The Widow (song)

Last updated
"The Widow"
Marsvolta-thewidow.jpg
Single by The Mars Volta
from the album Frances the Mute
B-side "Frances the Mute"
ReleasedMarch 14, 2005
Recorded2004
Genre Progressive rock, blues rock
Length5:51 (Album version)
3:19 (Single edit)
Label Universal
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Omar Rodríguez-López
The Mars Volta singles chronology
"Televators"
(2004)
"The Widow"
(2005)
"L'Via L'Viaquez"
(2005)

"The Widow" (sometimes titled "The Widow (I'll Never Sleep Alone)") is a song by The Mars Volta, from their second album Frances the Mute . The song was first performed in May 2004 at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles during The Mars Volta's three-night residence closing the tour supporting their debut LP, De-Loused in the Comatorium . At the concert, the song was dedicated to former Mars Volta member Jeremy Ward, who died of a drug overdose in May 2003. The song peaked at number 95 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it the band's first and only single to chart there. The song also reached number 20 in the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. [1] The single was also released on vinyl under the title "Frances the Mute".

Contents

The song appeared on an episode of Rescue Me .

Main track

"The Widow" is notably the only short, pop-structured song on Frances the Mute , although the album-version features a lengthy, non-radio-friendly, atonal outro of organ and electronic spasms, taking up the later half of the track. The edit of "The Widow" cuts the last instrumental part of the regular album track and fades out when the vocals start to become distorted. It is also the only Mars Volta song to chart in the United States. The song is notable for its consistently high lead vocals which never go below the alto register.

The song features a brief trumpet part from Flea after the second chorus. Omar performs a brief solo in the same section. On the version of the single called "Frances the Mute", the studio version is replaced by a live recording of one of the first performances of the song at The Wiltern in 2004, and features only acoustic guitar and vocals, with some distortion effects.

"Frances the Mute"

The single also contains the 14-minute track "Frances the Mute", which was not included on the album of the same name. Many fans, based on comments by the band, consider this additional song as part of the Frances the Mute album and place it first in the running order, before "Cygnus....Vismund Cygnus".

Track listing

The Widow

  1. "Frances the Mute" – 14:39
    • "In Thirteen Seconds"
    • "Nineteen Sank, While Six Would Swim"
    • "Five Would Grow and One Was Dead"
  2. "The Widow" (edit) – 3:19

Charts

Chart performance for "The Widow"
Chart (2005)Peak
position
Scotland (OCC) [2] 21
UK Singles (OCC) [3] 20
US Billboard Hot 100 [4] 95
US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [5] 7
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [6] 25

Related Research Articles

<i>Frances the Mute</i> 2005 studio album by The Mars Volta

Frances the Mute is the second studio album by American progressive rock band The Mars Volta released in February 2005 on Gold Standard Laboratories and Universal. Produced by guitarist and songwriter Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, the album incorporates dub, ambient, Latin and jazz influences, and is the first to feature bassist Juan Alderete and percussionist Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez. The album also includes contributions from future saxophonist Adrián Terrazas-González, who joined the band during its subsequent tour.

Lovesong (The Cure song) 1989 single by the Cure

"Lovesong" is a song by English rock band the Cure, released as the third single from their eighth studio album, Disintegration (1989), on 21 August 1989. The song saw considerable success in the United States, where it reached the number-two position in October 1989 and became the band's only top-10 entry on the Billboard Hot 100. In the United Kingdom, the single charted at number 18, and it peaked within the top 20 in Canada and Ireland.

Faint (song) 2003 single by Linkin Park

"Faint" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park from their second studio album, Meteora. The song was released as the album's second single on June 9, 2003, and is the seventh track. It entered the top thirty on the majority of the charts it appeared on. On the Hot 100, it peaked at #48. The song reached #1 on the US Modern Rock Tracks, becoming the band's third number-one hit on the chart. The song would later be featured on the group's mashup EP with Jay-Z, Collision Course, where it was mashed up with lyrics of the song Jigga What from Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life.

Precious (Depeche Mode song) 2005 single by Depeche Mode

"Precious" is a song by English electronic band Depeche Mode from their studio album, Playing the Angel (2005). It was released on 3 October 2005 by Mute, Sire, and Reprise Records as the album's lead single. The song reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 71 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and No. 23 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. It also topped the charts in Denmark, Italy, Spain, and Sweden, and it peaked within the top 10 in Austria, Wallonia, Canada, Finland, Germany, and Norway.

Porcelain (song) 2000 single by Moby

"Porcelain" is a song by American electronic musician Moby. It was released as the sixth single from his fifth studio album Play on April 25, 2000. Written by Moby, who also performs vocals on the recording, "Porcelain" is a melancholic song with lyrics reflecting on the breakup of a relationship. It features a lush musical backing that incorporates reversed strings and various synthesized elements. While Moby initially expressed disdain over the song and its production, he was eventually talked into including it on Play.

<i>Scabdates</i> 2005 live album by The Mars Volta

Scabdates is the second official live recording from the band The Mars Volta. It was released on November 8, 2005 and features music recorded between May 2004 and May 2005 during the tours in support of De-Loused in the Comatorium and Frances the Mute. In 2011, NME magazine named it one of the 50 greatest live albums of all time. The "And Ghosted Pouts" section of "Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt" was used in the film Get Him to the Greek.

