Migduh March 30th, 2006 01:21AM  

I feel that this song expresses the singer's attraction toward one Michael Valentine, a young man who tours the US playing in a band. The narrator/singer of the song evidently travels with him on his many trips to different places, only to find that everywhere they go, the women are attracted to the narrator, but he wants them to leave him alone because he has his sights set on Mr. Valentine. He wants Michael to realize that he [Valentine] is his [the singer's] little boy-toy; with the lyrics, "Michael Valentine, Can't we unite" and "My muñequita, Abre Tus Ojos" he wants him to realize that he wants him. In the end, though, he has to accept that Valentine doesn't feel the same way. He then explains that he must now tell the sad story (ballad, for this song) of Valentine. He then leaves to go somewhere, knowing that Michael Valentine will be there. . .

Alright, well. There you are. I don't really know what to make of this song. My explaination may be completely left-field, but there were no existing ones to base mine off of. It seems that this song follows the same structure as "Andy, You're A Star", where one young man fonds over another, and so I figured that perhaps The Killers would write another song along similar lines.

Criticism, good or bad, would make me happie.

-Migduh

prongs666 April 5th, 2006 02:06PM  

That totally makes sense! I dont see where it says he's traveling with Michael's band, though. The munequita, abre tus ojos (my doll, open your eyes) does give the impression of the singer wanting Michael to look at him as maybe more than a friend.

anonymous May 1st, 2006 02:26AM  

I think it's Brandon's story of following Michael Valentine, which could possibly be fame personified, or maybe an agent. He's trying to follow him around, traveling and trying so hard to get noticed but, "with [his] new suit, and [his] black tie" he's just considered a "gamblin' man all proper-like". He knows he's going to make it, no matter what, and he'll prove this force going against him wrong.

Analysis with the lyrics:

Michael plays with stars
Soul sister won't you take a ride
In his car
Late to call
When you want it to be all

(Michael is famous, and he can get you famous, but he's very busy and hard to talk to.)

Baby, baby don't be so shy
Rock children hold your heads up high
In the night
While I try and tell the ballad of Valentine

(There's always a chance, so the audience shouldn't give up. He's going to tell how he "seduced" Michael Valentine.)

You got it bad but you know it's true

(You're just dying to be famous, and you're fully aware.)

I met up with a friend in Dallas
We took a trip to New Orleans
Those black-eyed ladies
Won't say they're sorry
We finally caught a train to Memphis
Where everybody talks the same
Those blue suede babies
All know my name

(Brandon met up with a friend and they traveled everywhere *could possibly be symbolic of all the tiny clubs they played in to start out with, or the different locations referred to in Vegas* and they became popular with a few people.)

And I said
Hold tight,
Can't you see that it's hurtin' me?
But I've got the burn, like Marlon Brando
Michael Valentine, can't we unite?

(They can't make it yet, but Brandon's got the strongest urge to be famous. So can't him and Michael unite, so that he can be?)

We ended up in North Dakota
Although my heart's in Mexico
Mi munequita
Abre tus ojos

(They finally made it somewhere better, but not where he wanted to be at yet. He needs to open his eyes and realize they've got potential.)

With your new suit
And your black tie
Hold on, you're just a gamblin' man (blue suit) all proper like (black tie)

(People think that they're just a pretty band, from a pretty place. He's not as sophisticated, he just puts on a facade...it's not real.)

Well, I rolled to the right and I caught your eye
Shut your mouth
And wave good-bye, tonight
I ain't gonna let you rain on this parade

(Well, he finally proved them wrong, the visual I get is they impressed Michael *the people?*, as in "his" mouth dropped, and they're saying, "Look what you've missed out on. I'm not gonna let you ruin my chances.")

And I said
Hold tight,
Can't you see that it's hurting me?
But I've got the burn, like Marlon Brando
The straight face with misery, tonight

And I will not lie
When I say I ain't cold no more
But I've got the burn, like Gretta Garbo
Walking forward into the sun
And I've got a coattail end to ride

Well, uh-oh
I know he's gonna be there tonight

(Brandon knows that they're making it farther now, and he's got the burn to be famous. "Walking forward into the sun" could be implying walking into the spotlight. He knows that Michael will be there and so he's "got a coattail end to ride", meaning he's gotta get on to this guy, so that he'll never forget him.)

Okay, yeah, there you go lol. Just my opinion :D.

prongs666 May 18th, 2006 02:56PM  

I still don't get it ...and btw, it doesn't say I've got the burn... It says I've got the BUZZ, listen closely. and if all he wants to be is famous then why does he say My munequita (my doll) abre tus ojos (open you're eyes)and maybe he mentions Marlon Brando and Greta Garbo having the buzz because they are still being talked about even after she died in '90 and he died two years ago...they are concidered gorgeous people...maybe he's comparing himself to them...because everyone is always talking about how hot he is...hmmm

srry for rambling.....

anonymous May 27th, 2008 10:38AM  

Michael is a traveling gambler who plays cards, the narrator is his friend. I agree and think the narrator is possibly in love with Michael but Michael loves all the lady attention he gets. The narrator eventually realises no matter what he does Michael will not love him so he leaves because he can't stnad seeing Michael anymore, he then writes down he sad 'cold' tale.

Bman July 7th, 2008 06:13PM  

I definitely think this song is about following Michael Valentine around the country as he tours. The narrator has an attraction to Valentine more than just a fan of his music, along the lines of being a groupie. He wants him sexually, at least in fantasy if not for real. This fits with the sexual ambiguity in other lyrics on the album. But he also wants to be Valentine. It's about the desire to be a rock star himself.

anonymous February 3rd, 2009 07:47PM  

Brandon is telling the children the story of MV before they go to bed when he says rock children hold your head up high in the night (dont put your head to to sleep) while I try to tell the ballad of valentine
and the part my munequita, abre tus ojos means my little doll open your eyes implying she or the chilren are getting sleepy but open your eyes to keep listening

NoizePollution April 17th, 2009 11:57PM  

"The Ballad of Micheal Valentine is about a longtime friend of the band, and the merchandise guy's brother. He's a professional poker player, and his name is not really Michael Valentine. He opened for them on a few dates last December."

This description of the song is taken from Sweet Talk, the official Killers forum. In the questions and answers section, it explains the meaning behind some of the songs.

danieltre7 October 28th, 2009 08:35PM  

the ballad of michael valentine is brandon flowers, when he and the band were preforming at clubs when his parents were the only ones in the crowd. he is talking about himself in the third person giving his non famous persona the name michael valentine. he is also talking about himself in the first person, when he looks back at his life, now that hes famous, telling the new and upcoming rock generation to keep their heads up. "rock children hold your heads up high in the night." this song gives great meaning to upcoming bands who really dont see fame at any level for years possibly decades.