Stockholm Syndrome (song)

Stockholm Syndrome

Muse song
Name	Stockholm Syndrome
Album/single	Absolution (5), Stockholm Syndrome download, US promo (1,2) » Absolution Sampler (2) Australian Bonus Disc (1) Absolution Tour extras (15)
Length	4:58, 4:06 (radio edit)
Alternative titles	De-tuned Riff, New D
First live performance	29th August 2003 (full) - 2nd November 2001 (riff)
Latest live performance	-
Recorded	Grouse Lodge, Rosemount, 2003
Writer/composer	Matthew Bellamy
Producer	Rich Costey
Chart position	31 (GB Download)

<flashmp3>http://www.musewiki.org/images/StockholmSyndrome.mp3%7Crightbg=0xDDEEFF%7Cleftbg=0xDDEEFF%7Cbg=0xFFFFFF</flashmp3>

Song Nav
Sing for Absolution	<	Stockholm Syndrome	>	Falling Away with You

Description

While this song was written on piano by Matthew Bellamy, it was recorded on both guitar and synths. Matt then mixed both of the sounds together. The main riff was inspired by System of a Down.[source?] Standard set closer throughout the Absolution tour and sometimes during the Black Holes and Revelations tour. Usually multiple riffs are played after the song. An example of this is the L.A Staples Centre Gig in which more than eight riffs were played after Stockholm Syndrome.

Additional information

The syndrome is named after the Norrmalmstorg robbery of Kreditbanken at Norrmalmstorg, Stockholm in which the bank robbers held bank employees hostage from August 23 to August 28, 1973. In this case, the victims became emotionally attached to, and even defended, their captors after they were freed from their six-day ordeal. The term was coined by the criminologist and psychologist Nils Bejerot, who assisted the police during the robbery, and referred to the syndrome in a news broadcast. The majority of the hostages were okay, but one of them committed suicide and another changed his name to that of one of his captors and disappeared.

This song was first written by Matt on the piano, before being played on the guitar.

The song was added to Guitar Hero 3 on 8th May 2008 along with Supermassive Black Hole and Exo-Politics as part of a Muse track pack.

A cover of this song is featured on the String Quartet Tribute to Muse.

The effect that Matt uses on this song live on H.A.A.R.P (which he kicks on after the second chorus) is what's known as 'zero-through flange'; which, incidentally, is the earliest form of flange, back when recording engineers were pinching the actual tape to get the effect. However, zero-through flange is available on very few conventional flanger pedals. Matt achieves this effect by using his TC Electronic G Major (this effect is also available on the TC Electronic Vortex flanger, for those of you who want to replicate the sound at a much cheaper price).

Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater covered the intro on his drumming focused ‘‘In Constant Motion‘‘ DVD (watch)

Played backwards

<flashmp3>http://www.musewiki.org/images/Inverted_Stockholm_Syndrome_Refrain.mp3%7Crightbg=0xDDEEFF%7Cleftbg=0xDDEEFF%7Cbg=0xFFFFFF</flashmp3>
When the chorus is played backwards, it sounds something like "You can't see me, we sneak off. I lost to love. Please ... save the night wind and high above, I lost to love. Sing, save". Allegedly.

Lyrics

I won't stand in your way

Let your hatred grow And she'll scream and she'll shout and she'll pray And she had a name, yeah she had a name

I won't hold you back Let your anger rise And we'll fly and we'll fall and we'll burn No one will recall, no one will recall

This is the last time I'll abandon you And this is The last time I'll forget you I wish I could

Look to the stars Let hope burn in your eyes And we'll love and we'll hate and we'll die All to no avail, all to no avail

This is the last time I'll abandon you And this is The last time I'll forget you I wish I could

This is the last time I'll abandon you And this is The last time I'll forget you I wish I could I wish I could

See also

• Stockholm Syndrome video
• Media use of Stockholm Syndrome
• Stockholm Syndrome tablature

Go back to Absolution