Compliance (song)

Muse song
Name	Compliance
Album/single	Will of the People (2) » Compliance (1)
Length	4:10 » 3:33 (MV edit)
Alternative titles
First live performance	7th April 2022
Latest live performance	10th July 2022
Recorded	2021
Writer/composer	Matthew Bellamy
Producer	Muse, Aleks Von Korff
Chart position

Song Nav
Will of the People	<	Compliance	>	Liberation

Album Nav
Simulation Theory (2018)	<	Will of the People (2022)	>

Listen

Description

Announced on March 11th, 2022, their second song off to be released and to be featured on Will of the People, Compliance, was released on March 17th, 2022. The song, and its music video, leaked two days earlier, on March 15th, 2022, through Vimeo.

Additional information

According to Matt Bellamy, "Compliance is about the promise of safety and reassurance sold to us by powerful entities during times of vulnerability. Gangs, governments, demagogues, social media algorithms & religions seduce us with misleading untruths and comforting fables. They want us to join their narrow worldview in exchange for obedience and turning a blind eye to our own internal voice of reason & compassion. They just need our Compliance."

In an interview with NME in June of 2022, commenting about some statements that the song's about being anti-vaxx, Matt said "It’s an unfortunate coincidence. I could have written that song in 2008 or 2005.", further saying that "When the internet started to emerge the thirst for people saying what maybe the truth is was really strong. By the time we got to the early 2010s, I came full circle. The lack of accountability online became obvious to me. It made me realise, "OK, this is just some people who can say whatever the fuck they want. This is bullshit". It’s not freedom of speech; it’s freedom to manipulate. It’s freedom to lie anonymously. The ridiculous irony is, all these people think they’re so anti- this, anti- that, but all you’re doing is making Zuckerberg rich."

The song is mostly reminiscent of elements from 80s and 90s pop and synthpop, while bringing in some elements of big beat. The the guitar lick during the verses, and the synth solo line are reminiscent to the Knight Rider theme song.

There are two versions of the song; The shorter edit of the song (which was leaked as it's on the music video) misses the post-solo "ooh" falsetto part.

Some fans recall this song as a combination of few Muse's classic track such as Easily, Endlessly, and Darkshines.

Instrumentation

Compliance is based around organic elements, with a simple drum part, almost sounding like its looped, and a distinctive bass line riding throughout the entire song. The song doesn't appear to include a lot of guitar, apart from the palm-muted "Knight Rider" one in the verses and the final chorus, and the heavily-synthisized guitar during the solo. It also seems to include a keytar during the solo and the final chorus. The lead synth during the chorus was inspired by Van Halen's Jump, as it (the Jump synth) was heard in an Instagram video, posted by Aleks Von Korff in Muse's studio back in 2021. The song runs at a tempo of 110BPM.

During the solo, Bellamy can faintly be heard beatboxing through heavy distortion processing, almost making it sound like a turntable scratch effect. All the choirs in the choruses are sung through vocoder. The vocoder sound is provided by an analog Moog 16 Channel Vocoder.

While the full version features keytar-type synth, it appears to be lacking in the official instrumental of Compliance. The instrumental has also been stripped from the vocoder choir synth in the re-intro part.

Music Video

Directed by Jeremi Durand, the music video is loosely continuing the theme from Won't Stand Down's music video. More can be read here.

Live

First performed live on April 7th, 2022, on the first show after its release and the album announcement. Allthough the studio version doesn't seem to feature much guitar (or features a heavily synthesized one), Matt used to use guitar live for the song, adding to the bass line during the choruses, playing the synth/keytar parts, aswell as Knight Rider guitar licks during the verses and the solo. Bellamy stopped playing the synth guitar parts with the start of the Will of the People World Tour in 2023, instead just playing the verse guitar licks, while walking around the stage with his guitar on his back the rest of the song.

Compliance also features Dan Lancaster doing the solo beatbox part live.

More here.

Lyrics

Compliance

We just need your compliance You will feel no pain anymore And no more defiance We just need your

Compliance Just give us your compliance We won’t let you feel lost anymore No more self-reliance

Fall into line, you will do as you’re told No choice fatigue, your blood is running cold We lose control, the world will fall apart Love of your life, will mend your broken heart

Life lived in fear, you need protection, You’re all alone, too much rejection, We have what you need, just reach out and touch We can save you (Save you) We just need your

Compliance We just need your compliance You will feel no pain anymore No more defiance Just give us your compliance

Cover your tracks, we know what’s best for you You’ve bitten off much more than you can chew You’re running scared, you’ll run into our arms Come join our clique, we’ll keep you safe from harm

Our toy soldier, you’ll do the dirty work Stay loyal to us, we’ll take away the hurt We have what you need, just reach out and touch We can save you (Save you) just give us your

Compliance We just need your compliance You will feel no pain anymore No more defiance Just give us your compliance

Compliance We just need your compliance You will feel no pain anymore And no more defiance

Compliance We just need your compliance You will feel no pain anymore And no more defiance

We just need your compliance

Oh, fear is controlling you It’s time to give it up And give into us (We can save you, save you) Give us your compliance