The Widow
Encyclopedia
"The Widow" is a song by The Mars Volta
, from their second album Frances the Mute
. The song was first performed in May, 2004 at the Wiltern Theatre
in Los Angeles
during The Mars Volta's three-night residence closing the tour supporting their debut LP, De-Loused in the Comatorium
. At the concert, the song was dedicated to former Mars Volta member Jeremy Michael Ward
, who had died of a drug overdose in May 2003. The song peaked at #95 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
, making it the band's first single to chart there. The song also reached #20 in the UK Singles Chart
. The song also peaked at #7 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. As of November 2010, it is the only song by The Mars Volta to chart on any Billboard chart.
, (although the album-version features a lengthy, non-radio-friendly outro of organ
s and electronic spasms, taking up the later half of the track). The edit of "The Widow" cuts the last instrumental part of the regular album track and fades out when the vocals start to become distorted. It is also the only Mars Volta song to chart in the United States. The song is notable for its consistently high lead vocals which never go below the alto register.
The song features a brief trumpet part from Flea, after the second chorus. Omar performs a brief solo in the same section. On the vinyl version of the single, "The Widow" is taken from one of the Wiltern performances, and features only acoustic guitar and vocals, with some distortion effects.
album and place it first in the running order, before "Cygnus....Vismund Cygnus".
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is a Grammy award winning American progressive rock band from El Paso, Texas. Founded in 2001 by guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the band incorporates various influences including progressive rock, krautrock, jazz fusion, Latin American music, and...
, from their second album Frances the Mute
Frances the Mute
Frances the Mute is the second studio album by progressive rock band The Mars Volta released in the US on March 1, 2005. Though not as commercially successful as De-Loused in the Comatorium, it received considerable critical praise...
. The song was first performed in May, 2004 at the Wiltern Theatre
Wiltern Theatre
The Wiltern Theatre and adjacent 12-story Pellissier Building are Art Deco architectural landmarks located on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue in Los Angeles, California. The entire complex is commonly referred to as the Wiltern Center...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
during The Mars Volta's three-night residence closing the tour supporting their debut LP, De-Loused in the Comatorium
De-Loused in the Comatorium
De-Loused in the Comatorium is the debut studio album of the progressive rock band The Mars Volta. Released on June 24, 2003 on Gold Standard Laboratories and Universal Records, De-loused is based on a short story written by lead singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and sound manipulation artist Jeremy...
. At the concert, the song was dedicated to former Mars Volta member Jeremy Michael Ward
Jeremy Michael Ward
Jeremy Michael Ward was the sound technician and vocal operator for The Mars Volta and for the dub outfit De Facto. He created many of the soundscapes heard on The Mars Volta's album De-Loused in the Comatorium...
, who had died of a drug overdose in May 2003. The song peaked at #95 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, making it the band's first single to chart there. The song also reached #20 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 ...
. The song also peaked at #7 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. As of November 2010, it is the only song by The Mars Volta to chart on any Billboard chart.
Main track
"The Widow" is notably the only short, pop-structured song on Frances the MuteFrances the Mute
Frances the Mute is the second studio album by progressive rock band The Mars Volta released in the US on March 1, 2005. Though not as commercially successful as De-Loused in the Comatorium, it received considerable critical praise...
, (although the album-version features a lengthy, non-radio-friendly outro of organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
s and electronic spasms, taking up the later half of the track). The edit of "The Widow" cuts the last instrumental part of the regular album track and fades out when the vocals start to become distorted. It is also the only Mars Volta song to chart in the United States. The song is notable for its consistently high lead vocals which never go below the alto register.
The song features a brief trumpet part from Flea, after the second chorus. Omar performs a brief solo in the same section. On the vinyl version of the single, "The Widow" is taken from one of the Wiltern performances, and features only acoustic guitar and vocals, with some distortion effects.
"Frances the Mute"
The single also contains the 14-minute track "Frances the Mute", which was not included on the album of the same name. Many fans, based on comments by the band, consider this additional song as part of the Frances the MuteFrances the Mute
Frances the Mute is the second studio album by progressive rock band The Mars Volta released in the US on March 1, 2005. Though not as commercially successful as De-Loused in the Comatorium, it received considerable critical praise...
album and place it first in the running order, before "Cygnus....Vismund Cygnus".
Track listing
- "Frances the Mute" – 14:39
- "In Thirteen Seconds"
- "Nineteen Sank, While Six Would Swim"
- "Five Would Grow and One Was Dead"
- "The Widow" (edit) – 3:19