Shot at the Night

Last updated
"Shot at the Night"
Shot At The Night Cover.jpg
Single by The Killers
from the album Direct Hits
ReleasedSeptember 17, 2013
Recorded2013
Genre
Length4:02
Label Island
Songwriter(s) Brandon Flowers
Producer(s) Anthony Gonzalez
The Killers singles chronology
"Here with Me"
(2012)		"Shot at the Night"
(2013)		"Just Another Girl"
(2013)
Music video
Shot At The Night on YouTube

"Shot at the Night" is a song by American rock band The Killers. The song serves as the lead single from the band's second compilation album, Direct Hits . The track was unveiled on September 16, 2013, the tenth anniversary of the band's first London show, and sent immediately to mainstream radio. [1]

Contents

Recording and production

The song was produced by M83's Anthony Gonzalez, who had supported the band on their Day & Age World Tour. Island Records subsequently suggested Gonzalez as a possible producer for the band, following the success of M83's sixth studio album, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (2011). Guitarist Dave Keuning noted, "There was a mutual thing like, 'Yeah we think he's good. We'll try him out.' It's something we finally agreed with our label on." [2]

Regarding the band's collaboration with Gonzalez, vocalist Brandon Flowers stated, "He's one of these new school producers. He's a technical wizard, but you can't discount his musicality. A lot of people do, because of the involvement of computers, but he's a real musician, too. He and Stuart Price may be known for working on the digital side of things, but they're also two of the most musical guys I've ever met." [3]

Critical reception

The song has received positive reviews from music critics. NME listed it top of their "10 tracks you have to hear this week 18/09/13", noting "it's a fittingly triumphant mix of Gonzalez's glittering synth-pop and The Killers' own huge-hearted bombast", adding "it has a euphoric chorus that's as reminiscent of '80s power-pop as the anthemic indie that Nevada's finest have become renowned for." [4]

Spin found the track to be a "space-age jewel — with its sparkling electronics, chest-thumping chorus, and Midnight City-reared percussion". [5]

Rolling Stone believed the song ventures into "the fantasia of Eighties pop-rock soundtracks, dripping with hair spray, swaddled in the fog of dry ice", and concluded the song was "solid", [6] and later listed "Shot at the Night" as the hundredth best song of the year. [7]

Music video

The music video for the song was unveiled on September 26, 2013, and was directed by Roboshobo, who had previously worked with the band on Christmas charity singles 'The Cowboy's Christmas Ball' and 'I Feel It In My Bones'. Regarding the choice of director, lead singer Brandon Flowers noted "We always get a ton of treatments for videos where raunchiness and debauchery are at the forefront, regardless of what fire the song is stoking. We liked that Robert's treatment was different and classy, and he pulled it off." [8]

The video features Dark Shadows actress Bella Heathcote, and The Social Network star Max Minghella. [8] Heathcote portrays a working class hotel maid at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, clearly unsatisfied with her mundane lifestyle, matching the song's melancholic lyrical yearning "Give me a shot at the night...". She accidentally encounters a handsome hotel guest, portrayed by Minghella, and his friends. The two form an instant connection, leading Heathcote's character to abandon her shift and explore Vegas by night with her new found love interest, thus getting her very own "shot at the night".

According to the Nevada Film Commission, the young woman is shown working at the Cosmopolitan Hotel & Casino. The video features famous Las Vegas landmarks such as Treasure Island, The Stratosphere, The Cosmopolitan, Luxor, Caesars, and Downtown Las Vegas." [9] Other locations include A Little White Wedding Chapel and Flamingo Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Review Journal ranked it as the #2 Best Music Video Filmed in Las Vegas." [10]

Live performances

The Killers performed the song live for the first time at the Life Is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Killers performed the song live on Later... with Jools Holland on November 5, 2013, Jimmy Kimmel Live on November 12, and Ellen on November 15. They also performed the song live at the MTV Europe Music Awards on November 11, and on BBC Maida Vale Studio 4 on November 7.

