Tag: album review

Muse- Showbiz : A album analysis Part 3 FINALE

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SHOWBIZ ANALYSIS FINALE!!!!!!!!!! 

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Escape 
Chaotic and raw, Escape encapsulates Muse’s early intensity and their ability to turn panic into art. The song captures a desperate urge to flee suffocation, whether from societal pressures or personal entrapment. Lines like “You would say anything, and you would try anything” shows frantic attempts to claw out of control to the point of doing anything. The singer’s strained vocals, paired with distorted, jagged riffs, create a crowded tune. The track doesn’t feel polished, it’s messy and overwhelming yet that’s precisely its power.  

Overdue 

I don’t have much to say about this track as I personally see it as straight forward. In Overdue, bitterness replaces panic. Here, the confrontation is betrayal and disappointment, specifically the anger that comes from wasted devotion. The line “You’ll make us want you, you’re all we need” uses irony, showing the false promises of someone undeserving of trust. Musically, the track pushes forward roughly, as if each chord is driving home the frustration of misplaced belief.  

Hate This & I’ll Love You  

the closing track of Showbiz. Unlike the aggression found elsewhere, lyrically it explores a paradoxical relationship between love and pain, where rejection and hostility are met not with retaliation but with devotion. The title itself encapsulates this contradiction—suggesting that even in the face of hatred, love persists, though it is tinged self-destruction. The song captures themes of longing, imbalance, and the emotional cost of giving oneself completely, closing the album with a sense of unresolved yearning rather than resolution. 

Spiral Static (Bonus Track)

Track was only released in the Japanese edition of the album. Though released as a bonus track, Spiral Static deepens the album’s themes. Atmospheric and haunting, it pulls listeners into a cycle of obsession and entrapment. The lyric “You’re the one who’s scared of me” flips vulnerability into menace, suggesting unstable power dynamics within relationships. The track’s swirling, hypnotic sound creates the sense of being caught in an endless loop, unable to fully escape. 

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With that, we reach the conclusion of this deep dive into Showbiz. Across three parts, we’ve explored the beginnings of Muse, their lyrical intensity, and the emotions that shaped their debut. Every track reveals a fragment of identity, from suffocating pressures to moments of fragile vulnerability. This third installment brings the journey full circle, tying together the chaos, passion, and ambition that defined the era. Thank you for listening to my ramblings about this wonderful band. 

Muse- Showbiz : A album analysis Part 2

Showbiz album review PT.2! 

 

5.Showbiz 

The Title Track! Thats always how you know it’s going to be good. This song explores the suffocating pressure of expectation and conformity in said showbiz though it can also be seen as normal life pressure. This song specifically critiques the false personas forced upon artists and others. The song goes from calm and mellow and slowly builds up to explosive shouts then finally uncontrolled high-pitched shouts which reflect both personal struggles and a broader commentary on fame’s agonizing reality. Its rawness makes it one of the most defining tracks Muse has ever made and is in my top 3 of their songs. 

 

6.Unintended’ 

The most out of place song on the album, this song never gets rough or in too heavy electric unlike the others, it’s mostly acoustic which builds its soft feeling like the calm before the storm. It’s almost like the song wasn’t intended for this album, haha wink wink. The song centers on love’s UNINTENDED arrival, its lyrics capture the bittersweet discovery of intimacy. “I be there as soon as I can” exposes how something can be unplanned yet deeply meaningful.  

 

7.Uno 

The title being “Uno” aka One already sets up the theme for this song…LONLINESS. Everyone’s favorite thing! Anyway, this song talks about some sort of lost relationship that has the speaker convincing themself that “You’re still nothing to me and this is nothing to me” even as they fantasize about what could have been, “We could have had so much fun”. The song continues to explore cynicism in relationships and a loss of innocence, portraying connection not as salvation but as suffocation. Muse’s intensity makes this bleak subject memorable. 

 

  1. Sober

Again, another song title that gives away theme. In “Sober,” Muse confronts themes of addiction, temptation, and destructive escapism. The lyrics suggest a toxic cycle of indulgence, regret, and dependence. The struggle drags on in every chorus as the speaker counts on a “solid” thing. The object of addiction isn’t directly stated but I like that as you can leave it to your own interpretation. The repeated yearning for control contrasts with the inability to break free. The track stays overall gloomy and panicked like a whirlpool that you cant swim out of.  

 

Alright! Thats the end of Part 2 of my showbiz review! We’re almost done with this forgotten masterpiece, part 3 will be the FINAL part. 

Muse- Showbiz : A album analysis Part 1

The album Showbiz is Muse’s 1999 Debut album. The band could have made a album that was palatable and easy for listeners to attract to but instead they made a statement with each song. I will be explaining my take on each song in order. 

