Difference between revisions of "Psycho (song)"

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[[File:2406_original.jpg|thumb|right|Artwork used on muse.mu]]
{{Songbox
{{Songbox
| Name = Psycho
| Name = Psycho
| Album = [[Drones (album)|Drones]]
| Album = {{drop
| Length = 5:28
|[[Drones (album)|Drones]] <small>(3)</small>
| AltTitles =
|[[Psycho (single)|Dead Inside/Psycho]] <small>CD (2)</small>
| First =  
|[[Live at Koln - Gloria Theatre (EP)|Live at Koln - Gloria Theatre]] <small>(1)</small>
|[[Drones World Tour (live)|Drones World Tour]] <small>(3)</small>
|[[Simulation_Theory_Film_(live)|Simulation Theory Film]] <small>Blu-Ray, Digital (2)</small>
}}
| Length = {{drop
|5:16
|5:28 (pre-order download)
}}
| AltTitles = Hollow Point Bullet
| First = [[Belfast Ulster Hall 2015 (gig)|15{{supo|th}} March 2015]] <small>(full)</small>, [[Paris_MCM_Café_1999_(gig)|10{{supo|th}} November 1999]] <small>(riff)</small>
| Latest =  
| Latest =  
| Recorded = 2014/2015 - [[The Warehouse Studio]], Vancouver, Canada
| Recorded = 2014/2015 - [[The Warehouse Studio]], Vancouver, Canada
| Writer = [[Matthew Bellamy]]
| Writer = [[Matthew Bellamy]]
| Producer = [[Muse]], [[Robert "Mutt" Lange]]
| Producer = [[Muse]], [[Robert "Mutt" Lange]]
| Chart position = -
| Chart position = 55
}}
{{AlbumNav
| Previous = [[Drill Sergeant (song)|Drill Sergeant]]
| Current = Psycho
| Next = [[Mercy (song)|Mercy]]
}}
<br>
{{AlbumNav2
| Previous = [[The 2nd Law (album) | The 2nd Law ''(2012)'']]
| Current = [[Drones (album) | Drones ''(2015)'']]
| Next = [[Simulation Theory (album) | Simulation Theory ''(2018)'']]
}}
}}
'''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqLRqzTp6Rk Listen]'''


==Information==
==Information==


Psycho contains many offensive lyrics in the uncensored version of the song, which will likely hinder it's ability to be played over the air<ref>[http://www.nme.com/news/muse/83248 nme.com]</ref>. Throughout the song, dialogue of a marine can be heard being shouted at by his commander, encouraging him to become a "Psycho Killer". The riff is based on a very heavy distortion, which sounds remarkably intentionally broken, and contains a very iconic riff, often played live in some older gigs.
Psycho contains many offensive lyrics in the uncensored version of the song, which will likely hinder its ability to be played over the air<ref>[http://www.nme.com/news/muse/83248 nme.com]</ref>, allthough it has been played on BBC Radio 1, on Annie Mac's show at 7:20PM as the 'Hottest Record', on the date of release. Throughout the song, dialogue of a marine can be heard being shouted at by his commander, encouraging him to become a "Psycho Killer".
 
There appear to be two versions of the song, one posted on the band's YouTube, with the intro (called [[Drill Sergeant (song)|Drill Sergeant]]), and another one, with no intro, but instead just a guitar strum before the main riff starts.  


==Release==
This song was also an opener for almost all the of the Drones Tour concerts.


Psycho was released on the 12th March 2015 as part of the pre-order bundle of the Drones album. The album was made available for pre-order at 18:00 that day, with the track available for almost immediate download.
==Composition==
 
Initially, Bellamy didn't want to write a song with that riff since he considered it too old. Bellamy says: "Dom was always saying, ‘Turn that into a song!’ and I was always like, ‘Nah, it’s too redneck, dude.’" but in the end he decided to do it.<ref>{{cite|title = Q Magazine: MUSE talk exclusively to Q about their back-to-basics approach for new album Drones.|desc=News|date=2015-03|auth=Matt Bellamy|url= |dom=|fetch=2015-05-18|type=ext }}</ref>
 
Written in D minor with a moderate tempo, Psycho bears a few resemblances to [[Uprising (song)|Uprising]] due to its triplet feel, drop D riffs and similar tempo.
 
