Brandon Flowers (The Killers) Does A Solo Acoustic "When You Were Young" For Seth Meyers

I have taken Mr. Brandon Flowers to task for his Mormonism (see here: The Killers' Brandon Flowers Makes Mormon Propaganda Video). It's not that he was born Mormon that is the problem. That wasn't his fault. The problem is that he remains a Mormon even though he is an adult and should have figured out by now that it's all made up and much of it is actually harmful.

Some Mormons attacked me for my previous post as being "intolerant" (that was rich, coming from adherents of a religion based on bigotry), and I suppose you could argue (successfully) that all religions are "made up", and a sign of mental weakness... But in my mind, the more recent "faiths" such as Mormonism and Scientology are so clearly fiction-based that they do not deserve any respect whatsoever, nor do the mental and moral weaklings who cling to such fantasies.

It's worse than simply believing in some harmless fantasy; Mormonism actually hurts people.

We only need to look at the Mormon contributions (mostly from out of state) to fund a California anti-gay marriage measure in 2008 and Brandon Flowers' own role in making a pro-Mormon propaganda video.

But I guess my bottom line is that one cannot be a practicing, uncritical Mormon and also be a radical rock n roller. The two are completely incompatible. If Brandon were to remain a Mormon but was committed to bring his faith into the 21st century, that would be one thing. But we haven't heard Brandon Flowers challenge the Mormon establishment on racism, sexism, homophobia, and support for reactionary political and social causes.

Not one bit.

Having said that, I've always liked this song "When You Were Young" from 2006's Sam's Town, as well as their breakthough hit "Somebody Told Me" from 2004's Hot Fuss.

I saw The Killers perform once at a concert sponsored by a radio show featuring several bands. It was a cold room but I have to admit The Killers took that room over and owned it. Brandon Flowers had a commanding stage presence and made the most of it at that show.

Also. I'll never forget going to a Full Moon party at a beach in Thailand and hearing hundreds of (mostly British) partiers singing along to the then-recently released "When You Were Young" together. That was amazing.

It's a cool song and this is a cool version of it. Wondering if this "unplugged" version is an indication of Brandon's future direction. I wasn't too fond of the last The Killers' album (2017's Wonderful Wonderful) and I don't think it made much of a splash, neither with rock fans nor the broader pop audience the material seemed aimed towards.

Brandon, if you'd come out strongly against Trump and homophobia and work to make Mormonism better, all would be forgiven.


When You Were Young

You sit there in your heartache
Waiting on some beautiful boy to
To save your from your old ways
You play forgiveness
Watch it now, here he comes

He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But he talks like a gentlemen
Like you imagined when you were young

Can we climb this mountain
I don't know
Higher now than ever before
I know we can make it if we take it slow
Let's take it easy
Easy now, watch it go

We're burning down the highway skyline
On the back of a hurricane that started turning
When you were young
When you were young

And sometimes you close your eyes
And see the place where you used to live
When you were young

They say the devil's water, it ain't so sweet
You don't have to drink right now
But you can dip your feet
Every once in a little while

You sit there in your heartache
Waiting on some beautiful boy to
To save your from your old ways
You play forgiveness
Watch it now, here he comes

He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But he talks like a gentlemen
Like you imagined when you were young