"Won't Stand Down"
Single by Muse
from the album Will of the People
Released13 January 2022 (2022-01-13)
Recorded2021
Genre
Length3:29
LabelWarner
Songwriter(s)Matt Bellamy
Producer(s)Muse
Muse singles chronology
"Pressure"
(2018)
"Won't Stand Down"
(2022)
"Compliance"
(2022)
Music video
"Won't Stand Down" on YouTube

"Won't Stand Down" is a song by British rock band Muse. Released as a single on 13 January 2022, it is their first single from Will of the People, their ninth studio album.[1][2] It topped the UK Rock & Metal chart and reached number 56 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was a sleeper hit in the United States, reaching number 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in May 2022, becoming the first Muse song to do so.[3][4]

Release

On 25 December 2021, Muse lead singer and guitarist Matt Bellamy held a brief livestream on the official Muse Instagram account. In the video, he can be seen driving his Tesla on Autopilot mode, with his 10-year-old son Bing in the passenger seat. The pair are listening (and, in Bing's case, headbanging) to a then-unreleased Muse song, entitled "Won't Stand Down" on the car stereo screen, while Matt provides occasional commentary over the track.[1] In total, the livestream previewed a roughly one-minute-long section of the song.[5] Muse's own Instagram account hinted towards the release of a new single in a post on 31 December, initially uploaded with the caption "Looking forward to WSD. We'll see you on the other side!" before "WSD" was changed to "2022" after a few minutes.

The release of "Won't Stand Down" as a single was officially confirmed by Muse on 7 January 2022, with the release date set for 13 January on all digital platforms.[6][1][7] On 9 January, a further snippet of the song, this time consisting of the opening verse, was posted to Muse's TikTok account as well as a "Won't Stand Down"-themed Instagram Stories mask filter.

Writing and composition

Musically, the song has been described as heavy metal,[8] hard rock,[9] and electronic rock.[10] Prior to release, the song was described as Muse's "heaviest material yet",[11] featuring a metalcore breakdown.[12] The song also contains "heavy guitars and industrial-like distortions",[13] and "triplet-flow-type vocals in the verse".[14]

According to vocalist and guitarist Matt Bellamy, "'Won't Stand Down' is a song about standing your ground against bullies, whether that be on the playground, at work or anywhere."[14]

Artwork and music video

The digital artwork for "Won't Stand Down" was described as "dark and ominous", featuring a hooded priest-like figure hovering over ten disciples,[15] figures wearing digital-style masks and gothic chandeliers.[1] A short teaser of the music video was posted to Muse's TikTok account on 9 January.[16]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal[17]

Muse

Production

  • Aleks Von Korff – additional production, engineering
  • Dan Lancastermixing
  • Chris Gehringermastering
  • Rhys May – mixing assistant
  • Andy Maxwell – studio assistant
  • Joe Devenney – studio assistant
  • Tommy Bosustow – studio assistant
  • Chris Whitemyer – technical assistant
  • Paul Warren – technical assistant

Charts

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations for "Won't Stand Down"
Year Organization Award Result Ref(s)
2022 MTV Video Music Awards Rock Video of the Year Nominated [32]

Release history

Release history for "Won't Stand Down"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Italy 14 January 2022 Contemporary hit radio Warner [33]
United States 18 January 2022 Alternative radio [34]
Rock radio [35]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Trendell, Andrew (7 January 2022). "Muse announce new single 'Won't Stand Down'". NME. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  2. "Muse announce new album Will Of The People, which is "influenced by the increasing uncertainty and instability in the world"". Kerrang!. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  3. "Muse earns 'Billboard' chart first with "Won't Stand Down"". 105.7 The Point. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  4. "Muse – Chart History – Mainstream Rock Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  5. Daly, Rhian (26 December 2021). "Matt Bellamy teases new Muse song on Instagram Live". NME.
  6. "Won't Stand Down – Our new single, released next week on Thursday January 13th". Twitter. Muse. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  7. Carter, Emily. "Muse to release heavy new single Won't Stand Down next week". Kerrang!. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  8. Grau, Ignacio (13 January 2022). "Muse returns after four years with a heavy new track "Won't Stand Down"". Chaoszine. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  9. Brayden, Kate (7 January 2022). "Muse tease new hard rock single 'Won't Stand Down'". Hot Press. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  10. Owen, Matt (13 January 2022). "Muse release pummeling new single, Won't Stand Down". Guitar World. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  11. Owen, Matt (7 January 2022). "Muse unleash their inner metal in teaser for brutal new single, Won't Stand Down". Guitar World. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  12. Parker, Jack (11 January 2022). "Muse Are Back – Here Are 10 Songs You May Have Forgotten". All Things Loud. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  13. "Muse Drops Guitar-Heavy New Song 'Won't Stand Down'". Blabbermouth. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  14. 1 2 Kennelty, Greg (13 January 2022). "The New Muse Single "Won't Stand Down" Is Indeed Pretty Heavy". Metal Injection. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  15. Bowenbank, Starr. "Muse Teases New Single 'Won't Stand Down' With Haunting Cover Art". Billboard. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  16. "Living vicariously...#WontStandDown #Muse #NewMusic". TikTok. Muse.
  17. "Credits / Won't Stand Down / Muse – TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  18. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 24 January 2022". The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 24 January 2022.
  19. "Muse – Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  20. "Muse Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  21. "CZ – Radio – Top 20 Modern Rock – Muse – Won't Stand Down" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  22. "Top Singles (Week 3, 2022)". SNEP. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  23. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  24. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  25. "Muse – Won't Stand Down". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  27. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  28. "Muse Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  29. "Muse Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  30. "Year-End Charts: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2022)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  31. "Year-End Charts: Rock & Alternative Airplay (2022)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  32. Serrano, Athena (26 July 2022). "Your 2022 VMA Nominations Are Here: Jack Harlow, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Nas X Lead The Pack". MTV. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  33. "Muse "Won't Stand Down" | (Radio Date: 14 January 2022)". radiodate.it (in Italian). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  34. "Alternative Radio Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  35. "Rock Radio Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
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