Malignant Narcissism (song)
Encyclopedia
"Malignant Narcissism" is an instrumental track from Rush
's 2007 album Snakes & Arrows
. Many Rush fans abbreviate the title to "MalNar", an abbreviation the band members themselves developed. "Malignant Narcissism" was nominated for a 2008 Grammy under the category of Best Rock Instrumental Performance, Rush's fifth nomination in said category. However, the song lost to Bruce Springsteen
's "Once Upon a Time in the West" making it their fifth defeat in that category.
and Matt Stone
film Team America: World Police
. In that film, the psychological term malignant narcissism
is used in reference to Islamic terrorists. The only voice heard is from an audio sample taken from the film, appearing at 1:08 in the song featuring a female voice saying, "Usually a case of malignant narcissism brought on during childhood".
describes the development of the song in an interview with Toronto rock station Q107 (CILQ-FM)
. "Malignant Narcissism" was the last song recorded during the production of Snakes & Arrows, and was completed in a few days. While guitarist Alex Lifeson
was away from the studio, Lee contacted Fender Musical Instruments Corporation and requested a Jaco Pastorius
signature fretless bass delivered to the studio, on evaluation from Fender. According to Lee, he was interested in the bass for several reasons, including his lack of familiarity with fretless basses.
While Lee was experimenting with the bass in the studio, co-producer Nick Raskulinecz
overheard Lee playing a catchy riff and suggested this be incorporated into a new song (this exchange was captured on film, and is part of the documentary section of the MVI edition of Snakes & Arrows). Rush drummer Neil Peart
was present, but his expansive drum kit had already been shipped off from the studio. With Raskulinecz's encouragement, Peart decided to challenge himself with an unfamiliar instrument setup, like Lee had done with fretless bass. Peart assembled a small kit composed of four drums, the smallest kit he had ever used when recording for a Rush album. Peart recorded drum parts for "Malignant Narcissism" with this minimal kit. Like Lee's bassline, the opening drumming of counting off on the snare rim, was also a bit of a fluke. As Neil Peart describes in a 2007 Modern Drummer article, "Booujze heard me counting off the tempo on my snare rim, and wanted me to start the song like that".
When Lifeson returned to the studio, he had one day to compose a guitar part to play over Lee's fretless riffing, which he did. The piece was added to the nearly finished album, thus making Snakes & Arrows the first Rush album to contain three instrumentals.
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
's 2007 album Snakes & Arrows
Snakes & Arrows
Snakes & Arrows is the 18th full-length studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush. Co-produced by Nick Raskulinecz, it is Rush's first studio outing since 2004's Feedback, and their first complete studio album since Vapor Trails in 2002...
. Many Rush fans abbreviate the title to "MalNar", an abbreviation the band members themselves developed. "Malignant Narcissism" was nominated for a 2008 Grammy under the category of Best Rock Instrumental Performance, Rush's fifth nomination in said category. However, the song lost to Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
's "Once Upon a Time in the West" making it their fifth defeat in that category.
Song title inspiration
The band found inspiration for the title of the song in the dialogue from the Trey ParkerTrey Parker
Trey Parker is an American animator, screenwriter, director, producer, voice artist, musician and actor, best known for being the co-creator of the television series South Park along with his creative partner and best friend Matt Stone.Parker started his film career in 1992, making a holiday short...
and Matt Stone
Matt Stone
Matthew Richard "Matt" Stone is an American screenwriter, producer, voice artist, musician and actor, best known for being the co-creator of South Park along with creative partner and best friend, Trey Parker....
film Team America: World Police
Team America: World Police
Team America: World Police, often referred to as simply Team America, is a 2004 action comedy film written by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Pam Brady and directed by Parker, all of whom are also known for the popular animated television series South Park...
. In that film, the psychological term malignant narcissism
Malignant Narcissism
Malignant narcissism has been described as "an extreme form of antisocial personality disorder that is manifest in a person who is pathologically grandiose, lacking in conscience and behavioral regulation, and with characteristic demonstrations of joyful cruelty and sadism".Malignant narcissism is...
is used in reference to Islamic terrorists. The only voice heard is from an audio sample taken from the film, appearing at 1:08 in the song featuring a female voice saying, "Usually a case of malignant narcissism brought on during childhood".
Composition and production
Bassist/vocallist Geddy LeeGeddy Lee
Gary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
describes the development of the song in an interview with Toronto rock station Q107 (CILQ-FM)
CILQ-FM
CILQ-FM is a radio station, broadcasting at 107.1 FM in Toronto, Ontario. The station broadcasts a classic rock format branded as Q107 and is also available through streaming audio....
. "Malignant Narcissism" was the last song recorded during the production of Snakes & Arrows, and was completed in a few days. While guitarist Alex Lifeson
Alex Lifeson
Aleksandar Živojinović, OC, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a second generation Serbian-Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend, drummer John Rutsey...
was away from the studio, Lee contacted Fender Musical Instruments Corporation and requested a Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
John Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
signature fretless bass delivered to the studio, on evaluation from Fender. According to Lee, he was interested in the bass for several reasons, including his lack of familiarity with fretless basses.
While Lee was experimenting with the bass in the studio, co-producer Nick Raskulinecz
Nick Raskulinecz
Nick Raskulinecz is a Grammy-winning American record producer. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee.-Production career:Raskulinecz is from the Bearden area of Knoxville, Tennessee. He first produced and recorded bands in Knoxville on a 8-track recorder that his grandfather bought for him...
overheard Lee playing a catchy riff and suggested this be incorporated into a new song (this exchange was captured on film, and is part of the documentary section of the MVI edition of Snakes & Arrows). Rush drummer Neil Peart
Neil Peart
Neil Ellwood Peart , OC, is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer for the rock band Rush.Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario . During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer...
was present, but his expansive drum kit had already been shipped off from the studio. With Raskulinecz's encouragement, Peart decided to challenge himself with an unfamiliar instrument setup, like Lee had done with fretless bass. Peart assembled a small kit composed of four drums, the smallest kit he had ever used when recording for a Rush album. Peart recorded drum parts for "Malignant Narcissism" with this minimal kit. Like Lee's bassline, the opening drumming of counting off on the snare rim, was also a bit of a fluke. As Neil Peart describes in a 2007 Modern Drummer article, "Booujze heard me counting off the tempo on my snare rim, and wanted me to start the song like that".
When Lifeson returned to the studio, he had one day to compose a guitar part to play over Lee's fretless riffing, which he did. The piece was added to the nearly finished album, thus making Snakes & Arrows the first Rush album to contain three instrumentals.