 

  1. Sunburn 

This song opens with “Come waste your millions here” already establishing entertainment as a theme. This is then followed by words like “sneers” which suggests a darker side to this innocent entertainment and “corporate” which ties this into the entertainment industry specifically. The song then proceeds on with a extreme theme of guilt such as “I’ll hide from the world behind a broken frame” and “guilty conscience grow” these both show how indulging in whatever was first brought up in the beginning has made them shameful. 

  1. Muscle Museum 

If you were to look up Muse in the dictionary then Muscle and museum would come before and after it, which is how it gets its title. This song is one of the most subtle of all the songs in the album. The lyrics talk about people not facing they’re inner feelings. the music video shows people doing normal day things such as brushing their teeth or eating, except they are ugly crying as they do them. This also contributes to how everyone feels these emotions no matter how boring the life. 

  1. Fillip 

This song has a very debated meaning but i personally see it as a uplifting song. I see as a song about readying for big things and chasing the memories of life instead of the worries. 

  1. Falling Down  

This song definitely is about growing up in a small town, the singer references how the place he’s looking for isn’t the small “five thousand houses” town. Even if the town is not remarkable he still wont forget it even though he’s “heading straight for the clouds 

  1. Cave 

Inspired by Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus by John Gray, Cave has almost the same theme as the book its inspired by. Cave describes how men retreat into themselves when in distress, using lines like “Leave me alone, it’s nothing Serious” and “please close your ears and try to look away”  show how they hide they’re emotions. Other lines like “I’ll do it myself, it’s got nothing to do with you” and “ don’t ever come my way” draw out how men try to do things by themselves without help. 

 

Top Ten Bo Burnham Songs From “Inside” and the Lyrical Genius Behind Each One.

Hello! If you’re a Bo Burnham fan just like myself, you would know that his most recent special was probably the most musically diverse works of them all. If you haven’t seen or heard of the special, PLEASE go watch it. You can find it on Netflix and probably some other sites wink wink. Anyways, I decided that for my first blog I would rank my personal top ten songs from the special here. This blog will be biased due to my love of this special, which means that my interpretations and opinions will be included.  Enjoy!

10. “Sh!t”

Okay, listen to me here, the comedic aspect of this song is absolutely amazing. A song about feeling like c0mplete garbage, but has this happy and sarcastic tone to it makes the song come together for me. I rate the jam-ability of this song is a 9 out of 10. Obviously everyone has those days where they… you know, feel like… the title, which gives this masterpiece a sense of reliability. A verse of this song was also sang by a famous Minecraft twitch streamer and YouTuber that goes by the name TommyInnit. This definitely boosted this song’s popularity.

My Favorite Verse: “Are you feeling what I’m feeling?
I haven’t had a shower in the last nine days (ah, ah)
Staring at the ceiling and waiting for this feeling go away
But it won’t go away!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn8TL12lXR0&list=OLAK5uy_k90oyL9rMAHPNupVRm4P3Ed2zBJrKAbT8&index=13

9. “Comedy”

This one’s reasoning to be placed here should be pretty obvious. Bo sings and shares about his feeling towards wanting to help the world in some way during this pandemic. Though, its not strictly about the pandemic. It contains some ideas about systematic oppression and his own self doubt. On the other hand, these deep meanings are overshadowed with comedic punches like “the world needs direction from a white guy like me.” 

My favorite verse: “I know what I’ve got to do, healing the world with comedy making a literal difference metaphorically.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3byzgVCdRSw&list=OLAK5uy_k90oyL9rMAHPNupVRm4P3Ed2zBJrKAbT8&index=2

8. “30” 

       This one kind of gives me anxiety about getting older. Bo talks about how he feels about turning 30 years old. He sings about how active he used to be and he compares his life to others his age and feels that same sense of self doubt that really makes me feel for him. He also brings in a darker aspects as well. Though, in this special Bo has been really good about covering the depressing parts of the song with jokes and funny lines. 

My favorite verse: “my stupid friends are having stupid children”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n57aQQsQiwc&list=OLAK5uy_k90oyL9rMAHPNupVRm4P3Ed2zBJrKAbT8&index=11

 

7. “problematic”

      I love this song in particular just because of how Bo talks about the small and big things that he’s done when he was younger and his life when he was that age that can be considered problematic. He talks about how he wants people to hold him accountable for his actions. That’s what the whole song is about. One of the biggest segments of the song is about how he dressed up as Aladdin for Halloween when he was a kid. He kind of has a mini crisis and panic about what to do with the costume that is now in his mothers attic. Towards the end of the song he keeps repeating about how sorry he is, but again, this song isn’t one of those sad toned ones. He definitely has a skill in making more serious subjects sound comedic.

