Map of the Problematique

"Map of the Problematique" is an electronic rock song featuring heavy use of synthesisers, distortion, flanging and octave shifting. Written in the key of C minor, it moves in common time at a moderately fast tempo of 125 bpm. Lead singer Matthew Bellamy's displayed vocal range spans from B♭3 to C5. His vocals in the song are overdubbed to create an echo effect.

The main riff does not feature any dominant chords, which gives it a more modal sound. The chords being played are C minor, E♭ major, A♭ major, and F minor.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}

The song has drawn frequent comparisons to "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode due to their similar chord progression and arrangement. Bellamy has also cited Depeche Mode as inspiration for the song in interviews.{{cite web|title=Depeche Mode Influence info|publisher=Youtube.com|date=9 April 2007|accessdate=8 June 2007|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ivsybT5I6w}}

The title is a reference to the book The Limits to Growth (1972) and the Club of Rome think-tank who would create a "map of the problematique" detailing the "global problematique" - a set of likely challenges the world might face in the near future.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}

Originating from rehearsals before the recording of Black Holes and Revelations, "Map of the Problematique" was one of the later songs the band started work on. It was originally played on synthesisers before being transferred to guitar, giving it a darker sound, although initially the intention was to keep it as keyboard-orientated as possible. The rhythm section was recorded after the guitar tracks. This was different from anything the band had done before, according to bassist Chris Wolstenholme, "because the whole theme of the song was based more on the sound and creation of this sound".{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

The riff was written on keyboard; at producer Rich Costey's encouragement, Bellamy recreated it on guitar by splitting the guitar into three signals, which were processed with pitch shifters and synthesisers.{{Cite web|last=Touzeau|first=Jeff|title=An Evening With Rich Costey|url=https://www.emusician.com/gear/an-evening-with-rich-costey|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330093539/https://www.emusician.com/gear/an-evening-with-rich-costey|archive-date=30 March 2019|access-date=2018-12-09|website=Electronic Musician}}
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| headline = Download{{Cite web|url = https://music.apple.com/gb/album/map-of-the-problematique-ep/317961074|title = Map of the Problematique - EP|publisher = iTunes|access-date = 8 May 2013}}

| title1 = Map of the Problematique

| length1 = 4:18

| title2 = Map of the Problematique

| note2 = Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix

| length2 = 4:24

| title3 = Map of the Problematique

| note3 = AOL Session

| length3 = 4:25

}}

{{tracklist

| headline = Muse.mu exclusive download{{Cite web|url = http://muse.mu/shop/product/90/map-of-the-problematique-musemu-exclusive---mp3/menu/4/singles/|title = Map Of The Problematique (muse.mu exclusive) - MP3|publisher = Muse|accessdate = 8 May 2013}}

| title1 = Map of the Problematique

| length1 = 4:18

| title2 = Map of the Problematique

| note2 = Live from Wembley Stadium

| length2 = 5:05

| title3 = Map of the Problematique

| note3 = Rich Costey Edit

| length3 = 3:40

| title4 = Map of the Problematique

| note4 = Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix

| length4 = 4:24

| title5 = Map of the Problematique

| note5 = AOL Session

| length5 = 4:25

}}

The song reached number 18 in the UK singles chart in its first week of release, and was more successful than "Invincible", the previous single.

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Category:Muse (band) songs

Category:2006 songs

Category:2007 singles

Category:Songs written by Matt Bellamy

Category:Song recordings produced by Rich Costey

Category:Warner Records singles

Category:Rock ballads

Category:2000s ballads