Won't Stand Down
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Won't Stand Down
| cover = Muse - Won't Stand Down.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Muse
| album = Will of the People
| released = {{start date|2022|1|13|df=yes}}
| recorded = 2021
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 3:29
| label = Warner
| writer = Matt Bellamy
| producer = Muse
| prev_title = Pressure
| prev_year = 2018
| next_title = Compliance
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|d55ELY17CFM|"Won't Stand Down"}}
}}
}}
"Won't Stand Down" is a song by English rock band Muse. Released as a single on 13 January 2022, it is their first single from Will of the People, their ninth studio album.{{cite web |last1=Trendell |first1=Andrew |title=Muse announce new single 'Won't Stand Down' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/muse-announce-new-single-wont-stand-down-album-3132589 |website=NME |date=7 January 2022 |access-date=9 January 2022}}{{cite web |title=Muse announce new album Will Of The People, which is "influenced by the increasing uncertainty and instability in the world" |url=https://www.kerrang.com/muse-announce-new-album-will-of-the-people-matt-bellamy-compliance |website=Kerrang! |access-date=17 March 2022}} It topped the UK Rock & Metal chart and reached number 56 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was a sleeper hit in the United States, reaching number 1 on Billboard{{'}}s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in May 2022, becoming the first Muse song to do so.{{cite web |title=Muse earns 'Billboard' chart first with "Won't Stand Down" |url=https://www.1057thepoint.com/music-news/muse-earns-billboard-chart-first-with-wont-stand-down/ |website=105.7 The Point |access-date=8 May 2022 |date=5 May 2022}}{{cite magazine |title=Muse – Chart History – Mainstream Rock Airplay |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/muse/chart-history/rka/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=8 May 2022}}
Release
On 25 December 2021, Muse lead singer and guitarist Matt Bellamy held a brief livestream on the official Muse Instagram account. In the video, he can be seen driving his Tesla on Autopilot mode, with his 10-year-old son Bing in the passenger seat. The pair are listening (and, in Bing's case, headbanging) to a then-unreleased Muse song, entitled "Won't Stand Down" on the car stereo screen, while Matt provides occasional commentary over the track. In total, the livestream previewed a roughly one-minute-long section of the song.{{cite web |last1=Daly |first1=Rhian |title=Matt Bellamy teases new Muse song on Instagram Live |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/matt-bellamy-teases-new-muse-song-instagram-live-3126213 |website=NME|date=26 December 2021 }} Muse's own Instagram account hinted towards the release of a new single in a post on 31 December, initially uploaded with the caption "Looking forward to WSD. We'll see you on the other side!" before "WSD" was changed to "2022" after a few minutes.
The release of "Won't Stand Down" as a single was officially confirmed by Muse on 7 January 2022, with the release date set for 13 January on all digital platforms.{{cite web |title=Won't Stand Down – Our new single, released next week on Thursday January 13th. |url=https://twitter.com/muse/status/1479468369543933959 |website=Twitter |publisher=Muse |access-date=9 January 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Emily |title=Muse to release heavy new single Won't Stand Down next week |url=https://www.kerrang.com/muse-to-release-heavy-new-single-wont-stand-down-next-week |website=Kerrang! |access-date=9 January 2022}} On 9 January, a further snippet of the song, this time consisting of the opening verse, was posted to Muse's TikTok account as well as a "Won't Stand Down"-themed Instagram Stories mask filter.
