Tranquilize

"Tranquilize" is a song by Las Vegas-based rock band The Killers, featuring Lou Reed. Written by Brandon Flowers, it is featured on the compilation album Sawdust. The song was made available for download on iTunes from October 12, 2007. A limited edition etched 7-inch vinyl of "Tranquilize" was available from November 5, featuring a lyric from the song hand-picked by Brandon Flowers etched on one side.

"Tranquilize"
Single by The Killers featuring Lou Reed
from the album Sawdust
ReleasedOctober 8, 2007
GenrePost-punk revival
Length3:45
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The Killers singles chronology
"Shadowplay"
(2007)		 "Tranquilize"
(2007)		 "Don't Shoot Me Santa"
(2007)
Lou Reed singles chronology
"Satellite of Love 2004"
(2004)		 "Tranquilize"
(2007)
Audio sample
Tranquilize
  • file
  • help

The song reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and also charted in Australia, Austria, and Canada. It won Best International Alternative/Indie Track at NME's first ever USA awards. It was featured in a trailer for the fifth and final season of HBO's original series Boardwalk Empire.[1]

Background

"It took a day to break the ice with him," Flowers said of Reed. "The second day of recording was a lot nicer than the first. On the first day we were all really stiff. It's funny, because you refer to him as 'Lou Reed', not 'Lou'. I remember somebody came into the studio. They could only stay in the room with him for two minutes. They left, saying, 'Lou Reed's really freaking me out.'"[2]

Music video

The music video features Lou Reed and was released on the 29 October 2007 in the UK.

The video features Flowers wandering around an empty house. Somewhere in the house is Lou Reed, sitting at a piano. Flowers sings the song, including Reed's parts, making it look like he has been possessed. Intercut with this are shots of the rest of the band in a darkly lit, red room, around a table, apparently performing a seance. The video ends with Flowers finding and pointing at Reed, singing his outro.

Live performances

In concert, Flowers changes the lyrics at the end from "the Bushes and the bombs are tranquilized" to "the vampires and the bombs are tranquilized".

Awards and nominations
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2008 NME Awards Best Indie/Alternative Track Won
Best Video Nominated

Track listing

UK single-sided 7-inch vinyl[3]

  1. "Tranquilize"

Charts
Chart (2007) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[4] 84
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 57
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[6] 59
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 13

References
  1. "'Boardwalk Empire' season 5 – watch first trailer". NME. August 12, 2014.
  2. Allen, Matt (January 2008). "Cash for Questions: The Killers". Q. No. 258. p. 20.
  3. Tranquilize (UK single-sided 7-inch vinyl disc). The Killers. Vertigo Records. 2007. 175 307-1.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. "Issue 923" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  5. "Austriancharts.at – The Killers feat. Lou Reed – Tranquilize" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  6. "The Killers Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  7. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
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