In an interview with Chicago radio station Q101, lead vocalist Brandon Flowers called "Read My Mind" the best song he had ever written. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe saw The Killers in concert at Brixton Academy at the end of November 2006, where the idea of a remix for "Read My Mind" was discussed between the two parties. The resulting remix, "Pet Shop Boys 'Stars are blazing' mix" featuring additional vocals by Tennant and Lowe, is one of the B-sides for the single, and is featured on the Pet Shop Boys album Disco Four. "Read My Mind" was released as part of an iTunesEP on February 13, 2007, featuring an acoustic version and two remixes. It was also released as the third single from Sam's Town in the United Kingdom on February 26, 2007. There was a promotion CD released in the US that featured 10 dance mixes. This included the full Pet Shop Boys mix, as well as an instrumental version and radio edit. It also featured remixes by Gabriel & Dresden, Steve Bays and Linus Loves. The three-track American CD single was released in Best Buy stores. The single is free only with the purchase of Sam's Town.
Critical reception
Critical response to the single was positive; the song was often praised although the album received highly mixed reviews. Yahoo Music said "the album peaks with the arena-sized 'Read My Mind'". Sven Philipp called the single "a gloriously melodic Duran Duran-meets-Springsteen tale about 'breakin' out of this two-star town.'" Adrien Begrand with PopMatters said, "The Killers shine on the song, Flowers’s synth offsetting Keuning’s tasteful flourishes wonderfully." NME called the song the "righteous and anthemic album highlight." It was also listed as #12 on Rolling Stones 100 Best Songs of 2006 even though Sam's Town had previously received negative reviews from the magazine. In reference to the Pet Shop Boys remix, The New York Times called it a "perfect match." This song was also #84 on MTV Asias list of Top 100 Hits of 2007. A remix of the song is featured on the original soundtrack of the NBC television series Friday Night Lights. It is nominated for a 2008 People's Choice Award in the category of Favorite Song from a Soundtrack. This song was also going to be performed as a showcase performance for Chloe Warren, but due to technical complications the performance was cancelled. "Read My Mind" was also used for the promotional video for season 14 of the television show ER on Warner Channel Latin America.
Music video
The video for "Read My Mind" was shot in Tokyo and directed by Diane Martel, shortly before the band embarked on their round of touring to New Zealand and Australia. In an interview, Brandon Flowers called the tune "kind of our favorite song" and promised the clip would find the band "in Tokyo, on bikes." The video shows the band members having fun in different parts of Tokyo. We see them playing with some Japanese school children in Shinjuku Park, interacting with a Japanese Elvis impersonator in the Kabukicho entertainment district, releasing balloons in front of the Nihonbashi Jogakkan Girls High School, and riding on different kinds of bicycles past the Ichogaoka Hachiman Shrine in Asakusa. The video ends with the four members of the band checking into a capsule hotel followed by Japanese television character Gachapin. The video premiered on February 8, 2007, on MTV's Total Request Live as part of their "Spankin' New Music Week." On the March 23, 2007 episode of VH1's Top 20 Countdown, "Read My Mind" was number one, making it the first time a Killers' video had reached that rank.
Track listings
7": Vertigo / 6 02517 24568 6 – UK
"Read My Mind" – 4:03
"Read My Mind" – 3:30
CD: Vertigo / 6 02517 24567 9 – UK
"Read My Mind" – 4:03
"Read My Mind" – 4:02
CD: Island / ISLR 16704-2 – U.S.
"Read My Mind" – 7:19
"Read My Mind" – 3:30
"Read My Mind" – 4:11
Available in the U.S. at Best Buy stores. Free with purchase of any Killers CD.