Writing and composition
Musically, the song has been described as heavy metal,{{cite web|last=Grau|first=Ignacio|title=Muse returns after four years with a heavy new track "Won't Stand Down"|url=https://chaoszine.net/muse-returns-after-four-years-with-a-heavy-new-track-wont-stand-down/|work=Chaoszine|date=13 January 2022|access-date=13 January 2022}} hard rock,{{cite web|last=Brayden|first=Kate|title=Muse tease new hard rock single 'Won't Stand Down'|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/muse-tease-new-hard-rock-single-wont-stand-down-22886862|work=Hot Press|date=7 January 2022|access-date=13 January 2022}} and electronic rock.{{cite web|last=Owen|first=Matt|title=Muse release pummeling new single, Won't Stand Down|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/muse-wont-stand-down|work=Guitar World|date=13 January 2022|access-date=13 January 2022}} Prior to release, the song was described as Muse's "heaviest material yet",{{cite web|last=Owen|first=Matt|title=Muse unleash their inner metal in teaser for brutal new single, Won't Stand Down|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/muse-wont-stand-down-teaser|work=Guitar World|date=7 January 2022|access-date=14 January 2022}} featuring a metalcore breakdown.{{cite web|last=Parker|first=Jack|title=Muse Are Back – Here Are 10 Songs You May Have Forgotten|url=https://www.allthingsloud.com/muse-are-back-here-are-10-songs-you-may-have-forgotten/|website=All Things Loud|date=11 January 2022|access-date=13 January 2022}} The song also contains "heavy guitars and industrial-like distortions",{{cite web|title=Muse Drops Guitar-Heavy New Song 'Won't Stand Down'|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/muse-drops-guitar-heavy-new-song-wont-stand-down/|work=Blabbermouth|date=13 January 2022|access-date=13 January 2022}} and "triplet-flow-type vocals in the verse".{{cite web|last=Kennelty|first=Greg|title=The New Muse Single "Won't Stand Down" Is Indeed Pretty Heavy|url=https://metalinjection.net/video/the-new-muse-single-wont-stand-down-is-indeed-pretty-heavy|website=Metal Injection|date=13 January 2022|access-date=14 January 2022}}
According to vocalist and guitarist Matt Bellamy, "'Won't Stand Down' is a song about standing your ground against bullies, whether that be on the playground, at work or anywhere."
Artwork and music video
The digital artwork for "Won't Stand Down" was described as "dark and ominous", featuring a hooded priest-like figure hovering over ten disciples,{{cite magazine |last1=Bowenbank |first1=Starr |title=Muse Teases New Single 'Won't Stand Down' With Haunting Cover Art |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/muse-new-song-wont-stand-down-tease-1235016676/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=9 January 2022}} figures wearing digital-style masks and gothic chandeliers. A short teaser of the music video was posted to Muse's TikTok account on 9 January.{{cite web |title=Living vicariously...#WontStandDown #Muse #NewMusic |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@muse/video/7051163700660538630?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id7051236940356077062 |website=TikTok |publisher=Muse}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal{{cite web |title=Credits / Won't Stand Down / Muse – TIDAL |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/211379744/credits |website=Tidal |access-date=13 January 2022}}
Muse
- Matt Bellamy – lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, production
- Chris Wolstenholme – bass, backing vocals, production
- Dominic Howard – drums, production
Production
- Aleks Von Korff – additional production, engineering
- Dan Lancaster – mixing
- Chris Gehringer – mastering
- Rhys May – mixing assistant
- Andy Maxwell – studio assistant
- Joe Devenney – studio assistant
- Tommy Bosustow – studio assistant
- Chris Whitemyer – technical assistant
- Paul Warren – technical assistant
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for "Won't Stand Down" ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard){{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/hot-rock-songs/|title=Year-End Charts: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2022)|work=Billboard|access-date=2 December 2022}}
| 85 |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Rock Airplay (Billboard){{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/rock-airplay-songs/|title=Year-End Charts: Rock & Alternative Airplay (2022)|work=Billboard|access-date=2 December 2022}}
| 10 |
{{col-end}}
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Awards and nominations for "Won't Stand Down" |
| align=center
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Organization ! scope="col"| Award ! scope="col"| Result ! scope="col"| Ref(s) |
| 2022
| {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"|{{Cite web|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/hwekgl/vmas-2022-nominees-lil-nas-x-jack-harlow-kendrick-lamar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726133318/https://www.mtv.com/news/hwekgl/vmas-2022-nominees-lil-nas-x-jack-harlow-kendrick-lamar|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 July 2022|title=Your 2022 VMA Nominations Are Here: Jack Harlow, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Nas X Lead The Pack|website=MTV|last=Serrano|first=Athena|date=26 July 2022|access-date=30 October 2022}} |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release history for "Won't Stand Down" ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| Italy
| 14 January 2022 | rowspan="3"| Warner |
|---|
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| United States
| rowspan="2"| 18 January 2022 |
| Rock radio |