Stockholm Syndrome (Muse song)
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"Stockholm Syndrome" is a song by the English alternative rock band Muse from their third studio album, Absolution. The song was released as the album's first single on July 14 2003 and also appears on the Absolution live DVD. It was released alongside its artwork as a download-only single through the official Muse website. The song's promotional video was included in the "Time Is Running Out" CD single, and was shot using a thermal camera. A different video was made for the song's release in the US, depicting the band playing the song in a fictitious talk show.
In March 2005, Q magazine placed "Stockholm Syndrome" at number 44 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.
Background and Composition
Stockholm Syndrome is a progressive metal song written in the key of D minor. The main riff is based around the Phrygian Dominant mode of the harmonic minor scale. The verses follow a chromatic chord progression. The progression was originally written for piano, but later reworked for layered guitars and synths.
Dream Theater's Never Enough, which was released two years following, bears some similarities to the song. The band have also done covers of Stockholm Syndrome in their live shows.
Lyrics and meaning
Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response sometimes seen in an abducted hostage, in which the hostage shows signs of loyalty to the hostage-taker, regardless of the danger (or at least risk) in which the hostage has been placed. The song's lyrics take the perspective of the abuser's perspective, rather than victim's perspective.
The syndrome is named after the Norrmalmstorg robbery of Kreditbanken at Norrmalmstorg, Stockholm, Sweden, in which the bank robbers held bank employees hostage and the victims became emotionally attached to their victimisers, and even defended their captors after they were freed from their six-day ordeal.
Live
In concert, the song is often played teamed with "Plug In Baby" as the two songs have similar tempos. One example of this is during the second Wembley performance. However during The Resistance Tour, this song has usually been paired with the first part of the band's Exogenesis Symphony due to the similar tuning. In most live performances of this song, it is followed by several instrumental riffs and jams (usually two or three); these can make performances of the song last up to 10 minutes on some occasions, most notably at the band's headline appearance at the 2004 Glastonbury Festival. During The Resistance Tour, one performance of this song at the Staples Center in Los Angeles lasted 13 minutes after eight riffs followed the song.
Media
On 8 May 2008, the song was released as downloadable content (as part of a Muse 3-song pack) for the rhythm game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
