SONG OF THE DAY
“Uprising” by Muse (The Resistance, Warner Brothers Records/ Helium 3, 2009). Written by Matthew Bellamy.
INTERESTING FACTS (a la wikipedia)
– “Uprising” is a song by British progressive rock band Muse, featured on their fifth studio album The Resistance.
– Written by lead vocalist and guitarist Matthew Bellamy, the song was released as the lead single from the album on 7 September, 2009.
– The song remained at the #1 position on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart for 17 nonconsecutive weeks, and has become the band’s most successful song in the United States.
– In a pre-release review, French media sourceJudeBox described the song as follows:
| “ | Matt Bellamy’s voice is deeper than usual. In terms of lyrics, this is the usual Muse: conspiracies, apocalypse, he announces a gathering, speaks of victory and that “they will not control us.” The sound, still very dense and heavy is accompanied by passages of synths. The overall structure is rather straightforward. [Translated from French] | †|
– Various sources have noted the synthesizer melody in the song’s introduction sounds similar to the guitar riff in “White Wedding” by Billy Idol. The intro also bears a striking similarity to the theme tune from the long-running BBC series Doctor Who. The guitar riff also is very similar to the chorus of Blondie’s “Call Me”.
– After being released to radio in the United States, the single reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Alternative Songs chart on September 9, 2009, becoming Muse’s 6th Top 10 single and first #1 on that chart, eventually spending 17 weeks at #1, becoming the second the longest running #1 song ever on the chart. It became their first Billboard Hot 100 single (and Top 40 single), peaking at #37, achieving this with virtually no pop radio airplay, instead relying on iTunes sales and alternative rock radio airplay.
– The song peaked at #9 on the UK Singles Chart and is the band’s fourth top 10 single on that chart.
– “Uprising” won the Best Single award at the 2010 Music Producers Guild Awards in London.
– The song is featured in promos for the March 30, 2010 return of V.
– The music video, directed by American collective Hydra (Sam Stephens, John Hobbs and others), first aired on MTV2 on 17 September 2009.
– Muse are an English rock band from Teignmouth, Devon. Muse are known for their energetic and extravagant live performances and their fusion of many music genres, including progressive rock, classical music, heavy metal and electronica.
– The Resistance is the first Muse album to have been produced by the band itself. Critics were mostly positive about the album, with much of the praise directed towards its ambition, classical music influences and the thirteen-minute, three-part “Exogenesis: Symphony”.
– Muse will be headlining the Glastonbury Festival 2010 along with Stevie Wonder.
– The group will also headline the 2010 Hovefestivalen, as well as T in the Park 2010 and Oxegen alongside Eminem and Kasabian.
– Muse’s primary genres are progressive rock, glam rock, space rock, and alternative rock, but they also integrate parts of electronica, indie, rock opera, classical, hard rock, metal and occasionally R&B.
– Many Muse songs are recognizable by lead vocalist Matthew Bellamy’s often falsetto voice and use of vibrato. As a guitarist, Bellamy often utilizes arpeggio and pitch-shift effects to create a more “electric” sound, citing Jimi Hendrix and Tom Morello as influences for this method.
– Muse have cited Queen as an influence. Queen guitarist Brian May has praised Muse’s work, calling the band “extraordinary musicians” who “let their madness show through, always a good thing in an artist.”