"Read My Mind"
A female model in a bikini stands behind a trailer home wearing a sash with the word "MISS" on it. She holds a portrait of a man in front of her face.
Single by the Killers
from the album Sam's Town
ReleasedFebruary 13, 2007 (2007-02-13)
Genre
Length4:06
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The Killers singles chronology
"A Great Big Sled"
(2006) 		"Read My Mind"
(2007) 		"For Reasons Unknown"
(2007)
Alternative cover
12-inch remixes

"Read My Mind" is a song by American rock band the Killers. It was released on February 13, 2007, as the third single from their second studio album, Sam's Town (2006). It peaked at number 62 on the US Billboard Hot 100, topped three other Billboard rankings, and charted at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.

In 2009, the song was voted at number 57 in UK radio station XFM's "100 Greatest Songs of All Time".[2] In the same year, it was voted at number 71 on Absolute Radio's "100 Best Songs of the Decade".[3]

Background and production

In an interview with Chicago radio station Q101, lead vocalist Brandon Flowers called "Read My Mind" the best song he had ever written. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe (of Pet Shop Boys) saw the Killers in concert at Brixton Academy at the end of November 2006, where the idea of a remix for "Read My Mind" was discussed between the two parties. The resulting remix, "Pet Shop Boys 'Stars are blazing' mix" featuring additional vocals by Tennant and Lowe, is one of the B-sides for the single, and is featured on the Pet Shop Boys album Disco Four.[4][5]

"Read My Mind" was released as part of an iTunes EP on February 13, 2007, featuring an acoustic version and two remixes. It was also released as the third single from Sam's Town in the United Kingdom on February 26, 2007.[4][6][7]

There was a promotion CD released in the US that featured 10 dance mixes. This included the full Pet Shop Boys mix, as well as an instrumental version and radio edit. It also featured remixes by Gabriel & Dresden, Steve Bays (from Canadian band Hot Hot Heat) and Linus Loves. The three-track American CD single was released in Best Buy stores. The single is free only with the purchase of Sam's Town.

Critical reception

Critical response to the single was positive; the song was often praised although the album received highly mixed reviews.[8] Yahoo Music said "the album peaks with the arena-sized 'Read My Mind'".[9] Sven Philipp (with Billboard) called the single "a gloriously melodic Duran Duran-meets-Springsteen tale about 'breakin' out of this two-star town.'"[10] Adrien Begrand with PopMatters said, "The Killers shine on the song, Flowers’s synth offsetting Keuning’s tasteful flourishes wonderfully."[8] NME called the song the "righteous and anthemic album highlight."[11] It was also listed as number 12 on Rolling Stone's 100 Best Songs of 2006 even though Sam's Town had previously received negative reviews from the magazine. In reference to the Pet Shop Boys remix, The New York Times called it a "perfect match."[12] This song was also number 84 on MTV Asia's list of Top 100 Hits of 2007.[13] In 2020, Paste ranked the song number one on their list of the 20 greatest Killers songs,[14] and in 2021, American Songwriter ranked the song number five on their list of the 10 greatest Killers songs.[15]

A remix of the song is featured on the original soundtrack of the NBC television series Friday Night Lights. It is nominated for a 2008 People's Choice Award in the category of Favorite Song from a Soundtrack.

This song was also going to be performed as a showcase performance for Chloe Warren, but due to technical complications the performance was cancelled. "Read My Mind" was also used for the promotional video for season 14 of the television show ER on Warner Channel Latin America.

Music video

The video for "Read My Mind" was shot in Tokyo and directed by Diane Martel, shortly before the band embarked on their round of touring to New Zealand and Australia. In an interview, Brandon Flowers called the tune "kind of our favorite song" and promised the clip would find the band "in Tokyo, on bikes."[16]

The video shows the band members having fun in different parts of Tokyo. We see them playing with some Japanese school children in Shinjuku Park, interacting with a Japanese Elvis impersonator in the Kabukicho entertainment district, releasing balloons in front of the Nihonbashi Jogakkan Girls High School, and riding on different kinds of bicycles past the Ichogaoka Hachiman Shrine in Asakusabashi. The video ends with the four members of the band checking into a capsule hotel followed by Japanese television character Gachapin.[17][18]

The video premiered on February 8, 2007, on MTV's Total Request Live as part of their "Spankin' New Music Week."[19] On the March 23, 2007, episode of VH1's Top 20 Countdown, "Read My Mind" was number one, making it the first time a Killers' video had reached that rank.

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Award Result
2008 International Dance Music Awards Best Alternative/Rock Dance Track Nominated
People's Choice Awards Favorite Song from a Soundtrack

Track listings

7-inch: Vertigo / 6 02517 24568 6 – UK

  1. "Read My Mind" – 4:03
  2. "Read My Mind" (Steve Bays Remix) – 3:30

CD: Vertigo / 6 02517 24567 9 – UK

  1. "Read My Mind" – 4:03
  2. "Read My Mind" (Pet Shop Boys Stars Are Blazing Mix) (Edit) – 4:02

CD: Island / ISLR 16704-2 – U.S.

