While we're on the topic of marring perfectly good songs with one goofy verse or lyric, I've been wanting to mention this song for a while. Specifically, the part where lead singer Brandon Flowers breaks it down in the middle of the song and sings this line over and over:
I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier
Sounds foolish, doesn't really fit in with the rest of lyrics (as far as I can tell, at least ... if there is some deeper meaning here, someone please enlighten me), is just not necessary at all because it makes the song a little too long and it would be just perfect without this part, in my opinion.
On the bright side, though, this lyric did lead to this inspired scene (starring Justin Timberlake as like, a mentally ill fighter pilot or something, I forget exactly) from the little-known movie "Southland Tales" by the director of "Donnie Darko." Just like in the Killers song, the scene in the movie basically comes out of nowhere and has nothing to do with anything in the plot. (There's barely a plot to speak of in the film anyway, though, so I guess it doesn't really matter.)
I'm kind of obsessed with "Southland Tales" -- it's really a terrible movie by most any standard, and the cast includes ... get ready for this ... the aforementioned Mr. Timberlake, Sarah Michelle Gellar, John Larroquette, Jon Lovitz, Janeane Garofalo, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Mandy Moore, Amy Poehler, Seann William Scott (Stifler from the "American Pie" movies, surprisingly good here), and Nora Dunn. Yeah. Now THAT is an ensemble cast.
Anyhow, if you liked "Donnie Darko," I would recommend watching "Southland Tales," because although it is on the whole a huge annoying mess, I find it strangely compelling and there are a few scenes (including the one linked to above) that are pretty brilliant.
Also, I have a feeling this won't be the first time we see the "Justin Timberlake" tag. I love Justin Timberlake, but I have a sneaking suspicion that some of his lyrics might be kind of bad.
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Don't forget that it also starred Wallace Shawn and Wood Harris (aka Avon Barksdale from the Wire). I also kind of loved that movie despite it being obviously terrible. Maybe not "terrible" but "insanely incoherent." I also was hepped up on Nyquil while I saw it, which may have helped a lot. The scene you link to completely hypnotized me.
ReplyDeleteBarksdale was in it? Good God. I should have remembered that ... I was deep into The Wire when I saw Southland Tales. And Wallace Shawn, of course ... the "inconceivable!" guy from Princess Bride. What a fucking weird cast.
ReplyDelete:)):)):)):)) ya, agree... I love tK music, I'm charmed by "je ne sais quoi" of brandon flowers, but totally agree - this line is too long and it is good to keep the right measure in everything :)
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