Won't Stand Down
"Won't Stand Down" is a song by British 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.[1][2] 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.[3][4]
| "Won't Stand Down" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Muse | ||||
| from the album Will of the People | ||||
| Released | 13 January 2022 | |||
| Recorded | 2021 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:29 | |||
| Label | Warner | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Matt Bellamy | |||
| Producer(s) | Muse | |||
| Muse singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Won't Stand Down" on YouTube | ||||
Release edit
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.[1] In total, the livestream previewed a roughly one-minute-long section of the song.[5] 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.[6][1][7] 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 edit
Musically, the song has been described as heavy metal,[8] hard rock,[9] and electronic rock.[10] Prior to release, the song was described as Muse's "heaviest material yet",[11] featuring a metalcore breakdown.[12] The song also contains "heavy guitars and industrial-like distortions",[13] and "triplet-flow-type vocals in the verse".[14]
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."[14]
Artwork and music video edit
The digital artwork for "Won't Stand Down" was described as "dark and ominous", featuring a hooded priest-like figure hovering over ten disciples,[15] figures wearing digital-style masks and gothic chandeliers.[1] A short teaser of the music video was posted to Muse's TikTok account on 9 January.[16]
Personnel edit
Credits adapted from Tidal[17]
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 edit
Weekly charts edit
| Year-end charts edit
|
Awards and nominations edit
| Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | MTV Video Music Awards | Rock Video of the Year | Nominated | [32] |
Release history edit
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 14 January 2022 | Contemporary hit radio | Warner | [33] |
| United States | 18 January 2022 | Alternative radio | [34] | |
| Rock radio | [35] |
References edit
- ^ a b c d Trendell, Andrew (7 January 2022). "Muse announce new single 'Won't Stand Down'". NME. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Muse announce new album Will Of The People, which is "influenced by the increasing uncertainty and instability in the world"". Kerrang!. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ "Muse earns 'Billboard' chart first with "Won't Stand Down"". 105.7 The Point. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ "Muse – Chart History – Mainstream Rock Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ Daly, Rhian (26 December 2021). "Matt Bellamy teases new Muse song on Instagram Live". NME.
- ^ "Won't Stand Down – Our new single, released next week on Thursday January 13th". Twitter. Muse. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ Carter, Emily. "Muse to release heavy new single Won't Stand Down next week". Kerrang!. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ Grau, Ignacio (13 January 2022). "Muse returns after four years with a heavy new track "Won't Stand Down"". Chaoszine. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ Brayden, Kate (7 January 2022). "Muse tease new hard rock single 'Won't Stand Down'". Hot Press. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ Owen, Matt (13 January 2022). "Muse release pummeling new single, Won't Stand Down". Guitar World. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ Owen, Matt (7 January 2022). "Muse unleash their inner metal in teaser for brutal new single, Won't Stand Down". Guitar World. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ Parker, Jack (11 January 2022). "Muse Are Back – Here Are 10 Songs You May Have Forgotten". All Things Loud. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Muse Drops Guitar-Heavy New Song 'Won't Stand Down'". Blabbermouth. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ a b Kennelty, Greg (13 January 2022). "The New Muse Single "Won't Stand Down" Is Indeed Pretty Heavy". Metal Injection. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ Bowenbank, Starr. "Muse Teases New Single 'Won't Stand Down' With Haunting Cover Art". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Living vicariously...#WontStandDown #Muse #NewMusic". TikTok. Muse.
- ^ "Credits / Won't Stand Down / Muse – TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 24 January 2022". The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 24 January 2022.
- ^ "Muse – Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ "Muse Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ^ "CZ – Radio – Top 20 Modern Rock – Muse – Won't Stand Down" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Top Singles (Week 3, 2022)". SNEP. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ "Muse – Won't Stand Down". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- ^ "Muse Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ "Muse Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ "Year-End Charts: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2022)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ "Year-End Charts: Rock & Alternative Airplay (2022)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ Serrano, Athena (26 July 2022). "Your 2022 VMA Nominations Are Here: Jack Harlow, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Nas X Lead The Pack". MTV. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ "Muse "Won't Stand Down" | (Radio Date: 14 January 2022)". radiodate.it (in Italian). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ . All Access. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ . All Access. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.