want," Flowers said. "'Denser'? I hadn't heard that one. I don't like 'denser.'"

Asked if he felt a connection with Thompson's words about the growing softness of America's youth, Flowers replied: "I think that I do, and I don't want to be too much of a preacher.

"I say that it's a mild social statement, and that's all I'm gonna say. We're still trying to write the best pop songs we can write."

'Human' is the first track from the band's new album 'Day And Age', which is released next month.

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It's a fucking awful song!!
~ by winnet 10/31/2008
Ummmm it's awesome...
~ by GG 10/31/2008
best yet
~ by jo swashy 10/31/2008
The man is a genius.
~ by SG 11/1/2008
Face it, no amount of rationalising is going to change it. Are we human or are we dancer, it just sounds bloody awful and crap. They spoiled what could have been a decent tune by a silly line. Worse things happen at sea....
~ by Anon 11/3/2008
- Really it makes perfect sense, the fact that we are all just 'dancers' in somebody else's experiment; puppets in somebody else's game. When will we become independent 'humans' and stop just playing along?
  ~ by ~Killers Fan~ 7/11/2009
i think its a billiant song from a brilliant band with a VERY sexy frontman......yummy!!!
~ by princess 11/4/2008
I think its great
~ by Julie 11/9/2008
Well what a load of rubbish. You don't like it because it's made you think for a change!!!!
~ by Sue 11/10/2008
well, all i have to say is 'I told you so' I knew it was dancer all along! hahaha! Pidgin Pidgin Pidgin.......Creole
~ by Mayr 11/15/2008
if u dont like it dont listen to it u whiney set of b4stard5 lol :)
~ by Tom :) 11/17/2008
i really really would not use the word "genius" ian curtis...joe strummer....jimi hendrix...bach...mozart....thom yorke yes they are all genius'...not brandon flowers
~ by Euan McKEe 11/23/2008
I love this song, and I think the word dancer fits in perfectly. For some reason it sounds really wise, and there's an explanation to it. Maybe you should try find out what it means..moron..
~ by Toby 11/23/2008
Its songs like this that truly expose those of us who actually listen to the words and their meaning. Whether you like it or not, all should note, if so many are debating its merit, then more than we think still listen to the words and not just bob to the rhythm.
~ by JustT 11/25/2008
This is one of the most poetic and thought provoking songs of the time..he is saying that this generation does not tend to want to think too hard...that if not careful we will be "dancers" or "puppets" on a string and not intelligent human life....I think the negative comments above tend to prove his point..the young people are our future..we need them to think and challenge..Rock on Brandon..for saying that being stupid and just "dancing" is NOT cool and that think
~ by Lisa 11/26/2008
The lyric is a work of genius IMHO, best song this year with a really beautiful melody
~ by Egokingkeys 12/3/2008
man i hate it how everyone writes 'dancers' instead of 'dancer.' really annoying.
~ by summer breeze 12/12/2008
I love that song, and tbh The killers are a great band. If he wants to write lyrics which are different who cares? I mean some of them are bound to be a bit odd, but he's created some greats! Like 'Stars are blazing like rebel diamonds cut out of the sun' Classic! besides hes using a quote from a person he respects, and what right do you haters have to say against vocalising your opinions? arent we doing that right now?
~ by KillersFan:) 12/15/2008
man i hate it how everyone writes 'dancers' instead of 'dancer.' really annoying. ~ by summer breeze 12/12/2008 ---------------------------------------------- dancerS dancerS dancerS
~ by Millie 12/21/2008
Hate this song because of this lyric. He can definitely sound as stupid as he wants.
~ by Monique 1/7/2009
i recon this song is so shit im going to kill my self immedatly
~ by jenny from the block 1/20/2009
No matter what anybody thinks of the words,its got everybody talking,so I say good luck to em.
~ by Kris 2/1/2009
i think its amazing, the whole album is amazing play the full cd when your not busy and youl be singing it for the reat of the day ... its great x
~ by gracey 2/5/2009
It's catchy but the lyrics confused me for a while and i was singing randomness... now i am still confused coz it doesn't make any damn sense!!! Ah well he's right i suppose- he can write what he wants. :)
~ by Shamalamadingdong 2/7/2009
This song sucks so much arse
~ by Ross Culver 2/10/2009
lyrics get you thinking, arrangement is fantastic
~ by mad tom 2/26/2009
oh get a fucking grip, I can't believe that people get so uptight and disturbed by song lyrics. So what the fuck if the lyrics are'nt grammatically correct, its a great tune. Don't lose sleep guy's.
~ by TJ 2/28/2009
This song is amazing and the lyrics are the work of a genius you would have to be a thicko not to understand the meaning!!!
~ by Ice Maiden 3/3/2009
The words "My Sign is Vital" in the Killers 'Áre We Human' recalled something for me and I could not put my finger on it for a while. I have since thought about the Rush song 'Vital Signs' and noted that it too has a message that I think is quite timely and imortant, or rather- vital. I also noticed that this Rush song shares areas of grammatical incorrectness with the Killers song. One of the Rush phrases is: 'Everybody got to elevate from the norm'
~ by JT 3/18/2009
I love it!!!!
~ by linda 3/28/2009
it spoils what could be a good song.. its irritating.. i switch off every time.... crap!!!
~ by collo 4/20/2009
Well I think it's great and so does my 14 year old daughter and how many songs can boast that they appeal across the generations?
~ by older \\\'n wiser 5/4/2009
i love the song but when i heard it i sang along as though i knew it from before. Is it a copy.
~ by s hart 5/5/2009
SUPER SONG! *0*
~ by Diana 5/10/2009
It just doesn't make any sence and I'm yet to meet anyone else who disagrees.
~ by Sarah 5/30/2009
I love the song, and i don't think it matters if it's "grammatically correct". Plenty of songs have grammatically incorrect lyrics, and no one makes a fuss about them. Great song by a great band.
~ by Becca 5/31/2009
I love this song and have spent three days trying to see if it is dancer or denser.Now I see that it is dancer,and I can see why. Truly the Tone makes you think,that's if you want too.The people who say it makes no sence just haven't put their mind or their heart into it.It is a work of art when a writer,painter can make you think,not like a puppet on a string,but as a human with a brain to use,and hopefully use it well.
~ by MICHAEL 6/4/2009
Amazing song, can't help but singalong to it. Sure the lyrics don't make sense, but a lot of their songs don't. It's all about interpreting them anyway you wish. That's the beauty of music.
~ by Scunger 6/19/2009
in some languages, japanese for one, there are no definite/indefinite articles (the/a) and there aren't any singulars or plurals - the important thing is the noun gets across - we all know it should be plural because we understood the core meaning
~ by Steve 6/27/2009
What the fuck. I'm from Finland so my english grammar isn't the best there can be, but I have to give myself some credit for recognizing a beautiful phrase when I come up to one. "Are we human or are we dancer" souds perfect! Who cares if it's grammatically wrong, the line makes all the sense in an aesthetic way.
~ by Multala 10/23/2009

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