"Time Is Running Out"
Single by Muse
from the album Absolution
B-side"The Groove"
Released8 September 2003 (2003-09-08)
StudioGrouse Lodge (Westmeath, Ireland)
Genre
Length3:56
LabelEast West
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Matt Bellamy
Producer(s)
Muse singles chronology
"Stockholm Syndrome"
(2003) 		"Time Is Running Out"
(2003) 		"Hysteria"
(2003)
DVD single cover art

"Time Is Running Out" is a song by the English alternative rock band Muse. It is the third track on their third studio album, Absolution. The song was released as the second single from the album on 8 September 2003 in the United Kingdom and other countries. It was also the band's first Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number eight, besting the number eleven peak of "Plug In Baby".

The single was also later released in the United States on 6 April 2004. It proved to be the band's breakthrough hit on alternative rock radio in the country – hitting number nine on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

The song is available to play on Rocksmith 2014 as part of a Muse 5-song pack.[2]

Production

Bassist Chris Wolstenholme stated that making of "Time is Running Out" is "something we'd never really done before". The song is one of the last tracks they did on the album to record. The band recorded the song and finished it when they were in Ireland. They intended the song to be more funky and a little more groovy that made someone want to click the fingers.[3] Wolstenholme said the song was influenced by Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean".[3]

The band spent hours working on the bass sound for the introduction, processing Wolstenholme's bass with multiple effects pedals.[4] Eventually, they used a Roland synthesiser playing through a Marshall amp.[5]

Music video

The video, directed by John Hillcoat, depicts a number of military officials seated at a round table performing actions simultaneously, moving to the beat of the song, as Muse play the song on the table, with the officials apparently oblivious to Muse's presence. Eventually, the officers begin to start dancing on the table, seeming to go insane. They eventually end up crawling. It is partially based on Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.

Track listings

  1. "Time Is Running Out" – 3:56
  2. "The Groove" – 2:38
  3. "Stockholm Syndrome" (video) – 4:59 (CD versions only)
  1. "Time Is Running Out" – 3:56
  2. "Time Is Running Out" (video) – 3:58
  3. "Time Is Running Out" (making of video) – 2:00

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[15] Platinum 50,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[16] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[17] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalogue
United Kingdom 8 September 2003 (2003-09-08)[18] East West 7-inch vinyl EW272 / 5050466854872
CD EW272CD / 5050466854926
DVD EW272DVD / 5050466855053
Australia Taste Media CD 5050466896926
France Taste Media, Naive NV50121 / 3298490501214
Japan Taste Media CTCM-65044 / 4945817650443

References

  1. ^ Klune, Tyler (10 February 2016). "Muse Comes To Barclays Center". Queens Gazette. The Service Advertising Group. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  2. ^ Rocksmith 2014 opens Supermassive Black Hole with Muse DLC | Joystiq
  3. ^ a b "MUSE… In their own words, Chris Wolstenholme « Random Musings of a Curious Mind". NME. Archived from the original on 3 October 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  4. ^ Buskin, Richard (December 2003). "Rich Costey: Producer". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  5. ^ Absolution XX (Interview). Warner Records . 2023.
  6. ^ "Muse – Time is Running Out" (in French). Les classement single.
  7. ^ "Muse – Time is Running Out" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Muse – Time is Running Out". Top Digital Download.
  9. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Muse" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  10. ^ "Muse – Time is Running Out". Swiss Singles Chart.
  11. ^ "Artists". Official Charts Company.
  12. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Muse Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Italian single certifications – Muse – Time Is Running Out" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 2 May 2018. Select "2018" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Time Is Running Out" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  16. ^ "British single certifications – Muse – Time Is Running Out". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  17. ^ "American single certifications – Muse – Time Is Running Out". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  18. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 6 September 2003. p. 27.

External links

Muse
Authority control databases
Categories