Web Feature: NPR: Muse's Matt Bellamy On His Band's Ridiculous(ly Awesome) Olympic Anthem

[FabriPav]

Originally Posted by Furygirl

I think now after watching a lot of the Olympics, I think the darker lyrical theme (vengeance is mine, etc.) is actually pretty appropriate. People take that medal shit SERIOUSLY!

Of course, after all it's their main goal, to win. I can't remember who said, when Survival was out, "the olympics are about friendship between nations and between the athletes", that's bullshit

[SerpentSatellite]

Kids spend (ruin, imo... ) their entire lives doing nothing but training, before getting to the Olympics. And, on top of that, with a few major exceptions, a lot of them make absolutely no money at it.

To think that the Olympics would then be about friendship amongst nations and goodwill - at least for the athletes - instead of a race to blast the competition and win, is just a happy lie that makes people not involved feel better.

[FabriPav]

Originally Posted by SerpentSatellite

Kids spend (ruin, imo... ) their entire lives doing nothing but training, before getting to the Olympics. And, on top of that, with a few major exceptions, a lot of them make absolutely no money at it.

Ruin?

[SerpentSatellite]

Originally Posted by FabriPav

Ruin?

Like I said, a complete matter of my opinion.

Giving up your entire childhood to do things like that seems very extreme to me, and a bit OCD. At least in the US, where there's all sorts of amazing things to waste your time on as a kid, that you're ultimately going to spend the rest of your life wishing you'd done before you got old and realized life is kinda lame as an adult...

[FabriPav]

Originally Posted by SerpentSatellite

Like I said, a complete matter of my opinion.

Giving up your entire childhood to do things like that seems very extreme to me, and a bit OCD. At least in the US, where there's all sorts of amazing things to waste your time on as a kid, that you're ultimately going to spend the rest of your life wishing you'd done before you got old and realized life is kinda lame as an adult...

Then again there's loads of people wishing to be the athletes at the Olympics. I don't get how being an athlete would be wasting/ruining your life.

[Furygirl]

Originally Posted by FabriPav

Then again there's loads of people wishing to be the athletes at the Olympics. I don't get how being an athlete would be wasting/ruining your life.

It's just an opinion, but I can't imagine spending my life training like that. It sounds horrible. My mom was telling me about this girl she taught in school that was training for the Olympics as an ice skater. She would get up at 4 am, skate for a couple of hours, go to school, leave an hour early to go back and do 2 more hours of skating, and then go home and do homework until bedtime. Every single day. OMG, sounds dreadful. And she didn't even make it to the games. "Ruin" is subjective, but it seems like you'd miss out on a lot with a schedule like that. But yes, you'd be really disciplined and physically fit. Just depends on your priorities I guess.

Not to mention the Olympic hopefuls that move away from their parents at age 14 to go off and train. So bizarre to me.

Apologies for the slight off-topicness, but it sort of relates to the lyrics anyway.

[JamesPHD]

Originally Posted by Furygirl

I think now after watching a lot of the Olympics, I think the darker lyrical theme (vengeance is mine, etc.) is actually pretty appropriate. People take that medal shit SERIOUSLY!

I think you are right. I was thinking about it and Matt even said that most Olympic songs/sports song are about coming together and all that BS but you know if you ever played a sport that's not what it's always like. Do you think Phelps went to the 2008 Olympics saying I want 7 golds and 1 silver? If he had gotten that he would have been disappointed. The athletes go to win and win it all.

The world's biggest sports theme is We Are The Champions. It's about winning, and being on top. I think the lyrics to Survival are cheesy but they do fit the theme very well and do it justice.

[FabriPav]

Originally Posted by Furygirl

It's just an opinion, but I can't imagine spending my life training like that. It sounds horrible. My mom was telling me about this girl she taught in school that was training for the Olympics as an ice skater. She would get up at 4 am, skate for a couple of hours, go to school, leave an hour early to go back and do 2 more hours of skating, and then go home and do homework until bedtime. Every single day. OMG, sounds dreadful. And she didn't even make it to the games. "Ruin" is subjective, but it seems like you'd miss out on a lot with a schedule like that. But yes, you'd be really disciplined and physically fit. Just depends on your priorities I guess.

Not to mention the Olympic hopefuls that move away from their parents at age 14 to go off and train. So bizarre to me.

Apologies for the slight off-topicness, but it sort of relates to the lyrics anyway.

