There’s a petition to make Mr. Brightside the NDP 2020 song, so you know what to do

Open up your eager eyes, people, because someone wants Mr. Brightside as the new staple tune for the National Day Parade (NDP) celebrations next year.

A petition was set up last night on Change.org, in which a Nick W proposed using the perennial hit by The Killers as the theme for Singapore’s 55th birthday. Sure, there’s only a single signature (Nick W’s), but seeing as we’ve got more than a year to go till NDP 2020, I’d say there’s still a decent chance to convince the organising committee.

I mean, if Charlie Lim could revise an old classic from 1987 to become last year’s NDP song, then by Jove we can all strive together to make Mr. Brightside work for 2020.

After all, what better way to inspire feelings of Singaporean patriotism than an emotional but upbeat synth-laden track about jealousy and betrayal? 

How did it end up like this?

It’s been 16 years since Brandon Flowers and co released Mr. Brightside to the world, but the song remains a must-play, must-sing, must-dance anthem during indie-rock (and emo) club nights today. In fact, the killer (ahem) tune has refused to exit the top 100 charts in the UK since 2017. 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jqkzu1UVEm0[/embed]

The enduring legacy speaks volumes about the timeless exuberance of the song — from its unmistakable guitar riff to the unabashedly cheesy synth breakdown, to the insanely catchy chorus. To put it simply, it slaps hard as a party song and will continue to do so in the decades to come.

It’s not surprising either that the track became the subject of Nick W’s parody petition, simply because Mr. Brightside has evolved into an internet meme in itself. Per Vox’s investigation, Mr. Brightside has attained cult internet status for being a song that's impossible to escape, and impossible not to sing out loud when it plays. 

Do you guys think the aliens at Area-51 jam to Mr. Brightside by the Killers since that song is so out of this world

— Christian (@chrissmirandaa) July 18, 2019

i’m a simple woman, i hear mr. brightside and lose it

— ?. (@noangcls) July 19, 2019

pretty sure these are the lyrics to mr brightside https://t.co/70FMrwPFBV

— kathleen (@katiemanjaro) July 22, 2019

white people when mr. brightside comes on at the club pic.twitter.com/bJxMg3OnBr

— it’s Emmett baybee (@offeldotter) July 15, 2019

As unlikely as we’ll be singing a Singapore-themed Mr. Brightside for National Day next year, destiny is calling you to at least entertain the thought that we could if there’re enough petition signatures. 

ilyas@asiaone.com