Apocalypse Please
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Apocalypse Please
| cover = Muse - Apocalypse Please.jpg
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Muse
| album = Absolution
| released = 23 August 2004
| recorded = {{Start date|2003}} {{small|(album version)}}
27 June 2004 at Glastonbury Festival {{small|(single version)}}
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| length = 4:12 (Album version)
4:34 (Album version with intro)
4:48 (Single version)
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| composer = Muse (Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme, Dominic Howard)
| lyricist = Matt Bellamy
| producer = {{hlist|Rich Costey|Muse}}
| prev_title = Sing for Absolution
| prev_year = 2004
| next_title = Butterflies and Hurricanes
| next_year = 2004
}}
"Apocalypse Please" is a song by English rock band Muse, featured on their third studio album, Absolution (2003). A live version of the song was released as a download single on 23 August 2004, from which approximately 70% of all proceeds were donated to Oxfam.{{cite news |url=http://www.microcuts.net/uk/news/archives/08162004-chris_hand_injury_new_download_single.php |title=Chris' Hand Injury, New Download Single |publisher=microcuts.net |date=16 August 2004 |accessdate=17 September 2009 |archive-date=14 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214044012/http://www.microcuts.net/uk/news/archives/08162004-chris_hand_injury_new_download_single.php |url-status=dead }} The song reached number ten on the first edition of the UK Official Download Chart, announced on 1 September 2004.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3617020.stm |title=Westlife top first download chart |publisher=BBC |date=1 September 2004 |accessdate=17 September 2009 }}
Background
"Apocalypse Please" was originally recorded with an orchestral backing, which was removed simply for being, according to Bellamy, "too much."{{Cite AV media |title=Muse: Making of Absolution (Official Documentary) |others=Muse |date=2003 |medium=DVD}} 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."{{cite web |url=http://www.musewiki.org/We_feel_sorry_for_bands_being_hyped_%2820031002_Laut_article%29 |title=We feel sorry for bands being hyped |publisher=MuseWiki |date=2 October 2003 |accessdate=17 September 2009 }}
Producer Rich Costey said he wanted the toms on "Apocalypse Please" to sound as "ridiculous and as epic as possible".{{Cite web|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/rich-costey-producer|title=Rich Costey: Producer {{!}}|website=soundonsound.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-10-21}} He had Howard play a pair of close-miked kick drums "to get a low, thumping sound". The song also features additional drumming by bassist Chris Wolstenholme.{{Cite AV media |title=Muse: Making of Absolution (Official Documentary) |others=Muse |date=2003 |medium=DVD}}
Release
Along with the single release, Muse ran a competition to win a signed and framed set list, also in conjunction with Oxfam.{{cite news |url=http://www.microcuts.net/uk/news/archives/08252004-oxfam_download.php |title=Oxfam Download |publisher=microcuts.net |date=25 August 2004 |accessdate=17 September 2009 }} In 2005, "Apocalypse Please" was featured on the live video album Absolution Tour;{{cite web|url=http://muse.mu/discography/dvds/42/absolution-tour/ |title=Absolution Tour |publisher=Muse |accessdate=17 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803123239/http://muse.mu/discography/dvds/42/absolution-tour/ |archivedate=3 August 2009 }} in 2008, it was also featured on the DVD edition of the live album HAARP.{{cite web|url=http://muse.mu/discography/albums/4/haarp/ |title=HAARP |publisher=Muse |accessdate=17 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803012629/http://muse.mu/discography/albums/4/haarp/ |archivedate=3 August 2009 }}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Apocalypse Please" ! scope="col"| Chart (2004) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{single chart|UKdownload|10|date=20040901|rowheader=true|access-date=8 May 2022}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://muse.mu/MediaPlayerPop.aspx?BaseURL=http://muse.mu&ItemID=2&TrackID=1&ItemType=COLLECTION&MediaType=VIDEO&SplashImg=/upload/image/discography/640x360/4d17d102-d195-49d0-8072-478910337af5.jpg&SeekIdx=6.687&Embed=true "Apocalypse Please" (audio)]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} at the [http://muse.mu/ Muse official website]
- [http://muse.mu/MediaPlayerPop.aspx?BaseURL=http://muse.mu&ItemID=42&TrackID=4&ItemType=COLLECTION&MediaType=VIDEO&SplashImg=/upload/image/discography/640x360/984189cf-32e8-46e7-bc81-bd93343e69a7.jpg&SeekIdx=0.81&Embed=true "Apocalypse Please" (Absolution Tour video)]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} at the [http://muse.mu/ Muse official website]
- [http://muse.mu/MediaPlayerPop.aspx?BaseURL=http://muse.mu&ItemID=4&TrackID=20&ItemType=COLLECTION&MediaType=VIDEO&SplashImg=/upload/image/discography/640x360/98f5ee3d-800b-4d35-bb91-4cc1d2aa8cda.jpg&SeekIdx=2.612&Embed=true "Apocalypse Please" (HAARP video)]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} at the [http://muse.mu/ Muse official website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110722144328/http://muse.mu/webservices/lyrics.aspx?trackid=38 "Apocalypse Please" lyrics] at the [http://muse.mu/ Muse official website]
{{Muse}}
Category:Songs written by Matt Bellamy
Category:Song recordings produced by Rich Costey
Category:East West Records singles