Dig Down
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Dig Down
| cover = MuseDigDown.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Muse
| album = Simulation Theory
| released = {{start date|2017|5|18|df=yes}}
| recorded = {{start date|2017}}
| studio = AIR Studios (London, England)
| venue =
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Synth-pop
- glam rock{{cite web|first= Elias|last=Leight|date=18 May 2017|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/see-muses-violent-kung-fu-filled-dig-down-video-w482941|title=See Muse's Violent, Kung-Fu-Filled 'Dig Down' Video|publisher=Rolling Stone|website=rollingstone.com|access-date=26 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426135703/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/see-muses-violent-kung-fu-filled-dig-down-video-w482941|url-status=live|archive-date=26 April 2018}}
}}
| length = 3:48
3:57 (Acoustic Gospel Version)
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| writer = Matt Bellamy
| producer = {{flatlist|
- Mike Elizondo
- Muse
}}
| prev_title = Reapers
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = Thought Contagion
| next_year = 2018
}}
"Dig Down" is a song by English rock band Muse. Produced by the band with Mike Elizondo, it was released as a single on 18 May 2017 and is featured on the band's eighth studio album, Simulation Theory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-unveil-new-single-dark-side-announce-new-album-simulation-theory-2372513|title=Muse unveil new single 'The Dark Side' and announce new album 'Simulation Theory'|work=NME|last=Trendell|first=Andrew|date=30 August 2018|access-date=31 August 2018}} "Dig Down" debuted at number 94 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart. The next week, it peaked at 51 on that chart.
Background
Muse began teasing the release of a new song in early May 2017, sharing photos and clips from the video.{{cite news |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-tease-new-single-and-video-2068201 |title=Muse tease new single and video |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |work=NME |publisher=Time Inc. UK |date=10 May 2017 |access-date=21 May 2017 }} After announcing the track the week before,{{cite news |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-announce-new-single-dig-2069869 |title=Muse announce new single 'Dig Down' |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |work=NME |publisher=Time Inc. UK |date=11 May 2017 |access-date=21 May 2017 }} "Dig Down" was released alongside its music video on 18 May 2017.{{cite news |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-dig-down-single-video-2073582 |title=Watch Muse's dystopian video for new single 'Dig Down' |last=Britton |first=Luke Morgan |work=NME |publisher=Time Inc. UK |date=18 May 2017 |access-date=21 May 2017 }} Speaking about writing the song, Muse frontman Matt Bellamy explained that "I was looking to counteract the current negativity in the world and give inspiration, optimism and hope to people to fight for the causes they believe in – that as individuals we can choose to change the world if we want to".{{cite news |url=http://teamrock.com/news/2017-05-18/watch-video-for-new-muse-track-dig-down |title=Watch video for new Muse track Dig Down |last=Munro |first=Scott |work=Prog |publisher=TeamRock |date=18 May 2017 |access-date=21 May 2017 }} Consequence of Sound's Michelle Geslani described the song as "a stuttering, mostly sparse number with hints of glam rock flare".{{cite magazine |url=https://consequence.net/2017/05/muse-share-action-packed-video-for-new-single-dig-down-watch/ |title=Muse share action-packed video for new single "Dig Down" — watch |last=Geslani |first=Michelle |magazine=Consequence of Sound |date=18 May 2017 |access-date=21 May 2017 }}
On the deluxe versions of the album, an alternative version of the song was included dubbed the "Acoustic Gospel Version". This version does away with the electronic elements and instead is a much quieter, simpler version featuring acoustic guitar, piano and a choir in the background. This version was played during the Simulation Theory World Tour instead of the original.{{fact|date=May 2022}}
Music video
The music video for "Dig Down" was released alongside the track on 18 May 2017. Directed by Lance Drake, the video features model and activist Lauren Wasser, "who has to fight her way out of a high-security building"{{cite news |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/73592-watch-muses-video-for-new-song-dig-down/ |title=Watch Muse's Video for New Song "Dig Down" |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |publisher=Pitchfork Media |date=18 May 2017 |access-date=21 May 2017 }} while the band members sing or play their respective instruments while attempting to resemble the Max Headroom incident.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/mattbellamy/status/865252383512834048 |title=Muse Recreated Max Headroom Incident in "Dig Down" Music Video |last=Bellamy |first=Matt |date=May 18, 2017 |website=Twitter |access-date=2017-06-18 |quote=Yes, wanted to recreate that 'max headroom incident' 80s TV hack}} Writing for Rolling Stone magazine, Elias Light outlined that in the "violent, kung-fu-filled" video, "Wasser's character, outnumbered at least 20-to-1, defeats a series of shadowy assailants in hand-to-hand combat".{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/see-muses-violent-kung-fu-filled-dig-down-video-w482941 |title=See Muse's Violent, Kung-Fu-Filled 'Dig Down' Video |last=Light |first=Elias |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=18 May 2017 |access-date=18 May 2017 }} Speaking about the production of the video, Drake explained that "When I heard this song, I knew I wanted to do an action-packed narrative. I'd heard about Lauren a year or so ago, I read her story and she gave me personal inspiration so I'd always kept her in mind to shoot with one day. The power of the song made me think of her – so I wrote the video narrative based on Lauren's story and how she overcame the odds."
