"Strange Times" is the first single from

The Black Keys The Black Keys are an American rock duo formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. The group consists of Dan Auerbach (guitar, vocals) and Patrick Carney (drums). The duo began as an independent act, recording music in basements and self-producing their ...

' album ''

Attack & Release ''Attack & Release'' is the fifth studio album by American rock duo The Black Keys. It was produced by Danger Mouse and was released on April 1, 2008. The sessions saw the band transitioning away from their "homemade" ethos to record-making; not ...

''. It was released March 24, 2008. The song has been featured in the popular video game ''

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'' on the in-game radio station "Radio Broker", and has reached number 40 on US Modern Rock Radio Airplay charts. It is also in the game ''

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'' and released as part of the band's three-song pack for the ''

Rock Band A rock band or pop band is a small musical ensemble that performs rock music, pop music, or a related genre. A four-piece band is the most common configuration in rock and pop music. In the early years, the configuration was typically two guita ...

'' series. The song was also used in the promo commercials for the third season of ''

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'' and though discernibly similar, is not the track heard in the opening credits of

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which is credited to Justin Tracy. Also, the song is used occasionally as bumper music for American sports talk radio program ''

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''. The song also appears in the 2011 video game '' Driver: San Francisco''. In the last verse, a girl named Sadie is mentioned. It's suggested that this is a reference to

Dan Auerbach Daniel Quine Auerbach (; born May 14, 1979) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer, best known as the guitarist and vocalist of The Black Keys, a blues rock band from Akron, Ohio. As a member of the group, Auerbach has ...

's young daughter, Sadie Little Auerbach, who was born in 2008. : "Sadie, dry your tears, : I will be the one, : To pull you through the mere, : Before you come, before you come undone."

Music video

The music video was directed by

Lance Bangs Lance Bangs (born September 4, 1972) is an American filmmaker and music video director. He has created videos for Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Neutral Milk Hotel, Green Day, Arcade Fire, The Shins, The Thermals, Belle & Sebastian, Menomena, Yeah Yeah ...

and it features Dan and Patrick of The Black Keys playing laser tag against a few unsuspecting teenagers. After a few moments of fighting, the teens come to the realization that Dan and Patrick are using actual lasers to play. The video ends with the teenagers running away from the laser tag attraction, with an explosion erupting out of the exit after they leave (the explosion being caused by a bomb that was planted by the duo).

Track listing

7-inch version #"Strange Times" #"Something On Your Mind" (Dino Valenti)

Personnel

*Dan Auerbach – vocals, guitar *Patrick Carney – drums *Danger Mouse – bass, keyboards

References

{{Authority control The Black Keys songs 2008 singles Song recordings produced by Danger Mouse (musician) Songs written by Dan Auerbach Songs written by Patrick Carney V2 Records singles 2008 songs Music videos directed by Lance Bangs