Madness (Muse song)

"Madness"
The word "madness" displayed in blue text on a dark background with the Muse logo to the top of the image.
Single by Muse
from the album The 2nd Law
Released 20 August 2012 (2012-08-20)
Format
Recorded October 2011 – July 2012
Genre
Length
  • 4:39 (album version)
  • 3:38 (radio edit)
Label
Writer(s) Matt Bellamy
Producer(s) Muse
Muse singles chronology
"Survival"
(2012)		 "Madness"
(2012)		 "Follow Me"
(2012)
The 2nd Law track listing
Music video
"Madness" on YouTube
"Madness" (Lyric Video) on YouTube

"Madness" is a song by English rock band Muse. It is the second track on the band's sixth studio album, The 2nd Law, and the second single to be released from the album. The song was released as a digital download on 20 August 2012. It was written by Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy and produced by the band themselves. The official music video for the song premiered on 5 September 2012. It spent 19 weeks at the summit of Billboard's Alternative Songs chart, making it the longest running number-one song on the chart, beating out the previous record of 18 weeks set by Foo Fighters' "The Pretender". The song earned a nomination in the Best Rock Song category at the 2013 Grammy Awards, but lost to "Lonely Boy" by the Black Keys. The song was featured in Turner Broadcasting's promotions for the 2013 March Madness games on TBS and TNT.[1]

Background and writing

"Madness" is an electronic rock,[2] synthpop,[3] soft rock,[4] and R&B song.[5] According to NME, "Madness" draws influences from Queen's "I Want to Break Free", George Michael's "Faith" and some instrumental elements of his other hit "I Want Your Sex".[6] During a preview of The 2nd Law on French site Jeuxactu, the song was said to resemble Depeche Mode and described as "calm, languid and sweet".[7] Matthew Bellamy stated that the song started as a personal reflection after a fight with his girlfriend Kate Hudson, and how, after she had gone to her mother's house, he began to realise "yeah, she was right, wasn't she?"[8] In a separate interview, Bellamy stated the song was the band's attempt to strip down the sound of the album, and that the song has its roots in 12 bar blues with gospel, soul and R&B influences. He went on to conclude that, "It's the song I'm probably most proud of on the album for sure."[9]

Music video

The official music video for the song was uploaded to the band's official YouTube channel on 5 September 2012.[10] This video saw the second collaboration between the band and director Anthony Mandler, who previously directed the music video for "Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)".[11] It was edited by Jacquelyn London.[12][13] The director of photography was David Devlin.[12] The video was filmed on the Red Line platform at Los Angeles Union Station.[14] The two main characters are played by models Erin Wasson and Max Silberman.[15]

Release and reception

The song was released as a digital download on 20 August 2012,[16] with an accompanying lyric video for the song being uploaded shortly after.[17] NME described the song as "taking the defining noise of 'bass music' and using it to create slinky, soft rock sex music."[4] The track review goes on to call it a brilliant single and jokingly states that Muse have tamed the shark (following their declaration that Muse had jumped the shark with "Survival").[18] Diffuser.fm noted that the single "doesn't sound like the Muse that established itself as one of the worlds biggest rock bands" but that "the unusual blend of sounds works far better than it probably should"; giving the track 8/10.[19] Rolling Stone stated that the single sees Muse "swap bombastic bass brutality with wubby subtleties as Matthew Bellamy croons over a surprisingly gentle pop track."[20] Radio Times described it as "George Michael's Faith underwater". In a negative review of the song, Robert Myers of The Village Voice wrote that "the band's U2 imitation has finally caught up to Achtung Baby and Zooropa". He further added that Muse "gets the surface details right but lacks the emotional and intellectual foundation to get at their inspiration's essence."[21] Rolling Stone named the song the 37th best song of 2012.[22] Chris Martin of Coldplay described the single as "Muse's best song yet".[23]

Track listing

Digital download[16]
No. Title Length
1. "Madness"   4:39
UK promotional single[24]
No. Title Length
1. "Madness" (radio edit) 3:38
2. "Madness" (album version) 4:40

Charts and certifications

Commercial performance

"Madness" had a positive commercial performance, charting in several countries and peaking within the top ten in Belgium (Wallonia), Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Portugal, and South Korea. In the band's home country of the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number 25 on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, the song peaked at number 45 on the Hot 100 and number 3 on the Hot Rock Songs chart. It topped the Alternative Songs chart for 19 weeks, breaking the record for the longest-reigning number-one song on the chart, which was previously held by "The Pretender" by Foo Fighters.[25] "Madness" has been certified gold by the IFPI in Switzerland, platinum by the MC in Canada and FIMI in Italy, and double-platinum by the RIAA in the United States.

Weekly charts

Chart (2012–13) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[26] 82
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[27] 56
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[28] 41
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[29] 10
scope="row" Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[30] 43
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[31] 49
Denmark (Tracklisten)[32] 38
France (SNEP)[33] 14
Germany (Official German Charts)[34] 67
Iceland (Tónlist)[35] 9
Ireland (IRMA)[36] 74
Israel (Media Forest)[37] 9
Italy (FIMI)[38] 9
scope="row" Japan (Japan Hot 100)[39] 9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[40] 43
Portugal (Billboard)[41] 4
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[42] 27
South Korea (Gaon International Chart)[43] 7
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[44] 30
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] 27
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[46] 25
UK Streaming Chart (Official Charts Company)[47] 28
US Billboard Hot 100[48] 45
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[49] 11
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[50] 1
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[51] 3
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[52] 23
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[53] 1
Venezuela (Record Report)[54] 142