NCAA March Madness theme

In 2014, the song was chosen as the 'musical backdrop' for CBS Sports and Turner Sports' TV coverage of the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament. A special video was shot by the band at the Skywalk overlooking the Grand Canyon, with the video being shown in various lengths throughout the tournament. [11]

Charts

Chart (2013)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [12] 11
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [13] 36
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [14] 90
Canada Rock ( Billboard ) [15] 34
Ireland (IRMA) [16] 33
Scotland (OCC) [17] 19
UK Singles (OCC) [18] 23
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [19] 22
US Rock Airplay ( Billboard ) [20] 25
US Adult Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [21] 22
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [22] 20

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [23] Gold35,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [24] Gold30,000‡
Canada (Music Canada) [25] Gold40,000‡
United States (RIAA) [26] Gold500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

PublicationCountryAccoladeYearRank
Rolling Stone United States 100 Best Songs of 2013 [27] 2013
100
BBC Radio 1 United Kingdom 100 Hottest Records of 2013 [28] 2013
17

Related Research Articles

The music in Nevada is often associated with the Rat Pack and lounge singers like Wayne Newton playing in Las Vegas, Reno, and Carson City. However, Nevada has launched many other notable artists and bands from a variety of genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Killers</span> American rock band

The Killers are an American rock band formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning. After going through a number of short-term bass players and drummers in their early days, both Mark Stoermer and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. joined the band in 2002. The band's name is derived from a logo on the bass drum of a fictitious band portrayed in the music video for the New Order song "Crystal".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Flowers</span> American musician

Brandon Richard Flowers is an American musician. He serves as the co-founder, lead vocalist, primary songwriter, keyboardist, and occasional bassist of the Las Vegas-based rock band the Killers, which he formed with Dave Keuning in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal (New Order song)</span> 2001 single by New Order

"Crystal" is a song by English rock band New Order. The song was released on 11 July 2001 as the first single from their seventh studio album, Get Ready (2001). "Crystal" entered the UK Singles Chart at number eight, attracting considerable attention and critical praise as the band's comeback single, their first original since 1993. The song also found success internationally, peaking at number three in Canada, number seven in Finland, and reaching the top 50 in Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Sweden. "Crystal" appears as the first track on the album in a version different from the single release, with an extended intro and coda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Brightside</span> 2003 single by the Killers

"Mr. Brightside" is the debut single of American rock band the Killers. It is taken from their debut studio album, Hot Fuss (2004). Written by band members Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning, it was one of the first songs the Killers ever wrote. Two music videos were made for the song: the first one was shot in black and white and features the band performing in an empty room and the second one was based on the 2001 film Moulin Rouge!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All These Things That I've Done</span> 2004 single by the Killers

"All These Things That I've Done" is a song by American rock band the Killers. The song was released as the third single from the band's debut studio album, Hot Fuss (2004), on August 30, 2004. It was written by frontman Brandon Flowers and features gospel choir The Sweet Inspirations. The song is about television host Matt Pinfield, and his work with the US Army, as part of a program that mentored wounded/PTSD-stricken soldiers returning from Iraq.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bones (The Killers song)</span> 2006 single by the Killers

"Bones" is a song by American rock band the Killers, written by lead singer Brandon Flowers, bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci. It is the eighth track on their second album Sam's Town, released in October 2006. It was originally titled "It's Only Natural" in its early stages. Eventually, the song was released as the second single from Sam's Town in late November 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Killers discography</span>

American rock band the Killers have released seven studio albums, one live album, four compilation albums, one extended play, 42 singles, four promotional singles, and 39 music videos. Part of the post-punk revival movement, the Killers are influenced by music styles of the 1980s and 1990s. The band has sold over 28 million records worldwide. The group's debut album, Hot Fuss (2004), brought the band mainstream success, spawning four UK top-20 singles, including "Mr. Brightside". The album has since been certified six-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and seven-times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), selling seven million copies worldwide.

<i>Flamingo</i> (Brandon Flowers album) 2010 studio album by Brandon Flowers

Flamingo is the debut solo studio album by American singer-songwriter and The Killers lead singer Brandon Flowers. It was released on September 3, 2010, by Island Records. It was recorded at Battle Born Studios in Winchester, Nevada, and Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imagine Dragons</span> American pop rock band

Imagine Dragons are an American pop rock band formed in 2008, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and currently consisting of lead singer Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee and drummer Daniel Platzman. The band first gained exposure with the release of their single "It's Time", followed by their debut album Night Visions (2012), which resulted in the chart-topping singles "Radioactive" and "Demons". Rolling Stone named "Radioactive", which held the record for most weeks charted on the Billboard Hot 100, the "biggest rock hit of the year". MTV called them "the year's biggest breakout band", and Billboard named them their "Breakthrough Band of 2013" and "Biggest Band of 2017", and placed them at the top of their "Year in Rock" rankings for 2013, 2017, and 2018. Imagine Dragons topped the Billboard Year-End "Top Artists – Duo/Group" category in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midnight City</span> 2011 single by M83

"Midnight City" is a song by French electronic music band M83. The track was first released in France on 16 August 2011, as the lead single from the group's sixth studio album, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (2011). The song was written by Anthony Gonzalez, Yann Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby and Justin Meldal-Johnsen. The track saw international success, peaking at number eight in France and charting on Billboard Alternative Songs and Rock Songs charts. Due to French network TF1's use of the song as the closing theme after the UEFA Euro 2012 football matches, the song topped the digital French chart. Elsewhere, "Midnight City" rose to acclaim in the United Kingdom in 2012, following its selection as the theme to reality TV show Made in Chelsea and prominent usage for the BBC's London 2012 Olympic Games coverage; it peaked at number thirty-four on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runaways (The Killers song)</span> 2012 single by the Killers

"Runaways" is a song by American rock band the Killers. It was released in 2012 as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Battle Born (2012).

