Don’t Watch: Muse - “Undisclosed Desires”
With the release of “Undisclosed Desires” as The Resistance’s second single, Muse has furthered an unfortunate turn of events — they are losing the plot, at least when it comes to crafting music videos. You see, the song itself is a fantastic Depeche Mode style slice of synthpop, especially considering “it’s actually quite a personal song about me [Matt Bellamy] and my girlfriend.” The video, however, is terrible.
Matt Bellamy has always been other-worldly, but it’s this unexplainable awkwardness which is so endearing. In recent times things have moved to another level… from the giant “mind control” satellite dishes that adorned their stage for the Wembley gigs to this latest video, there is certainly something awry.
The video is pulled in a number of individually interesting directions, but they clash when forced together on screen. The main focus of the video is a bizarre band setup, with screens, cables, and a variety of other junk adorning the performing area. The lyrics to the song pop up on screens, and as the song progresses some incredible machinations spring into life. A spinning wheel of bass guitars are automatically twanged, and speakers travel around the band.
Then the dancer arrives. Wearing some sort of cable dress, she is just far too ghetto for this song, popping and spinning out of sync with the music. Footage is occasionally spliced into the video, and it really kills the vibe. Overall, this is one of the band’s worst music videos to date, and further compounds the fact that Muse need to return to its winning ways, and fast.
“Undisclosed Desires”, the single, is out on November 16th. Just in case you still want to watch the video after all the above, you can check it out below…
I honestly can’t tell if I like this or not. I can’t tell if its corny/cheesy goodness or if its just dumb. Also, what’s with the girl krumping and wearing confetti streamers?
The video is intentionally made like that- though the song is about matt and his girlfriend they’re taking the “piss” about conventional videos for love songs- seriously listen to the song and forget the video if it bothers u that much- its the song that counts more, and i think it beautiful, and very Muse. They’re progressing in their sound but still retain the quality of Muse.
muse have always strivven to be different and this video pretty much sums it up, this is muse and id never want them to change from what they are, if they become a cult band thats fine by me il still love them
It’s a sad day when people go on about the video instead of the music and the band.
Why can’t people just watch a video without analysing it and taking it so seriously, and then critising the band for it?
It’s just a video, a bit of fun, to add a visual display to a song when it gets played on TV.
Are we music fans, or video fans?
I agree with you Will, I do not like this video at all. It is too arty-farty for me. I don’t like the krumping girl. I don’t like how Matt is hiding his hiding his beautiful eyes behind those Bono wannabe sunglasses. And I don’t like how some of the words from the songs that are flashed up are overlined and underlined like the Muse logo - this takes away from the uniqueness of the Muse logo. I think this beautiful song deserves a much better video. Apart from some initial misgivings about USoE (which I now love) this is the first time I’ve criticised anything Muse have done. I love the Uprising video - and can’t wait to see what they do for Resistance!
The song is amazing, and the video is ok, better than Uprising.. Muse never make good music videos anyway..don’t get me wrong, I love them, but most of his videos fail lol
Sometimes that’s what happens when a band like Muse become mainstream.
…Twilights fault.
I did point out those cool moments, but the dancer is just way too much for me to handle. I thought the bass wheel and the speaker were great, but could have had more time devoted to them.
I love their sense of humour (like switching roles on live TV or blatantly miming) but this video isn’t meant to be funny!
Muse is, and always has been tongue-in-cheek with its music. Looks like it with their videos, too now. Don’t take it so seriously. They clearly don’t. People criticize their lyrics for the same cheesiness, but if you don’t take them so seriously, you will see the brilliance in all of it.
The video is weird for sure, but there are some cool things, like the wheel of guitars (or bass) that had picks playing it to the beat.
Didn’t know that was possible.
i use to really like this site cause they just gave u interesting music articles now there more synical and arrogant than pitchfork
The song is wonderful.Different but wonderful.The video is OKAY. It’s just that girl who ‘krumps’ that annoys me!Overall when this video is compared to Knights of Cydonia, Time Is Running or Bliss the video just doesn’t seem like Muse
The song is great, the video just doesn’t do it for me. It’s not a brilliant video, and the fact that it makes people laugh does not mean I am going to write a glittering review! I have to be honest, and I find myself laughing at them, not with them.
Anyway, thanks for commenting, and I hope they are back in good form in the near future!
Will, I’m not saying it’s a brilliant fantastic video at all (and do not talk about their music & I’m glad if you do like them though - so no slagging the band, ok I get that), I’m just saying that nowadays a video should not be considered as atrocious when it can make one laugh, and by seing all the comments around it does make people have a good one!
Sally, if we’re honest its an atrocious video. I apologise if my pointing it out riles you, but I’m not the only person who thinks that the band has dropped the ball here.
And don’t presume that I am not a fan- I was one of those queuing up years ago to get into the band’s pre-release parties, and I own every record they have released. This is not up to standard.
Wtf yeah, exactly what comes to mind when I see your article!
Maybe you need to feel some sense of mockery here! They’ve always made unexpected videos, this one, without being the best ever, is at least different from all the usual crapyness around! It might be a bit tacky but at least it can make you laugh & nawadays not many videos can do that!
So cheer up and stop thinking about trying to make yourself interesting in slagging it!
w…t…f…
remember “Hyper Music”? How did they end up like this?