Apocalypse Please
"Apocalypse Please" | ||||
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Single by Muse | ||||
from the album Absolution | ||||
Released | 23 August 2004 | |||
Format | Digital download | |||
Recorded |
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 | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Muse (Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme, Dominic Howard) | |||
Producer(s) | Rich Costey | |||
Muse singles chronology | ||||
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"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 2 "Apocalypse Please (song)". MuseWiki. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ↑ "Absolution Tracklist". microcuts.net. 10 July 2003. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ↑ "Absolution tracks". microcuts.net. 17 July 2003. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ↑ "Chris' Hand Injury, New Download Single". microcuts.net. 16 August 2004. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ↑ "Westlife top first download chart". BBC. 1 September 2004. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ↑ "We feel sorry for bands being hyped". MuseWiki. 2 October 2003. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ↑ "Rich Costey: Recording Muse's Absolution (200312 Sound on Sound article)". MuseWiki (originally published by Sound on Sound). December 2003. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ↑ "Absolution". Muse. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ↑ "Oxfam Download". microcuts.net. 25 August 2004. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ↑ "Absolution Tour". Muse. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ↑ "HAARP". Muse. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.