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Shot at the Night

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"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]

"Shot at the Night"
In a gray background, text in morse code reads "THE KILLERS SHOT AT THE NIGHT" with each word stacked by row.
Single by The Killers
from the album Direct Hits
ReleasedSeptember 17, 2013
Recorded2013
Genre
Length4:02
LabelIsland
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

Recording and production edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[23] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[24] Gold 40,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Accolades edit

Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
Rolling Stone United States 100 Best Songs of 2013[25] 2013
100
BBC Radio 1 United Kingdom 100 Hottest Records of 2013[26] 2013
17

References edit

  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. ^ a b "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. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Killers – Shot at the Night". Music Canada. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  25. ^ "100 Best Songs of 2013". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  26. ^ "BBC Radio 1". www.facebook.com.
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