Top 10 Muse Songs

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Formed in Devon, UK, in the ’90s, Muse is a three-piece alternative rock band comprising Matt Bellamy (lead vocals, guitar), Chris Wolstenholme (bass), and Dominic Howard (drums). Of course, to describe them simply as an alternative rock band does them a massive injustice, since their inception, Muse has incorporated disparate elements into their music, from classical romance and grand, orchestral-inspired instrumentals to 1980s electronic and pop influences.

Ever present throughout the band’s tenure is Matt Bellamy’s distinctive voice – capable of some impressive falsetto notes – as well as his unparalleled skills with a guitar. There are genuinely no contemporary guitarists who can compare to Bellamy’s effortless talent.

The band has a flair for theatrics, which has earned them their status as one of the world’s biggest stadium rock acts, and the band’s lyrical content also reflects this theatrical genius. You could never describe Muse as being shallow, with their body of work (particularly post-2000) tackling high concepts such as economics, drone warfare, and government oppression.

The band has seven studio albums under its belt and has sold millions of records worldwide. They have even won two Grammys, two Brit Awards, and a prestigious Ivor Novello award. Since their inception in the 90s, Muse has gone from strength to strength, with each album being more ambitious and grandiose than the last. Only time will tell what the future holds for the band, but you can rest assured it will be great.

# 10 – United States of Eurasia

Our Top 10 Muse Songs list opens up with this deep cut from the Muse album The Resistance. The United States of Eurasia is one of the band’s most conceptually and musically theatrical songs, and although its pomp might put some listeners off, its sheer boldness makes it worthy of a place on this list.

The Resistance is a concept album loosely based on George Orwell’s dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. Nowhere is this more evident than on this track, which references unwinnable wars and systemic injustice, not to mention the song’s title, which is a nod to one of the book’s three warring super-states.

The track begins slowly, with a quiet and contemplative piano riff, but as the song goes on, this develops into a crescendo so Queen-inspired that you could be mistaken for thinking it’s a lost track. The epic guitars and drums meld perfectly together with an Asian-inspired orchestral piece, making the whole thing sound like it’s part of a Muse rock opera.

“United States of Eurasia” showcases Muse at its most ambitious, showing how rock and classical music can work together to tell a story and create a thought-provoking work of art.

# 9 – Madness

Continuing our Top 10 Muse Songs list, this underrated track comes from the band’s sixth album, The 2nd Law (2012), and it sounds like nothing the band has ever produced. At the song’s core is a repetitive vocal hook partnered with a pulsing, almost EDM-inspired synth. The band has used dance and synth elements before, but this was the first time they had fully taken advantage of the harsher modern electronic trend.

Despite the song’s title, Madness is a relatively laid-back, relaxing track; perhaps this is because the lyrics have Bellamy reflecting on past madness rather than on his being currently plagued by it. The song was written after Bellamy argued with his girlfriend, and it’s quite sweet.

Although the bridge sees Bellamy flex his guitar muscles during a stirring solo, the song borders on R&B in some places. Madness lives up to its name, but not in the ways you might expect; this is a bonkers track with an irresistible earworm, and it sounds like nothing you’d expect from Muse. It’s an essential, if odd, modern classic.

# 8 – Feeling Good

There’s a reason this version of Nina Simone’s classic song is often written about as being one of the best cover versions of all time, as should be immediately apparent, even on first listen. Muse took the relatively stripped-back jazz production of the original and took it up to the next level, replacing brass with some heavy guitar work and exceptionally frenetic drumming.

While Simone’s version feels as if it’s describing a personal victory and that her future is bright, the Muse’s interpretation has a much more threatening and ominous feel, with the swelling and brooding instrumentation somehow suggesting that while the song’s protagonist may be feeling good, this doesn’t bode well for the rest of the world. While it might seem odd to include a cover version on a list such as this, thanks to the band’s next-level rock refinement of the song, Feeling Good has, without doubt, earned its place as one of the essential Muse Songs.

# 7 – Dead Inside

This opening track from 2015’s Drones was the public’s first taste of a sound that the band promised would tone down the orchestral and electronic elements of the past. But don’t let that fool you into thinking this would result in a stripped-back or vanilla Muse, as Dead Inside is one of the band’s most exciting productions.

One of the critical themes of Drones is dehumanization, which resonates particularly well with the track’s instrumentation. Much of the song feels somehow mechanical with its low-resolution fuzzy bass, distorted guitar solos, and ceaseless drums – not to mention the brief vocoder sample. That’s not to say it feels dull or mindless, but instead that it’s a constant cacophony of intricate noise, which somehow sounds like it’s been produced by a genius-level musical artificial intelligence. Bellamy’s vocals provide the song’s human heart, at least until the twist at the end, when it’s revealed that the protagonist’s lover’s coldness has left the hero dead inside.

This multi-layered Muse masterpiece takes multiple listens to fully comprehend, yet it is potent and evocative even on first listen. Dead Inside takes listeners on an aural journey and is one of those Muse Songs listeners will never forget.

# 6 –Hysteria

The third single from Absolution (2002), Hysteria, is most notable for its astonishingly accomplished bass line. The bass riff is jagged, funky, and sinister, and, even more than the drums, forms the song’s heart. The track begins with just the extraordinary bass line – further underlining its importance to the track – before the drums and a squealing guitar riff kick in.

