"Crossfire" | ||||
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Single by Brandon Flowers | ||||
from the album Flamingo | ||||
B-side | "On the Floor 2.0" | |||
Released |
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Recorded | April 3, 2010 | |||
Genre | Pop rock[1] | |||
Length |
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Label | Island | |||
Songwriter(s) | Brandon Flowers | |||
Producer(s) | Brendan O'Brien | |||
Brandon Flowers singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
Official Music Video on YouTube |
"Crossfire" is the debut solo single from singer-songwriter and frontman of The Killers, Brandon Flowers. Written by Flowers himself, and produced by Brendan O'Brien,[2] it is the first single from his debut solo album, Flamingo. A video for the single was released on July 8, 2010, and features actress Charlize Theron.
Release and promotion
[edit]"Crossfire" first appeared when it was leaked online on June 11, 2010.[3] On June 14, it was premiered in the UK on the Zane Lowe Show on BBC Radio 1, where Flowers also gave an interview.[4]
A 10-inch picture disc vinyl was released in the US on August 3, 2010, featuring an acoustic version of "On the Floor" titled "On the Floor 2.0" on the B-side. On the week of the August 23 Brandon Flowers was officially the most played artist on the BBC, despite only having one song available for airplay. Crossfire was on both the A playlist for BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2. On September 6 "Crossfire" was No. 1 on the NME chart and remained so through September 27 for several weeks.[5][6]
Critical reception
[edit]The song received mixed reviews from critics. Rolling Stone gave the song two-and-a-half stars, saying it "sounds like a Killers B side — standard-issue Boss-meets-Bono dance rock, with Flowers serving up so much meteorological-metaphor fury, you'll want to call FEMA."[7] Of the track, Billboard said "Flowers simply follows the pop direction that his band has taken of late," and that "Flowers may sound a little too eager to assign an epic quality to his first effort as a solo artist, but 'Crossfire' still hints at a promising direction for Flamingo."[8] USA Today said of the song that "The Killers' frontman kicks off solo debut Flamingo with a soaring pop/rock anthem in the band's comfort zone."[9] Flowers said that it is his son Ammon's favorite song on the album.[2]
Music video
[edit]The music video premiered on July 8, 2010 on Vevo. It was directed by Australian film director Nash Edgerton and stars actress Charlize Theron.[10] The video features various scenes involving Flowers being tied up as a hostage. Theron kills several ninjas before rescuing him each time. The final scene shows Theron putting her arm around Flowers, while driving away with him in a pick-up truck.
In an interview with Fuse, Flowers revealed that Theron is a fan of The Killers, and that she was interested in being a part of the video. She also led him to Edgerton, who was ultimately chosen to direct the video.
Track listings
[edit]iTunes download
- "Crossfire" – 4:17
Promo CD
- "Crossfire" (radio version) – 3:59
- "Crossfire" (album version) – 4:17
- "Crossfire" (instrumental) – 4:17
10-inch picture disc
- "Crossfire" – 4:17
- "On the Floor 2.0" – 3:10
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI)[34] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
[edit]- ^ Gill, Andy (October 23, 2011). "Album: Brandon Flowers, Flamingo (Vertigo)". The Independent.
- ^ a b Scaggs, Austin (June 25, 2010). "The Killers' Brandon Flowers: Why I'm Going Solo". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
- ^ Lee, Ann (June 15, 2010). "Brandon Flowers debuts solo single Crossfire". Metro. Archived from the original on July 15, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
- ^ Murray, Robin (June 15, 2010). "The Killers Singer Talks Solo Album". Clash. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers tops NME Chart with 'Crossfire' | News". Nme.Com. September 6, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers beats Mark Ronson to the top of the NME Chart | News". Nme.Com. September 2, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
- ^ J.D.. (August 5, 2010), "Brandon's Big Heartache". Rolling Stone. (1110):79
- ^ Clendaniel, Erin (July 24, 2010), "Crossfire". Billboard. 122 (29):49
- ^ Edna Gundersen (June 29, 2010) "Tracks". USA Today.
- ^ "Charlize Theron Saves Brandon Flowers in 'Crossfire' – Viral Videos". Billboard.com. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers – Crossfire". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers – Crossfire" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers – Crossfire" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers – Crossfire" (in French). Ultratip.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers – Crossfire". Tracklisten.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Brandon Flowers. [dead link]
- ^ "Brandon Flowers – Crossfire" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Crossfire". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ "Media Forest Week 34, 2010". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Brandon Flowers" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers – {{{song}}}" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers – Crossfire". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay New. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers – Crossfire". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Brandon Flowers Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
- ^ "British single certifications – Brandon Flowers – Crossfire". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 11, 2020.