Year-end charts

Chart (2012) Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[55] 83
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[56] 47
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[57] 17
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[58] 24
Chart (2013) Position
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[59] 13
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[60] 33
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[61] 4
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[62] 20
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[63] 3

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[64] Platinum 80,000
Italy (FIMI)[65] Platinum 30,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[66] Gold 15,000
United States (RIAA)[67] 2× Platinum 2,000,000[68]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hornsby, Bradford (4 February 2013). "Muse Live Performance Featured In NCAA March "Madness" Campaign". KROQ-FM. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  2. ↑ Sperounes, Sandra (1 October 2012). "Album review: Muse, The 2nd Law". Edmonton Journal. Postmedia Network. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Newman, Melinda (1 October 2012). "Album Review: Muse holds nothing back on 'The 2nd Law'". HitFix. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  4. 1 2 "NME Track Reviews - Muse – ‘Madness’". NME. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  5. ↑ Sutherland, Mark (1 October 2012). "Muse Fill London Show With Songs From 'The 2nd Law'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "The 2nd Law - Album Summary - News". Muselive. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "Muse : on a écouté The 2nd Law en avant-première". Musique.jeuxactu.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Muse reveal new single Madness inspired by fight with Kate Hudson". Metro. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  9. ↑ Balfe, John (22 August 2012). "Muse speak about new single 'Madness'". entertainment.ie. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  10. ↑ Coplan, Chris (5 September 2012). "Video: Muse – "Madness"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  11. ↑ ""Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)" by Muse". VH1. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  12. 1 2 Gottlieb, Steven (5 September 2015). "Watch It: Muse "Madness" – Anthony Mandler, dir.". Videostatic. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "Muse : Sunset Edit – 323.467.8550". Sunset Edit. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  14. ↑ Chen, Anna (20 December 2012). "Muse music video: "madness" on the subway". The Source. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Muse – Madness (2012)". Internet Music Video Database. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  16. 1 2 "Muse – Madness (File)". Discogs. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  17. ↑ Daw, Robbie (20 August 2012). "Muse Premiere "Madness" Lyric Video". Idolator. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  18. ↑ Macbain, Hamish (28 June 2012). "Have Muse Jumped The Shark With Their Olympics Track?". NME. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  19. ↑ Shetler, Scott (20 August 2012). "Muse, ‘Madness’ – Song Review". Diffuser.fm. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "Muse Unveil Subtle New Single 'Madness'". Rolling Stone. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  21. ↑ Myers, Robert (30 August 2012). "Hot 100 Roundup: Eric Church And Luke Bryan Milk It, Eminem Gets Silly, And More". The Village Voice. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "Muse, 'Madness' – 50 Best Songs of 2012". Rolling Stone. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  23. ↑ Bychawski, Adam (22 August 2012). "Chris Martin: 'Muse's new single 'Madness' is their best song ever'". NME. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  24. ↑ "Muse – Madness (CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  25. ↑ Trust, Gary (11 February 2013). "Muse's 'Madness' Rewrites Record For Longest-Reigning Alternative Songs No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  26. ↑ "Chartifacts". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  27. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Muse – Madness" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  28. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Muse – Madness" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  29. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Muse – Madness" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  30. ↑ "Muse – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Muse. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  31. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201248 into search.
  32. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Muse – Madness". Tracklisten.
  33. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Muse – Madness" (in French). Les classement single.
  34. ↑ "Musicline.de – Muse Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  35. ↑ "Icelandic Singles Chart". Tónlist (via Internet Archive). Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  36. ↑ "Top 100 Singles – Week ending 23rd August 2012". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 24 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  37. ↑ "Muse – Madness Media Forest". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
  38. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Muse – Madness". Top Digital Download.
  39. ↑ "Muse – Chart history" Japan Hot 100 for Muse. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  40. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Muse – Madness" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  41. ↑ "Portugal Digital Songs – Peak". Billboard. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  42. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-10-13". Scottish Singles Top 40.
  43. ↑ "Search: Gaon International Download Chart – Issue date: 2012.08.19 – 2012.08.25". Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  44. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Muse – Madness" Canciones Top 50.
  45. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Muse – Madness". Swiss Singles Chart.
  46. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-10-13" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  47. ↑ "Official Streaming Chart (Pre-July 2014) Top 100". officialcharts.com.
  48. ↑ "Muse – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Muse. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  49. ↑ "Muse – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Muse. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  50. ↑ "Muse – Chart history" Billboard Alternative Songs for Muse. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  51. ↑ "Muse – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Muse. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  52. ↑ "Muse – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Muse. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  53. ↑ "Muse – Chart history" Billboard Rock Airplay for Muse. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  54. ↑ "Nuevas Esta Semana]]". Record Report (in Spanish). R.R. Digital C.A. 2013-02-02. Archived from the original on 2012-02-01.
  55. ↑ "Annual 2012 – Singles". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 2012-12-24.
  56. ↑ "Triple A Songs: 2012 (Year-End)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 December 2014. (subscription required (help)).
  57. ↑ "Alternative Songs: Year End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  58. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  59. ↑ "Triple A Songs: 2013 (Year-End)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 December 2014. (subscription required (help)).
  60. ↑ "Adult Pop Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  61. ↑ "Alternative Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  62. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  63. ↑ "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  64. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Muse – Madness". Music Canada.
  65. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Muse – Madness" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Muse in the field Filtra. The certification will load automatically
  66. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Muse; 'Madness')". Hung Medien.
  67. ↑ "American single certifications – Muse – Madness". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  68. ↑ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – May 12, 2015". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

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