Intro music
These may be included within set-lists by using various templates, which are listed here.
Recordings played back on tape as an introduction, shortly prior to Muse going on stage or sometimes as audio fillers inbetween sets.
What's He Building?
| Intro Music | |
|---|---|
| Name | What's He Building? |
| Artist | Tom Waits |
| Length | 3:20 |
| Album | Mule Variations (not by Muse) |
| Writer/composer | Tom Waits |
| Appearance | 13th Januray 2000-Unknown ; 7th October 2001-2nd December 2001 ; August 26th 2011 & August 28th, 2011 ; 13th August 2013 ; 2nd July 2016 |
Originally by Tom Waits, it's an atmospheric song that described some noisy neighbours he once had. The song was used as an intro during the Origin of Symmetry era as a set opener. It's most notable use is during their Hullabaloo gigs in 2001, and also at their Reading and Leeds gigs in 2011.
It was also played as a pre-encore song at the infamous Tokyo Zepp and Montreux Jazz Festival gigs in 2013 and 2016 respectively.
- Lyrics »
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What's he building in there?
What the hell is he building In there? He has subscriptions to those Magazines... He never Waves when he goes by He's hiding something from The rest of us... He's all To himself... I think I know Why... He took down the Tire swing from the Peppertree He has no children of his Own you see... He has no dog And he has no friends and His lawn is dying... and What about all those packages He sends. What's he building in there? With that hook light On the stairs. What's he building In there... I'll tell you one thing He's not building a playhouse for The children what's he building In there?
Now what's that sound from under the door? He's pounding nails into a Hardwood floor... and I Swear to god I heard someone Moaning low... and I keep Seeing the blue light of a T.V. show... He has a router And a table saw... and you Won't believe what Mr. Sticha saw There's poison underneath the sink Of course... But there's also Enough formaldehyde to choke A horse... What's he building In there. What the hell is he Building in there? I heard he Has an ex-wife in some place Called Mayors Income, Tennessee And he used to have a consulting business in Indonesia... but what is he building in there? What the hell is building in there?
He has no friends But he gets a lot of mail I'll bet he spent a little Time in jail... I heard he was up on the Roof last night Signaling with a flashlight And what's that tune he's Always whistling... What's he building in there? What's he building in there?
We have a right to know...
Dance of the Knights/Montagues and Capulets
| Intro Music | |
|---|---|
| Name | Dance of the Knights |
| Artist | Sergei Prokofiev |
| Length | 1:44 |
| Album | H.A.A.R.P. (1) |
| Writer/composer | Sergei Prokofiev |
| Appearance | 16th June 2007 - 13th April 2011 ; 6th March 2016 - 21st June 2016 |
Montagues and Capulets - also known as Dance of the Knights - was used as a playback introduction to Knights of Cydonia during the 2007 stadium leg. It is a classical piece with a predominant string section. You may recognise it as the theme tune to the BBC's The Apprentice. It can be seen here, along with Knights of Cydonia. You can find a live version here. (Flac format, Live at Nimes Arena)
The piece returned as intro music for the European leg of the Drones World Tour (excluding their performances in Paris), where it was used to acompany the arrival of the Drones police right before the show starts (watch)
JFK Speech
| Intro Music | |
|---|---|
| Name | JFK Speech |
| Artist | John F. Kennedy |
| Length | 0:54 (Album Version) |
| Album | Drones |
| Writer/composer | Ted Sorensen |
| Appearance | 2007, 2015-2016, 2023 |
John F. Kennedy's speech appeared as an intro at some gigs in 2007 as heard in the clip above, played either at the start of the show or the start of the encore.
In 2015, Muse bought the rights to use the song in the album Drones as an intro to Defector, with a string arrangement playing in the background. They titled it JFK. The speech was significantly shorter than the 2007 version.
It was used as an interlude throughout the majority of gigs in 2015 and 2016. The songs played after JFL included; Uprising, Revolt, Reapers, Stockholm Syndrome, Hysteria, Assassin, and (much later into the tour) Defector as on the album. Like the 2007 version, the visuals display the spoken words.
JFK returned to setlists in 2023. This time the speech was combined with the Simulation Theory Theme, and was played at the start of the encore as an intro to Kill or Be Killed
- Lyrics »
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The very word "secrecy" is repugnant in a free and open society
And we are as a people inherently and historically Opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings.
For we are opposed around the world
By a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy That relies primarily on covert means For expanding its sphere of influence
On infiltration instead of invasion On subversion instead of elections On intimidation instead of free choice
It is a system which has conscripted Vast human and material resources Into the building of a tightly knit Highly efficient machine that combines military, diplomatic Intelligence, economic, scientific and political operations. Its preparations are concealed, not published. Its mistakes are buried, not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised.