My favorite verse: “I’m problematic (he’s a problem)”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsTG1ETKkHo&list=OLAK5uy_k90oyL9rMAHPNupVRm4P3Ed2zBJrKAbT8&index=10

 

6. “Look whose inside again”

This song is one of the only ones that is sang seriously, and is about serious subject matter. In this song, Bo talks about how he kind of felt trapped inside of a room. He wanted to be funny, he wanted to make jokes, but he felt like he was encaged in a box. He talks about things that he did to try to cope with that feeling as well. Later in the song he sings “Well, Well, look who’s inside again” meaning that he now feels placed back in that room. That box. Or maybe that’s just how I interpret this song. It really makes me feel for him, and everyone else who has experienced that type of feeling.  Although this one lacks the comedic aspect, it really has the power to impact people. 

My favorite Verse: “Went out to look for a reason to hide again. Well, well, buddy you found it, now come out with your hands up we’ve got you surrounded”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3FnqD1UqwM&list=OLAK5uy_k90oyL9rMAHPNupVRm4P3Ed2zBJrKAbT8&index=9

 

5. “Don’t Wanna Know”

We’re going to start getting more into the meaning full songs as we get higher on the list. In the special, this song starts during the intermission. He asks how his watchers are feeling and if they like the show. He asks if its boring or if he has our attention. After each question he says he doesn’t want to know. I think this symbolizes how he is doubtful of his own importance and the acceptance of his work. He says he doesn’t want to know because he would rather not know anything than hear something negative. 

My favorite verse: “Do I have your attention? Yes or no? I bet I’d guess the answer but I don’t wanna know”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APGBRDeqsSI&list=OLAK5uy_k90oyL9rMAHPNupVRm4P3Ed2zBJrKAbT8&index=12

 

4. “Goodbye” 

        “Goodbye” is the last song, and one of the most vulnerable ones on the whole special. The ending. It contains a lot symbolism and is one of the more sad ones. There are a few comedic lines but the whole song revolves around something more serious. It has a sense of many different aspects of his personal issues. For example, he sings about how he thinks he’ll be stuck in this “box” forever, even when he’s irrelevant and broke. The pressure of this whole special. The pressure he’s had to endure to even reenter the comedic environment. This special had been distracting him for almost a year and half. He doesn’t really want it to end, he’s afraid of what his life will be after it. 

My favorite verse: “I’m slowly losing power, has it only been an hour?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA9deCtUNGM&list=OLAK5uy_k90oyL9rMAHPNupVRm4P3Ed2zBJrKAbT8&index=19

3. “Welcome To The Internet”

On the surface, this song just goes through some of the contents of the internet and some things you can find there. Though, like every other song on this special, it contains an undertone. Internet addiction and its affects on our brains. He takes on a villain-like voice, narrating from the internet’s perspective and talks to the listener as if he did this on purpose. “It did all the things we designed it to do… now look at you.”

My favorite verse: “Apathy’s a tragedy and boredom is a crime”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1BneeJTDcU&list=OLAK5uy_k90oyL9rMAHPNupVRm4P3Ed2zBJrKAbT8&index=15

2. “That Funny Feeling”

Nostalgia. Nostalgia is the biggest feeling that I get from this song. It feels cozy. It gives me campfire vibes, yet its also mostly nostalgia from quarantine, which is something I think we can all agree that we don’t want to go back to. During the verses between the choruses Bo sings about different events and some internet trends that went on during the past. 

My favorite verse: “The surgeon generals’ pop-up shop, Robert Iger’s face
Discount Etsy agitprop, Bugles’ take on race. Female Colonel Sanders, easy answers, civil war.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPB6u1BqZqU&list=OLAK5uy_k90oyL9rMAHPNupVRm4P3Ed2zBJrKAbT8&index=17

1. “All Eyes On Me”

This is one of the more straightforward songs in terms of theme and subject matter, but in my opinion this is the most meaningful song. From what I hear in the song, it’s about Bo’s anxiety, the pressure he holds onto and how he describes that sinking feeling. Even the title of the song speaks out about the surrounded, paranoid feeling he gets. I believe that there is some dialogue with himself when he sings not just when the actual dialogue comes in during the middle of the song. During the speaking segment Bo talks about his five year break from doing his performances due to the panic attacks he had on stage. He asks for people to pray for him. I don’t necessarily think that this is a cry for help, but more of a way for him to let everything out. A coping mechanism. 

My favorite verse: “You say the ocean’s rising like I give a sh!t
You say the whole world’s ending, honey, it already did
You’re not gonna slow it, Heaven knows you tried
Got it? Good, now get inside”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rx_p3NW7gQ&list=OLAK5uy_k90oyL9rMAHPNupVRm4P3Ed2zBJrKAbT8&index=18

 

Thank you for reading this far! Feel free to leave your top ten songs in the comments and maybe something that I missed when reading into the songs!