It was 2008. Everyone had a Razr phone or a BlackBerry. Then, Brandon Flowers sang a line that made the entire world stop and look at their lyrics sheet in total confusion.
"Are we human, or are we dancer?"
Grammatically? It’s a nightmare. Artistically? It’s probably the most debated line in 21st-century alt-rock. People genuinely got angry about it. They thought Flowers was an idiot who didn't know how to use plurals. But the story behind The Killers Are We Human song—officially titled just "Human"—is actually way more interesting than a simple typo. It’s a weird, synth-heavy meditation on what it means to lose your soul to the status quo.
The Killers were coming off Sam’s Town, which was this gritty, Springsteen-obsessed love letter to Americana. Then they dropped "Human" as the lead single for Day & Age. It sounded like ABBA met New Order in a desert. It was shiny. It was European. And that lyric? It was intentional.
The Hunter S. Thompson Connection You Probably Missed
Most people assume Brandon Flowers just liked the way "dancer" rhymed with "answer." He didn't. He was actually referencing a very specific, biting quote from the gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.
Thompson once remarked that America was raising a "generation of dancers." He wasn't talking about the Nutcracker. He meant people who follow choreography. People who do what they’re told, step by step, without ever questioning the rhythm. Flowers took that idea and stripped the "s" off the end to make it a singular collective.
"I think it’s supposed to be a dance song," Flowers told Rolling Stone back when everyone was making fun of him. He was frustrated. To him, the grammar wasn't the point. The point was the social commentary. By saying "dancer" instead of "dancers," he was treating the word like a state of being. You aren't just one person dancing; you are part of the "dancer" hive-mind. It's a critique of a society that has become too stiff, too managed, and too predictable.
Why the Production Felt So Different
Stuart Price produced this track. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the guy who helped Madonna reinvent herself with Confessions on a Dance Floor.
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Before Price got his hands on it, The Killers were a guitar band. Sure, they had synths, but they were a rock band. "Human" changed the math. The beat is a steady, pulsating 120 BPM. It’s relentless. Dave Keuning’s guitar is there, but it’s textured, tucked behind those massive, swirling keyboard layers.
It felt like a betrayal to some "Mr. Brightside" purists. But honestly? It’s what kept them relevant. If they had stayed in the garage rock lane, they might have faded away like many of their 2004-era peers. Instead, they leaned into the weirdness of 80s synth-pop. It worked. The song went platinum in the US and remains a staple of their live sets, usually accompanied by some pretty trippy visuals of the band members appearing as desert animals.
The "Grammar Police" Backlash
You have to remember how loud the internet was about this in 2008. This was the peak era of music blogs and forums. People were ruthless. Even the Daily Telegraph once cited it as one of the most "nonsense" lyrics of all time.
But let's look at it from a different angle. English is a flexible language. We say "Are we meat?" or "Are we dust?" We don't say "Are we meats?"
Flowers was trying to use "dancer" as a mass noun. He wanted to describe a condition of being a social puppet. If he had said "dancers," the song would have lost its rhythmic punch and its philosophical weight. It would have just been a song about a group of people at a club. By keeping it singular, he created a mythic quality. He made it about the human condition versus the mechanical condition.
The Visuals and the Desert Aesthetic
The music video for The Killers Are We Human song is a whole other trip. It was filmed in Goblin Valley State Park in Utah. If you’ve seen it, you remember the white outfits and the animal masks.
It wasn't just for show. The band worked with portrait photographer Anton Corbijn. He’s the guy who basically defined the look of Depeche Mode and U2. He brought this stark, lonely, cinematic vibe to the project. The contrast between the high-tech synth sound and the ancient, eroded rock formations of Utah perfectly mirrored the song’s themes. Are we natural (human) or are we artificial (the polished dancer)?
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The band looks uncomfortable in the video. That’s the point. They’re standing in the middle of nowhere, dressed for a high-end fashion shoot, staring into the sun. It’s awkward. It’s human.
Why It Still Works in 2026
It’s been nearly two decades. "Human" is still everywhere. It gets played at weddings, in grocery stores, and at massive festivals like Glastonbury.
The reason it hasn't aged poorly is that its central question has only become more relevant. In a world dominated by algorithms and "following the steps" on social media, the "dancer" metaphor hits harder than ever. Are we making our own choices, or are we just following the choreography of a digital system?
The song doesn't actually give you an answer. It just asks the question over a really catchy bassline. That’s the secret sauce of The Killers. They take big, pretentious philosophical ideas and wrap them in a package that makes you want to drive fast on a highway at night.
Misconceptions and Rumors
There was a weird rumor for a while that the lyrics were actually "Are we human, or are we denser?"
Nope.
That was just people trying to make sense of the grammar. Brandon Flowers has been very clear about the "dancer" bit. There was also a theory that the song was about the band’s fear of becoming "industry plants" or sellouts. While there’s probably a grain of truth to that—every band worries about losing their edge—the scope of the song is much broader. It’s about the dehumanization of society as a whole, not just the music business.
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Another common mistake? Attributing the quote to Kurt Vonnegut. While Vonnegut has similar themes in his work, the "generation of dancers" line is pure Hunter S. Thompson. Flowers has cited Thompson's influence multiple times, especially regarding his feelings on the state of the American dream.
Breaking Down the Song's Structure
If you listen closely, the song never truly "resolves." It builds and builds.
- The Intro: A simple, almost toy-like synth riff.
- The Verse: Flowers uses his lower register. It feels intimate, almost like a secret.
- The Chorus: Everything explodes. The drums get louder, the synths get wider, and the vocals go into that iconic soaring belt.
- The Bridge: It’s sparse. "Devotion becomes religion / My ship is out of control." It’s the sound of someone realizing they’ve lost their way.
The lack of a traditional, happy resolution is what makes it haunting. It leaves you hanging on that final question.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Musicians
If you’re a songwriter, there’s a massive lesson here: Don’t be afraid to break the rules. If Brandon Flowers had listened to his English teacher, the song would have been "Are we human, or are we dancers?" and it probably would have been forgotten in six months. The "error" is what made it iconic.
For the casual listener, "Human" serves as a reminder to check in with yourself. It’s easy to get caught up in the "choreography" of daily life—work, sleep, scroll, repeat.
Next Steps to Reconnect with the Music:
- Listen to the Day & Age album in full. "Human" sets the stage, but tracks like "Spaceman" and "A Dustland Fairytale" provide the context for the band's mindset at the time.
- Watch the 2009 Royal Albert Hall performance. It’s widely considered the definitive live version of the song. You can see the raw energy Flowers puts into that specific lyric.
- Read the Hunter S. Thompson essays from the mid-2000s. Understanding his cynical view of American culture makes the "dancer" lyric feel much more aggressive and intentional than just a "pop" line.
- Experiment with your own creative work. If a "mistake" feels more emotionally honest than the "correct" version, keep the mistake.
The Killers proved that pop music can be weird, grammatically incorrect, and deeply philosophical all at once. "Human" isn't just a dance track; it's a mirror. And eighteen years later, the reflection is still a little bit blurry, just the way they intended.