The song 'Mr. Brightside' by American band The Killers is turning 20 years old today (Friday), prompting Belgian radio station Studio Brussel to attempt to set the world record for non-stop partying to the anthem of a generation.
The Killers released 'Mr. Brightside' as a single on 29 September 2003. 20 years on, the song has become an anthem that an entire generation of music fans has grown up with.
To celebrate the song's 20th anniversary, Studio Brussel plans to set a world record for "non-stop partying to 'Mr. Brightside'" on Friday night at the A.M. Club in Ghent. Some 250 listeners have secured a ticket via an online contest, and radio host Sam De Bruyn will lead the record attempt.
De Bruyn also held a marathon session on Thursday night where he played the song non-stop on the radio from 00:00 until 06:00 on Friday morning. "It was really special," he told VRT. "I had already listened to the song countless times over the past few weeks and heard it dozens of times last night. And yet, I'm still not tired of it."
How did it end up like this?
But last night's marathon session was just a warm-up, as the real thing is happening tonight, De Bruyn stressed. "I think it is a bit crazy that listeners want to sacrifice their Friday night to join us for a world record attempt. The venue is not that big; I did not think this many people would be interested, but the enthusiasm is huge."
As there is no existing "'Mr. Brightside' partying" world record, the radio channel will be establishing it. "We can record it ourselves, using footage proving that we partied to the song for so many hours with so many people."
Doors will open at 22:30 tonight. The first 90 minutes will feature all kinds of music from the 'Mr. Brightside' era, but at midnight, the record attempt will begin and De Bruyn will only play that song.
"We do not have an end time. I certainly hope we can do five hours, but we will go on as long as we can," he said, calling the song "an ingenious multi-generational anthem."
"The lyrics are universal. It's a song about cheating and jealousy, but with a positive twist. 'We are going to get over this, the universe has a lot of beauty in store,' is the message. Everyone has experienced that, everyone recognises this feeling."
