Hysteria (Muse song)
2003 single by Muse
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"Hysteria" is a song by the English rock band Muse, released on 1 December 2003 as the third single from their third studio album, Absolution (2003). It was produced by Muse and Rich Costey. "Hysteria" reached number 17 on the UK singles chart and number 9 in the US on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
- Air Studios, London
- Livingston Recording Studios, London
| "Hysteria" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard artwork | ||||
| Single by Muse | ||||
| from the album Absolution | ||||
| B-side | "Eternally Missed" | |||
| Released | 1 December 2003[1] | |||
| Recorded | 2002–2003 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:47 | |||
| Label | East West | |||
| Composers | ||||
| Lyricist | Matt Bellamy | |||
| Producers |
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| Muse singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Hysteria" by Muse on YouTube | ||||
Performances of "Hysteria" are included the live videos Absolution Tour (2005) and HAARP (2008). A demo and a live version appeared on Absolution XX, the 20th-anniversary Absolution reissue.[2] The song was featured in the video game Fortnite Festival.[3]
Recording
According to the bassist, Chris Wolstenholme, "Hysteria" originated in a jam during a soundcheck in Doncaster, England, with the guitarist, Matt Bellamy, playing the riff in a blues style. Wolstenholme transferred the riff to bass guitar and changed it to a "machine-gun-like" sixteenths pattern.[4] He split his signal into three Marshall amps, one clean and two distorted, and blended the results with a synthesiser.[5][4]
Bellamy restructured "Hysteria" after feedback from the producer, Rich Costey.[6] Muse recorded "Hysteria" at Air Studios in late 2002 and completed it at Livingston Recording Studios in early 2003, both in London.[7][8] They processed it using the sound design system Kyma.[6] In 2025, Wolstenholme said "Hysteria" was his favourite Muse bassline.[4]
Music video
In the music video, a man (played by Justin Theroux) destroys a hotel room after stalking a prostitute (played by Hayley Caradoc-Hodgkins). It was inspired by the hotel-trashing scene from Pink Floyd – The Wall (1982). An alternative video was created for the US, which features Muse playing in front of a green screen. [citation needed]
Reception
In 2012, "Hysteria" was voted the best Muse song by readers of NME.[9] The bassline was named the sixth-best of all time by MusicRadar in 2011.[10]
Track listing
- 7", CD
- "Hysteria" – 3:47
- "Eternally Missed" – 6:05
- Produced by John Cornfield, Paul Reeve and Muse.
- DVD
- "Hysteria" (video – Director's Cut)
- "Hysteria" (DVD Audio)
- "Hysteria" (live on MTV2 Video)
- "Artwork Gallery"
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (FIMI)[23] | Gold | 50,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[24] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| Spain (Promusicae)[25] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[26] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
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‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||