While listening to the radio in his car after his very first college class, Flowers heard the song "Changes" by David Bowie. He fell in love with the piece and realized immediately that he wanted to be part of the music industry.
His career in music began when he became a member of Las Vegas band Blush Response (this was where he discovered he could sing), but he was fired after refusing to move to Los Angeles, California, with the rest of the band. After leaving Blush Response, Flowers realised that he still wanted a career in music and came across an ad for guitarist David Keuning. After many short-term bassist and drummers, the pair met Ronnie Vanucci (drums) and Mark Stoermer (bass) and the band has been together since. In 2004 the group released Hot Fuss (after having toured with Morrissey in multiple sold out shows), 2006 - Sam's Town, 2007 - Sawdust, 2008 - Day & Age
In April 2010, Flowers announced his first solo album entitled Flamingo, which was produced by a team of legendary producers: Daniel Lanois (U2, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Robertson, Neil Young), Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Train), and Stuart Price (Keane, Killers, Madonna, New Order, Scissor Sisters, Seal). A special Bonus Track edition has also been released featuring four additional songs, "The Clock Was Tickin", "Jacksonville", "I Came Here To Get Over You", and "Right Behind You"
After some of the band members wanted "to take a break from touring and the rat race," Flowers decided to keep it going and record a second solo album. The Desired Effect was released on May 15, 2015. The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, making it Flowers' second consecutive solo number one album.
The Desired Effect is Flowers' highest yet ranked album on Metacritic and honored as the Album of the Year (2015) by The Sun and The San Francisco Examiner. Reviews positively described the album as Flowers' finest work since Hot Fuss. The album was preceded by positively reviewed singles "Can't Deny My Love", "Still Want You", "Lonely Town", and "I Can Change". Multiple tracks from the album were listed on Best Songs of 2015 So Far lists by publications including SPIN, NPR, and Mashable. Halfway through 2015, USA Today listed the album as one of the top five best albums of 2015 so far.
The Desired Effect Tour included performances in Europe and North America; it ran through October 1, 2015.
Official solo site: http://www.brandonflowersmusic.com
Official twitter: http://twitter.com/brandonflowers
Official band site: http://www.thekillersmusic.com
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas
Brandon Flowers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Burned out old Deville
Your legs are shot and they're flushed with pain
But you can't keep them still
The sun sets and you're afraid
Of the itching in your skin
You stumble down the boulevard
Of neon encrusted temples
In the arms of a fellow stranger
Disciples hand you catalogs of concubines
As you stumble down the boulevard crying "Hosanna"
Welcome to fabulous
Welcome to fabulous
Las Vegas
Give us your dreamers, your harlots and your sins
Las Vegas
Didn't nobody tell you the house will always win?
Cameras on the ceiling tile no place for you to hide
It's a hundred seven and you're looking for shade
That no palm tree can provide
But there's a little girl you remember back in Tennessee
You have this reoccurring dream
Where you see her playing hide and seek
With a woman who used to know you very well
Sunsets and neon lights
Call girls and neon lights
Black jack and lady luck
Cocaine and lady luck
You call upon her on holy knees tonight
In Las Vegas
Give us your dreamers, your harlots and your sins
Las Vegas
Didn't nobody tell you?
Didn't nobody tell you?
Didn't nobody tell you the house will always win?
The song "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" by Brandon Flowers is a melancholic homage to the city that's synonymous with gambling, sin, neon lights, and hedonism. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a person who's down and out, with burnt-out legs and an itching skin, wandering aimlessly down the boulevard of glittering temples with neon lights. The singer seems to be looking for redemption or some sort of guidance in the arms of a stranger, while the city tempts him with the catalog of concubines and the promise of riches.
The line "Didn't nobody tell you the house will always win?" suggests that the singer has come to Las Vegas with big dreams and hopes of winning, but he's quickly realizing that the odds are stacked against him. The cameras on the ceiling tiles and the reference to the sun's heat provide a sense of claustrophobia and hopelessness, with nowhere to hide or find shade. The singer's memories of a little girl and a woman from Tennessee add a touch of nostalgia and regret, perhaps suggesting that he's lost something valuable in his pursuit of the Vegas dream.
Overall, the song captures the essence of Las Vegas, a city that's both alluring and intimidating, glamorous and seedy, full of dreams and nightmares. From the opening line to the closing refrain, the lyrics and the music convey a sense of resignation and acceptance, as if the singer has come to terms with his fate and the reality of the house always winning.
