"Exogenesis: Symphony",commonly known as simply"Exogenesis",is a composition by EnglishrockbandMuse,featured on their 2009 fifth studio albumThe Resistance.Written by lead vocalist, guitarist and pianistMatthew Bellamyover the course of a number of years, the piece is presented as asymphonyin threemovementsentitled "Overture", "Cross-Pollination" and "Redemption", respectively, each occupying a separate track at the end of the album and spanning nearly 13 minutes in total. "Exogenesis" was released as asinglein the United States on 17 April 2010, with 500 copies to be made available by import in the United Kingdom through the band's official website.[2]
| "Exogenesis: Symphony" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| SinglebyMuse | ||||
| from the albumThe Resistance | ||||
| Released | 17 April 2010 | |||
| Recorded | 2008–09 | |||
| Studio | Studio Bellini (Lake Como,Italy) | |||
| Genre | Rock opera[1] | |||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Matt Bellamy | |||
| Producer(s) | Muse | |||
| Musesingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background and composition
editA song in the long, symphonic style of "Exogenesis" was first hinted at as a possible inclusion for Muse's fifth studio album in early 2008, when British music magazineNMEquoted Bellamy as revealing that "I think on the next album I'd like to do at least one 15-minutespace rocksolo. "[3]This idea was later discussed further and in a more extreme sense, when Bellamy suggested that the band may reject the conventionalalbumformat in favour of releasing a series ofsingles,or indeed "one 50-minute symphony."[4]
As the band confirmed that recording had begun for the album in late 2008, Bellamy explained more about the symphonic song, which he revealed would be in three parts on the album:
There is a new song in three parts, more of a symphony than a song, which I have been working on sporadically for many years [...] As a large percentage of the composition is orchestral, I have never wanted to collaborate with a string arranger as they may make it 'theirs'. So I have been arranging the orchestral elements myself, which is taking a long time. It should hopefully make the next album as the final three tracks.[5]
With the presence of "Exogenesis", among other songs, Bellamy hinted at theclassicaldirection taken by the band in writing and recordingThe Resistance,describing the record as "A symphonic album" and joking that "We'll be knocking onClassic FM's door, you know? "[6]
Speaking for theiTunes LPfeature forThe Resistance,Bellamy said the following about the inspirations and meanings of "Exogenesis":
[ "Exogenesis: Symphony" ] is influenced byRachmaninov,Richard Strauss,ChopinandPink Floyd.It looks at the concept of 'panspermia'. It is a story of humanity coming to an end and everyone pinning their hopes on a group of astronauts who go out to explore space and spread humanity to another planet. Part 1 is a jaded acceptance that civilization will end. Part 2 is a desperate hope that sending the astronauts to find and populate other planets will be successful alongside the recognition that this is the last hope. Finally, Part 3 is when the astronauts realize that it is just one big cycle, and recognize that unless humanity can change it will happen all over again.
Release
editOn 3 July 2009, Muse revealed, via theirTwitterpage, the track listing forThe Resistance;the "Exogenesis" was shown to occupy the final three tracks of the album, with the three parts being dubbed "Overture",[7]"Cross-Pollination"[8]and "Redemption",[9]respectively.