Bellamy’s vocals are as excellent as ever, impressing with his falsetto during the verses before delivering a yearning sing-along chorus that is almost impossible to resist. This track is somewhat reminiscent of Rage Against The Machine, with its dynamic and unstoppable instrumental, and it’s incredibly cinematic – you can picture it playing in an action film while a super-spy weaves in and out of oncoming traffic.

NME named Hysteria the best bass line of all time, beating the likes of Queen and Michael Jackson. This should give you some idea of just how truly remarkable it is. Thankfully, the Muse songs’ other elements are just as successful, working together to create a stunning song.

# 5 – Time Is Running Out

Another track from Absolution (with yet another funky, distorted bass line), as the album title suggests, this Muse Songs era focused on themes of the end of the world. You might assume that “Time Is Running Out” ties into this. However, the song’s lyrics tell a different story.

The song is about the end of a toxic relationship, with time running out for the couple in question rather than for the world. The song perfectly illustrates the protagonist’s desperate need to escape his lover, with urgent drums and intense guitar riffs capturing the sense of impending doom. Similarly, Matt Bellamy’s vocals – especially during a creepy section at the end of the first verse and during the pre-chorus – sound suitably pained, with every syllable full of anxiety, distress, and conviction.

“Time Is Running Out” is one of the band’s most recognizable songs among casual fans. Hopefully, its hypnotic vocals and creepy tone will inspire them further to explore the weird and extraordinary world of Muse.

# 4 – Knights of Cydonia

Named after a region on Mars that features seemingly human-like rock formations, this track from 2006’s Black Holes and Revelations is one of Muse’s most peculiar – and genius – creations. The song opens with a Doctor Who-style sound effect, followed by the sounds of horses and laser guns – quite a statement to make. After this, the non-stop drum beat and some Wild West-inspired guitar begin, but this Spaghetti Western in space is soon interrupted by a surf rock-like twang as an alien-sounding guitar riff begins. All this in the first minute! Muse bassist Chris Wolstenholme once described Knights of Cydonia as “40 years of rock history in six minutes. “It’s not hard to see why.

Once the vocals finally kick in, they are appropriately ethereal and compelling, instructing listeners not to be afraid to stand up for themselves and forge their own future. This is something that Muse themselves have undoubtedly done, creating their own niche in the world of rock. Those lucky enough to experience this song in a live setting are in for an awe-inspiring and unparalleled rock experience.

# 3 – Uprising

The lead single from The Resistance is a politically charged glam/synth rock masterpiece. Someone in the band is a big fan of Doctor Who, as the synth in “Knights of Cydonia” is eerily reminiscent of the cult British show’s iconic intro theme. Fans have also noticed similarities between this track and Blondie’s seminal Call Me, with the latter band even performing a mash-up of the two songs during a live performance.

As you might expect, the Nineteen Eighty-Four-inspired lyrics describe a world where the government and elite use various methods to exercise extreme control over the common people, compelling the 99% to rise up and revolt. Muse has never been afraid to be political, and this song allows them to discuss many common conspiracy theories.

With a thumping drumbeat and a dangerously catchy guitar/vocal hook, this politically charged anthem is just as catchy and captivating as it is thought-provoking.

# 2 – Plug In Baby

It says a lot about Muse that one of their best songs is also their most lyrically impenetrable. Coming from 2001’s Origin of Symmetry, the band has discussed several contradictory interpretations of the song’s confusing, nonsensical lyrics, saying at various times that it’s about the touring lifestyle or about inanimate objects having emotions. There’s even one interview with Bellamy in which he can’t remember what the song’s about, except that it was inspired by a book he read. Because of this, fans tend to accept that the song’s lyrics are open to interpretation, with each individual having their own theories. Still, who cares about the lyrics when the instrumental is this good?

Plug In Baby’s memorable guitar riff has become an instant classic and is often discussed among the best riffs produced this century. From its scratchy feedback-like intro, this song goes off and is at the heavy end of the Muse rock spectrum. The interplay with the complex guitar and the bouncy fuzz-bass is something to behold, and, as ever, Bellamy’s superlative vocals add the perfect pinch of sweetness to this savage triumph of a track.

# 1 – Supermassive Black Hole

This is the ultimate Muse song, and, as you would expect from a band whose influences vary wildly, it sounds like nothing else the band has ever produced.

This first single from Black Holes and Revelations sees Muse pair crunchy alternative guitar riffs with a funky, dance-inspired beat. There’s something very glossy about this song, which features Bellamy’s trademark falsetto vocal whines and some inspired production elements that wouldn’t seem out of place on a Daft Punk track. Prince is also a clear influence here, with funk and pop elements blending effortlessly with the alternative rock – not to mention a slight disco twinge thanks to the backing vocals echoing Bellamy’s high notes.

Although the lyrics – which compare a woman to an all-powerful and infinitely destructive black hole – would likely result in some think pieces if the song to be released now, the interplay between the bouncy, catchy lyrics and the coolly glamorous instrumental works flawlessly to create this massive dance-rock magnum opus.

Muse is a band that is impossible to pigeonhole. Every single song on this list and countless others are some of the most unusual, unique, and exciting rock songs you’ll ever hear. There’s a reason the band has risen to the upper echelons of the modern rock pantheon, and there can be no doubt that, with a discography such as this, they fully deserve their success.