Mr.

Brightside

Played in the key of D major at 148 BPM

Begins with I V IV for the verse, then moves to a I IV vi V progression for the pre-chorus, chorus, bridge
and outro.

In the past 15 years you’ve probably heard this riff or caught yourself belting out the track at some
point. This classic indie rock anthem is what helped the Killers become one of the most successful bands
of the 21st century, who still hold their own in 2019.

Mr. Brightside was the first song composed by the band and was originally released as a single in the
UK in 2003. Although the single only reached number 10 in the UK top 100’s chart, after its US rerelease
in 2004 in conjunction with their debut album ‘Hot Fuss’ it has rarely left those very charts and is
currently on its 209th week as a top 100 single. Since its release, the single has claimed the title of the
most streamed song released before 2010 and is the 12th most downloaded rock track ever in the UK.

Emerging from the Las Vegas indie-pop scene in 2002, The Killers, consisting of front man Brandon
Flowers, lead guitarist David Keuning, bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr, drew
heavily from British pop and alternative rock and were strongly influenced by the Strokes’ debut album
‘This is it’. These influences are evident in their use of fuzzed guitars and home recorded sounds, very
similar to that of The Strokes.

What is important to note though about the success of Mr. Brightside, is that it has achieved this despite
its repetitive lyrical and chordal progressions. Mr. Brightside plays the same note 103 times throughout
the song and has no change in its second verse or bridge lyrics. The song is completely strophic in that
the in addition to repeating the same notes and melody, it is played in conjunction to the same lyrics,
with no variation between verses.

This repetition works because Mr. Brightside employs a modernized version of a pedal tone, in that we
have a repeating melody rather than a bass note that is essentially a constant presence. And I think that
more than anything, the constant repetition is what makes this work and allows us to accept almost
anything.

But, what makes this song as a whole more enjoyable than its melody by itself? The one-note melody
works seamlessly over any chord, but the chords change the melody note’s function and character.
Essentially, the chords make the melody.

During the line “coming out of my”, the song starts with a Tonic chord and while the guitarist changes
one or two of the notes in a normal I chord, he makes sure to keep note 1, Brandon Flowers is singing
note 1 on a scale and the guitar is playing a chord with that note in it.

When we move on to “cage and I been doing just”, the guitar part changes ever so slightly, like this:
[music] but it keeps note 1. And since the guitar is still playing a chord with the melody note in it, it still
feels like the melody note belongs here.

And when we hear “fine, gotta gotta be down because I want it all”, the song moves on to a IV chord
[chord], which also has note 1 in it. And while the guitarist puts a twist on this chord, he keeps note 1.
And Brandon Flowers is still singing in note 1 so again it works.
Mr. Brightside

That way, the chord changes don’t feel out of place or jarring, because all of the chords that are actually
used in the verse include the melody note. We feel like the instrumental section is welcoming the
melody note.

When the song moves to a IV chord, the note becomes a little paradoxical. Once you go to the IV chord,
that note in the melody is now the 5th of the chord, we can hear that in “fine, gotta gotta be down
because I want it all”. So it is functioning in a different way because it’s not the root of that harmonic
structure.

Now, after hearing what sounds like contradictory answers, you might be thinking “Which is it? Is it
acting as a tonic note, or is it acting as the fifth of the chord?” The answer is: It’s acting like both at once.
If you compare it to the rest of the notes on the scale, it’s a tonic. If you compare it to the rest of the
notes in the chord, it’s a fifth. In a word, it’s multitasking. The juxtaposition of these chords are what
nullifies what would the monotonous repetition of the melody.

*Mention dissonance, tension, drama, resolution.

Perhaps by intention, the repetitive nature of the track carries over into the band’s live performances,
having never played a show without playing Mr. Brightside. Flowers himself isn’t bored of singing it and
somehow has stood the test of time while its popularity shows little signs of dwindling. The simple
melody and lyrics makes it easy to sing along to. But the song prods is with two contrasting emotions;
nostalgia and hope. The song was written by Flowers in a dark emotional state after a failed relationship,
the lyrics venture through the narrators heartbreak. But it quickly turns into a hopeful message of
acceptance, accepting that the relationship has run its course, that it is now time to move forward, and
to look on the Brightside.