Plug In Baby
"Plug In Baby" is a song by English alternative rock band Muse, featured on their 2001 second studio album Origin of Symmetry. Released as the lead single from the album on 5 March 2001, "Plug In Baby" became the band's highest-charting single when it peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart, until it was surpassed by "Time Is Running Out", which peaked at number 8 in 2003.[1] Today, "Plug In Baby" is considered one of Muse's most notable songs, and has been featured on the live albums Hullabaloo Soundtrack (2002) and HAARP (2008). "Plug In Baby" is often praised for its opening guitar riff which Total Guitar magazine readers voted as the #1 ultimate guitar riff of the 2000s.[2]
Background and composition
"Plug In Baby" is an electronic rock song written in the key of D Major (Although the song does not begin or end on the tonic chord of the key). It's mainly guitar and bass-driven, and moves at a tempo of 135 bpm. The guitar riff is based on the harmonic minor scale. The song was first recorded as a demo in 1997, although it featured a different guitar riff. The beginning of the riff shows similarities to the toccata from Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565". Total Guitar voted the riff as the 13th best of all-time in 2004.[3] In 2011, Spinner.com named "Plug In Baby" the 46th greatest guitar riff of all time, citing its "play on Bach's 'Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565'."
Recording
The 1997 studio demo of the song lacked the main riff of the song, although there were numerous similarities in the lyrics and structure. "Plug In Baby" was to be re-recorded under the wishes of Maverick to coincide with the US tour promoting the Origin of Symmetry album.[4] As Maverick wished Matt to tone down the falsetto on the song, Muse left the label and "Plug In Baby", as well as the rest of the album, remained unreleased in the US until 2005.
Music video
The music video depicts the band in a room playing their instruments, with cut-aways to scenes of women, which step by step are revealed to be at least part bionic with tendrils hanging down. These connect to the title 'plug in baby' connecting the women to be electronic 'creations', or a sort of self-assembly beings. The video also has some scenes with electronic equipment affecting women who use them, one being a hairdryer and the other a set of ear phones, both leading to visual indications that they are somehow under control or possibly even being possessed. The end shows the lead singer of the band Matt Bellamy paused in a stress pose, in a way that looks like he has 'powered down' at the end of the song, again linking to the idea of bionic beings that the video has played with the whole way through.
Media
The song has been featured on the video-games Guitar Hero 5 and Rocksmith.
Track listings
UK Single
|
|
1. |
"Plug In Baby" |
3:39 |
2. |
"Nature_1" |
3:40 |
3. |
"Execution Commentary" |
2:30 |
4. |
"Plug In Baby" (music video)" |
3:41 |
|
|
1. |
"Plug In Baby" |
3:41 |
2. |
"Spiral Static" |
4:46 |
3. |
"Bedroom Acoustics" |
2:37 |
|
|
1. |
"Plug In Baby" |
3:39 |
2. |
"Nature_1" |
3:40 |
International Singles
|
|
1. |
"Plug In Baby" |
3:39 |
2. |
"Nature_1" |
3:40 |
3. |
"Execution Commentary" |
2:30 |
4. |
"Spiral Static" |
4:46 |
5. |
"Bedroom Acoustics" |
2:37 |
- Belgium Compact Disc (PIAS 481.2006.179)
- "Plug In Baby" – 3:39
- "Nature_1" – 3:40
- "Spiral Static" – 4:44
- "Plug In Baby" (music video) – 3:39
- Japan CD (Avex AVCM-65063)
- "Plug In Baby" – 3:39
- "Nature_1" – 3:40
- "Execution Commentary" – 2:30
- "Bedroom Acoustics" – 2:35
- "Plug In Baby" – 3:18
Other versions
- Lovedrug included a recording of Plug In Baby on the fan-chosen covers album from the I AM LOVEDRUG campaign.[4] The album, titled "Best of I AM LOVEDRUG"[5] was released 28 June 2011.[6]
Personnel
- Muse
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- Additional personnel
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Footnotes
External links
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Book:Muse
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Category:Muse
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Portal:Music
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