Returning to Muse's earlier guitar-driven sound, it makes prominent use of the [[Riffs and jams#0305030 / Early Psycho 01|"0305030" riff]], which dates back to [[Paris MCM Café 1999 (gig)|the Paris MCM Café gig]] in November 1999. It later appeared more frequently as a live jam played after [[Stockholm Syndrome (song)|Stockholm Syndrome]] and [[Map of the Problematique (song)|Map of the Problematique]].
 
The riff at the verse and the bridge parts sounds a lot like ''The Doors'''s song ''Roadhouse Blues'' <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2_X4VTCoEo Sounds like Roadhouse Blues by The Doors]</ref>
 
==History==
 
On January 26th, 2015, the band posted an Instagram sound bite of a military hazing exercise<ref>[https://instagram.com/muse/p/yUR45vnXXC/ @Muse on Instagram - 26 January 2015]</ref> which would later appear in the lyric video for Psycho, and in remnants throughout the song. Later Instagram clips would show a short bass riff which appears in the song,<ref>[https://instagram.com/muse/p/y5b72nnXcA/ @Muse on Instagram - 10 February 2015]</ref> along with several seconds from a mixing session featuring the main riff.<ref>[https://instagram.com/muse/p/z--_HynXX9/ @Muse on Instagram - 9 March 2015]</ref>
 
At the beginning of March, Matt tweeted about an upcoming song named Psycho, along with articles about psychopaths and brainwashing.<ref>[https://twitter.com/MattBellamy/status/571814756853551104 @MattBellamy on Twitter - 1 March 2015 - #1]</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/MattBellamy/status/571815833724317696 @MattBellamy on Twitter - 1 March 2015 - #2]</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/MattBellamy/status/572605900982104065 @MattBellamy on Twitter - 3 March 2015 - #1]</ref> When questioned about the articles, he confirmed that they were relevant to the song's theme,<ref>[https://twitter.com/MattBellamy/status/572607653400059905 @MattBellamy on Twitter - 3 March 2015 - #2]</ref> and suggested that Psycho would be the first single from [[Drones (album)|Drones]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/MattBellamy/status/572610697164546049 @MattBellamy on Twitter - 3 March 2015 - #3]</ref>
 
Despite Matt's claims, it was later announced that [[Dead Inside (song)|Dead Inside]] would be the first single from the album.<ref>[http://muse.mu/news,drones_1633.htm MUSE: NEWS - Drones - 11 March 2015]]</ref> On March 12th, Psycho was released for streaming, and as a download for those who preordered the album.
 
== Instrumentation ==
 
The track is based on distorted bass, fuzzy guitar and fat sounding drums. Despite Matt saying that Muse would cut down on orchestration on [[Drones (album)|Drones]], there are still strings to be heard in the last part of the song. The track also contains a hammond organ in the second part of the chorus, and Matts distorted vocals in the pre-chorus and chorus parts.
 
==Lyric Video==
 
The [[Psycho (lyric video)|lyric video]] is almost like a music video, which features a band playing, and an actor, resembling a sargeant. It also features several actors, covered in paint. The video was co-produced with SEKDEK (Spirit Extraction Kit Demon Extraction Kit), and it was directed by [[Tom Kirk]] and [[Si Bennett|Simon Bennett]]. View the video by clicking on [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqLRqzTp6Rk&t=231 this link].
 
==Live==
 
Psycho was played at nearly every gig in 2015 with three exceptions, all of which where Mercy, and Reapers on September 15th, was the only song played. It was very commonly the concert intro, with the only other songs used being Defector at one gig and Reapers uncommonly. The main riff itself had been played often since its debut in 1999, possibly being even older than that. It was performed at every 2016 gig, making Psycho the most performed song from the Drones era, with only three promotional gigs that the song was skipped.
 
When performed live, Chris whispers the pre-chorus words. Matt then whispers the "Fucking psycho" words. Through the chorus, Matt sings/shouts the "Fucking psycho" part on its own. It was the opener for nearly all the concerts in the Drones World Tour
 
[[Psycho (live) | More here]]


== Lyrics ==
== Lyrics ==
The song features both vocals sung by [[Matt Bellamy]], and clips from a military hazing exercise.
{{lyrics
{{lyrics
|Love it will get you nowhere
|(Matt)
You are on your own, lost in the wild
Love, it will get you nowhere
You are on your own
Lost in the wild
 
So come to me now
So come to me now
I could use someone like you
I could use someone like you
Someone who'll kill on my command
Someone who'll kill on my command
And ask no questions...
And asks no questions


I'm gonna make you, I'm gonna break you
I'm gonna make you, I'm gonna break you
Line 35: Line 99:
Your ass belongs to me now!
Your ass belongs to me now!


