July 15, 2024
More than two decades after its release, The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” continues to chart and break new records. The American alternative rock group were awarded two Guinness World Records this week for their extraordinary UK chart performance.
With a total of 416 weeks in the UK Official Singles Chart, “Mr Brightside” now holds the record for the longest stay in the singles chart by a group and the most total number of weeks for a song in the UK. As announced by Guinness World Records.
Originally released in 2003 as a limited run of 500 CDs and re-released in May 2004, the song peaked at number 10 on the charts. This year, “Mr Brightside” was crowned the biggest single ever to reach number one in the UK. The Las Vegas-based band was discovered by British independent Lizard King and quickly won over the British public.
Also, after eight years in the chart, the track was recognized as one of the top three singles of all time in the UK in combined units (sales and plays) and one of the top five streamed songs.
“It’s still infectious for us,” commented singer Brandon Flowers at Guinness World Records. “It’s hard not to be moved or excited about it. There are as many people who haven’t seen it live tonight as there are people who have seen it 45 times. We can’t get enough.”
The popularity of “Mr Brightside” seems unshakeable. Recently, The Killers were inducted into the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award, in recognition of their status as one of the most streamed acts in the organization’s 21-year history.
The band ends a six-night run at London’s O2 Arena today (July 11), part of a UK and European tour that runs until mid-July. Next, The Killers return to the U.S. for festival appearances including Lollapalooza and Outside Lands, before beginning a Las Vegas residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in August, with additional North American festival dates through September.
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