Dying Breed

Album: Imploding The Mirage (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • An overriding theme running through Imploding The Mirage is frontman Brandon Flowers' marriage to Tana Mundkowsky and whether two can become one. This song features what Flowers describes as "the prettiest or most romantic lyric" he's ever written.

    I'll be there when water's rising
    I'll be your lifeguard


    Flowers told NME: "I feel thankful for that. I want her to know that no matter what, I'm going to stay by her side and keep the promise."
  • Tana suffers from PTSD because of traumas experienced in her childhood. Her struggles with depression inspired many of Flowers' lyrics on The Killers' 2017 album, Wonderful Wonderful.
  • Flowers told Q magazine that musically, this song pulls together different Killers influences from across the years. "It's somehow captures Manchester and Bruce Springsteen," he said. "I think that's when we're at our best, when we're able to take these different elements and make them work."
  • Brandon Flowers wrote the song with:

    Jonathan Rado, better known as the multi-instrumentalist of rock duo Foxygen.

    Canadian engineer and producer Shawn Everett, who won Grammys for his work on albums by Alabama Shakes, War On Drugs, and Kacey Musgraves.

    Australian singer-songwriter Alex Cameron, who helped pen five tracks on their previous album, Wonderful Wonderful.

    British songwriter and producer Mike Crossey, who has also worked with the likes of The 1975 and Lany.
  • Jonathan Rado and Shawn Everett produced the song. It was Everett who came up with the idea of sampling a couple of early '70s tracks by German rock outfits: "Hallogallo" by NEU!, and "Moonshake" by Can. Flowers recalled to Apple Music:

    "This song was already good, and then Shawn disappeared to a B room for an hour and came back all excited, and played us that [Can and Neu!] loop over the song. And I was like 'Yeah!' It's frustrating that it wasn't our loop in the beginning, but then we just embraced it and got permission."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gentle Giant

Gentle GiantSongwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Annie Haslam of Renaissance

Annie Haslam of RenaissanceSongwriter Interviews

The 5-octave voice of the classical rock band Renaissance, Annie is big on creative expression. In this talk, she covers Roy Wood, the history of the band, and where all the money went in the '70s.

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."