Madness (song)
| Muse song | |
|---|---|
| Name | Madness |
| Album/single | The 2nd Law (2), Madness |
| Length | 4:39 |
| Alternative titles | - |
| First live performance | 13th September 2012 |
| Latest live performance | |
| Recorded | 2011-2012 |
| Writer/composer | Matthew Bellamy |
| Producer | Muse |
<flashmp3>http://www.musewiki.org/images/Muse_-_Madness.mp3%7Crightbg=0xDEF%7Cbg=0xFFF</flashmp3>
| Song Nav | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supremacy | < | Madness | > | Panic Station |
Description
A calm, minimal electronic cross between 'I Want To Break Free' and 'Faith' with arrangements similar to Depeche Mode.[1]
Matt Bellamy describes the song's inspiration: "You've had a fight with your girlfriend and she goes off to her mum's house for the day and you're on your own going: 'What did I say?'" says Matt, describing the song's inspiration. "I'm sure a lot of blokes have that experience in the early stages of relationships where you go, 'Yeah, she's right, isn't she?'"[2]
Composition
Driven by a pulsing dubstep bass line and stuttering samples, Madness begins as a sparse midtempo number and slowly builds. At its peak, sequenced electronics give way to acoustic instruments as towering harmonies swell around the peak of Matt Bellamy's vocal range. The song is played half a step down for live performances, where Chris Wolstenholme uses a Misa Kitara bass.
Trivia
- By error of Bellamy, Howard, Wolstenholme or Kirk, the name of the song was leaked by a photo on Twitter, until it was deleted.
- Madness started out life in a simpler form. Bellamy has said he laid the sparse foundations for the song, returning later to find "Chris and Dom Howard had put absolutely everything on it."[3]
- On February 3rd, Muse announced that the song will be the soundtrack for the NCAA March Madness Games. Watch NCAA is a college basketball league for America and March Madness is a big event in American Basketball.
- Madness was nominated for the category of Best Rock Song, at the 55th annual Grammy Awards, which took place on the 10th of February, 2013.
- Madness broke the record for most weeks at the #1 spot for Alternative Songs according to Billboard.[1] It was at #1 for 19 weeks, 18 in a row.
Lyrics
I, I can't get these memories out of my mind
And some kind of madness Is starting to evolve, mmmm And I, I tried so hard to let you go But some kind of madness Is swallowing me whole, yeah I have finally seen the light And I have finally realised What you mean
Now, I need to know is this real love Or is it just madness Keeping us afloat, mmmm When I look back, at all the crazy fights we had It's like some kind of madness Was taking control, yeah
Now, I have finally seen the light And I have finally realised What you need
Now, I have finally seen the end And I'm not expecting you to care, no That I have finally seen the light And I have finally realised I need your love I need your love
Come to me Just in a dream Come on and rescue me Yes I know I can't be wrong And baby you're too headstrong Our love is madness
Live
In the penultimate verse for the first live play Matt and Chris instead sang, was also sung this way at the MTV EMA's:
And now I have finally reached the end
(Finally reached the end)