Hysteria (song)
Encyclopedia
"Hysteria" is a song by English alternative rock
band Muse
and is featured on their third studio album
, Absolution. It was also released as a single
from that album on 1 December 2003 in the United Kingdom
, peaking at number 17 in the UK Singles Chart
(see 2003 in British music
). It is also well known for its famous bass line, which was voted the best bass line of all time on a MusicRadar
poll. It reached number 9 in the U.S. on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
The artwork for the 7" cover was chosen by competition, and the winner was Adam Falkus. The runner-up images are included in the DVD version of the single. The song was performed regularly during the tour in support of Absolution and remains a staple of the band's live show. The song also appears on the Absolution Tour
DVD and on both the CD and DVD of HAARP.
. It takes the form of a short narrative depicting a man (the protagonist) awakening inside of a hotel room and, through non-linear chronological elements, discovering that he both stalked and eventually met with a prostitute with whom he was obsessed (played by Hayley Caradoc-Hodgkins ). This encounter, however, ends unpleasantly. The video has several interpretations and can be seen to have several ambiguous elements, including the fit of rage which induces the man to trash the hotel room, and several chronologically non-linear sequences describing elements of plot.
An alternate video was also created for the release of the single in the U.S. which features the band playing in front of a green screen; with white blood vessels, a woman's face, red, grey and black circles overlapping, and lightning. This video is also used in the UK before the watershed, as the original video was deemed unsuitable for children.
The director's cut of the video features several women visiting the protagonist in his hotel room as well as the main woman from the original version and is available on the Microcuts fansite.
used "Hysteria" in its commercials in late 2004, and it was also used in commercials for Guerlain
's Insolence perfume. Aside from commercials, "Hysteria" was also featured in a season 2 episode of the HBO series Entourage
, and was used alongside Blackout, another song from the Absolution album, in the movie Millions
.
The Washington Capitals
used the song as a musical introduction to the second period of their home hockey
games during the 2006-07 NHL Season
, and The Jim Rome Show
uses this song as a "bumper" between show breaks.
The British television program Brainiac: History Abuse
used the song at the end of each show with the "Explosive Of The Week".
It was also used as the main theme for Moto GP on the BBC
up until the Dutch race at Assen in 2009, as well as the background song of the official race edit for the 2009 Australian Grand Prix
on Formula1.com. Hysteria is frequently used as Windsor-Detroits 88.7, 89x's "Morning X's" starter song. The song was used in an episode of Doctor Who confidential.
"Hysteria" is also featured in the European version of the video game Rock Band and as downloadable content for the US version.
Professional wrestler Nicole Matthews
uses "Hysteria" as her entrance theme in Shimmer Women Athletes
.
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...
and is featured on their third studio album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Absolution. It was also released as a 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...
from that album on 1 December 2003 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, peaking at number 17 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
(see 2003 in British music
2003 in British music
This is a summary of 2003 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year. Whilst weeks at number one began to increase with significant numbers achieving 4 week runs, and The Black Eyed Peas breaking a chart record in the 21st century, single sales rapidly plummeted,...
). It is also well known for its famous bass line, which was voted the best bass line of all time on a MusicRadar
MusicRadar
MusicRadar is a website for musicians. It covers information pertaining to artists and music, special features, product news and reviews, music lessons and a social network service in the style of Facebook and Myspace...
poll. It reached number 9 in the U.S. on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
The artwork for the 7" cover was chosen by competition, and the winner was Adam Falkus. The runner-up images are included in the DVD version of the single. The song was performed regularly during the tour in support of Absolution and remains a staple of the band's live show. The song also appears on the 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...
DVD and on both the CD and DVD of HAARP.
Music video
The song's video, starring actor Justin Theroux and directed by Matt Kirby, is based on the hotel-trashing scene from the movie Pink Floyd The WallPink Floyd The Wall (film)
Pink Floyd—The Wall is a 1982 British live-action/animated musical film directed by Alan Parker based on the 1979 Pink Floyd album The Wall. The screenplay was written by Pink Floyd vocalist and bassist Roger Waters. The film is highly metaphorical and is rich in symbolic imagery and sound...
