Mercy (Muse song)

Last updated
"Mercy"
Mercy muse single.jpg
Single by Muse
from the album Drones
Released18 May 2015
Recorded2014
Studio The Warehouse Studio (Vancouver, British Columbia) [1]
Genre
Length3:51
Label
Songwriter Matthew Bellamy
Producers
Muse singles chronology
"Dead Inside"
(2015)		"Mercy"
(2015)		"Revolt"
(2015)
Music video
"Mercy" on YouTube

"Mercy" is a song by English rock band Muse from their seventh album, Drones . It was released as the second single from the album on 18 May 2015. [6]

Contents

Background

The song is part of a concept album about "the journey of a human, from their abandonment and loss of hope, to their indoctrination by the system to be a human drone, to their eventual defection from their oppressors". [7] On the band's website, Matt Bellamy stated that "[t]he opening line of 'Mercy' - Help me I've fallen on the inside - is a reference to the protagonist knowing and recognising that they have lost something, they have lost themselves. This is where they realize they're being overcome by the dark forces that were introduced in 'Psycho.'" [8]

Reception

Upon the album's release, the song was met with mixed reactions. Gigwise's Andrew Trendell praised the song as being "heartfelt" and "a pristine stadium gem". [5] In his album review for Consequence of Sound, Collin Brennan, however, was less favourable, criticising that the song's "supposedly trenchant political commentary [is] negated by its almost palpable yearning to be played on commercial rock radio".

In his review of Drones , NME's Mark Beaumont described the song as "infectious electro-rock". [3] Consequence of Sound's Collin Brennan called it an "anthem" reminiscent of "latter-day U2". [4] In similar fashion, Gigwise's Andrew Trendell described the song as a "driving and pulsing piano-led arena power-anthem". Likening it to the music from the band's fourth album Black Holes And Revelations , he called the song a "close cousin to 'Starlight'[...], albeit with a rejuvenated energy and very forward-looking approach". [5]

Music video

The music video was directed by Sing J. Lee and shot in Los Angeles. Shots of the band performing on a large indoor stage with bright, dynamic lighting are spliced throughout between story scenes. The plot uses time as a key theme and depicts scientists performing macabre experiments on a young woman.

Usage in media

"Mercy" was used in promotional spots and launch trailer for the video game Batman: Arkham Knight . [9]

Charts

References

  1. ↑ "MUSE ARE FINISH WITH THE FIRST SESSION OF THE NEW ALBUM!". Matter of Sound. 19 October 2014. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Record Release Rundown: The Latest From Muse, Of Monsters And Men, Sharon Van Etten, Tamia, Ash and More". ABC News. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 Beaumont, Mark (27 May 2015). "NME Reviews - Muse - 'Drones'". NME . Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  4. 1 2 Brennan, Collin (8 June 2015). "Muse - Drones". Consequence of Sound . Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Trendell, Andrew (6 June 2015). "Muse, Drones - A Track-By-Track Review". Gigwise . Archived from the original on 15 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "Muse to premiere new single 'Mercy' on Monday". Gigwise. 15 May 2015. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  7. ↑ Morris, Andy; Trendell, Andrew (11 March 2015). "Muse announce Drones album and UK Psycho Tour". Gigwise. Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "MUSE: NEWS - Mercy". muse.mu. 18 May 2015. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  9. ↑ "Official Batman: Arkham Knight TV Spot". YouTube, Google. 12 June 2015. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  10. ↑ "Muse Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  11. ↑ "Muse – Mercy" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  12. ↑ "Muse Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  13. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  14. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  15. ↑ "Muse – Mercy" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  16. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  17. ↑ "Muse Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  18. ↑ "Muse Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  19. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
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