Apocalypse Please

"Apocalypse Please"
Single by Muse
from the album Absolution
Released 23 August 2004
Format Digital download
Recorded 2003 (2003) (album version)
27 June 2004 at Glastonbury Festival (single version)
Genre
Length 4:12 (Album version)
4:34 (Album version with intro)
4:48 (Single version)
Label
Writer(s) Muse
Producer(s) Rich Costey
Muse singles chronology
"Sing for Absolution"
(2004)		 "Apocalypse Please"
(2004)		 "Butterflies & Hurricanes"
(2004)
Absolution track listing
"Intro"
(1)		 "Apocalypse Please"
(2)		 "Time Is Running Out"
(3)

"Apocalypse Please", also known as "Emergency",[1][2][3] is a song by English alternative rock band Muse, featured on their 2003 third studio album Absolution. Written by lead vocalist, guitarist and pianist Matthew Bellamy, a live version of the song was released as a digital download single on 23 August 2004, from which approximately 70% of all proceeds were donated to Oxfam.[4] The song reached number ten on the first edition of the UK Official Download Chart, announced on 1 September 2004.[5]

Background

"Apocalypse Please" was originally recorded with an orchestral backing, which was removed simply for being, according to Bellamy, "too much."[1] Drummer Dominic Howard described the song as "a very theatrical song about religious fanatics and their wish that their prophecies come true [...] So that they can confirm their religion."[6] Producer Rich Costey explained, in an interview with Sound on Sound in 2003, that "[he] really wanted ["Apocalypse Please"] to sound just ridiculous and as epic as possible," revealing that "the studio had a swimming pool [...] and what we did was bring over a couple of kick drums, put them on stands, and miked one of them really close [...] to get a low, thumping sound," in order to create the desired result.[7]

Release

"Apocalypse Please" was released on Absolution as the second track on the album, succeeding an instrumental percussion-based intro and preceding the single "Time Is Running Out".[8] Along with the single release, Muse ran a competition to win a signed and framed set list, also in conjunction with Oxfam.[9] In 2005, "Apocalypse Please" was featured on the live video album Absolution Tour;[10] in 2008, it was also featured on the DVD edition of the live album HAARP.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Apocalypse Please (song)". MuseWiki. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  2. ↑ "Absolution Tracklist". microcuts.net. 10 July 2003. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  3. ↑ "Absolution tracks". microcuts.net. 17 July 2003. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  4. ↑ "Chris' Hand Injury, New Download Single". microcuts.net. 16 August 2004. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  5. ↑ "Westlife top first download chart". BBC. 1 September 2004. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  6. ↑ "We feel sorry for bands being hyped (20031002 Laut article)". MuseWiki (originally published by laut.de). 2 October 2003. Retrieved 17 September 2009. External link in |publisher= (help)
  7. ↑ "Rich Costey: Recording Muse's Absolution (200312 Sound on Sound article)". MuseWiki (originally published by Sound on Sound). December 2003. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  8. ↑ "Absolution". Muse. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  9. ↑ "Oxfam Download". microcuts.net. 25 August 2004. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  10. ↑ "Absolution Tour". Muse. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  11. ↑ "HAARP". Muse. Retrieved 17 September 2009.

External links

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