The song has been acclaimed by critics. In a pre-release interview with the band,NMEidentified "Exogenesis" as one of the highlights of the album, describing it as "more bombastic than anything Muse have ever previously done" and revealing that it features "classical piano from Bellamy and a full orchestra throughout."[10]French media sourceJudeBoxreviewed the album before its release, comparing Bellamy's vocal performance to that ofRadioheadfrontmanThom Yorkeand identifying classical composersFrédéric ChopinandFranz Lisztas influences for the symphony.[11]Mojoquoted Bellamy as revealing that the song features anorchestraof over 40 musicians,[12]whileNMEpraised the "classical piece [...] put together byMatthew Bellamyover the course of many years "as the" Most astonishing and over-the-top of all "the songs onThe Resistance.[13]The feature article quoted bassist and backing vocalistChristopher Wolstenholmeas saying the following on the song:
You can always just take the band away from that track and just have the orchestral bit and it would still be beautiful. I just think it's a stunning piece of music and we've never done something like that before, where you've got all these songs that are in different movements. The orchestra were the main bit of the song and the band was more of a backdrop. The strings were at the forefront. It's fucking astonishing.[13]
DrummerDominic Howardwas quoted as adding the following to the description of "Exogenesis":
It's a real journey that song as well. It's kind of... you can't really hear what Matt's singing in the first part much, but the whole song is about leaving the destructive planet we've created, leaving it behind to go populate somewhere else in the universe. So it's a big journey anyway, it's a big kind of filmic, visual journey as well.[13]
On possibly performing the song live, Bellamy was quoted simply as enthusiastically declaring that "We'll give it a go!"[13]For most shows ofThe Resistance Tour,"Overture" has been a staple and is usually played at the start of an encore, leading into "Stockholm Syndrome".[citation needed]
"Exogenesis: Symphony" was released on 17 April 2010 in the US on 12 "vinyl only.[14]
"Exogenesis: Symphony Part I" was used forDior Homme's advertisement called "A Rendezvous", directed byGuy Ritchieand starringJude Lawand Michaela Kocianova.[15][16]
Lawsuit controversy
editIn September 2012, three years after the release ofThe Resistanceand "Exogenesis", Charles Bollfrass claimed that the "Symphony" copied his original cinematic project with the same name. Speaking to a Manhattan court, Bollfrass stated that he had developed a "cinematic science-fiction rock opera" titled "Exogenesis" when he contacted the band in 2005, as well as the rock bandSystem of a Down,to compose the film's original score. The following year, Muse told him they were not interested in pursuing the project, but System of a Down's lead guitarist,Daron Malakian,had said yes, announcing his band's hiatus during an MTV interview.[17]Bollfrass was seeking $3.5 million in damages.[18]
Concerning the lawsuit,Musestated "The claim is complete nonsense, and is categorically denied. It appears to be based on a 'screenplay' which the band never received or saw, produced by someone the band has never heard of. It speaks volumes that the album in question was released a full three years ago, and yet this is the first that has been heard of these groundless allegations."[19]
The lawsuit was finally dismissed in April 2013 by JudgeLouis L. Stantonafter an earlier attempt to dismiss had failed in 2012. In dismissing the case, Judge Stanton held that Bollfrass' claims had "practically no legal or factual basis." "The similarity of the two works here lies in their concepts, abstracted to a high degree of generality," Judge Stanton wrote. "Both works are based on a concept of planetary breakdown and space travel, but their treatment is markedly different."[20]
"Bollfrass also said the cover art for" The Resistance "featured an image from the storyboards of his screenplay." But while Judge Stanton tossed the lawsuit, he denied Warner Music's request for attorneys' fees, saying "there was no evidence to conclude that Bollfrass' complaint was frivolous."[21]
Live performances
editThe symphony is also noted for its live performances; despite the fact that "Cross-Pollination" has not been played live, "Overture" has been performed at virtually every date onThe Resistance Tour,besides festival appearances (although it had been played at one or two of the festival slots, this was however rare). "Redemption" was finally played for the first time ever in January 2013 in Saitama, Japan.[22]Live performances during arena dates would usually take place during the first song of the encore set and would involve the band performing on the towers which comprised the arena tour's stage design, as they slowly rose up and blue lighting covered the stage. However, during later dates, the song was sometimes used as the concert opener, although this was rare. Stadium performances were more notable however, as the band would release a UFO into the crowd whilst the song was being played.[23]The UFO would circle the stadium and, asMatt Bellamy's vocals started, an acrobat in the guise of an alien would drop out of the bottom of the UFO and begin performing acrobatics above the audience. This was also a notable event in Muse's live career, as the band had tried and failed on previous tours to secure a UFO to use in live performances, only to have their plans foiled because of health and safety issues.[24]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written byMatthew Bellamy
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Exogenesis: Symphony Part 1 (Overture)" | 4:18 |
| 2. | "Exogenesis: Symphony Part 2 (Cross-Pollination)" | 3:56 |
| 3. | "Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 (Redemption)" | 4:37 |
| Total length: | 12:51 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Uprising"(Live from Teignmouth) | 5:37 |
| 2. | "Resistance"(Live from Lisbon) | 5:36 |
| Total length: | 11:13 | |
References
edit- ^Leahey, Andrew."The Resistance – Muse".AllMusic.Retrieved16 December2018.