  1. "Read My Mind" (Pet Shop Boys Stars Are Blazing Mix) – 7:19
  2. "Read My Mind" (Steve Bays Remix) – 3:30
  3. "Read My Mind" (Like Rebel Diamonds Mix) – 4:11

CD: Island / 6 02517 24567 9 – Germany

  1. "Read My Mind" (Album Version) – 4:03
  2. "Read My Mind" (Pet Shop Boys Radio Edit) – 4:02
  3. "Read My Mind" (Pet Shop Boys Instrumental) – 7:21
  4. "Read My Mind" (Video)

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[44] Platinum 70,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[45] Platinum 80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States January 22, 2007 Modern rock radio Island [47]
February 13, 2007 Contemporary hit radio [48]
Digital download [49]
United Kingdom February 26, 2007 CD Vertigo [50]
Australia April 23, 2007 Island [51]

See also

References

  1. ^ Radio X Staff (November 18, 2022). "The 10 best songs by the Killers". Radio X. Retrieved November 23, 2022. The dreamier, more romantic side of Brandon Flowers, this lush pop song comes from the band's second album...
  2. ^ "100 Greatest Songs of All Time". Archived from the original on September 10, 2009.
  3. ^ "Read My Mind by The Killers". Song of the Decade. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "The Killers announce new single". NME. January 17, 2007.
  5. ^ Rudden, Liam (December 29, 2006). "Bells ring out for a double from heaven". Living Scotsman. Retrieved January 7, 2007.
  6. ^ "The Killers reveal next single". Virgin.net. January 7, 2007. Archived from the original on January 19, 2007. Retrieved January 7, 2007.
  7. ^ "The Killers Set To Release Another Single". Angry Ape UK. January 7, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved January 7, 2007.
  8. ^ a b Begrand, Adrien "The Killers: Sam's Town" PopMatters.com. Retrieved October 5, 2007
  9. ^ O'Keeffe, Niall (October 10, 2006) "The Killers - Sam's Town " Archived December 6, 2006, at the Wayback Machine Yahoo.com. Retrieved October 5, 2007
  10. ^ Philipp, Sven (March 17, 2007), "Read My Mind". Billboard. 119 (11):52
  11. ^ Murison, Krissi (2007). "The Killers: Sam's Town" NME.com. Retrieved October 5, 2007
  12. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (March 18, 2007), "At Home in Their Niches. And Breaking Out." The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2007
  13. ^ MTV Asia. "Top 100 Hits List" Archived December 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 27, 2007
  14. ^ Lane, Lexi; Gutierrez, Juan (August 25, 2020). "The 20 Best Killers Songs". Paste. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  15. ^ Walthall, Catherine (August 26, 2021). "The Killers Top 10 Songs". American Songwriter. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  16. ^ Moss, Corey (January 5, 2007). "Killers Hop On Bikes In Tokyo For "Read My Mind" video". MTV. Retrieved January 7, 2007.
  17. ^ "The Killers - Read My Mind". YouTube. December 13, 2009. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  18. ^ deeREK No real name given + Add Contact. "The Killers - read my mind(filmed in Shinjuku) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!". Flickr. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  19. ^ [1] Archived February 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ "The Killers – Read My Mind". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  21. ^ "The Killers – Read My Mind" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  22. ^ "The Killers – Read My Mind" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  23. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  24. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  25. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200721 into search. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  26. ^ "The Killers – Read My Mind" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  27. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography The Killers". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  28. ^ "The Killers – Read My Mind". Top Digital Download.
  29. ^ "The Killers – Read My Mind" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  30. ^ "The Killers – Read My Mind". Top 40 Singles.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  32. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200715 into search.
  33. ^ "Schweizer Airplay Charts 16/2007 - hitparade.ch". hitparade.ch. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  34. ^ "Killers: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  35. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  36. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  37. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  38. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  39. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  40. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard.
  41. ^ "Pop 100". Billboard. Vol. 119, no. 15. April 14, 2007. p. 46.
  42. ^ "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  43. ^ "Dance Club Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  44. ^ "Singles Accreditations Report - Nov 2023" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  45. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Killers – Read My Mind". Music Canada. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  46. ^ "British single certifications – Killers – Read My Mind". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  47. ^ "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". FMQB. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  48. ^ "FMQB Airplay Archive: CHR". FMQB. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  49. ^ "Read My Mind". Amazon. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  50. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. February 24, 2007. p. 29.
  51. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 23rd April 2007" (PDF). ARIA. April 23, 2007. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
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