<i>Battle Born</i> (album) 2012 studio album by the Killers

Battle Born is the fourth studio album by American rock band the Killers. It was released in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2012, by Vertigo Records and in the United States the following day by Island Records. The phrase "Battle Born" appears on the state flag of Nevada and is the name of the recording studio owned by the band, where the majority of the album was recorded.

<i>Direct Hits</i> (The Killers album) 2013 greatest hits album by the Killers

Direct Hits is a greatest hits album by American rock band the Killers. It was released on November 11, 2013, by Island Records. The album includes tracks from the band's first four studio albums and features two new tracks—"Shot at the Night" and "Just Another Girl", produced by Anthony Gonzalez of M83 and Stuart Price, respectively.

"Just Another Girl" is a song by the American rock band The Killers. It was released as the second single from their compilation album, Direct Hits. The song was premiered on VH1, and subsequently played on mainstream radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run for Cover (The Killers song)</span> 2017 single by the Killers

"Run for Cover" is a song by American rock band the Killers from their fifth studio album, Wonderful Wonderful (2017). Originally released as a promotional single on July 28, 2017, the song was sent to alternative radio in the United States on November 14, 2017, serving as the album's second single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Man (The Killers song)</span> 2017 single by the Killers

"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.

<i>Wonderful Wonderful</i> (The Killers album) 2017 studio album by the Killers

Wonderful Wonderful is the fifth studio album by American rock band the Killers, released on September 22, 2017, by Island Records. It was their first studio album in five years, since Battle Born (2012), and their fifth consecutive studio album to top the UK Albums Chart. It is also their first album to top the Billboard 200, moving 118,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. Wonderful Wonderful is the Killers' most recent album to feature the band's core line-up, with lead guitarist Dave Keuning and bassist Mark Stoermer being absent on Imploding the Mirage (2020) and Pressure Machine (2021), respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Own Soul's Warning</span> 2020 single by The Killers

"My Own Soul's Warning" is a song by American rock band the Killers from their sixth studio album, Imploding the Mirage (2020). It was released on June 17, 2020, as the third single from the album.

References

  1. ↑ "The Killers premiere new single 'Shot At The Night'". Gigwise. 2013-09-16. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  2. ↑ "The Killers Talk Collaborating With M83's Anthony Gonzalez | News". Pitchfork. 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  3. ↑ "The Killers to release hits compilation featuring two new songs - listen | News". Nme.Com. 2013-09-16. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  4. ↑ "NME Onrepeat Reviews - 10 Tracks You Have To Hear This Week (18/09/13)". Nme.Com. 2013-09-18. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  5. ↑ "The Killers Team With M83 for One Glistening 'Shot At the Night' | SPIN | SPIN Mix | Songs". SPIN. 2013-09-16. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  6. ↑ "The Killers, Shot at the Night | Song Reviews". Rolling Stone. 2013-09-24. Archived from the original on November 6, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  7. ↑ "100 Best Songs of 2013: The Killers, "Shot at the Night"". Rolling Stone . Wenner Media. 2013-12-05. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  8. 1 2 "The Killers unveil Las Vegas set 'Shot At The Night' video - watch | News". Nme.Com. 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  9. ↑ "Scene in Nevada:The Killers". nevadafilm.com. 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  10. ↑ "The 10 best music videos filmed in Las Vegas". reviewjournal.com. 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  11. ↑ "The Killers Take 'Shot at the Night' in NCAA March Madness Video: Watch". Billboard.
  12. ↑ "The Killers – Shot At The Night" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  13. ↑ "The Killers – Shot At The Night" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  14. ↑ "The Killers Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  15. ↑ "The Killers Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 46, 2013". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  19. ↑ "The Killers Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  20. ↑ "The Killers Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  21. ↑ "The Killers Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  22. ↑ "The Killers Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Singles Accreditations Report - Nov 2023" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – The Killers – Shot at the Night" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – The Killers – Shot at the Night". Music Canada . Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  26. ↑ "American single certifications – The Killers – Shot at the Night". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  27. ↑ "100 Best Songs of 2013". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  28. ↑ "BBC Radio 1". www.facebook.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.