Showbiz (song)
| Muse song | |
|---|---|
| Name | Showbiz |
| Album/single |
|
| Length | 5:17 |
| Alternative titles | - |
| First live performance | Unknown |
| Latest live performance | 11th November 2006 |
| Recorded | 1997 (demo), 1999 (Showbiz) |
| Writer/composer | Matthew Bellamy |
| Producer | John Leckie |
<flashmp3>http://www.musewiki.org/images/Showbiz.mp3%7Crightbg=0xDDEEFF%7Cleftbg=0xDDEEFF%7Cbg=0xFFFFFF</flashmp3>
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Description
The titular track of the first album, and often regarded as a fairly dark song. A rarely-played live treat for old Muse fans. Building up momentum at a rapid pace from opening drum beats to closing guitar feedback.
Composition
Composed in the key of F♯ minor, Showbiz is an alternative rock song. The song begins with a simple drum beat, and then builds momentum over the course of the song, before climaxing with a very high vocal note from Bellamy. The simple drum beat continues while the song fades out.
Bellamy's vocal range in the song spans from C♯3 to G♯5, marking both his highest note to date (shared with Micro Cuts), and one of the widest vocal ranges seen in a Muse song. Occasionally he has hit A5 during live performances, an example being at the Two Days a Week Festival in Wiesen, Austria. Interestingly, the high note occurs over an F♯m chord, so A5 is perhaps more appropriate.
The later live versions had extra guitar work before the solo, as on Hullabaloo and Hullabaloo DVD.
Bellamy was quoted as saying, "The song Showbiz is about how we all have an inside personality that we sort of hide from the outside." The lyrics are possibly a reference to the difficulty of hiding your inner persona, or perhaps they are about the impact performing has on your life.
Showbiz appeared very rarely throughout the Absolution tour and made occasional appearances during the Black Holes and Revelations tour in 2006.
The song was used in the behind-the-scenes footage on the H.A.A.R.P. DVD.
Lyrics
Controlling my feelings for too long
Controlling my feelings for too long Controlling my feelings for too long Controlling my feelings for too long Forcing our darkest souls to unfold And forcing our darkest souls to unfold And pushing us into self destruction Pushing us into self destruction
They make me Make me dream your dreams They make me Make me scream your screams
Trying to please you for too long Trying to please you for too long In visions of greed you while I wallow Visions of greed you while I wallow Visions of greed you while I wallow Visions of greed you while I wallow
They make me Make me dream your dreams They make me Make me scream your screams
Controlling my feelings for too long Controlling my feelings for too long And forcing my darkest soul to unfold And forcing our darkest souls to unfold And pushing us into self destruction And pushing us into self destruction
They make me, ooh Make me dream your dreams They make me, ooh Make me scream your screams
Oooh....
Demo
Trying to please you for too long
Trying to please you for too long Trying to squeeze me for too long Trying to please you for too long In visions of greed you while I wallow In visions of greed you while I wallow And you make me Make me dream your dreams And you make me Make me scream your screams
Trying to please you for too long Trying to please you for too long In visions of greed you while I wallow Visions of greed you while I wallow Visions of greed you while I wallow Visions of greed you while I wallow
And you make me Make me dream your dreams And you make me Make me scream your screams
Trying to please you for too long Trying to please you for too long Trying to please you for too long Trying to squeeze me for too long Trying to please you for too long Trying to please you for too long
And you make me Make me dream your dreams And you make me Make me scream your screams
Trying to please you for too long Trying to squeeze me for too long In visions of greed you while I wallow Visions of greed you while I wallow Visions of greed you while I wallow Visions of greed you while I wallow
And you make me Make me dream your dreams And you make me Make me scream your screams
Trying to please you for too long Trying to please you for too long In visions of greed you while I wallow Visions of greed you while I wallow Visions of greed you while I wallow
And you make me Make me dream your dreams And you make me Make me scream your screams