Live video
An official live video was also released through the Muse YouTube channel on 5 June 2017. The video, directed by Tom Kirk, was recorded in Nashville on 3 June 2017.{{Citation|last=Muse|title=MUSE - Dig Down [Live from Nashville, TN // 3 June 2017]|date=2017-06-05|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLXTXgXe5tc|access-date=2017-06-05}}
Reception
The song has received mixed reviews from both critics and fans of the band. Matt Dawson from RedBrick gave an average review stating "it appears that Muse have yet to perfect the formula of trying new things and retaining the components that made them good in the first place".{{cite web|date=20 May 2017 |url=http://www.redbrick.me/music/slider-music/single-review-muse-dig/|access-date=4 April 2018|title=Single Review: Muse - Dig Down |publisher= Redbrick | author=Matt Dawson }} Jason Davis from The Edge also gave a mixed review expressing - "Muse have a knack for the experimenting in their music, but 'Dig Down' has only that going for it. This relatively uneventful song doesn't stand up to their past anthems." awarding 3/5 stars.{{cite web|date=2 July 2017 |url=https://www.theedgesusu.co.uk/records/singles/2017/07/02/review-muse-dig-down/|access-date=4 April 2018 |author=Jason Davis|title=Review: Muse – 'Dig Down'}} However, Hayden Benfield from Renowned for Sound gave a positive review stating - "Dig Down is certainly a catchy track that grows on the listener with repeat listens.", giving it 4/5 stars.{{cite web |url=http://renownedforsound.com/index.php/single-review-muse-dig-down/|access-date=4 April 2018|author=Haydon Benfield|date=28 May 2017|title= Single Review: Muse – 'Dig Down'|publisher=Renowned for Sound}}
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| Chart (2017)
!Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|13|artist=Muse|song=Dig Down|rowheader=true|access-date=16 June 2017}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia Tip|13|artist=Muse|song=Dig Down|rowheader=true|access-date=16 June 2017}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadarock|13|artist=Muse|rowheader=true|access-date=21 January 2022}} |
| scope="row"|France (SNEP){{cite web |url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-telecharges/?ye=2017&we=21 |title=Le Top de la semaine: Top Singles Téléchargés – SNEP (Week 21, 2017) |publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique |language=fr |access-date=27 May 2017}}
|35 |
| {{single chart|Scotland|56|date=2017-05-26|rowheader=true|access-date=27 May 2017}} |
| {{single chart|Spain|39|artist=Muse|song=Dig Down|rowheader=true|access-date=6 June 2017}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|47|artist=Muse|song=Dig Down|rowheader=true|access-date=29 May 2017}} |
| scope="row"|UK Singles Downloads (OCC){{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-downloads-chart/20170519/7000/ |title=Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100: 19th May 2017- 25th May 2017 |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=21 May 2017}}
|51 |
| {{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|21|artist=Muse|rowheader=true|accessdate=8 August 2017}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrockairplay|6|artist=Muse|rowheader=true|access-date=21 January 2022}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| Chart (2017)
!Position |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/hot-rock-songs|title=Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2017|magazine=Billboard|access-date=19 May 2020}}
|59 |
| scope="row"| US Rock Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/rock-airplay-songs/|title=Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2017|magazine=Billboard|access-date=21 January 2022}}
|31 |
{{col-end}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4ozdiGys5g "Dig Down"] music video on YouTube
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNn8LZnSfd0 "Dig Down"] Artificial intelligence lyric video on YouTube
{{Muse}}
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