Well, I'd be ready to do that in order to pursue a dream, which is the one of competing against the best in the world doing what I love to do. But yes, opinions

[SerpentSatellite]

I guess for me, following dreams was always more shallow and less "epic" than something like the Olympics.
I just wanted to do something that made me happy (sometimes) and rich...

Of course, I totally failed on both counts.

I was actually just reading an article on a US athlete who totally destroyed her life to get to the Olympics. Like, seriously went broke, lost her home, struggled to buy food and equipment, and doesn't have much of a life to come back to after the Games.
I know this can be viewed as noble, committed and dedicated... but I just don't understand a drive like that.
Or what the hell you would do after you're done competing.

So, that's sort of how I view Survival, sometimes, in light of the Olympics. Single minded, aggressive, and frightening. And a little out of touch with general reality.

Then again, I don't understand people that like country music, or haggis, either. So it takes all kinds.

[i.wish.i.RAWR!]

Originally Posted by HannahG123

I think they make a lot of their music bombastic and describe it as 'silly' but don't mean it in a tongue in cheek way

I'm pretty sure there is an interview floating around where Dom says that people don't realize that some of their music is meant to be tongue in cheek.

[anticitizen]

I first listened to the song on my laptop at work (so I wasn't permitted to play it very loudly lest I annoy people in the next office over). I laughed at the Queen-style riffs and harmony, and thought it was OK.

Then I plugged my phone into the input jack in my car stereo and played it at full rockin' volume during my drive home from work. My jaw dropped and I actually teared up a little bit. Completely different experience; awesome song.

Today I did the same thing with 'Unsustainable'. Same experience. If every song is as good as these two, I think we have (yet another) incredible album coming out in October. I pre-ordered it today.

For what it's worth, I've been a fan since 2001 or so, when my then-girlfriend who managed a record store (remember those?) that sold used discs brought home a stack of used discs. She would buff out scratches on discs while we were watching TV. Then she'd play through the questionable-looking ones to make sure they weren't skipping. I gave her cash for Showbiz on the spot once I heard the first song and they've been my favorite band ever since (got to see them in a little 3,000-seat theater back before they started selling out stadiums). I haven't been disappointed with an album yet.

[You.Make.Me.Sick]

Somebody tell me why the eff they aired Russell Bran singing a song from a Disney movie and they didn't air the greatest band ever perform the official song of the Olympics.

[Kueller917]

Originally Posted by You.Make.Me.Sick

Somebody tell me why the eff they aired Russell Bran singing a song from a Disney movie and they didn't air the greatest band ever perform the official song of the Olympics.

I don't think it was a Disney film

[JamesPHD]

Originally Posted by Kueller917

I don't think it was a Disney film

Lmfao, my exact thought when reading that. Don't know if it's true. But was my exact thought.

[Kati]

Originally Posted by FabriPav

Well, I'd be ready to do that in order to pursue a dream, which is the one of competing against the best in the world doing what I love to do. But yes, opinions

I guess the keyword here is what you love to do. I think Muse guys were taking a big risk at the beginning of their careers, skipping the safe income source by studying, but I think they loved what they were doing. The athletes, on the other hand, although probably also loving the sport, constantly have injuries that actually do ruin their bodies, and then there is doping, in addition to the crazy amounts of time and effort put into the training. I doubt (I don't want to argue about this, but heard some things, read news, counted things together) much any athlete breaking records does it without doping. It's a question of who can do it without getting caught. That stuff can kill later.

Originally Posted by SerpentSatellite

So, that's sort of how I view Survival, sometimes, in light of the Olympics. Single minded, aggressive, and frightening. And a little out of touch with general reality.

Exactly.

Originally Posted by anticitizen

I first listened to the song on my laptop at work (so I wasn't permitted to play it very loudly lest I annoy people in the next office over). I laughed at the Queen-style riffs and harmony, and thought it was OK.

Then I plugged my phone into the input jack in my car stereo and played it at full rockin' volume during my drive home from work. My jaw dropped and I actually teared up a little bit. Completely different experience; awesome song.

Today I did the same thing with 'Unsustainable'. Same experience. If every song is as good as these two, I think we have (yet another) incredible album coming out in October. I pre-ordered it today.

Hmm, I've had same experiences. First thinking it's OK but not fantastic, then listening a better version or louder and thought it is really, really good. Anyway I don't quite get what people are complaining about, most people wanted more hard rock and riffs, more of the old sound but not exactly the same, and imo we have two very good rock songs now. Can't wait to hear the rest of the album.