Muse is one of the stadium rock groups most liked by fans of commercial pop. And that’s because even their rockiest songs are very accessible, but also because the British band doesn’t shy away from making overtly pop songs. That’s where songs like ‘Undisclosed Desires’, ‘Panic Station’ and ‘Madness’ come in. Recently added to that list is ‘Nightshift Superstar’, one of the singles taken from Muse’s new album, ‘The Wow! Signal’.
‘Nightshift Superstar’, the Song of the Day, is a song clearly inspired by Justice and Daft Punk, with a touch of ABBA in the string arrangements, an influence recognized by Matt Bellamy himself. In several interviews, the Muse leader has explained that his goal was to create a “modern discopop song with real instruments” that “could compete with EDM music and programmed dance.”
Therefore, the song combines synthetic sounds and organic instrumentation. On the one hand, we find French touch-inspired synthesizers, in the style of Justice; on the other, a large string section and a choir by the Crouch End Festival Chorus. In addition, the voices of the children’s choir feature the participation of Lovella, Matt Bellamy’s daughter.
All of this is at the service of a lyric that once again speaks of love and desire in terms of a force that “consumes” the narrator and keeps him hooked, as if it were a drug. And, of course, the epic melody is pure trademark of the house.
