Who Knows Who

"Who Knows Who"
Collaboration by Muse and Mike Skinner
Released 2 August 2008 (internet leak)
7 September 2009 (official release)
Recorded 2008 (2008)
Genre Alternative rock, rap rock[1]
Length 3:24
Label Helium 3, Warner Bros.
Writer(s) Mike Skinner
Composer(s) Matthew Bellamy
Producer(s) Muse, Morgan Nicholls

"Who Knows Who" is a collaboration song by English alternative rock band Muse and English hip hop artist Mike Skinner. Not originally intended for official release, an early version of the song leaked onto several Muse internet forums in August 2008. The song was officially released as the B-side to the 7" vinyl edition of the single "Uprising" on 7 September 2009. The lyrics were written by Skinner and the music was written by Muse's Matthew Bellamy.[2]

Background

The first link between Muse and The Streets was created when Muse bassist Christopher Wolstenholme broke his wrist playing football shortly before the 2004 V Festival and had to be replaced by then-Streets bassist Morgan Nicholls,[3] who still contributes backing vocals, keyboards and synthesizers for Muse's live performances. The two acts first shared a stage at the 2006 Reading and Leeds Festivals on 26 and 27 August, when Muse headlined the main stages.[4][5] They also both played at the 2007 Big Day Out festival,[6] before Muse chose The Streets to play at the first of their two sell out performances at Wembley Stadium on 16 June 2007.[7] In 2008, Muse announced that they were planning a collaboration with Mike Skinner with the aim of creating "England's answer to Rage Against the Machine".[8] Frontman Matthew Bellamy summed up his ambitions as "London rap-rock, just like a little one off. It might be a laugh!"

Release and reception

Leak

On 2 August, a low-posting member by the name of "dopemc" uploaded an mp3 file entitled "Muse And The Streets - Who Knows Who" on the popular fan forum Muselive.[9] After much debate and discussion among fans, Muse released an official note on their website explaining that "The MP3 floating around on the message boards at the moment is a track we recorded with Mike Skinner a few months ago. The track was the result of a late night jam session and something we did for a bit of a laugh featuring a blues riff we have been playing live recently (similar to "Heartbreaker" by Led Zeppelin) upon which Skinner recorded some vocals. It is not intended to be a serious release so we are happy for it to be leaked around unofficially. Hope you enjoy, Cheers. Matt, Dom & Chris."[10][1]

Skinner has since downplayed the quality of the song, saying "We did the track and it felt really genuine, but a bit of a laugh as well. Then the label started getting too excited by it, so I fucked it off. I didn't really think it was that good."[11] Despite this, he rapped a part of the song during his performance at the BBC Electric Proms on 23 October.[12]

Official release

"Who Knows Who" was officially released as the B-side to the 7" vinyl single "Uprising" in September 2009, just over a year after the original leak.

Personnel

Musicians
Additional personnel

References

  1. 1 2 Michaels, Sean (5 August 2008). "Muse Happy with Leaked Streets Collaboration | Music | The Guardian". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  2. ↑ "Uprising" (Back sleeve). Muse. Warner Music Group. 2009.
  3. ↑ Cat Deeley (Interviewer), Christopher Wolstenholme (Interviewee), Dominic Howard (Interviewee) (2004-08-21). Muse-Hysteria+Interview w/Morgan Nicholls on bass. YouTube. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  4. ↑ "Reading Festival History: 2006". Reading Festival. Retrieved 2008-09-05. Note: User must manually select navigation menu option "2006".
  5. ↑ "Leeds Festival History: 2006". Leeds Festival. Retrieved 2008-09-05. Note: User must manually select navigation menu option "2006".
  6. ↑ "Big Day Out 2007 - Lineup". Big Day Out. Archived from the original on 2008-07-14. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
  7. ↑ "Muse play Wembley Stadium mega gig". NME. 2007-06-16. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
  8. ↑ "Muse plan collaboration with The Streets". NME. 2008-04-14. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  9. ↑ dopemc (2008-08-02). "Muse And The Streets - Who Knows Who". Muselive.com. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  10. ↑ Thomas Kirk. "Muse & The Streets". Muse. Archived from the original on 2008-08-22. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  11. ↑ "Streets and Muse collaboration ditched". NME. 2008-09-04. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
  12. ↑ Wilson, Tom (2008-10-24). "The Streets Dabble with Who Knows Who". Muselive.com. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
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