. It takes the form of a short narrative depicting a man (the protagonist) awakening inside of a hotel room and, through non-linear chronological elements, discovering that he both stalked and eventually met with a prostitute with whom he was obsessed (played by Hayley Caradoc-Hodgkins ). This encounter, however, ends unpleasantly. The video has several interpretations and can be seen to have several ambiguous elements, including the fit of rage which induces the man to trash the hotel room, and several chronologically non-linear sequences describing elements of plot.
An alternate video was also created for the release of the single in the U.S. which features the band playing in front of a green screen; with white blood vessels, a woman's face, red, grey and black circles overlapping, and lightning. This video is also used in the UK before the watershed, as the original video was deemed unsuitable for children.
The director's cut of the video features several women visiting the protagonist in his hotel room as well as the main woman from the original version and is available on the Microcuts fansite.
Muse in the media
The television channel TNTTurner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
used "Hysteria" in its commercials in late 2004, and it was also used in commercials for Guerlain
Guerlain
Guerlain is a French perfume house, among the oldest in the world. It has a large and loyal customer following, and is held in high esteem in the perfume industry...
's Insolence perfume. Aside from commercials, "Hysteria" was also featured in a season 2 episode of the HBO series Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
, and was used alongside Blackout, another song from the Absolution album, in the movie Millions
Millions
Millions is a 2004 British comedy-drama film, directed by Academy Award–winning director Danny Boyle, and starring Alex Etel, Lewis McGibbon, and James Nesbitt. The screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce adapted his novel while the film was in the process of being made...
.
The Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
used the song as a musical introduction to the second period of their home hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
games during the 2006-07 NHL Season
2006-07 NHL season
In each round, the highest remaining seed in each conference is matched against the lowest remaining seed. The higher-seeded team is awarded home ice advantage, which gives them a maximum possible four games on their home ice, with the other team getting a maximum possible three...
, and The Jim Rome Show
The Jim Rome Show
The Jim Rome Show is a sports radio talk show hosted by Jim Rome. It airs live for three hours each weekday from 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. The show is produced in Los Angeles, California, syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, and can be heard on more than 200 affiliate radio stations in the U.S...
uses this song as a "bumper" between show breaks.
The British television program Brainiac: History Abuse
Brainiac: History Abuse
Brainiac: History Abuse was an eight part British TV programme co-produced by London Weekend Television and Granada Television for broadcast on Sky1. It was a spin-off of the show Brainiac: Science Abuse concentrating on historical subjects...
used the song at the end of each show with the "Explosive Of The Week".
It was also used as the main theme for Moto GP on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
up until the Dutch race at Assen in 2009, as well as the background song of the official race edit for the 2009 Australian Grand Prix
2009 Australian Grand Prix
The 2009 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 29 March 2009 at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia. It was the first race of the 2009 Formula One season. The race, contested over 58 laps, was won by Jenson Button for the Brawn GP team after...
on Formula1.com. Hysteria is frequently used as Windsor-Detroits 88.7, 89x's "Morning X's" starter song. The song was used in an episode of Doctor Who confidential.
"Hysteria" is also featured in the European version of the video game Rock Band and as downloadable content for the US version.
Professional wrestler Nicole Matthews
Nicole Matthews
Nicole Matthews is the ring name of a Canadian professional wrestler. Matthews regularly wrestles for Shimmer Women Athletes and NWA: Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling...
uses "Hysteria" as her entrance theme in Shimmer Women Athletes
SHIMMER Women Athletes
Shimmer Women Athletes is an American, Chicago based female independent professional wrestling promotion which held its first event on November 6, 2005...
.
Track listing
- 7", CD
- "Hysteria" – 3:47
- "Eternally Missed" – 6:05
- Produced by John CornfieldJohn CornfieldJohn Cornfield is a British record producer and sound engineer. He has been working from Sawmills Studios in Cornwall since 1982. As the chief engineer he has assisted some highly respected and regarded producers, including John Leckie and Tom Dowd, and has worked with a vast selection of artists...
, Paul ReevePaul ReevePaul Reeve is a record producer from London, UK. Working alongside John Leckie, he co-produced five tracks on Muse's acclaimed debut album Showbiz...
and Muse.
- Produced by John Cornfield
- "Hysteria" (video – Director's Cut)
- "Hysteria" (DVD Audio)
- "Hysteria" (live on MTV2 Video)
- "Artwork Gallery"