Mitt Romney Loves the Killers

Willard “Mitt” Romney’s Spotify playlist, released in March, consists entirely of country songs and old rock ’n’ roll, with two exceptions. One is Kid Rock’s straightforward country-rock celebration of his own indomitable spirit, “Born Free.” The Romney campaign chose “Born Free” as its official theme song for several reasons: It sucks, it suggests that the presumptive nominee gives a shit about his home state, and it speaks the Republican language (“I will bow to the shining sea/ And celebrate God’s grace on thee”).

Other than Kid Rock, the only contemporary rock act on Romney’s playlist is the Killers. Romney or his handlers must like the Killers very much, because everyone else on the list gets just one song, while the Killers get two: “Read My Mind” and “Somebody Told Me.” Romney even met singer Brandon Flowers for lunch at Caesars Palace in February 2011.

Why the Killers? For one thing, Flowers goes for LDS, not LSD: Like Romney, he is a devout Mormon. Flowers’ father kicked booze with Moroni’s help, and the singer’s eldest son is named Ammon after one of the Book of Mormon’s fictional characters. Unlike some other people whose favorite bands are New Order, the Smiths, Depeche Mode, and the Cure, for Flowers “There’s just no doubt for me, not a thread of doubt in my mind, that there is a God.”  This explains why Flowers specializes in Goth minus despair, just as he has dabbled in Springsteen minus politics. Last year, he appeared in a YouTube clip promoting his faith and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Brandon Flowers talks about being a Mormon

No threads of doubt whatsoever appear in the warp and woof of the star’s mind. There is certainly no evidence of thought. Flowers has a reputation for being “outspoken,” “opinionated,” and “filter-less” in interviews, but that doesn’t mean he gives voice to any actual opinions or ideas, just burbles of jealousy and affronted patriotism. He has expressed annoyance that the A&R man who signed the Killers also signed some other terrible bands, complained that “Kurt Cobain and grunge took the fun out of rock and roll,” and accused Green Day of being anti-American. But aside from the occasional timid whine about people he perceives as obstacles to his career or enemies of the flag, Flowers has nothing to say. Topics that do not touch on his personal dreams are a nuisance, not deserving serious consideration. A few of my favorite quotes: “People need to see that, really, there are the nicest people in the world here [in America]!” “I don’t know enough about politics to talk about it.” “I’m in the middle with my beliefs, like everyone else.” “We’re definitely against human-sex trafficking.” (See if you can find a single meaningful utterance in this fan’s collection of over 850 Brandon Flowers quotes.)

“The good old days, the honest man/ The restless heart, the promised land,” Flowers sings in “Read My Mind.” He actually believes in that shit! Asked about the song’s lyrics, Flowers told the Guardian: “I used a bunch of clichés that are dying and that were good to have around.” Innocent of the undesirability of writing in dying clichés, Flowers went on to explain that Satan is winning the battle for men’s souls. “In 50 years I don’t think you’re gonna look back at 2006 and say ‘the good old days.’ But when you talk about the good old days [of] the 50s, there really was something good about it. Whereas right now it’s like we’re creeping closer and closer to hell!”

The Killers play “God Bless America” and “Read My Mind” on the White House lawn, 7/4/10

How does Flowers (b. 1981) know that the 50s really were the good old days, that the U.S. of A. has the nicest people on Earth, and that God is in heaven? Presumably, it’s good enough for Flowers because it was good enough for Grandma Dixie (the subject of “Sam’s Town”), dear old Dad (the subject of “Bling (Confession of a King)”), and even cokehead Uncle Jonny (the subject of “Uncle Jonny”). The months leading up to the election may reveal which pole of Flowers’ deficient personality is stronger: his self-regard, or his country-simple nationalism. Obama invited his band to play on the White House lawn on the Fourth of July (WHY?!), a big plus in the former category. Favoring the latter category, Flowers’ values, such as they are, seem to coincide exactly with Mitt Romney’s platform, and both men are adepts of the Mormon mysteries. Then again, at the height of his fame, this rock star once allowed his manager to scold him in the presence of an NME journalist: “You don’t ever talk about politics.”

Previously - The Sensitive Family