Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas

Album: Flamingo (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a track from Flamingo, the first solo album by The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers. The title refers to the iconic sign that greets travelers driving into Flowers' hometown of Las Vegas. He explained to Spin magazine: "People would dodge cars to take a picture by it, so the city finally made a parking lot by it. It's that combination of being so happy while dumping all their money. It's definitely not a perfect town, so that was the perfect place to jump from."
  • Flowers reveals Vegas' underbelly as he sings: "Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas / Give us your dreamers, your harlots and your sin." Q magazine asked Flowers if he wasn't concerned about sounding preachy. He replied: "I'm always conscious of that. But I definitely don't feel I'm on a pedestal. I just feel I'm walking amongst."
  • Flowers explained the album title to The NME: "The Flamingo is one of the most famous casinos on the (Las Vegas) strip, and also one of the first-it was infamously opened up in the 1940s by Bugsy Siegel, the mobster. It's also a street here, and one that I've spent a lot of time on over the course of my life, so it's a word that's very dear to my heart."
  • Sam's Town casino, after which the Killers' second album was named after, sits on Flamingo road.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.