Are you a human drone?!
(Military hazing)
AYE SIR!
Drill sergeant: Are you a human drone?!
Are you a killing machine?!
Recruit: AYE SIR!
AYE SIR!
Drill sergeant: Are you a killing machine?!
I made you a drone motherfucker, do you understand?!
Recruit: AYE SIR!
AYE SIR!
Drill sergeant: And I'm in control motherfucker, do you understand?!
Recruit: AYE SIR!


(Matt)
Your mind is just a program
Your mind is just a program
And I'm the virus, I'm changing the station
And I'm the virus
I'm changing the station
 
I'll improve your thresholds
I'll improve your thresholds
I'll turn you into a super drone
I'll turn you into a super drone
And you will kill on my command
And you will kill on my command
And I won't lose control
And I won't be responsible


I'm gonna make you, I'm gonna break you
I'm gonna make you, I'm gonna break you
Line 55: Line 123:
Your ass belongs to me now!
Your ass belongs to me now!


Are you psycho killer!? Say I'm a psycho killer!
(Military hazing)
I am a psycho killer!
Drill sergeant: Are you psycho killer!? Say I'm a psycho killer!
SCREAM IT!
Recruit: I am a psycho killer!
I AM A PSYCHO KILLER!!
Drill sergeant: SCREAM IT!
SHOW ME YOUR WAR FACE!
Recruit: I AM A PSYCHO KILLER!
AAHHHH!
Drill sergeant: SHOW ME YOUR WAR FACE!
YOU ARE A PUSSY, I SAID SHOW ME YOUR WAR FACE!
Recruit: AAHHHH!
AAAGHHHH!!!!
Drill sergeant: YOU ARE A PUSSY, I SAID SHOW ME YOUR WAR FACE!
Recruit: AAAGHHHH!!!!


(Matt)
I'm gonna make you, I'm gonna break you
I'm gonna make you, I'm gonna break you
I'm gonna make you, a fucking psycho!
I'm gonna make you, a fucking psycho!
Line 70: Line 140:
Your ass belongs to me now!
Your ass belongs to me now!


I WILL BREAK YOU! DO YOU UNDERSTAND! (Repeated, indistinguishable commander shouting)
(Military hazing)
A fucking Psycho!
Drill sergeant: I WILL BREAK YOU! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!
(Repeated, indistinguishable shouting)
 
(Matt)
A fucking psycho!
Your ass belongs to me now!
Your ass belongs to me now!
Your ass belongs to me now!
Your ass belongs to me now!

Latest revision as of 21:51, 9 May 2022

Artwork used on muse.mu
Muse song
Name Psycho
Album/single
Length
  • 5:16 »
  • 5:28 (pre-order download)
Alternative titles Hollow Point Bullet
First live performance 15th March 2015 (full), 10th November 1999 (riff)
Latest live performance
Recorded 2014/2015 - The Warehouse Studio, Vancouver, Canada
Writer/composer Matthew Bellamy
Producer Muse, Robert "Mutt" Lange
Chart position 55


Listen

Information

Psycho contains many offensive lyrics in the uncensored version of the song, which will likely hinder its ability to be played over the air[1], allthough it has been played on BBC Radio 1, on Annie Mac's show at 7:20PM as the 'Hottest Record', on the date of release. Throughout the song, dialogue of a marine can be heard being shouted at by his commander, encouraging him to become a "Psycho Killer".

There appear to be two versions of the song, one posted on the band's YouTube, with the intro (called Drill Sergeant), and another one, with no intro, but instead just a guitar strum before the main riff starts.

This song was also an opener for almost all the of the Drones Tour concerts.

Composition

Initially, Bellamy didn't want to write a song with that riff since he considered it too old. Bellamy says: "Dom was always saying, ‘Turn that into a song!’ and I was always like, ‘Nah, it’s too redneck, dude.’" but in the end he decided to do it.[2]

Written in D minor with a moderate tempo, Psycho bears a few resemblances to Uprising due to its triplet feel, drop D riffs and similar tempo.

