Won't Stand Down

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"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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal[17]

Muse

Production

  • Aleks Von Korff – additional production, engineering
  • Dan Lancaster – mixing
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering
  • 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[edit]

Awards and nominations[edit]

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 [33]

Release history[edit]

Release history for "Won't Stand Down"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Italy 14 January 2022 Contemporary hit radio Warner [34]
United States 18 January 2022 Alternative radio [35]
Rock radio [36]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b 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. ^ "Muse Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  25. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  26. ^ "Muse – Won't Stand Down". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  27. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  28. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  29. ^ "Muse Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  30. ^ "Muse Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  31. ^ "Year-End Charts: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (2022)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  32. ^ "Year-End Charts: Rock & Alternative Airplay (2022)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  33. ^ 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.
  34. ^ "Muse "Won't Stand Down" | (Radio Date: 14 January 2022)". radiodate.it (in Italian). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  35. ^ "Alternative Radio Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  36. ^ "Rock Radio Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
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