Day 27 - Out of My Mind

The Killers

2017

Disclaimer: All perspectives, opinions, and memories in this entry are mine and mine alone. Some content is rugged, raw, and - sometimes - NSFW, but it's all authentic and included with purpose.

Why It’s On The List:

I still can’t believe this song made it on the list. This was by far the most out-of-left-field track to make the final collection. I randomly included it in the initial batch of 60-70 some songs, thinking that it would eventually fall to the cutting room floor, but it just never did.  As I mentioned in the Intro, there are some other songs from The Killers that were surprise exclusions for me, including “Brightside.” I will even go as far to say that “Out of My Mind” isn’t even my favorite song on its own album (that distinction belongs to Run For Cover).  So how did this dark horse make it? It’s taken me a few months to write this entry because I haven’t even been able to fully explain it to myself yet but here’s the closest I can get: To me, this song sounds like what it feels like to be 40 years old. No clue if that makes any sense to anyone else but it resonates with me - and in a weird way, this song embodies what this entire list is all about. This track is grown up but still ambitious. It’s casual but still elegant. It’s comfortable but still sleek. It sounds like the best song that never existed on the "Stranger Things" or “St. Elmo’s Fire” soundtrack but still sounds completely relevant and modern in 2020.  There is absolutely no way “Out of My Mind” makes this list 15 years ago, 10 years ago, or maybe not even 5 years ago. It’s a deep cut off of “Wonderful Wonderful” that I don’t know if I listen to a second time at age 35. But since it was released in 2017, this song has just slithered its way under my skin, into my bones, and into my bloodstream.  There are two times of day where this songs just comes alive - both on open, empty road: 1. Very early in the morning, usually in the autumn or early winter, and when it’s foggy or overcast outside. OR 2. Late, very late at night. Anytime of the year. Both times are the best to experience this song in its natural habitat.

Listen to "Out of My Mind: here:

Favorite Line:

The entire musical interlude that starts at the 2:50 minute mark. And then the very end, after the interlude, when it all slows down and the synthesizer hits the “dun. dun.” I have dreamed up a zillion different TV/movie scenes to use this song in. While We’re Here:

I mentioned “St. Elmo’s Fire” up above and it’s been a great conversation piece between me and my buddy Paul over the years. More so than any other film, “St. Elmo’s” continues to change and evolve as you get older. Here’s what I mean: When I watched that movie as a teenager, I was like, “Whoa, I can’t wait to be a cool, hip adult in my 20’s.” When I watched that movie as a 20 year old, I was like, “Life is not at all like I imagined! This is all way harder and not as cool looking.” When I watched that movie as a 30 year old, I was like, “OMG, these whiny, bratty kids need to SHUT UP. They have no idea what the real world is like.” Now as I watch that movie getting closer to my 40s, I’m like “Wow, what a special time in life. I wish I could tell them to savor every minute of this season.” Same movie. But it changes as we age. I can not wait to see how my perspective changes when watching at 50 and 60 and so on.

If You Liked This Song...
This is admittedly going to be a stretch, but since "Out of My Mind" was released in 2017, I'm going to list all of my favorite recent songs of the past few years:
- Girls Like You
- Slow Hands
- Something Just Like This
- I'm the One
- Night Changes
- Castle on the Hill
- You're the One
- Fix You
- Memories