- ^"Exogenesis – 12".Muse.Archived fromthe originalon 3 April 2010.Retrieved26 March2010.
- ^"Muse: next album to have '15-minute space rock solo'".NME.12 March 2008.Retrieved23 July2009.
- ^"Muse begin work on fifth album".NME.29 May 2008.Retrieved23 July2009.
- ^"Muse aim to include 'hardest song ever' on new album".NME.26 November 2008.Retrieved23 July2009.
- ^"Muse: 'Our new album is set for Classic FM'".NME.2 March 2009.Retrieved23 July2009.
- ^Muse(3 July 2009)."9. EXOGENESIS: SYMPHONY P..."Twitter.Archived fromthe originalon 5 March 2016.Retrieved23 July2009.
- ^Muse(3 July 2009)."10. EXOGENESIS: SYMPHONY..."Twitter.Archived fromthe originalon 17 March 2016.Retrieved23 July2009.
- ^Muse(3 July 2009)."11. EXOGENESIS: SYMPHONY..."Twitter.Archived fromthe originalon 5 March 2016.Retrieved23 July2009.
- ^"Muse in NME".Muselive (quotingNME). 8 July 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 12 July 2009.Retrieved23 July2009.
- ^"Re: The Resistance Mini-Review".Muselive. 9 July 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 13 July 2009.Retrieved23 July2009.
- ^Wilkinson, Roy."Muse: Progressive stadium rock three dream up album five".Mojo.Retrieved23 July2009.
- ^abcd"The Italian Job".NME.Archived fromthe originalon 14 July 2011.Retrieved23 July2009.
- ^"Releases".THEPRP.Retrieved23 March2010.
- ^"Video: Jude Law for Dior Homme -Directed By Guy Ritchie-Music By Muse".HollywoodBackwash.com. Archived fromthe originalon 9 September 2010.Retrieved8 December2010.
- ^"Un Rendez Vous by Guy Ritchie | Branded Short Film".Short of the Week.Retrieved29 April2022.
- ^"System Of A Down Aren't Breaking Up — They're Going On Hiatus".Mtv.com.Archived fromthe originalon 4 December 2014.Retrieved11 March2022.
- ^"Courthouse News Service Entertainment Law".Archived fromthe originalon 13 September 2012.Retrieved12 September2012.
- ^"Lawsuit Alert: Did Muse Really Rip-Off a Sci-Fi Writer for Their Album" The Resistance? "« the World Famous KROQ – Alt Rock Music News, Photos, Videos, Concerts".Archived fromthe originalon 23 October 2012.Retrieved12 September2012.
- ^http://articles.law360.s3.amazonaws.com/0429000/429520//mnt/rails_cache/https-ecf-nysd-uscourts-gov-cgi-bin-show_doc-pl-caseid-401143-de_seq_num-49-dm_id-11262284-doc_num-13.pdf[dead link]
- ^"Warner Music Escapes Copyright Suit Over Muse Song".Law360.com.Retrieved11 March2022.
- ^"Exogenesis: Symphony, Part 3 (Redemption)".Retrieved11 March2022– viaYouTube.
- ^Cochrane, Greg (13 September 2010)."Newsbeat – Rockers Muse bring UK 'UFO' tour to a close at Wembley".BBC.Retrieved15 February2012.
- ^"Muse's UFO Banned From T in the Park".Xfm.Retrieved15 February2012.