No expendature is questioned No secret is revealed. That is why the Athenian lawmaker Solon Decreded it a crime for any citizen to shrink from controversy.
I am asking your help In the tremendous task of informing and alerting the American people. Confident that with your help Man will be what he was born to be: Free and independent.
We Are the Universe/Riot Intro
| Intro Music | |
|---|---|
| Name | We Are the Universe (Intro) |
| Artist | Original |
| Length | 2:57 or 1:41 |
| Album | - |
| Writer/composer | Matt Bellamy |
| Appearance | 22nd October 2009 - 28th August 2011 |
Version 1: Click here to listen
Version 2: Click here to listen
We Are the Universe is an intro piece used during The Resistance arena and stadium tours.
Two versions were made. Version one, for indoor arena shows, consists mostly of synth arpeggios and a slowed-down version of the synth in Uprising. Version two, for outdoor shows (stadium and festival gigs), consists of riot noises of protestors, police and pyro/bombs. This second version is also known as "Riot Intro".
Both versions include the following lines (in version one they're spoken by a female robotic voice, while in version two they're spoken by a protestor yelling them in a megaphone):
- Lyrics »
-
We are
the universe observing itself observing itself
We are the universe observing itself observing itself
We are the universe observing itself observing itself
We are the universe destroying itself destroying itself destroying itself
The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics/Bomb Intro
| Intro Music | |
|---|---|
| Name | The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics |
| Artist | Original (featuring Katie Razzall) |
| Length | 0:52 |
| Album | - |
| Writer/composer | Matt Bellamy |
| Appearance | 22nd May 2013- 27th July 2013 |
Theis intro was spec features speech about the second law of thermodynamics taken from The 2nd Law: Unsustainable. It was specially modified with the speech and the robot voice isolated from the song. There is only the first verse of the speech and the first "Unsustainable" pronounced by the robot, then there is an explosion that leads to Supremacy, which has a longer intro. It was used for the The Unsustainable Tour in 2013, for the Stadium gigs. It is also referred as the "Bomb Intro".
- Lyrics »
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All natural and technological processes
proceed in such a way that the availability of the remaining energy decreases.
In all energy exchanges, if no energy enters or leaves an isolated system, the entropy of that system increases
Energy continuously flows from being concentrated to becoming dispersed, spread out, wasted and useless.
New energy cannot be created and high-grade energy is being destroyed.
An economy based on endless growth is
Unsustainable
Drones
| Intro Music | |
|---|---|
| Name | Drones |
| Artist | Original |
| Length | 2:49 |
| Album | Drones |
| Writer/composer | Matt Bellamy |
| Appearance | The Drones World Tour 2015/16 |
The song Drones from the album of the same name was used as an intro to The Drones World Tour 2015/16, played before Psycho and sometimes Reapers.
During the song at arena gigs, the song was accompanied by a choreographed performance of HFOs (drones). The visuals displayed the words of the lyrics.
SFX Intro
| Intro Music | |
|---|---|
| Name | SFX Intro |
| Artist | Original |
| Length | 0:55 |
| Album | - |
| Writer/composer | Matt Bellamy |
| Appearance | 20th May 2017 - 21st September 2018 |
The intro was used in 2017 and 2018 before Dig Down.
It features various abstract sound effects, what appears to be kaoss pad noises, and some very faint and warped radio transmitions, which build-up into a quick ending.
Behold, The Glove
| Intro Music | |
|---|---|
| Name | Behold, The Glove |
| Artist | Original |
| Length | 1:22 |
| Album | Simulation Theory Film (deluxe cassette) |
| Writer/composer | Matt Bellamy |
| Appearance | Simulation Theory Tour (shortened) |
The segway piece was originally called STT Interstitial 2 before being released under it's official name in 2020, after the release of the Simulation Theory Film, where it has been included in the OST.
A very Tron-like song, the shortened version was used during the Simulation Theory Tour in 2019, between February 22nd in Houston and October 5th in Lima.
Simulation Theory Theme
| Intro Music | |
|---|---|
| Name | Simulation Theory Theme |
| Artist | Original |
| Length | 0:53 & 01:00 |
| Album | Simulation Theory Film (deluxe cassette) |
| Writer/composer | Matt Bellamy |
| Appearance | Simulation Theory Tour (shortened) |
Click here to listen (STT Interstitial 1)
Click here to listen (STT Interstitial 3)
Originally called STT Interstitial 1 and 3, the official song, released in 2020, after the release of the Simulation Theory Film, where it has, like Behold, The Glove, been part of the OST, includes two distinct parts.
The shortened versions of the song, and it's two parts, were used as intros to Madness (STT Interstitial 1) during the whole tour (and before Pressure in a few shorter sets) and Metal medley (STT Interstitial 3) starting from the Phoenix gig.