Policy of Truth 1990 single by Depeche Mode

"Policy of Truth" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 7 May 1990 as the third single from their seventh studio album, Violator (1990). It is the only Depeche Mode single to chart higher on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart than on the UK Singles Chart, and it became the band's second chart-topper on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

World in My Eyes 1990 single by Depeche Mode

"World in My Eyes" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode. It was released on 17 September 1990 as the fourth and final single from their seventh studio album, Violator (1990). The song peaked at number two in Denmark and Spain, number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only You (Yazoo song)</span> 1982 single by Yazoo

"Only You" is a song by English synth-pop duo Yazoo. It was written by member Vince Clarke, while he was still with Depeche Mode, but recorded in 1982 after he formed Yazoo with Alison Moyet. It was released as Yazoo's first single on 15 March 1982 in the United Kingdom, taken from their first album, Upstairs at Eric's (1982), and became an instant success on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number two on 16 May 1982. It would also reach the top 10 in neighbouring Ireland as well as Australia. In the US, "Only You" was released as the band's second single in November 1982 and charted at number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also made the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aeroplane (Red Hot Chili Peppers song)</span> 1996 single by Red Hot Chili Peppers

"Aeroplane" is a song by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers from their sixth studio album, One Hot Minute (1995). It was the third single released from the album and a music video accompanied its release. Although the song was left off the band's Greatest Hits album, the music video was included on the accompanying DVD.

Missing You (John Waite song) 1984 single by John Waite

"Missing You" is a song co-written and recorded by English musician John Waite. It was released in June 1984 as the lead single from his second album, No Brakes (1984). It reached number one on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks and on the Hot 100 as well as number 9 on the UK Singles Chart. "Missing You" was the only record from 1984 to spend a single week at the top of the Hot 100. The song was nominated for the 1985 Best Pop Vocal Performance Male Grammy Award.

<i>Amputechture</i> 2006 studio album by The Mars Volta

Amputechture is the third studio album by American progressive rock band the Mars Volta, released on September 12, 2006, on Gold Standard Laboratories and Universal Records. Produced by guitarist and songwriter Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, the album marks the final appearance of drummer Jon Theodore, and is the first studio album to feature guitarist and sound manipulator Paul Hinojos, formerly of At the Drive-In and Sparta.

Thats What Love Is For 1991 single by Amy Grant

"That's What Love Is For" is a song by Christian music/pop music-crossover singer Amy Grant. It was written by three-time Grammy-Award winner Michael Omartian, Mark Mueller and Amy Grant and produced by Omartian. It was the third Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 pop single from her 5× platinum-selling album Heart in Motion and the only one from the album to be released to both Pop and Christian radio.

Summer Rain (Belinda Carlisle song) 1990 single by Belinda Carlisle

"Summer Rain" is a song written by Robbie Seidman and Maria Vidal, produced by Rick Nowels for Belinda Carlisle's third album Runaway Horses (1989). The power ballad is about a man who goes away to war and leaves his wife, saying that nothing will change—they will be together forever and always. Although the conflict is unidentified, images in the video of a transport aircraft on an airfield and troops parachuting from transport aircraft suggest the man is an airborne soldier. The song is set in the present as his widow sings it, remembering the last time she saw him. It was released around the world in 1990 and was issued as a CD single, 7-inch single and a 12-inch single.

Talk Shows on Mute 2004 single by Incubus

"Talk Shows on Mute" is a song by the American alternative rock band Incubus. It was released as the second single from the band's 2004 album, A Crow Left of the Murder..., and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and #18 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and also peaked at number 16 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.

This Womans Work

"This Woman's Work" is a song written and performed by the British singer Kate Bush. It was originally featured on the soundtrack of the American film She's Having a Baby (1988). The song was released as the second single from her album The Sensual World in 1989 and peaked at 25 in the UK Singles Chart.

Always (Saliva song) 2002 single by Saliva

"Always" is a song by American rock band Saliva. It was released in October 2002 as the first single off their third studio album Back into Your System (2002). The song reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for one week in February 2003, making this Saliva's only number-one hit in their career. "Always" also peaked at number 51 on the Hot 100, the band's highest-charted single on that chart. It also reached the top 50 in countries like Ireland and the UK. The accompanying music video for the song, directed by Charles Infante, features a man roaming around the city being haunted by a woman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Mars Volta discography</span>

The discography of The Mars Volta, an American progressive rock group formed in 2001, consists of six studio albums, one live album, two extended plays, and nine singles. The final lineup of The Mars Volta consisted of the two founding members Omar Rodríguez-López on guitar and production, Cedric Bixler-Zavala on vocals and lyrics, along with Juan Alderete on bass, Marcel Rodríguez-López on keyboards and percussion, and Deantoni Parks on drums.

Pets (song) 1993 single by Porno for Pyros

"Pets" is a song by alternative rock band Porno for Pyros and the second single from their 1993 self-titled album Porno for Pyros. "The Cursed Female / Cursed Male" single preceded Pets, but saw only a limited radio station and promotional release, making Pets the first widely available commercial single from the album.

Who We Be 2001 single by DMX featuring Dustin Adams

"Who We Be" is a song by American hip hop recording artist DMX, released as the second single from his fourth album The Great Depression (2001). The song peaked at number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance, but lost to "Get Ur Freak On" by Missy Elliott. An edited version was featured in the 2002 sports game Street Hoops.

References