Pressure
by Muse

Album: Simulation Theory (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Pressure" is a dark pulsating song exploring a mind trapped by the expectations of fans.

    I'm feeling the pressure
    I can't break out
    No one can hear me scream and shout
    Get out of my face, out of my mind


    "It's more like a straight Muse rock track," vocalist Matt Bellamy told Radio X. "It's like a different riff every 10 seconds, basically."
  • The song's music video continues Muse's collaboration with director Lance Drake, who also filmed the band's visuals for "Dig Down," "Thought Contagion" and "Something Human."

    The clip centers on a high school prom that goes awry, re-creating the school dance scene in the 1985 movie classic Back To The Future, with Muse taking on the role of the band. American comic actor and former American football player Terry Crews introduces the group as Rocket Baby Dolls (aka Muse's original band name) and we see Bellamy playing the same red Gibson guitar Marty McFly rocked at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance. The clip then turns into something more akin to another classic '80s movie, Gremlins.
  • Matt Bellamy plays bass guitar in a Beatles tribute group named Dr. Pepper's Jaded Hearts Club Band, which also features Miles Kane of The Last Shadow Puppets. Muse drummer Dom Howard told the BBC he thinks the Muse's frontman's dalliance with the Fab Four fed through on this song.

    "Matt was studying a lot of Paul McCartney's basslines, and showing me," he explained. "[He] was like, 'Yeah, I mean, they're so intricate, and there's so much going on that you maybe don't initially notice.' So I think that song has got a bit of a Beatles, Paul McCartney-bass influence on it."
  • Muse incorporated crowd noise into the song from the penalty shootout at the end of England's last 16 victory over Columbia during the 2018 World Cup. The idea behind it being that taking penalties in such an important game is a pressure situation.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The Remasters

Brian Kehew: The Man Behind The RemastersSong Writing

Brian has unearthed outtakes by Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello and hundreds of other artists for reissues. Here's how he does it.

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket

Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet SprocketSongwriter Interviews

The "All I Want" singer went through a long depression, playing some shows when he didn't want to be alive.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Steve Morse of Deep Purple

Steve Morse of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple's guitarist since 1994, Steve talks about writing songs with the band and how he puts his own spin on "Smoke On The Water."

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?