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The Man (The Killers song)

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Wikipedia article




{{Infobox song

| name = The Man

| cover = TheKillersTheMan.jpg

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = the Killers

| album = Wonderful Wonderful

| released =

| recorded =

* 11th Street Records (Las Vegas, Nevada)

* The Garage (Topanga, California)

* Battle Born (Las Vegas, Nevada)

* The Phantasy Sound (London)

| genre =

* New wave

* pop rock

*

* glam rock

| length = 4:10

| label = Island

| writer =

* Brandon Flowers

* Mark Stoermer

* Ronnie Vannucci Jr.

* Jacknife Lee

* Robert Bell

* Ronald Bell

* Don Boyce

* George Brown

* Robert Mickens

* Otha Nash

* Claydes Smith

* Dennis Thomas

* Richard Westfield

| producer = Jacknife Lee

| prev_title = Peace of Mind

| prev_year = 2016

| next_title = Run for Cover

| next_year = 2017

| misc =

}}

"'The Man'" is a song by American rock band the Killers from their fifth studio album, 'Wonderful Wonderful' (2017). It was released on June 14, 2017, as the lead single from the album.

Background and artwork



Drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. stated that the song's lyrics were "largely about how when we were younger we felt invincible. What it meant to be a 'man' in your 20's. Sort of your chest out, the breadwinner, nothing could stop you, invincible sort of thing. It's sort of tongue-and-cheeking that, how that is not really the point of being a man at all. It's actually more about compassion and empathy." According to the band's vocalist Brandon Flowers, the song is a response to the more delicate songs of the album, including "Rut" and "Some Kind of Love": "Those songs came and it was like, 'These are more tender or contemplative than we've ever been, how did we get to this point?' Reflecting on that was where 'The Man' came from."

The artwork for the single features Flowers's youngest son Henry and was shot by Anton Corbijn.

Composition



"The Man" is a new wave, pop rock, disco-rock, and glam rock song written by the Killers and Jacknife Lee, the latter of whom also produced it. The track contains elements of the 1975 Kool & the Gang song "Spirit of the Boogie". Lyrically, the song is a self-reflection of Brandon Flowers' cockier early years and described by himself as a way of reconciling that wide-eyed character with the man he is now.

Release and promotion



Starting on May 6, 2017, the band tweeted a series of photographs and short videos to tease their then-untitled fifth studio album. Among the tweets was a photograph of Flowers wearing a silver jacket with gold lettering spelling out "The Man". On June 14, 2017, "The Man" was released as the lead single from 'Wonderful Wonderful'. BBC Radio 1's Annie Mac debuted the track as "Annie Mac's Hottest Record in the World".

On July 31, 2017, the band performed "The Man" on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'. On August 20, 2017, Showtime released a promotional video featuring the band performing "The Man" to promote Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor.

Critical reception



The single received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Ryan Dombal from 'Pitchfork' described "The Man" as an "over shiny, strutting funk descended from James Brown's '80s anthem 'Living in America'", saying Flowers brags about himself to the point of ridiculousness. He added: "The song is called "The Man", but its ideas of manliness are nothing but boyish. As American masculinity continues to evolve, and threatens to fall back on ugly old norms, The Killers try to have it both ways here, poking fun at dick-swinging supremacy while serving up something that could reasonably soundtrack a rough-and-dusted pickup truck commercial." Writing for 'DIY' magazine, Will Richards praised Flowers' confidence on the song and called it "huge, bombastic and fearless". Robin Murray of 'Clash' called the song "daft, delirious and completely addictive".

Commercial performance



The song debuted on 'Billboard's Alternative Songs chart at number 26 the week after its release. On the same week, it ranked as Alternative Radio's most added song. The track subsequently became The Killers' ninth song to reach the top 10 of the Alternative Songs chart, before entering the top five. "The Man" subsequently reached number one on 'Billboard's Adult Alternative Songs chart, their first song to do so in over 10 years since "Read My Mind". The song also reached number one on Mediabase's alternative airplay chart.

Music video



The accompanying music video for the single was directed by Tim Mattia and released on June 28, 2017. The video, filmed in Las Vegas, features Flowers portraying five charactersa gambler, a lounge singer, a playboy, a motocross racer, and a karaoke singerthat are connected by their obsession with ego and fame. By the end of the video, all of Flowers' characters begin to fall apart as their success fades: the gambler loses his car; the curtains close on the lounge singer; the girls all ditch the playboy; the old tapes show the rider's career-ending accident; and the karaoke singer gets beaten up for flirting with a customer's wife. It includes a cameo by former Mayor of Las Vegas and current First Gentleman of Las Vegas Oscar Goodman.

Awards



Accolades



Usage in media



The song was featured in a trailer for 'Vice', a 2018 biopic of former Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney.

The Jacques Lu Cont remix was featured in the 2018 video game 'Forza Horizon 4'.

The song is featured in the 2018 video game 'EA Sports UFC 3'.

The song plays at the end of 'DC's Stargirl' season 1, episode 2 ("S.T.R.I.P.E.").

Track listing



*'Digital download'

#"The Man" 4:08

Credits and personnel



Credits adapted from the liner notes of 'Wonderful Wonderful'.

Recording

* Recorded at 11th Street Records (Las Vegas, Nevada), The Garage (Topanga, California), Battle Born Studios (Las Vegas, Nevada), and The Phantasy Sound (London)

* Mixed at Strongroom (London)

* Mastered at Metropolis (London) and The Mastering Palace (New York City)

Personnel

'The Killers'

* Brandon Flowers vocals, keys

* Dave Keuning guitar

* Mark Stoermer bass

* Ronnie Vannucci Jr. drums

'Additional personnel'

* Jacknife Lee production, engineering, guitar, keys, programming

* Matt Bishop engineering

* Robert Root engineering

* Malcolm Harrison engineering assistance

* Erol Alkan additional production, drum programming, percussion, synth

* Jimmy Robertson production assistance

* Becca Marie additional vocals

* Las Vegas Mass Choir additional vocals

* Nina Fechner additional vocals

* Justin Diaz additional vocals

* Dan Grech-Marguerat mixing, additional programming

* Joel Davies mixing assistance

* Charles Haydon Hicks mixing assistance

* John Davis mastering

* Dave Kutch mastering

Charts



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



Certifications



Release history



Cover versions



A cover by English jazz-pop singer Jamie Cullum was released as the lead single from the soundtrack to the 2018 heist film 'King of Thieves'.

References



Category:2017 singles

Category:2017 songs

Category:American pop rock songs

Category:Dance-rock songs

Category:Glam rock songs

Category:Island Records singles

Category:The Killers songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Jacknife Lee

Category:Songs written by Brandon Flowers

Category:Songs written by Claydes Charles Smith

Category:Songs written by Dave Keuning

Category:Songs written by Jacknife Lee

Category:Songs written by Mark Stoermer

Category:Songs written by Robert "Kool" Bell

Category:Songs written by Ronald Bell (musician)

Category:Songs written by Ronnie Vannucci Jr.

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