Madness (Muse song)
| "Madness" | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Single by Muse | ||||||||||||||||||
| from the album The 2nd Law | ||||||||||||||||||
| Released | 20 August 2012 | |||||||||||||||||
| Format | Digital download | |||||||||||||||||
| Recorded | 2012 | |||||||||||||||||
| Genre | Electronic rock, synthpop | |||||||||||||||||
| Length |
4:39 (Album version) 3:34 (Radio edit) | |||||||||||||||||
| Label | Warner Bros., Helium-3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Matthew Bellamy | |||||||||||||||||
| Producer(s) | Muse | |||||||||||||||||
| Muse singles chronology | ||||||||||||||||||
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"Madness" is a song by English alternative rock band Muse. It is the second track on the band's sixth studio album, The 2nd Law and is the second and lead single to be released from the album. It has spent 19 weeks on the summit of Billboard's Alternative chart, making it the longest running #1 on the chart, and beating out the previous record by Foo Fighters' "The Pretender".
The song was released on 20 August 2012 after its premiere on BBC Radio 1 and NRJ. The music video premiered on 5 September 2012.[1][2] The song earned a nomination in the Best Rock Song category at the 2013 Grammy Awards.
The band performed the song on Turner Broadcasting's promotions for the 2013 March Madness games on TBS and TNT.
"Madness" has been featured in several television programs including CSI: NY and Criminal Minds.
Background and writing
According to NME, "Madness" draws influences from Queen's "I Want to Break Free", George Michael's "Faith" and some instrumental elements of his other hit "I Want Your Sex".[3]
During a preview on French site Jeuxactu, the song was said to resemble Depeche Mode and described as 'calm, languid and sweet'.[4]
Matthew Bellamy stated that the song started as a personal reflection after a fight with his girlfriend, Kate Hudson; and how, after she had gone to her mother's house, he began to realise "yeah, she was right, wasn't she?"[5]
In a separate interview, Bellamy stated the song was the band's attempt to strip down the sound of the album, and that the song has its roots in 12 bar blues with gospel, soul and R&B influences. He went on to conclude that, "It's the song I'm probably most proud of on the album for sure."[6]
Music video
This video saw the second collaboration between the band and director Anthony Mandler, who previously directed the music video for "Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)". It was edited by Jacquelyn London.[7][8] The director of photography was David Devlin. Devlin's work on "Madness" was nominated for a 2012 Best Cinematography Award at Plus Camerimage.[9] The video was filmed on the Red Line platform at Los Angeles Union Station.[10] The two main characters are played by models Erin Wasson and Max Silberman.
The video begins with Wasson and Silberman sitting behind each other smoking cigarettes while authorities and dogs swarming outside their train attempt to stop a riot in full swing. Throughout the video, the camera flashes to the band playing outdoors at night, among many strobelights and psychedelic effects. Though the chronological order is unclear, Wasson and Silberman are then seen walking through and then wandering among the subway station, at first alone and then amid a violent riot (though it seems they are untouched by the violence occurring around them). The physicality of the models (Wasson occasionally standing above or walking away from Silberman; other times following him and reaching for him) could suggest a parallel to the subject matter of the song: the emotional phases of conflict in a relationship.[11] Eventually, as the song builds to a climax with the lines I have finally realized (realized) / I need your love / I need your love,[12] Wasson grabs Silberman forcefully by his collar and shakes him, screaming soundlessly. This again parallels the simultaneous emotional release and musical catharsis in the song, as well as the long-awaited progression and revelation in the lyrics as Bellamy at last sings of what he has realized. The characters then kiss and end up seated on the train, seemingly back to their original positions. This could also signify that this emotional exchange is repetitive.
Release and reception
The song was released after its premiere on BBC Radio 1 at 19:30 GMT on 20 August 2012. An accompanying lyric video from the band was uploaded shortly after.[13]
NME described the song as "taking the defining noise of 'bass music' and using it to create slinky, soft rock sex music." [14] The track review goes on to call it a brilliant single and jokingly states that Muse have tamed the shark (following their declaration that Muse had jumped the shark with "Survival").[15] Diffuser.fm noted that the single "doesn't sound like the Muse that established itself as one of the worlds biggest rock bands" but that "the unusual blend of sounds works far better than it probably should"; giving the track 8/10.[16] Rolling Stone stated that the single sees Muse "swap bombastic bass brutality with wubby subtleties as Matthew Bellamy croons over a surprisingly gentle pop track."[17] Radio Times described it as "like George Michael's Faith underwater". In a negative review of the song, Robert Myers of The Village Voice wrote that "the band's U2 imitation has finally caught up to Achtung Baby and Zooropa". He further added that Muse "gets the surface details right but lacks the emotional and intellectual foundation to get at their inspiration's essence."[18]
Rolling Stone Magazine named the song the 37th best song of 2012.[19]
Chris Martin of Coldplay described the single as "Muse's best song yet".[20]
The song re-entered and peaked at #45 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its 27th week. It topped the Alternative Songs chart for 19 weeks, making it the song with the most weeks at number one ever on that chart.
