Are we human or are we dancer? (2009-10-22)

1) ""Human" is a song by alternative rock band The Killers, and was released as the first single from the band's third studio album Day & Age. It premiered on Zane Lowe's evening show on BBC Radio 1 on September 22, 2008, with a digital release on September 30, 2008. It became the third song by the band to enter the top 5 of the UK singles chart. It was their first top ten hit in the Netherlands (peaking at #2)."

"There remains confusion and debate over the line "Are we human, or are we dancer?" in the song's chorus. Debate raged across the internet over whether the lyrics said "denser" or "dancer", a misunderstanding which invoked conflicting interpretations of the song's meaning. Entertainment Weekly's Pop Watch section called this line the "silliest lyrics of the week". They were puzzled by the interpretation, stating "most dancers are generally human". On the band's official website, the biography section states that Flowers is singing "Are we human, or are we dancer?" and also says that the lyrics were inspired by a disparaging comment made by Hunter S. Thompson, where he stated America was raising "a generation of dancers". In an interview with Rolling Stone, Flowers said that he was irritated over the confusion about the lyrics and also that fans were unhappy with the song's dance beat: "It's supposed to be a dance song, [the beat] goes with the chorus...If you can't put that together, you're an idiot. I just don't get why there's a confusion about it.""
Source and further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_(The_Killers_song%29

Song lyrics:
http://edit.mp3lyrics.org/t/the-killers/human/
http://www.eslprintables.com/forum/topic.asp?id=8467


2) "Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and author, most famous for his novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. He is credited as the creator of Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting where reporters involve themselves in the action to such a degree that they become central figures of their stories. He is also known for his use of psychedelics, alcohol, firearms, and his iconoclastic contempt for authoritarianism."
Source and further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_S._Thompson

"We have become a Nazi monster in the eyes of the whole world, a nation of bullies and bastards who would rather kill than live peacefully. We are not just Whores for power and oil, but killer whores with hate and fear in our hearts. We are human scum, and that is how history will judge us. No redeeming social value. Just whores. Get out of our way, or we'll kill you. Who does vote for these dishonest shitheads? Who among us can be happy and proud of having all this innocent blood on our hands? Who are these swine? These flag-sucking half-wits who get fleeced and fooled by stupid little rich kids like George Bush? They are the same ones who wanted to have Muhammad Ali locked up for refusing to kill gooks. They speak for all that is cruel and stupid and vicious in the American character. They are the racists and hate mongers among us; they are the Ku Klux Klan. I piss down the throats of these Nazis. And I am too old to worry about whether they like it or not. Fuck them."
Source and further information:
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Hunter_S._Thompson


3) "So when MTV News caught up with Flowers last week at the Killers' NYC show, we decided to ask him about the chorus controversy.

"It's taken from a quote by [author Hunter S.] Thompson. ... 'We're raising a generation of dancers,' and I took it and ran. I guess it bothers people that it's not grammatically correct, but I think I'm allowed to do whatever I want," he laughed. " 'Denser'? I hadn't heard that one. I don't like 'denser.' "

So, there you go. It's "dancer," and don't you forget it. And though Flowers cops to nicking the line from Thompson, does he share any of the author's sentiments about the growing softness of America's youth?

"I think that I do, and I don't want to be too much of a preacher," he said. "I say that it's a mild social statement, and that's all I'm gonna say. We're still trying to write the best pop songs we can write.""
Source and further information:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1598299/20081030/killers_the.jhtml


4) "its from a comment from Hunter S Thompson who said the US are raising a generation of dancers (self-obsessed and vacuous fakes) ignorant morons."
Source and further information:
http://channelbee.com/forums/5/topics/14409/posts

"The truth of the matter may be though, that the band are laying open a question for debate to do with whether we are masters of our own destiny, or simply dancers to the beat of another drum.

This is actually a good question to contemplate. Do we all all follow the crowd in a sheep like fashion, not even noticing when we are being dictated to, or do we think and act for ourselves?

Many people believe that society as a whole is being manipulated by secret world powers who dictate everything to us from what we should eat to how we should behave.

This belief may be an extreme example of what we are being asked to question, but it is worth bearing in mind that we do tend to take much of our ideas and beliefs from what is presented to us by the powers that be.

So when you next hear The Killers song on the radio and someone says, ‘rubbish lyrics, whats that all about then?’ you can answer them and appear pretty philosophical at the same time."
Source and further information:
http://musicouch.com/genres/rock/are-you-human/

""...as the adjective human it means free thinker. Meaning we can do what we want when we want. Dancer is refering to a puppet dancing on string. Having someone move you were they want you to go, Thinking for you, and living our life like a routine that is all planned out. If you listen to the other lyrics you can see that brandon is actually refering to a puppet. "Cut the cord" or let us free is esentially what he is saying."

Check out this video on youtube, where this person took his/her explanations from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2vGiAyAWvE "
Source and further information:
http://www.eslprintables.com/forum/topic.asp?id=8467

"Are We Turning into Dancers/Puppets/Robots?
Hunter S. Thompson had a quote that the Killers recently used as inspiration for a song. He said that "america is raising a generation of dancers". Think Mtv dancers. Or puppets. or Robots. (Following along to a song we didn't choose)"
Source and further information:
http://www.soulpancake.com/view_image/xtomb389/photo-3883407.html

"Hunter S. Thompson meant that the US was making people afraid of stepping out of place and following their own beat. He was saying that people were only following the steps they were taught, and were also taught not to change them. In the song “Human” one of the lines is “Some times I get nervous when I see an open door”. By this he meant that he is afraid to take different opportunities when they are presented to him, because living in the US has made us all afraid to go against what we’ve thought for all our lives."
Source and further information:
http://www.fan.maxblo.com/6974/what-did-hunter-s-thompson-mean-by-american-raising-a-generation-of-dancers/

Further information:
http://musictowakeyou.xanga.com/676539876/new-killers--are-we-human-or-are-we-dancers/
http://simplyteaching.blogspot.com/2009/05/are-we-humanor-are-we-dancers.html
http://www.songmeanings.net/profiles/interaction/17284888/comments/
http://www.lyricinterpretations.com/lookat.php/bands/The-Killers/f3526f4e76760d7
- "On raising a generation of humans":
http://www.upbeacon.net/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=31b6ee4b-eb15-42c3-8d11-012657543c0f

See also:
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1021554