"When You Were Young"
Single by The Killers from the album Sam's Town
B-side	"Where the White Boys Dance", "All the Pretty Faces"
Released	September 18, 2006
Format	Download, 12", 7", CD
Genre	Rock
Length	3:40
Label	Island (U.S.), Mercury (UK)
Writer	Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer, Ronnie Vannucci Jr.
Producer	Flood, Alan Moulder, The Killers
The Killers singles chronology
"Smile Like You Mean It" (2005) "When You Were Young" (2006) "Bones" (2006)
Sam's Town track listing
"enterlude" (2) "When You Were Young" (3) "Bling (Confession of a King)" (4)

"When You Were Young" is a song by Las Vegas-based rock band, The Killers, and is the third track on their second album Sam's Town, released in October 2006. The song was released as the lead single from that album in September 2006. It has proven to be one of their most successful singles, peaking at #14 on the U.S. Hot 100 (only "Mr. Brightside" peaked higher on this chart at #10 in 2004), as well as their only number 1 to date on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks. It is also their highest charting single to date in the United Kingdom and Australia, peaking at numbers 2 and 10 respectively.

The song displays the band's move towards a more "American" musical style, as it is part of an album that was supposedly heavily influenced by the music of Bruce Springsteen.^[1] The song was nominated for the 2007 Grammy Award for "Best Rock Song", and the single's video, directed by Anthony Mandler, received a nomination in the category of "Best Short Form Music Video".^[2] The single was ranked #69 on iTunes Top 100 Best Sellers: Songs of 2006. The song also made #4 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2006.

The song has been covered by Coldplay live at an unplanned appearance for MENCAP, as well as by Finnish singer Astrid Swan, as well as by Taking Back Sunday.

The song is also to appear on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, out in October.

The song was featured in the third section of the 2006 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Track listings

American versions

• Promo CD ISLR16591-2^[3]

1. "When You Were Young" (radio version)

• 12" B000788411 / 6 02517 09586 1^[4]

1. "When You Were Young" (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mix) - 6:23
2. "When You Were Young" (The Lindbergh Palace Remix) - 6:59
3. "When You Were Young" (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Dub) - 6:23
4. "When You Were Young" (The Lindbergh Palace Dub) - 6:50

"When You Were Young"

Image:When You Were Young.ogg

British versions

• 7" 6 02517 06721 9

1. "When You Were Young" - 3:39
2. "Where the White Boys Dance" - 3:26

• CD 6 02517 07658 7

1. "When You Were Young" - 3:39
2. "All the Pretty Faces" - 4:44

European versions

• German CD

1. "When You Were Young" - 3:39
2. "All The Pretty Faces" - 4:44
3. "When You Were Young" (video)

Reviews

• Pitchfork Media link
• Stylus Magazine (5.17/10) link

Chart performance

Chart (2006)	Peak position
Canada BDS	1
U.S. Modern Rock Tracks	1
UK Singles Chart	2
Australia ARIA Singles Chart	10
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	14
U.S. Pop 100	18
Dutch Mega Top 50	25
Italian Singles Chart	40

References

External links

• Watch "When You Were Young" on Youtube
• Watch "When You Were Young" Alternate Version on Youtube

The Killers
Brandon Flowers | Dave Keuning | Mark Stoermer | Ronnie Vannucci Jr.
Discography
Albums: Hot Fuss | Sam's Town
Compilations: Sawdust
Singles: "Somebody Told Me" | "Mr. Brightside" | "All These Things That I've Done" | "Smile Like You Mean It" | "When You Were Young" | "Bones" | "A Great Big Sled" | "Read My Mind" | "For Reasons Unknown" | "Shadowplay" | "Tranquilize" | "Don't Shoot Me Santa"
Related articles
Marrakesh Records (Lizard King Records) | Island Records | Las Vegas | "Crystal"

Preceded by "Tell Me Baby" by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Billboard Modern Rock Tracks number-one single October 21 2006

Succeeded by "Welcome to the Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance

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