The Killers vs. Franz Ferdinand

[Michael1973]

Why do you suppose "Take Me Out" got shafted by Hot AC stations while the nearly identical "Somebody Told Me" made it into the upper 20's? Where I live, the Franz Ferdinand song got zero airplay on any format, while The Killers are all over the place.

Any thoughts?

[allow that]

Because "Somebody Told Me" has an 80's New Wave vibe to it, and HAC likes anything with 80's influence.

[Topay]

Not only did "Somebody Told Me" make it into the upper 20's, but it actually made the highest 20 - that is #20. Look forward to hearing it on AT20 for the 11/5 weekend.

[Miguelín]

Because Franz Ferdinad is maybe too alternative for the format, while The Killers are more 'poppy'.

[singingsparrow]

Miguel said:

Because Franz Ferdinad is maybe too alternative for the format, while The Killers are more 'poppy'.

I think both artists are quite Alternative though.

I could say "Somebody Told Me" has a more consistent hook than "Take Me Out", because the former is more basic while the latter sounds differently than changes pace a third of the way through toward the end of the song.

Still, I think Franz Ferdinand should have at least made the Top 25.

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

[thedualityofman]

I don't think Take Me Out or Somebody Told Me are identical at all.

I can see how most people that listen to mainstreem pop and hot a/c would group them together though.

Guitars and an influence from an eariler generation of music regardless of the sound will get any and everyone grouped together.

I remember hearing about a review that labeled The Killers as a Strokes cover band, and they sound NOTHING alike.

[Crushcrushchris]

If the Killers did this with Somebody Told Me, do you think they could have the same success with Mr. Brightside?

[bks]

The Killers get compared to Duran Duran a lot -- and the group sites them as a big influence. Hot AC also loves Duran Duran -- that coupled w/ a great song translates into a Hot AC hit...

[Miguelín]

Imaginary said:

If the Killers did this with Somebody Told Me, do you think they could have the same success with Mr. Brightside?

"Mr. Brightside" is their greatest song, but I think it doesn't fit as well as "Somebody told me" in the HotAC radio.

[thedualityofman]

I think All These Things That I've Done and Smile Like You Mean It are their best songs off of Hot Fuss. It looks like Smile Like You Mean It will also be the single after Mr. Brightside.

Also, All These Things That I've Done was released as a single in Europe.

In any event, between the four songs, I think All These Things That I've Done could have the best chances of any of their songs on any format, unless song length comes into factor.

To cut All These Things That I've Done would be treason, or sacrilage, or something of the like.

[Miguelín]

The said:

I think All These Things That I've Done and Smile Like You Mean It are their best songs off of Hot Fuss. It looks like Smile Like You Mean It will also be the single after Mr. Brightside.

Also, All These Things That I've Done was released as a single in Europe.

In any event, between the four songs, I think All These Things That I've Done could have the best chances of any of their songs on any format, unless song length comes into factor.

To cut All These Things That I've Done would be treason, or sacrilage, or something of the like.

Don't forget "Jenny was a friend of mine", it can be a great choice as a third or fourth single

[thedualityofman]

Oh, I haven't forgotten about Jenny Was a Friend Of Mine, but I'd rather have that as a fifth single.

Yes, I think Hot Fuss can go five singles with them all getting reasonable airplay.

I'd rather that All The Things That I've Done be third, Smile Like You Mean It as fourth, and Jenny Was a Friend Of Mine as the last.

[Radical347]

The Killers are New Order-ish, and Hot AC likes that. Franz Ferdinand isn't really. Lots of stations still play "Bizarre Love Triangle" and "True Faith." I think "Mr. Brightside" could do decently also, since it's got the same vibe, though it's not as catchy as "Somebody Told Me."

[[upsilon]™]

Both bands rock, but The Killers have more of a Hot AC feel to them, especially with "Mr. Brightside" and the following singles.

Was their album first released in Europe or something? BBC's TOTP already released their third single already, while the U.S has just begun to adapt to "Mr. Brightside".

Neither of their singles, other than "Somebody Told Me" have caught on me, sadly.

[thedualityofman]

Hot Fuss was released in Europe around a year before it was released here, and the Killers toured there pretty hard for a while.

[jaxxalude]

Jersey said:

Because "Somebody Told Me" has an 80's New Wave vibe to it, and HAC likes anything with 80's influence.

Both songs have an 80s New Wave influence to it. The difference is The Killers take elements from the more "recognisable" side of New Wave, like Duran Duran, The Psychedelic Furs or Modern English, whereas Franz Ferdinand combine that with a solid influence from the "artsier" side, like The Wire, The Fall, Sparks or Public Image Ltd. And the thing is most of Hot AC's audience that grew up in the 80s wasn't aware of that music, because of its underground nature at the time (although some of these bands got some sort of popularity in the UK some time or other).

[jaxxalude]

The said:

Hot Fuss was released in Europe around a year before it was released here, and the Killers toured there pretty hard for a while.

"Hot Fuss" was released in the UK only a week prior to its American release. And its official release schedule throughout Europe hasn't been the same also. Here in Portugal, for example, its official release only occured a month and a half ago.

[thedualityofman]

Maybe I'm thinking of something else they released then.

But I know Mr. Brightside has been out there for quite a while as has Somebody Told Me.