Spiral Static (song)

Muse song
Name	Spiral Static
Album/single	Showbiz Remastered (10) » Showbiz JP (10) Plug In Baby CD2 (2) 1997 demo (2)
Length	4:43
Alternative titles	Unknown
First live performance	≤1997
Latest live performance	Unknown
Recorded	1997 (1997 demo), 1999
Writer/composer	Matthew Bellamy
Producer	John Leckie

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Description

One of the darker Muse tracks of the Showbiz era.

Information

First demoed in 1997. The band recorded it and the rest of Showbiz with Spiral Static thought to be on the album, however there were difficulties with recording vocals. In the end the band scrapped it, but the record label wanted to put it as a bonus track on the Japanese album. As such, it was re-recorded and finished on January 21, 2000 in London with Leckie and released as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of Showbiz. Matt was quoted saying that he felt the album was much more complete with it on the album. It was later released as the b-side to "Plug In Baby", a song which was also first recorded with "Spiral Static" in 1997.

Early versions were played before the release of the first EPs and Showbiz with different lyrics and the verse sung an octave higher. The studio version also has Matt singing his lowest full note to date, and in turn Spiral Static displays the greatest vocal range out of all of Muse's songs, consisting of nearly three octaves (A2 up to G5). When played live, the intro has similarities to "Grace" by Jeff Buckley.

Interpretation

Spiral static is the calm before the storm that swells and explodes. Matt revealed the meaning of the song has something to do with giving birth.

Live

Spiral Static, although being released on both Showbiz and Origin-era material, has not been performed since 1997. The two gigs with known setlists in 1997 both feature Spiral Static, possibly indicating that it was commonly played at that time. These are the only two known performances of the song.

The song, alongside Map of Your Head, was supposed to be played in the October 2001 tour, but for whatever reason it was left out.

More here

Lyrics

Who's ever known

How much to moan and groan And quiver inside He needs to give you Everything you need Is it enough

You're running out of time As it grows in your eye You'll feel Broken inside, you'll feel

Sigh, static moans A storm growing strong And it's coming my way Still she gives you Everything you need Is it enough

You're running out of time As it grows in your eye You'll feel Broken inside, you'll feel And I'll feel Broken inside, you'll feel

Broken inside, you'll feel ...

Demo

You've never known

How much you moan and groan When she's on you

She gives you Everything you need Is it enough?

You're running out of time As it grows in her mind

She's my kind of girl And you should know That I'll take her away

You've been waiting too long Waiting for the wrongs To just disappear

Still she gives you Everything you need It's not enough

You're running out of time As it grows in her mind

She's my kind of girl And you should know That I'll take her away She's my kind of girl And you should know That I'll take her away

Quotes

• "in the various sessions with john leckie, we recorded 13 songs. we only finished 12 because i had difficulty singing this song, and so abandoned it. anyway... the album is about to come out in japan (march i think) and they want to put it on as a bonus track. today i finally finished the song with john, and so it will appear on the japanese album. it`s called `spiral static` .. i think. and the album is defianately more complete with it."
  Matt talking about the studio recording of the song, 01/21/2000.

See also

• Spiral Static tablature

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