Songs of Tess: Muse (I Suck at Titles)
For the next Songs of Tess blog, I was thinking of ways to include the English band Muse more than once, and not have it Muse-centred and well, needless to say, I did not come up with an excuse to have them more than once, so I went even further with the idea, and decided to dedicate this entry to an old friend, Melissa.
A trip down memory lane for those not in the know: I met Melissa in 2003, right after I started building websites. Out of the… say, seven/eight friends we all knew, she is the only one I’ve kept in consistent contact with. I’ve talked on the phone with her, co-owned websites with her, and knew her when she started the Muse obsession that would lead her to go around the USA attending their concerts1. I admit it: we’re not nearly as close as we once were, but she inspired me in so many ways back then, and she still inspires me now.
Melissa introduced me to Muse – insert aforementioned obsession here – as well as Bayside, and (unknowing to her) Placebo, my favourite band. Melissa is one of the amazing dedicated fans of bands that don’t give you the heeby-jeebies, and I will probably never be able to listen to Muse without thinking of her.
So! These are my favourite songs of Muse, all dedicated to Melissa, and not sorted alphabetically, but my relevance (my inner OC is dying inside right now, BTW)! Of course, you can « listen to them here.
Unintended (Showbiz)
I’m only listing this first, because it’s a beautiful song. It’s one of the first ones I heard, and it’ll never stop being a melody to my ears.
First there was the one who challenged
All my dreams and all my balance
She could never be as good as you
It’s a truly inspirational song to me, because a) we both (back then) associated it with Draco/Hermione, and while I’m a Harry/Draco convert, it’s still symbolic and b) it’s not a love-love story ». It’s a bit like, “yeah, I was in love before, but I’m in love with you now”… type… thing. WHATEVER.
Time Is Running Out (Absolution)
This was the first song Melissa introduced me to, and for that reason, it’s one of my favourites. That, and the lyrics are kind of sexy:
I think I’m drowning, asphyxiated
I wanna’ break this spell that you’ve created
You’re something beautiful, a contradiction
I wanna play the game, I want the friction
It’s a modern break-up song, but with a twist; you can clearly see the person’s struggle with their partner, and wanting to hack them to pieces, but wanting to save it, hence time is running out. Amazing! »
Bliss (Origin of Symmetry)
Bliss. It kind of says it all, really.
Everything about you is how I’d wanna’ be
Your freedom comes naturally
Everything about you resonates happiness
Now I won’t settle for less
The lyrics remind me of » my Mom, because she really gives off the beautiful vibe in this song. Sometimes you just need a pick-me-up song, and Bliss is very apt.
Knights of Cydonia (Black Holes & Revelations
Absolution is my favourite album to date from Muse, but Black Holes & Revelations is second, admittedly, and it was hard choosing. I stuck with Knights of Cydonia, because a) it’s music is the greatest shit ever, b) the music video was awesome and c) I love Knights, so the title captivates me2.
Come ride with me
Through the veins of history
I’ll show you how god
Falls asleep on the job
You and I must fight to survive »~! /in music heaven
I Belong to You (Mon cœur s’ouvre á ta voix) (The Resistance)
All the songs are fabulous on the new album, but I’m a lyrics nerd, and I Belong to You captivated me.
I can’t find the words to say
They’re overdue
I’ve traveled half the world to say
I belong to you…
I’m not big on French, but it really is quite catchy ». And I really love the piano in the song.
That’s it! And yes, those songs are all on separate albums, because I had to be OC about something.