Line by Line Meaning
You woke up in the rusted frame
You find yourself in a damaged and worn-out state
Burned out old Deville
Your body feels used and exhausted
Your legs are shot and they're flushed with pain
Your legs ache and throb with discomfort
But you can't keep them still
You're unable to stay still due to your restlessness
The sun sets and you're afraid
You're anxious as the day ends
Of the itching in your skin
Your body craves something, making you restless
You stumble down the boulevard
You walk along the busy street clumsily
Of neon encrusted temples
You pass by bright, flashy casinos and clubs
You're looking for the grace of God
You seek a source of comfort or hope
In the arms of a fellow stranger
You seek companionship from strangers
Disciples hand you catalogs of concubines
People offer you pamphlets of sexual services
As you stumble down the boulevard crying "Hosanna"
As you walk clumsily, you shout a plea for salvation
Welcome to fabulous
Welcome to a glamorous and exciting place
Las Vegas
A city famous for its casinos and entertainment
Give us your dreamers, your harlots and your sins
People come here to indulge in their desires and vice
Didn't nobody tell you the house will always win?
You can't beat the system and will always lose money to the casinos
Cameras on the ceiling tile, no place for you to hide
The surveillance cameras here leave you no privacy or escape
It's a hundred seven and you're looking for shade
The heat is unbearable, and you're searching for relief
That no palm tree can provide
The surroundings cannot offer you respite from your discomfort
But there's a little girl you remember back in Tennessee
You recall a person from your past in another place
You have this reoccurring dream
You experience the same dream multiple times
Where you see her playing hide and seek
The memory contains an image of somebody playing a game with you
With a woman who used to know you very well
The person is familiar with you from before
Sunsets and neon lights
The glowing colors of the sky and artificial lights
Call girls and neon lights
Women who work in the sex trade and the dazzling lights
Black jack and lady luck
The card game and the unpredictable outcomes
Cocaine and lady luck
The drug and the idea of chance
You call upon her on holy knees tonight
You pray earnestly for the person from your dream
In Las Vegas
Specifically, in this place of temptation and indulgence
Give us your dreamers, your harlots and your sins
This city thrives on people coming to indulge and gamble
Didn't nobody tell you?
You were never warned or informed?
Didn't nobody tell you the house will always win?
The truth that the casinos always profit from your losses may have been kept from you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRANDON FLOWERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
calitri
Woke up in the rusted frame of a burned out old DeVille
Your legs are shot and they're flushed with pain
But you can't keep 'em still
The sun sets and you're afraid of that itching in your skin
You stumble down the boulevard of neon encrusted temple
You're looking for the grace of God in the arms of a fellow stranger
Disciples hand you catalogs of concubines
As you stumble down the boulevard crying Hosanna
Welcome to fabulous
Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas
Give us your dreamers, your harlots and your sin
Las Vegas
Didn't nobody tell you the house will always win?
Cameras on the ceiling tile, no place for you to hide
It's a hundred seven
And you're looking for shade that no palm tree can provide
But there's a little girl you remember back in Tennessee
You have this reoccurring dream where you see her playing hide-and-seek
With a woman who used to know you very well
Sunsets in neon lights
Call girls in neon lights
Blackjack and lady luck
Cocaine and lady luck
You call upon her on holy knees tonight
In Las Vegas
Give us your dreamers, your harlots and your sin
Las Vegas
Didn't nobody tell you?
Didn't nobody tell you?
Didn't nobody tell you?
The house will always win
jiylees
What an amazing song! Gives me goosebumps!
calitri
Woke up in the rusted frame of a burned out old DeVille
Your legs are shot and they're flushed with pain
But you can't keep 'em still
The sun sets and you're afraid of that itching in your skin
You stumble down the boulevard of neon encrusted temple
You're looking for the grace of God in the arms of a fellow stranger
Disciples hand you catalogs of concubines
As you stumble down the boulevard crying Hosanna
Welcome to fabulous
Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas
Give us your dreamers, your harlots and your sin
Las Vegas
Didn't nobody tell you the house will always win?
Cameras on the ceiling tile, no place for you to hide
It's a hundred seven
And you're looking for shade that no palm tree can provide
But there's a little girl you remember back in Tennessee
You have this reoccurring dream where you see her playing hide-and-seek
With a woman who used to know you very well
Sunsets in neon lights
Call girls in neon lights
Blackjack and lady luck
Cocaine and lady luck
You call upon her on holy knees tonight
In Las Vegas
Give us your dreamers, your harlots and your sin
Las Vegas
Didn't nobody tell you?
Didn't nobody tell you?
Didn't nobody tell you?
The house will always win
Laughy-Flaaffy
I always thought it was “Tall girls and Neon Lights”
Omrissss
This song is one of my favorites
Amsterdam
Flowers a true musician
Michael Nepia
stopped drinking for 2 years, just had my first beer after...straight to this song
Paulina Podobas
I love Brandon :D He is cute, lovely... and have an amazing voice :D
Shinku Gouki
Try singing this out loud. It's a complete Joy
Mauricio Plaza Amado
EPIC SONG
J A
fucking epic full goosebumps