TUNES // Muse – Unintended
By Haneul Sky Kim
Muse released their 8thstudio album last Friday. As its title suggests, Simulation Theory gives an experience to its fans as if they are traveling through a simulated 3D video game world. Like Neo from The Matrix riding his motorcycle down the neon streets of Blade Runner. From the beginning of their career, Muse has been known for discussing global politics, social issues and showbiz capitalism, using their music as a vehicle. Over time, their political voice has become louder and more predominant than any of the other aforementioned subjects, and the scale of their music has become more grand and grown to an orchestral level.
I’m happy to see that one of my favorite bands, which colored my teens and early 20s, is still active and growing in popularity. However, Muse to a 30-year old me is different compared to the Muse from my teenage years. Maybe because the style of their music has evolved, or maybe because the members are now middle-aged men, like matured red wine – or maybe because I also have aged and grown throughout life experiences.
16-year old me was always politically aware and dreamed of being a social activist. The sociopolitical messages carried in Muse’s songs were the subjects that I wanted to discuss with my peers. Though I loved all their songs, those with a theme of love didn’t interest me much at the time.
But now that I’m listening to their new album I kind of miss their old days when they talked more about love. Just love. A simple love between two people. A young man’s untamed voice that sang for ardor. A song for those whose hearts were broken. The simple but deep melodies.
I still can’t say that I know love, but I can say that I’ve experienced love. So I reckon that’s why I get slightly different feelings from Muse’s old and new music. On one Fall day of the thirtieth year of life, I listened to “Unintended”, one of their very first songs. I didn’t know before that this mostly-acoustic song has the most resonant impact. Maybe because it just talks about love; or maybe because there is no impressive or extravagant technique; or maybe because, now, I can understand the heart of a young man in the unintended love.