Run for Cover (The Killers song)

"Run for Cover"
Single by the Killers
from the album Wonderful Wonderful
ReleasedNovember 14, 2017 (2017-11-14)
Studio
Genre
Length3:42
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jacknife Lee
The Killers singles chronology
"The Man"
(2017) 		"Run for Cover"
(2017) 		"Rut"
(2017)
Music video
"Run for Cover" on YouTube

"Run for Cover" is a song by American rock band the Killers from their fifth studio album, Wonderful Wonderful (2017). Originally released as a promotional single on July 28, 2017,[1] the song was sent to alternative radio in the United States on November 14, 2017, serving as the album's second single.

Background and release

The Killers' vocalist Brandon Flowers revealed that "Run for Cover" was originally written for their 2008 album Day & Age with producer Stuart Price, but it was not completed due to Flowers not being able to finish the second verse of the song at the time. According to drummer Ronnie Vannucci, The song was originally "slower, sweeter and busier".[2] After meeting with Australian musician Alex Cameron in Las Vegas, Flowers finally had a breakthrough as they kept on working together until the second verse was finished.[3] In the beginning of 2017, Flowers revealed the song had a good shot of being featured on the band's album.[4]

The song contains the first overtly political references in a Killers song. Flowers told NME that the song was partly a response to the first presidency of Donald Trump, although the lyrics were not a direct reference to Trump, having mostly been written nine years prior to the song's release.[5][6]

The Killers debuted "Run for Cover" during a concert at Borgata in Atlantic City on June 10, 2017.[7] On July 28, the song was released as a promotional single from Wonderful Wonderful.[8]

Composition and lyrical interpretation

"Run for Cover" has been characterized under the genres new wave, post-punk revival, pop rock, heartland rock, and synth-pop,[9][10][11][12][13] and was written by Flowers, Mark Stoermer, Ronnie Vannucci Jr., Alex Cameron, Jacknife Lee, and Stuart Price.[14] Although it was initially produced by the latter, the track's production was finished by Lee.[7]

The song contains an interpolation of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song".[14]

Lyrically, the song talks about domestic violence as Flowers tells a woman to "run for cover" from her abusive husband while she still can.[3]

Critical reception

The song received critical acclaim from music critics. Andrew Trendell from NME described it as a "synth-pop banger driven by post-punk propulsion" and noted the similarity in sound to that of Sam's Town.[7][13] Rolling Stone's Daniel Kreps called it a "glossy, buoyant track that proves the band hasn't strayed from their textbook sound."[15] The Musical Hype! gave the song four out of five stars and said: "All in all, 'Run for Cover' is a well-rounded, energetic, and up-tempo record from The Killers. Does it trump 'The Man'? It depends upon who you ask, but true to the band's style, this is next-level. Elite? Yes."[9]

Music video

The music video for "Run for Cover" was directed by Tarik Mikou and released on August 22, 2017. The video tells the story of a woman who tries to run away from her ex-lover, backing up the recurring abusive relationship theme of the song's lyrics. After getting hit by him with a car, she gets up and sets the vehicle on fire with him inside. The cassette tape she is holding onto in the video reads "07/28/17", referring to the release date of the single.[16]

Track listing

  • Digital download – remix[17]
  1. "Run for Cover" (Naderi remix) – 4:15

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Wonderful Wonderful.[14]

Recording

Personnel

The Killers

Additional personnel

  • Jacknife Lee – production, engineering, guitar, keys, programming
  • Matt Bishop – engineering
  • Robert Root – engineering
  • Malcolm Harrison – engineering assistance
  • Ariel Rechtshaid – mixing
  • Shawn Everett – mixing
  • John Davis – mastering

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Run for Cover"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[26] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[27] Gold 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Run for Cover"
Region Date Format Label Ref(s)
Various July 28, 2017[a]
Island [29][30]
United States November 14, 2017 Alternative radio [31]
Various January 19, 2018 Digital download (Naderi remix) [17][32]

Notes

  1. ^ Release as a promotional single

References

  1. ^ Wiederhorn, Jon (July 28, 2017). "The Killers Release New Song 'Run for Cover', Announce Tour". Radio.com. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  2. ^ "Inside the Killers' New Album: 'It's the Closest Thing We've Done to Sam's Town'". EW.com. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  3. ^ a b Ross, Alex Robert (July 28, 2017). "The Killers Take Shots at Dirtbags on "Run for Cover"". Noisey. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  4. ^ Trendell, Andrew (January 17, 2017). "The Killers: 'Our new songs feel heavier than anything we've ever done'". NME. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  5. ^ Beaumont, Mark (2017-09-15). "The Killers talk new album 'Wonderful Wonderful', group counselling and Trump". NME. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  6. ^ "Brandon Flowers talks about The Killers' new album, 'Wonderful Wonderful'". www.thecurrent.org. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  7. ^ a b c Trendell, Andrew (June 12, 2017). "The Killers debut new song 'Run for Cover'". NME. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  8. ^ "The Killers 'Run for Cover' with Follow-Up Single and Tour Announcement". Hypster. July 28, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  9. ^ a b "The Killers, 'Run for Cover track review". The Musical Hype!. August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  10. ^ Zaleski, Annie (September 21, 2007). "The Killers get personal—and a little bit weird—on their fine fifth album". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  11. ^ Grow, Kory (August 8, 2017). "The Killers Talk 'Grown-Up' New Album 'Wonderful Wonderful'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  12. ^ Hodgkinson, Will (September 22, 2017). "Pop review: The Killers: Wonderful Wonderful". The Times. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  13. ^ a b Daly, Rhian (July 28, 2017). "The Killers unveil new song 'Run for Cover' and share album tracklist for 'Wonderful Wonderful'". NME. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  14. ^ a b c The Killers (2017). Wonderful Wonderful (liner notes). Island Records. B0027046-02.
  15. ^ Kreps, Daniel (July 28, 2017). "The Killers Detail New LP, Unveil New Single, 2018 Tour Dates". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  16. ^ Kaufman, Gil (August 23, 2017). "The Killers 'Run for Cover' in Spooky Video". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  17. ^ a b "Run For Cover (Naderi Remix) | The Killers". 7digital. United States. 19 January 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  18. ^ "The Killers – The Man" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  19. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  20. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  21. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  22. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  23. ^ "Alternative Airplay – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  24. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  25. ^ "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  26. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  27. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Killers – Run for Cover". Music Canada. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  28. ^ "British single certifications – Killers – Run for Cover". British Phonographic Industry. January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  29. ^ "Run for Cover | The Killers". 7digital. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  30. ^ "Run for Cover by The Killers". Spotify. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  31. ^ "Alternative > Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  32. ^ "Run For Cover (Naderi Remix) | The Killers". 7digital. United Kingdom. Retrieved October 13, 2018.