Caution (The Killers song)

"Caution"
Single by the Killers
from the album Imploding the Mirage
ReleasedMarch 12, 2020 (2020-03-12)
Studio
Genre
Length
  • 4:29 (album version)
  • 3:48 (radio edit)
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Jonathan Rado
  • Shawn Everett
The Killers singles chronology
"Land of the Free"
(2019) 		"Caution"
(2020) 		"Fire in Bone"
(2020)
Music video
"Caution" on YouTube

"Caution" is a song by American rock band the Killers from their sixth studio album, Imploding the Mirage (2020). It was released on March 12, 2020, as the lead single from the album, and features a guitar solo by former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham.[4] The track topped the Billboard Rock Airplay and Alternative Airplay charts.

Background

Flowers described the song as “about having the wherewithal to listen to that angel on your shoulder, even if they’re telling you something that you don’t want to hear.” Flowers related this to his own decision to leave Las Vegas with his family and moving back to his childhood home in Utah, which began as a hunch, and although it was tough for him to leave, he embodied the “spirit” of ‘Caution’ in recognising that it was the right decision for him and for his family.[5]

The end of the song features a guitar solo from former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. This originated when drummer Ronnie Vannucci joked over dinner that they should call Buckingham up and ask him to do a solo for the song. When the band did so, Buckingham obliged, and he turned up at the studio the next day. This was aided by the fact that the band shares a publicist with Buckingham.[6][7] Vannucci said that, when recording, Buckingham “did all the sort of famed tricks”, and that the band slowed the tape to half-speed or quarter-speed when recording Buckingham’s guitar-playing to allow them to record the song's crystal-like high tinkle sounds. Afterwards, Buckingham stayed to record a solo; this ultimately became the ending of the song, as at the time the band hadn't yet written an ending.[5]

The cover artwork is "Golden Breeze" by American artist Thomas Blackshear.[8]

An alternative, stripped-back version of the song was included on the deluxe edition of Imploding the Mirage, released in January 2021, under the name "Caution (Wasatch Style)".

Music video

The music video is a sneak peek from a forthcoming short film with director Sing Lee tied to the Killers upcoming album Imploding the Mirage.[9] The film will premiere on Apple Music. The music video has snippets reminding of an Americana theme. There are a number of stories going on. A stage play is being enacted, a story of young love, some family drama and family intrigue with police intervening and so on. There is also footage of the Killers performing at what is seemingly a local venue.

This song appears in video games Dirt 5,[10] Forza Horizon 5[11] and as DLC for Rock Band 4[12]

Awards

Year Ceremony Award Result
2020 MTV Video Music Award Best Rock Nominated

Pitchfork ranked Caution the 94th best song of 2020.[13]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Imploding the Mirage.[14]

Recording locations

Personnel

The Killers

Additional personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[33] Gold 35,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various March 12, 2020
Island
United Kingdom Contemporary hit radio
United States April 27, 2020 Hot AC radio
[34]
June 30, 2020 Contemporary hit radio [35]

References

  1. ^ "The Killers release new banger 'Caution' + announce Imploding The Mirage". Gigwise. March 19, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  2. ^ Marotta, Michael (March 12, 2020). "The Killers drop new song 'Caution', unveil fall tour with Johnny Marr". Vanyaland. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  3. ^ Gill, David (August 17, 2020). "The Killers get intense and nostalgic". Riff Magazine. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  4. ^ Martoccio, Angie (March 12, 2020). "The Killers Unveil New Single, 'Caution,' Featuring Lindsey Buckingham". Rolling Stone.
  5. ^ a b Tan, Emily (March 12, 2020). "The Killers Release 'Caution,' Announce New Album". Spin. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Greene, Andy (May 5, 2020). "How the Killers Started Over Again". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  7. ^ Trendell, Andrew (August 21, 2020). "The Killers: "Music made it possible for me to dream"". NME. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  8. ^ "The Killers & Lindsay Buckingham Share "Caution": Listen". Stereogum. March 12, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  9. ^ Jon Blistein (March 20, 2020). "Killers Tease New Short Film With Grand 'Caution' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  10. ^ "DIRT 5 Soundtrack – Stormzy, The Chemical Brothers & More in Our Biggest Ever Playlist! | Codemasters Blog". Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  11. ^ "Forza Horizon 5 Soundtrack List". Game Rant. November 20, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  12. ^ "DLC WEEK OF 11/12: THE KILLERS AND OK GO!". Harmonix Music. November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  13. ^ "The 100 Best Songs of 2020". Pitchfork. December 7, 2020.
  14. ^ Imploding the Mirage (liner notes). The Killers. Island Records. 2020. B0032028-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ "The Killers – Caution" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  16. ^ "The Killers – Caution" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  17. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Mexico Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  19. ^ "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 16, 2020" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  21. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 23, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  22. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  23. ^ "Schweizer Airplay Charts 24/2020 - hitparade.ch". hitparade.ch. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  24. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  25. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  26. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  27. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  28. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  29. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  30. ^ "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  31. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  32. ^ "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  33. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  34. ^ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  35. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.