"Compliance" is a song by English rock band Muse. It was released as a single on 17 March 2022 as the second single from Will of the People, their ninth studio album.[1]
| "Compliance" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cover of the Purple Disco Machine remix | ||||
| Single by Muse | ||||
| from the album Will of the People | ||||
| Released | 17 March 2022 | |||
| Recorded | 2022 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:10 | |||
| Label | Warner | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Matt Bellamy | |||
| Producer(s) | Muse | |||
| Muse singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Compliance" on YouTube | ||||
Release
edit"Compliance" was announced through Muse's social media channels on 11 March 2022, alongside a cryptic short video featuring a quote which explains the backstory of the song, which read as follows:
Compliance is about the promise of safety and reassurance sold to us by powerful entities during times of vulnerability. Gangs, governments, demagogues, social media algorithms & religions seduce us with misleading untruths and comforting fables. They want us to join their narrow worldview in exchange for obedience and turning a blind eye to our own internal voice of reason & compassion. They just need our Compliance.
Additional social media posts were published on 16 March, the day before the release of "Compliance", confirming that both "Compliance" and previously released single "Won't Stand Down" will feature on Muse's upcoming ninth studio album, Will of the People.
Writing and composition
editLyrically, "Compliance" is an anti-establishment protest song, in common with previous Muse songs such as "Uprising".[2] It features themes of oppression of the people, delivered from the perspective of the oppressor; lyrics such as "we have what you need, just reach out and touch" and "you will feel no pain any more" are an attempt to gaslight the population into accepting their oppressed state as being better than any alternative scenario. "Compliance" was released less than a month after the commencement of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the lyrics highlight the plight of the Ukrainian people by exposing Russia's perspective of the conflict; songwriter Matt Bellamy stated that, among other themes, the song references "new wars in Europe".[3]
Musically, "Compliance" was described by Mike DeWald of Riff as a "melodic alt-pop rocker",[4] while Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of Financial Times labeled the song as synth-pop.[5] Muse lead singer Matt Bellamy said he thought the song was "the best pop track we've ever done".[6]
Music video
editThe music video for "Compliance", directed by Jeremi Durand and shot in Poland, was released with the single on 17 March. The video features references to 2012 film Looper; three masked children, wearing masks resembling the band members, travel to a dystopian future in an attempt to destroy it and save their future selves.[7] Much of the video is shot in reversed slow-motion. The music video shares a common theme with "Won't Stand Down", commencing with the same metallic masked figure who appeared in the music video for this single.
Live performances
edit"Compliance" made its live debut at a special invitation-only concert at the Cavern Club in Exeter, Devon, not far from the band's home town of Teignmouth, held on 7 April 2022. In contrast to the studio recording, it is usually played in a heavier, guitar-based version.
In live performances, the song is usually paired with "The Gallery", the B-side to 2001 single "Bliss", as an instrumental introduction. "The Gallery" made its live debut in this role at a charity concert to support the victims of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine at the Hammersmith Apollo on 9 May 2022, 21 years after it was released.
Personnel
editCredits adapted from Tidal.[8]
Muse
- Matt Bellamy – lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, production
- Chris Wolstenholme – bass, production
- Dominic Howard – drums, production
Production
- Aleks Von Korff – additional production, engineering
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- Chris Gehringer – mastering
- Bryce Bordine – mixing engineer
- Andy Maxwell – studio assistant
- Joe Devenney – studio assistant
- Tommy Bosustow – studio assistant
- Chris Whitemyer – technical assistant
- Paul Warren – technical assistant
Charts
edit| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[9] | 23 |
| UK Singles Sales (OCC)[10] | 45 |
| UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[11] | 45 |
| UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[12] | 21 |
| US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[13] | 38 |
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 17 March 2022 | Contemporary hit radio | Warner | [14] |
References
edit- ^ "Muse announce new album Will Of The People, which is "influenced by the increasing uncertainty and instability in the world"". Kerrang!. 17 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ "Muse's New Music Video "Compliance" is an Anti-Establishment Anthem". Soundigest. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ Childers, Chad (17 March 2022). "Muse Drop Defiant New Song 'Compliance,' Announce 'Will of the People' Album". Loudwire. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ DeWald, Mike (22 August 2022). "Muse comes full circle on expansive 'Will of the People'". Riff. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (26 August 2022). "Muse: Will of the People — millenarian arena-rockers bring exuberance and despair". Financial Times. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "Muse: 'I think 'Compliance' is our best pop track we've ever done'". Music-News. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ Colothan, Scott (18 March 2022). "Watch Muse's creepy 'Compliance' video from new album 'Will of the People'". Planet Rock. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ "Credits / Compliance / Muse - TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Muse Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart". Official Charts Company. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ "Muse Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "Muse "Compliance" | (Radio Date: 17/03/2022)". radiodate.it (in Italian). Retrieved 8 May 2022.