Brandon Flowers' "Paradise" Takes a Swing at Phil Collins—And It's Working

There’s something satisfying about watching an artist take a polite shot at another artist’s blind spot. Brandon Flowers did exactly that with“Paradise,”his new single that arrives as both a fresh track and a gentle rebuke of Phil Collins’“Another Day In Paradise”from 1989. While Collins’song got criticized for feeling out of touch when addressing homelessness, Flowers’version tells an entirely different story. His lyrics focus on the actual experience of working people—the grind of parking cars, the countdown to quitting time, the way dreams always seem to sit just beyond what you can reach. It’s specific. It’s honest. And it matters.

The song arrives as the second preview of“Thrasher,”Flowers’upcoming album dropping August 21, and this project marks something significant in his career. After more than a decade, he’s returned to deeply personal songwriting rooted in his childhood in rural Utah and his father’s influence. Growing up hearing Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings shaped the way Flowers sees country music now. He recorded“Thrasher”in Nashville with legendary producers and session musicians, including 85-year-old harmonica player Charlie McCoy, who played on all four of Bob Dylan’s Nashville records. That kind of lineup tells you everything about how serious Flowers is taking this album.

What draws you more—an artist writing about experiences they’ve lived, or one who’s observing and interpreting from the outside? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Are you planning to check out“Thrasher”when it drops?