Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, The Killers had the industry at large in a chokehold. Formed in Las Vegas in 2001, their post-punk sound was counter to what the formula usually called for. They’ve earned their legacy by standing as one of the biggest rock bands of the 21st century, selling more than 28 million records worldwide and having each of their seven studio albums topping the UK albums chart. Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Ronnie Vannucci Jr., and Mark Stoermer struck gold with a sound completely theirs and paved way for the alternative rock bands that followed them.
While it may seem like their glory years are behind them, they more recently earned the title of penning rock music’s greatest love song. “Dying Breed,” released on August 14, 2020, is an anthemic love song that celebrates the miracle of finding a home in someone else and knowing there’s no way anyone else’s love. The third single off their sixth studio album, “Dying Breed”, brought the band back home to the classic sound they coined over the decades while doing something new lyrically. Garnering over 32 million streams on Spotify, here’s a deep dive into The Killers’ “Dying Breed.”
“Dying Breed” Became One of The Killers’ Most Romantic Anthems
Making themselves globally recognizable for hits like 2004’s “Mr. Brightside” and 2008’s “Human,” The Killers weren’t exactly known for their catalog of love songs. They were known for quirky dance anthems that uplift the soul and set your body ablaze. Yet, “Dying Breed” was very clearly something different.
The lyrics speak to the very specific knowing that your love is of the highest caliber. That while everyone else is somehow just making it work and settling for the ordinary, they’d know nothing about a connection that is cosmically destined and truly extraordinary. The phrase “dying breed” itself is used as a metaphor for a bond that’s rare, steadfast, and unshakable, even amid compromise and adversity.
When everyone’s compromising
I’ll be your diehard
I’ll be there when water’s rising
I’ll be your lifeguard
We’re cut from a stained glass mountain
Baby, we’re a dying breed
When facing the wind got wicked
We rallied and raised up
So now if she comes back kicking
We’ll know what we’re made of
There’s gonna be opposition
But we’ve got everything we need
Ooh, baby, we’re a dying breed
A song so emotionally visceral could only glean inspiration from a real life romance, right? Describing “Dying Breed” to NME as a song containing “the prettiest or most romantic lyric I’ve ever written,” Flowers revealed that the love song was inspired by his real life wife and muse, Tana Mundkowsky, who he has been married to since 2005 and shares three sons with. Their love has been sustaining and everlasting, lending to a song that bottles that very sense of unwavering devotion. The song at one point acknowledges the fears and uncertainty that accompany commitment (“what if we’re not prepared for this?”), only to underscore the power of intentional promise. That very duality is what elevates the track. More than a love song, it’s an anthem that centers on perseverance.
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Produced by Jonathan Rado and Shawn Everett, the song itself contains samples of the songs “Hallogallo” by Neu! and “Moonshake” by Can. But what truly defines “Dying Breed” is its sense of grandiosity. Even funneling through headphones, it feels like it can fill up every inch of a stadium, an explosive sonic venture that honors The Killers’ roots. With Rolling Stone Magazine describing the song as “full-on arena rock glory,” it’s evident that much of the song’s celebration is due to The Killers’ long-awaited return to synth-rock territory. Their music, being bold and enormous, is part of what solidified their longstanding industry reign, a defining characteristic of their extensive discography. While they strayed from that audacity in later years, “Dying Breed” was a warm welcome home.
All in all, “Dying Breed” will forever be beloved within The Killers’ catalog and the rock genre at large because, unlike many love songs written from on idealized romance, this particular song is rooted in a real-life seasoned romance built on commitment and choice. It elicits the hope that true love can be found and cherished, so long as you’re willing and able to nurture it.