Bliss (song)

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Muse song
Name Bliss
Album/single
Length 4:12, 4:36 (Bliss singles), 4:54 (unmastered), 4:15 (XX Anniversary RemiXX)
Alternative titles New New 1, Content
First live performance 18th August 2000
Latest live performance
Recorded Ridge Farm Studios Surrey, 2000/2001
Writer/composer Matthew Bellamy
Producer David Bottrill
Chart position 22


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Description

Live song that was played towards the end of each set. Standard set closer between the releases of Origin of Symmetry and Absolution. During some live performances, the band played an Extended version in which the main riff is repeated and mixed with some improvisation. This can be seen in the Hullabaloo DVD. The song made made occasional appearances during the Black Holes and Revelations Tour and The Resistance Tour but was played regularly during the The 2nd Law and Drones Tours. Bellamy occasionally goes up an octave for the first half of the final chorus, an example being at Live 8 2005 and at Reading 2011

Matthew Bellamy's definition of Bliss

"This is probably the most positive track, the most truly embracing song. It's almost in awe of the situation I've been given, because it's a state of mind were you give out everything you have without any need for return. It's also a song aimed towards some-one's youth, someone who hasn't been exposed to stuff yet"[1]

Composition

Bliss is an electronic rock song that moves at a fast tempo of 129 bpm. The song begins and ends with piano arpeggios, but the majority of the song is synth-driven. Bellamy's vocal range spans from F3 to E5, except for live performances, where he sometimes hits G5 in the last chorus. The song is mostly written in the key of C minor, shifting to C major for the chorus.

Matt mentioned that "The Crystal Lake" by Grandaddy was one of the best things he heard back in 2000[2], the synths being very similar in songs like Shine; it seems that Matt decided to use an arpeggio synth inspired by the song in the same way, resulting in an unique sounding piece.

Additional information

Bliss is the song that represents the best state of mind you can have. It’s a state of mind where you give out everything you have without any need for return. It's also a song aimed towards someone’s youth, someone who hasn’t been exposed to stuff yet. However it should be a positive song, the lyrics give the impression that you're envy on a person and you want to be just like him/her because s/he looks perfect to you and you're not.

Matt Bellamy has stated that Bliss is his favorite song "because it's got all these 80s arpeggios and keyboards on it which remind me of some music I heard on some children’s music programme when I was five. I think I ripped it off that. And that reminds me of when I was a bit simpler, a bit more of a pleasant state."[3]

Received its first airing at the Bizarre Festival in Germany in 2000, without guitars, mostly bass led and featuring reversed lyrics and a somewhat erratic keyboard, sounding similar to the music of an old arcade game. A second version featuring guitars debuted early 2001, though the riff is different to the album version.

The album version was recorded in the shroomed-up Dave Bottrill sessions.

Sometimes when the song is sung live, Bellamy begins the final chorus with a wailing falsetto and continues it into the first line, before singing the final two lines in the chorus in his normal register.

Alternate versions

The Origin of Symmetry Unmastered Promos contain an unmastered, extended version of Bliss which has a longer outro. A mastered extended version can be found on each of the Bliss singles, including the CD in the Japanese Hyper Music Box Set.

The unmastered version is actually only 4:36 long (just like the version on the singles). The length of 4:54 on the unmastered version is due to a long pause after the longer arpeggios are completely faded out.

Remixes

One Bliss remix, the "Spaced Out mix", was created by a user on the official boards with an alias of "Chocolate Muse". This differs a lot to the original version, featuring spaced out vocals, a robotic voice, and is generally very electronic.

Live

Bliss was originally played live in 2000 in the form of a very early keyboard-based song. Bliss would rotate between being played on keyboards and guitar until the end of the year. Though only performed live for less than a month in 2000, Bliss would continue to be worked on over the course of every performance. Acting as the outro to almost every concert of the entire Origin of Symmetry tour, Bliss was never skipped unless it was a promotional gig. It remained a part of nearly every setlist throughout 2003 before finally being skipped at a few dates in 2004. Bliss on the Origin of Symmetry tour could sometimes last up to seven minutes at certain concerts. Between 2004 and 2006 Bliss would remain at most setlists, though the band would sometimes skip the song for extended periods of time such as the 2004 Curiosa tour. 2006 would be the last year Bliss was routinely performed live at most concerts.

More here

Lyrics

Everything about you is how I'd wanna be

Your freedom comes naturally Everything about you resonates happiness Now I won't settle for less

Give me All the peace and joy in your mind

Everything about you pains my envying Your soul can't hate anything Everything about you is so easy to love They're watching you from above

Give me All the peace and joy in your mind I want the peace and joy in your mind Give me the peace and joy in your mind

Everything about you resonates happiness Now I won't settle for less

Give me all the peace and joy in your mind I want the peace and joy in your mind Give me the peace and joy in your mind

Alternative lyrics

Everything about you pains my envying

Your soul can't hate anything Everything about you resonates happiness Now I won't settle for less

Peace and joy in your mind I want the peace and joy in your mind Give me peace and joy in your mind I want the peace and the joy in your mind

Everything about you is how I wanna be Your freedom comes naturally Everything about you resonates happiness Now I won't settle for less

Peace and joy in your mind I want the peace and joy in your mind Give me peace and joy in your mind I want the peace and the joy in your mind

Peace and joy in your mind Peace and joy in your mind Peace ... ooh.

Firs live performance (Bizzare Festival 2000 [1]) Lyrics

Everything about you pains my envying

Your soul can't hate anything Everything about you resonates happiness Now I won't settle for less

Peace and joy in your mind I want the peace and joy in your mind Give me peace and joy in your mind I want the peace and the joy in your mind, uuuuaaahh!

Everything about you is what I wanna be Your freedom comes naturally Everything about you is so easy to love They're watching you from above

Peace and joy in your mind I want the peace and joy in your mind Give me peace and joy in your mind I want the peace and the joy in your mind, uuuuaaahhh!

Peace and joy in your mind, uuuaaahhh (Matt just sings)

"Ha ha ha. Yeah, we've never played that ever before."

References

  1. Rock Sound - 2001
  2. Muse Review This Week's Singles (2000-06). Melody Maker.
  3. NME - Muse Interview - 06/16/2001

See also


Go back to Origin of Symmetry