Returning to Muse's earlier guitar-driven sound, it makes prominent use of the "0305030" riff, which dates back to the Paris MCM Café gig in November 1999. It later appeared more frequently as a live jam played after Stockholm Syndrome and Map of the Problematique.

The riff at the verse and the bridge parts sounds a lot like The Doors's song Roadhouse Blues [3]

History

On January 26th, 2015, the band posted an Instagram sound bite of a military hazing exercise[4] which would later appear in the lyric video for Psycho, and in remnants throughout the song. Later Instagram clips would show a short bass riff which appears in the song,[5] along with several seconds from a mixing session featuring the main riff.[6]

At the beginning of March, Matt tweeted about an upcoming song named Psycho, along with articles about psychopaths and brainwashing.[7][8][9] When questioned about the articles, he confirmed that they were relevant to the song's theme,[10] and suggested that Psycho would be the first single from Drones.[11]

Despite Matt's claims, it was later announced that Dead Inside would be the first single from the album.[12] On March 12th, Psycho was released for streaming, and as a download for those who preordered the album.

Instrumentation

The track is based on distorted bass, fuzzy guitar and fat sounding drums. Despite Matt saying that Muse would cut down on orchestration on Drones, there are still strings to be heard in the last part of the song. The track also contains a hammond organ in the second part of the chorus, and Matts distorted vocals in the pre-chorus and chorus parts.

Lyric Video

The lyric video is almost like a music video, which features a band playing, and an actor, resembling a sargeant. It also features several actors, covered in paint. The video was co-produced with SEKDEK (Spirit Extraction Kit Demon Extraction Kit), and it was directed by Tom Kirk and Simon Bennett. View the video by clicking on this link.

Live

Psycho was played at nearly every gig in 2015 with three exceptions, all of which where Mercy, and Reapers on September 15th, was the only song played. It was very commonly the concert intro, with the only other songs used being Defector at one gig and Reapers uncommonly. The main riff itself had been played often since its debut in 1999, possibly being even older than that. It was performed at every 2016 gig, making Psycho the most performed song from the Drones era, with only three promotional gigs that the song was skipped.

When performed live, Chris whispers the pre-chorus words. Matt then whispers the "Fucking psycho" words. Through the chorus, Matt sings/shouts the "Fucking psycho" part on its own. It was the opener for nearly all the concerts in the Drones World Tour

More here

Lyrics

The song features both vocals sung by Matt Bellamy, and clips from a military hazing exercise.

(Matt)

Love, it will get you nowhere You are on your own Lost in the wild

So come to me now I could use someone like you Someone who'll kill on my command And asks no questions

I'm gonna make you, I'm gonna break you I'm gonna make you, a fucking psycho! A fucking psycho! Haha! A fucking psycho! Your ass belongs to me now!

(Military hazing) Drill sergeant: Are you a human drone?! Recruit: AYE SIR! Drill sergeant: Are you a killing machine?! Recruit: AYE SIR! Drill sergeant: And I'm in control motherfucker, do you understand?! Recruit: AYE SIR!

(Matt) Your mind is just a program And I'm the virus I'm changing the station

I'll improve your thresholds I'll turn you into a super drone And you will kill on my command And I won't be responsible

I'm gonna make you, I'm gonna break you I'm gonna make you, a fucking psycho! A fucking psycho! Haha! A fucking psycho! Your ass belongs to me now!

(Military hazing) Drill sergeant: Are you psycho killer!? Say I'm a psycho killer! Recruit: I am a psycho killer! Drill sergeant: SCREAM IT! Recruit: I AM A PSYCHO KILLER! Drill sergeant: SHOW ME YOUR WAR FACE! Recruit: AAHHHH! Drill sergeant: YOU ARE A PUSSY, I SAID SHOW ME YOUR WAR FACE! Recruit: AAAGHHHH!!!!

(Matt) I'm gonna make you, I'm gonna break you I'm gonna make you, a fucking psycho! A fucking psycho! Haha! A fucking psycho! Your ass belongs to me now!

(Military hazing) Drill sergeant: I WILL BREAK YOU! DO YOU UNDERSTAND! (Repeated, indistinguishable shouting)

(Matt) A fucking psycho! Your ass belongs to me now! Your ass belongs to me now!

References


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