Track listing
| Digital download | ||||||||||
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| No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
| 1. | "Madness" | 4:39 | ||||||||
| UK promotional single | ||||||||||
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| No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
| 1. | "Madness" (Radio Edit) | 3:34 | ||||||||
| 2. | "Madness" (Album Version) | 4:39 | ||||||||
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Certifications
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See also
- List of number-one Billboard Alternative Songs of 2012
- List of number-one Billboard Alternative Songs of 2013
References
- ↑ "Madness video coming tomorrow, sneak preview here". Muse.mu. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
- ↑ "Watch Muse new video Madness". Rekwired. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
- ↑ "The 2nd Law - Album Summary - News". Muselive. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ↑ "Muse : on a écouté The 2nd Law en avant-première". Musique.jeuxactu.com. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ↑ "Muse reveal new single Madness inspired by fight with Kate Hudson". Metro.co.uk. 2012-08-17. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ↑ "Muse The 2nd Law Interview | Madness". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ↑ London, Jacquelyn. "MUSE 'MADNESS' VIDEOSTATIC". VIDEOSTATIC.
- ↑ http://www.sunsetedit.com/london.html
- ↑ Devlin, David. "MUSE 'MADNESS' VIDEOSTATIC". VIDEOSTATIC.
- ↑ Chan, Anna. "Muse music video: "madness" on the subway".
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ "Muse - Madness (Lyric Video)". YouTube. 2012-08-20. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ↑ "NME Track Reviews - Muse – ‘Madness’". Nme.Com. 2012-08-20. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ↑ "Have Muse Jumped The Shark With Their Olympics Track?". NME. 2009-12-09. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ↑ "Muse, ‘Madness’ – Song Review". Diffuser.fm. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ↑ "New and Hot Video: Muse Unveil Subtle New Single 'Madness'". Rolling Stone. 2012-08-20. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ↑ Myers, Robert (30 August 2012). "Hot 100 Roundup: Eric Church And Luke Bryan Milk It, Eminem Gets Silly, And More". The Village Voice. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-songs-of-2012-20121205/muse-madness-19691231
- ↑ NME website (22 August 2012). "Chris Martin: 'Muse's new single 'Madness' is their best song ever' Read more at http://www.nme.com/news/coldplay/65674#iQ1XfUOq5XmsdP8K.99". NME. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
- ↑ "Chartifacts". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/311949/muse/chart?f=793
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ "Icelandic Singles Chart". Tonlist.is. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
- ↑ "Top 100 Singles - Week ending 23rd August 2012". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 24 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- ↑ "Top Digital Download - Classifica settimanale WK 40 (dal 01/10/2012 al 07/10/2012)" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ↑ "Chart Search Results - Japan Hot 100 Singles 2012-10-13". Billboard.biz. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ↑ "Portugal Digital Songs - Peak". Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ↑ "Search: Gaon International Download Chart - Issue date: 2012.08.19 - 2012.08.25". Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/45/2012-10-13//
- ↑ "Nuevas Esta Semana]]". Record Report (in Spanish). R.R. Digital C.A. 2013-02-02. Archived from the original on 2012-02-01.
- ↑ "Annual 2012 - Singles". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 2012-12-24.
- ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Muse – Madness". Music Canada.
- ↑ "Italian single certifications – Muse – Madness" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Select Online in the field Scegli la sezione. Select Week -- and Year ----. Enter Muse in the field Artista. Click Avvia la ricerca
- ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Muse; 'Madness')". Hung Medien.
- ↑ "American single certifications – Muse – Madness". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
- ↑ Paul Grein (3 April 2013). "Week Ending March 31, 2013. Songs: "Thrift Shop" Sets First Quarter Record". Yahoo Music (Chart Watch). Retrieved 10 April 2013.
External links
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