Exogenesis: Symphony (song)

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Score on mixing desk during recording
Muse song
Name Exogenesis: Symphony
  • Part 1: Overture
  • Part 2: Cross Pollination
  • Part 3: Redemption
Album/single The Resistance (9, 10, 11)
Length 12:51
  • 4:18 (Part 1: Overture)
  • 3:56 (Part 2: Cross Pollination)
  • 4:37 (Part 3: Redemption)
Alternative titles
  • Symphony »
  • Orchestral Monster
  • Symphonic Monster
First live performance -
Latest live performance -
Recorded Lake Como and Milan, Italy, 2008-2009
Writer/composer Matthew Bellamy, Dominic Howard, Christopher Wolstenholme
Producer Muse

<flashmp3>http://www.musewiki.org/images/Exogenesis I - Overture.mp3|rightbg=0xDDEEFF|leftbg=0xDDEEFF|bg=0xFFFFFF</flashmp3> <flashmp3>http://www.musewiki.org/images/Exogenesis II - Cross Pollination.mp3|rightbg=0xDDEEFF|leftbg=0xDDEEFF|bg=0xFFFFFF</flashmp3> <flashmp3>http://www.musewiki.org/images/Exogenesis III - Redemption.mp3|rightbg=0xDDEEFF|leftbg=0xDDEEFF|bg=0xFFFFFF</flashmp3>

Description

"Exogenesis: Symphony" is the last song on The Resistance,[1] and is split into three four-minute tracks, each separately named. It features an orchestra of "about 40 musicians" throughout, being described by Matt as "almost purely classical in style"[2] The song tells the story of humanity leaving a destructive Earth behind to populate elsewhere in the Universe.[3]

Part 1 (Overture)

The first part of the song starts off mellow.[4]

Part 2 (Cross Pollination)

In the Muse Q&A in November 2008, Dominic Howard stated that the song would change genres throughout, indicating a significantly different middle section.[4]

Part 3 (Redemption)

The track by track review by Gigwise describes that it concludes in a "suitably Muse-like way" and that "the song builds into an emotive and epic chorus where Bellamy and Wolstenholme share vocal duties". [4]

Additional information

The term exogenesis is the technical name for panspermia, the hypothesis that life is seeded across the universe from other sources, for example, arriving to Earth on comets, hence "cross pollination".

The song was first mentioned in March 2008 as a "15-minute space-rock solo"[5] and mentioned by the band numerous times after that. Prior to that, it had been alluded to by Matt in 2007 as "a few bits and pieces that we kind of set to one side that were ... a little bit too progressive and symphonic for [Black Holes and Revelations]", suggesting that the band may have first attempted to record it in 2005.[6]

The orchestral elements of the song are arranged by Matthew Bellamy. He stated he wanted to do this himself as he "never wanted to collaborate with a string arranger as they may make it 'theirs'".[1]

Lyrics

Part 1 (Overture)

Aping my soul,
You stole my overture,
Trapped in God's program,
Oh I can't escape

Who are we?
Where are we?
When are we?
Why are we?
Who are we?
Where are we?
Why, why, why?

I can't forgive you,
And I can't forget

Who are we?
Where are we?
When are we?
Why are we?
Who are we?
Where are we?
When are we?
Why are we in here?

Part 2 (Cross Pollination)

Rise above the crowds
And wade through toxic clouds
Breach the outer sphere
The edge of all our fears
Rest with you
We are counting on you
It's up to you

Spread our codes to the stars
You must rescue us all
Spread our codes to the stars
You must rescue us all

Tell us, 
tell us your final wish
Now we know you can never return
Tell us, 
tell us your final wish
We will tell it to the world

Part 3 (Redemption)

Let's start over again
Why can't we start it over again?

Just let us start it over again

And we'll be good
This time we'll get it...
We'll get it right

It's our last chance to forgive ourselves

References

  1. a b Matthew Bellamy via Muse Answers. (2008-11-22). Question 23. Official Message Board. Retrieved 2008-11-22 from board.muse.mu.
  2. Ray Wilkinson. (2009-07). Progressive stadium rock three dream up album five. Mojo magazine, 1802. Retrieved 2009-07-05 from www.muselive.com. [verify]
  3. New album preview (2009-07-22). New Musical Express, 23–25. Retrieved 2009-07-29 from www.muselive.com. [verify]
  4. a b c Dominic Howard via Muse Answers. (2008-11-28). Question 6. Official Message Board. Retrieved 2008-11-22 from board.muse.mu.
  5. Muse: next album to have '15-minute space-rock solo' (2008-03-12). NME. Retrieved from nme.com.
  6. Lindsay McDougall. (2007-08-02). [Interview with Matthew Bellamy]. The Breakfast Show. Retrieved 2007-08-02 from abc.net.au. [verify]


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