Megalomania (song)
| Muse song | |
|---|---|
| Name | Megalomania |
| Album/single |
|
| Length | 4:38 |
| Alternative titles |
|
| First live performance | 12th April 2001 |
| Latest live performance | 28th August 2011 |
| Recorded | Real World Studio Wiltshire, St Mary the Virgin, Bathwick 2001 |
| Writer/composer | Matthew Bellamy |
| Producer | John Leckie |
<flashmp3>http://www.musewiki.org/images/Megalomania.mp3%7Crightbg=0xDDEEFF%7Cleftbg=0xDDEEFF%7Cbg=0xFFFFFF</flashmp3>
| Song Nav | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Futurism (bonus track) | < | Megalomania | > | |
Description
An overblown anti religious album closer using a Gothic style church pipe organ.
Matthew Bellamy definition of Megalomania
"This is directed at what would be God, asking why we should go forth and multiply? What's the point?"[1]
Composition
Megalomania is a song driven by pipe organs. Written in E minor, it moves at a loose tempo of 73 bpm.
Bellamy's lead vocal range spans from D♯3 to B4, and reaches up to G5 in the prominent backing vocals.
General information
Bellamy has described the recording of this anti-church song, using the organ at St. Mary's Church, Bathwick, as a "dark moment" in his life. The vicar of the church insisted on seeing the lyrics to the song before allowing them to use the organ, although none had yet been written for the song. Bellamy proceeded to write out some "positive", "nice" lyrics for him and he allowed them to record the song.[2] When requesting permission to play one of the biggest church organs in Europe in order to finish recording the song, the priest at the church asked to see the lyrics to the song to ensure the band weren't devil worshippers.
Matt wrote the song on holiday in the Maldives, whilst learning to dive, and it was inspired by his pessimism towards the relationship he was in at them time.[2]
The earliest known performance used a grand piano rather than an organ or keyboard with organ effect. A video can be found of this performance on the DC Muse Hub.
Not to be confused with the later song of the same name as the WIP name, Thoughts of a Dying Atheist on Absolution.
After nearly a 6 year break after having last been played on 5th May 2002, Megalomania was played at London's Royal Albert Hall on 12th April 2008, seven years to the day it was first played. The song was played on the Royal Albert Hall's pipe organ, the first time it had been played on a pipe organ in concert. Matthew Bellamy introduced the song by saying something like "since we're at the Royal Albert Hall, it would be rude not to play this beast" (referring to the organ). Morgan Nicholls played an ukelele during the song. This performance was offered to the band's fans as a present for 2011's Christmas on their website.
Megalomania
Megalomania is "a symptom of mental illness marked by delusions of greatness, wealth, etc." or "an obsession with doing extravagant or grand things".
Lyrics
Paradise comes at a price
That I am not prepared to pay What were we built for? Could someone tell me please
The good news is she can't have babies And won't accept gifts from me What are they for? They'll just grow up and break the laws you've loved
Take off your disguise I know that underneath it's me Who are you oooh
Useless device it won't suffice I want a new game to play When I am gone - it won't be long Before I disturb you in the dark
And paradise comes at a price That I am not prepared to pay What were we built for? Will someone tell me please
Take off your disguise I know that underneath it's me
References
- ↑ Rock Sound - 2001
- ↑ a b Muse: The Making of Origin of Symmetry (2007-10-07). Xfm. Retrieved from www.muselive.com. [verify]