Apocalypse Please
Encyclopedia
"Apocalypse Please", also known as "Emergency", 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
. The song reached number ten on the first edition of the UK Official Download Chart
, announced on 1 September 2004.
l backing, which was removed simply for being, according to Bellamy, "too much." 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." 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.
, also in conjunction with Oxfam. In 2005, "Apocalypse Please" was featured on the live
video album
Absolution Tour
; in 2008, it was also featured on the DVD edition of the live album HAARP.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
, featured on their 2003 third studio album Absolution. Written by lead vocalist, guitarist and pianist Matthew Bellamy
Matthew Bellamy
Matthew James Bellamy is an English musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the lead vocalist, lead guitarist, pianist, and main songwriter of the alternative rock band Muse.-Early life:...
, a live version of the song was released as a digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on 23 August 2004, from which approximately 70% of all proceeds were donated to Oxfam
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
. The song reached number ten on the first edition of the UK Official Download Chart
UK Official Download Chart
The UK Official Download Chart is compiled by The Official UK Charts Company on behalf of the music industry. The chart week runs from Sunday to Saturday, with the chart being published on a Wednesday afternoon, so as to not to clash with the release of the main UK Singles Chart...
, announced on 1 September 2004.
Background
"Apocalypse Please" was originally recorded with an orchestraOrchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
l backing, which was removed simply for being, according to Bellamy, "too much." Drummer Dominic Howard
Dominic Howard
Dominic James "Dom" Howard , is the drummer for the English rock band Muse.-Early life:Howard was born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, in England. When he was around 8 years old he moved with his family to Teignmouth, a small town in Devon. He began playing drums at about the age of 12, when he...
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." Producer Rich Costey
Rich Costey
Rich Costey is an American record producer, engineer, and mixer who has worked with many bands including Muse, Cave In, Thursday, Franz Ferdinand, Glasvegas, The Mars Volta, Doves, Bloc Party, Ontronik , Jimmy Eat World, My Chemical Romance, Supergrass, Audioslave, Rage Against the Machine, Nine...
explained, in an interview with Sound on Sound
Sound on Sound
Sound on Sound is an independently-owned monthly music technology magazine published by SOS Publications Group, based in Cambridge, UK. The magazine includes product tests of electronic musical performance and recording devices, and interviews with industry professionals...
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.
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". Along with the single release, Muse ran a competition to win a signed and framed set listSet list
A set list, or setlist, is a document that lists the songs that a band or musical artist intends to play, or has played, during a specific concert performance...
, also in conjunction with Oxfam. In 2005, "Apocalypse Please" was featured on the live
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
video album
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
Absolution Tour
Absolution Tour
Absolution Tour is a live video album by English alternative rock band Muse. Released on 12 December 2005, the DVD release documents the band's performance at the 2004 Glastonbury Festival...
; in 2008, it was also featured on the DVD edition of the live album HAARP.
External links
- "Apocalypse Please" (audio) at the Muse official website
- "Apocalypse Please" (Absolution Tour video) at the Muse official website
- "Apocalypse Please" (HAARP video) at the Muse official website
- "Apocalypse Please" lyrics at the Muse official website
- "Apocalypse Please" (song) at MuseWiki
- "Apocalypse Please" (single) at MuseWiki
