Plug In Baby (song)
| Muse song | |
|---|---|
| Name | Plug In Baby |
| Album/single |
|
| Length | 3:40 |
| Alternative titles | - |
| First live performance | 6th January 2000 |
| Latest live performance | 5th September 2009 |
| Recorded | Ridge Farm Studios Surrey, 2001 |
| Writer/composer | Matthew Bellamy |
| Producer | David Bottrill |
| Chart position | 11 |
<flashmp3>http://www.musewiki.org/images/PlugInBaby.mp3%7Crightbg=0xDDEEFF%7Cleftbg=0xDDEEFF%7Cbg=0xFFFFFF</flashmp3>
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Description
The song is a semi-fear about the evolution of technology and how it appears to be evolving faster than we are.
Additional information
Bellamy was apparently on magic mushrooms when he recorded it. It is also rumoured that the meaning of the song is his love for his guitar, or it could be criticizing todays new technologies such as the internet, which are supposed to be encouraging people to communicate when it really separates them.
Although on the album Origin of Symmetry the song begins with a crossfade from the end of previous track "Hyper Music", the version found on the single contains a 'clean' introduction. Likewise, the single version of "Hyper Music" has a clean ending.
"Plug In Baby" was to be re-recorded under the wishes of Maverick to coincide with an US tour promoting Origin of Symmetry.[1] 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. It is unknown if Muse did re-record "Plug In Baby" and whether this version still exists.
In an interview with James Matheison at the [V]HQ, Bent St, Sydney, in 2004, Matt momentarily forgets the meaning of Plug In Baby.
Fan: Umm, hi. This is going back a bit, but the song "Plug In Baby" - what is that about?
Matt: Ah, shit. (laughs)
Dom: You're on now.
Matt: Umm... (laughs) Uh, I can't remember now. (Dom and Chris laugh at Matt) Umm, what is it? I read- I read some book about like- uh, I don't know what it was. Something to do with, umm... co- like, uhh... bo-bots, kind of... dunno, can't remember anymore, hold on. What was it? My plug in baby, uhmm... I'm so- I'm sorry, I don't know. I can't remember. Sorry.
James: Was it about you, uh, travelling around the world, and you've got-?
Matt: It's- It's all random, it just comes out- I mean, it's random, I've got no idea what I'm singing about at all, sorry. It's just like- It's just kind of like, write a few chords and that, and then just... improvise a few words, and just hope it means something. It does mean something! Trust me. But I can't work it out myself. 'Cause I'm subjective, you see. So I can't actually quite work it out, that's for you lot to work out. (laughs)
James: It doesn't have anything to do with when you're travelling the globe and you have trouble, uh, finding powerpoints-
Matt: (laughs)
James: -that'll fit your walkman, or the like?
Dom: If you want it to be. (smiles)
James: Well, it is for me, then, I guess!
Dom: (nods and grins) Cool.
Howard: "That song’s about putting emotion into something that has no soul - like a child’s teddy bear or a computer. And also what it would be like if we could genetically engineer puppies that never grow old."
Bellamy: "I think the chorus is probably referring to some kind of analogy of the touring lifestyle, of what it feels like being on stage playing or whatever it might be, but kind of saying that really, I'm prepared to pretty much sacrifice everything in my personal life for the sake of playing music."[2]
Italian fencer Matteo Tagliarol suggested the song aided him in the attaining a gold medal during the 2008 Olympics, stating "I listened to 'Plug In Baby', of Muse, just before entering the field. I'm going to put the disc close to the medal!" in an interview minutes after winning.[3]
Lyrics
I've exposed your lies baby The underneath's no big surprise Now it's time for changing And cleansing everything To forget your love My plug in baby Crucifies my enemies When I'm tired of giving, whoa My plug in baby In unbroken virgin realities Is tired of living oooh Don't confuse Baby you're gonna lose Your own game Change me Replace the envying To forget your love My plug in baby Crucifies my enemies When I'm tired of giving, whoa My plug in baby In unbroken virgin realities Is tired of living Oooh And I've seen your loving Mine is gone And I've been in trouble Wooaahhhh
Early versions
An early live version can be watched here
In early live versions, Bellamy would sing something similar to this:
You closed your eyes, yeah baby (or: I have exposed your lies, yeah baby) You're gonna break my compromise (or: Don't wanna make no compromise) Don't you know That I'm changing And cleansing everything To forget your love My plug in baby Crucified my enemies When I'm tired of living Woah, God was in me In unbroken virgin realities I'm tired of living Oooh ... Don't confuse 'cause baby you're gonna lose Your own game Change me Replace the envying To forget your love My plug in baby Crucified my enemies When I'm tired of giving Woah, the cause within me In unbroken virgin realities I'm tired of living Oh ... (x3) Your truths Are coming in And I feel broken Next to you And I've been in trouble (Baby It's Right)(?) Oh And I've seen your loving And mine is gone And I've seen your loving Wooaahhhh
1997 Demo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE6stbzPjzA possibly inaccurate
When I was poor and lonely They give me to her floor You're the only I was tired of resting But I'm not even afraid 'cause you're the only God was in me and I'm in virtual reality I'm tired of living They come and went here Anywhere in my head 'cause I'm tired of thinking I never mentioned all these machines But they pay my comodity I will never ever die In the circus I can survive Can you hear me ??? Let you ??? I'm tempting you to jack it in living lightly They come and went here Anywhere in my head I'm tired of thinking I never mentioned all these machines But they pay my comodity I will never ever die In the circus I can survive Can you hear me ???
References
- ↑ Gigs and USA (2002-02-15). Microcuts. Retrieved from microcuts.net.
- ↑ Muse: The Making of Origin of Symmetry (2007-10-07). Xfm. Retrieved from www.muselive.com. [verify]
- ↑ arraggiatus. (2008-08-10). Muse & The Olympics. Retrieved from www.muselive.com.