When I started this blog back in January 2005, the single re-release of the Killers' "Somebody Told Me" had just landed at #3 on the U.K. chart. It would still be another few months before the Las Vegas band would rack up their (so far) one and only Top 10 U.S. hit, "Mr. Brightside."
This week sees the lead single from the Killers' third album Day & Age, "Human," enter the U.K. chart at #4—their highest ranking since "When You Were Young" hit #2 there two years back (held back by Scissor Sisters, with "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'")."Human" got more love in England than it did here in the States, where it debuted at #32 then quickly fell. The Killers have always been very much a European-friendly band in nature, sound-and-style- wise, and it's a shame that mainstream American radio hasn't embraced the four-piece as much.
Meanwhile, Brandon Flowers & Co. are working on their third annual Christmas charity single, "Joseph." Here's what Neil Tennant wrote on the official Pet Shop Boys site earlier last week:
Last week Brandon Flowers asked me to help him write some lyrics for The Killers' Christmas single, "Joseph", which is a duet with Elton John. I wrote the lyrics for one verse and sang a guide vocal of them. It was fun spending a little time in the studio with him and Stuart Price.Brandon Flowers, Elton John, Neil Tennant and Stuart Price? Sounds like a gay ol' time, in every hall-decked sense of the word!
Elswhere on the U.K. chart, the physical CD single release of former Mis-Teeq member Alesha Dixon's "The Boy Does Nothing" indeed boosts the song's fortunes, moving it up from #8 to #5.
And, lookee here! It's the return of Lemar, at #14, with "If She Knew."
Is that a good thing? I think so. Watch the video for the Soulshock and Karlin-produced jame and decide for yourself.
The U.K. Top 10:
1. "Hero" - X Factor Finalists *3 weeks*
2. "Live Your Life" - T.I. Feat. Rihanna *new*
3. "If I Were A Boy" - Beyoncé
4. "Human" - The Killers *new*
5. "The Boy Does Nothing'" - Alesha Dixon
6. "The Promise" - Girls Aloud
7. "Hot N Cold" - Katy Perry
8. "Womanizer'" - Britney Spears
9. "Infinity 2008" - Guru Josh Project
10. "Forgive Me" - Leona Lewis