{{Short description|2001 single by Muse}} {{Use British English|date=January 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox song | name = Plug In Baby | cover = Muse_pluginbaby.jpg | border = yes | alt = | caption = Standard artwork | type = single | artist = [[Muse (band)|Muse]] | album = [[Origin of Symmetry]] | B-side = * "Nature_1" * "Execution Commentary" * "Spiral Static" * "Bedroom Acoustics" | released = {{start date|2001|2|28|df=y}} | recorded = | studio = [[Ridge Farm Studio|Ridge Farm]] ([[Rusper]]) | genre = * [[Alternative rock]]<ref>{{cite journal|title=Weekend riff: Muse - Plug In Baby|url=http://www.musicradar.com/tuition/guitars/weekend-riff-muse-plug-in-baby-604095|date=24 July 2014|publisher=Future plc |journal=[[Total Guitar]]|access-date=18 July 2017}}</ref> * [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]<ref name="Bradley 2014">{{cite book|title= The Alternative Jukebox|first=Larry|last=Bradley|date= November 4, 2014|chapter= The 2000s: Muse - "Plug in Baby|page= 231|publisher=[[Cassell (publisher)|Cassell]]|isbn=978-1-84403-789-6|url=https://books.google.com/books/about/BBC_Radio_6_Music_s_Alternative_Jukebox.html?id=w_phoAEACAAJ}}</ref> | length = * 3:39 (album/single version) * 3:18 (radio edit) | label = [[Taste Media|Taste]] | writer = [[Matt Bellamy]] | producer = * David Bottrill * Muse | prev_title = [[Muscle Museum#Re-release|Muscle Museum]] | prev_year = 2000 | next_title = [[New Born]] | next_year = 2001 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|dbB-mICjkQM|"Plug In Baby" by Muse}}}} }}

"'''Plug In Baby'''" is a song by English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Muse (band)|Muse]]. It was released as the [[lead single]] from the band's second studio album, ''[[Origin of Symmetry]]'' (2001), on 28 February 2001 in Japan and on 12 March 2001 in the United Kingdom.

The song became the band's highest-charting single in the UK when it peaked at number 11 on the [[UK Singles Chart]], until it was surpassed by "[[Time Is Running Out (Muse song)|Time Is Running Out]]", which peaked at number 8 in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/4712/muse/ |title=Muse |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=2 June 2009 }}</ref> Today, "Plug In Baby" is considered one of Muse's most notable songs, and has been featured on the live albums ''[[HAARP (album)|HAARP]]'' (2008) and ''[[Live at Rome Olympic Stadium]]'' (2013).

==Background and composition== "Plug In Baby" is written in the key of [[B minor]] (although the song does not begin or end on the tonic chord of the key). It is mainly guitar and bass-driven, and moves at a tempo of 136 bpm. The guitar riff is based on the [[harmonic minor scale]].

The beginning of the riff shows similarities to the [[toccata]] from [[Bach]]'s "[[Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565]]" and the beginning of [[Samuel Barber]]'s "[[Adagio for Strings]]".

One of the [[A-side and B-side|B-sides]] to the single, "Execution Commentary", was described by Bellamy as the "worst song I've ever written".<ref>{{cite tweet|user=muse|author=muse|number=251025749841149952|date=26 September 2012|title=@isamartina Execution commentary. M #AskMuse}}</ref>

==Recording== The 1997 studio demo of the song lacked the main [[ostinato|riff]] of the song, although there were numerous similarities in the lyrics and structure. "Plug In Baby" was to be re-recorded under the wishes of [[Maverick (company)|Maverick]] to coincide with the US tour promoting the ''Origin of Symmetry'' album, as Maverick wished Bellamy to tone down the falsetto on the song as well as on the album. The band spent a few days at [[Long View Farm]] in [[North Brookfield, Massachusetts]], in September 2001 recording this new version, but were left unsatisfied by the result.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Absolution XX Anniversary|others=[[Muse (band)|Muse]] |date=2023 |type=hardcover book |id= 5054197674396 |publisher= [[Helium 3 (record label)|Helium-3]]}}</ref> Consequently, Maverick dropped Muse in the US market and ''Origin of Symmetry'' remained unreleased in the country until 2005.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wIe3FI6TI0C&q=Origin+of+Symmetry+maverick&pg=PA53|title=SPIN|date=September 2009|publisher=SPIN Media LLC}}</ref>

== Legacy == The song is often praised for its opening [[guitar riff]], which ''[[Total Guitar]]'' magazine readers voted as the number 1 ultimate guitar riff of the 2000s<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/muse-song-named-greatest-riff-of-the-21st-century-2095007.html |title=Muse song named greatest riff of the 21st century |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=1 October 2010 |access-date=15 March 2011}}</ref> and the 13th best of all time in 2004.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3677965.stm |title=Guns N' Roses top rock riff poll |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=2 May 2004 |access-date=2 June 2009 }}</ref> In 2011, [[Spinner.com]] named "Plug In Baby" the 46th greatest guitar riff of all time, citing its "play on Bach's 'Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565'."{{citation needed|date=June 2016}} The song has been featured on the video games ''[[Guitar Hero 5]]'' and ''[[Rocksmith]]''.

==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = [[Matt Bellamy]] | headline = 'CD1' | title1 = Plug In Baby | length1 = 3:40 | title2 = Nature_1 | length2 = 3:40 | title3 = Execution Commentary | length3 = 2:30 | title4 = Plug In Baby | note4 = music video | length4 = 3:41 }} {{Track listing | headline = 'CD2' | title1 = Plug In Baby | length1 = 3:41 | title2 = Spiral Static | length2 = 4:46 | title3 = Bedroom Acoustics | length3 = 2:37 }} {{Track listing | headline = 7-inch vinyl and compact cassette | title1 = Plug In Baby | length1 = 3:39 | title2 = Nature_1 | length2 = 3:40 }}

==Personnel== Personnel adapted from ''[[Origin of Symmetry]]'' liner notes.<ref name="album notes">{{cite AV media notes|title=Origin of Symmetry|others=[[Muse (band)|Muse]]|year=2001|type=liner notes|publisher=[[Taste Media]]}}</ref> {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Muse''' * [[Matthew Bellamy]] &ndash; lead vocals, guitar, production, mixing * [[Christopher Wolstenholme]] &ndash; bass, backing vocals, production, mixing * [[Dominic Howard]] &ndash; drums, production, mixing {{col-2}} '''Additional personnel''' * David Bottrill &ndash; production, engineering * John Cornfield &ndash; mixing * Tanya Andrew &ndash; artwork {{col-end}}

==Charts== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (2001) !Peak<br/>position |- {{single chart|Australiapandora|57|url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue579.PDF|rowheader=true|access-date=10 August 2021}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} |- !scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2001/MM-2001-03-31.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=18|issue=14|page=19|date=31 March 2001|access-date=25 March 2020}}</ref> |33 |- {{single chart|France|40|artist=Muse|song=Plug In Baby|rowheader=true|access-date=25 March 2020}} |- {{single chart|Italy|42|artist=Muse|song=Plug In Baby|rowheader=true|access-date=25 March 2020}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|63|artist=Muse|song=Plug In Baby|rowheader=true|access-date=25 March 2020}} |- {{single chart|Switzerland|88|artist=Muse|song=Plug In Baby|rowheader=true|access-date=25 March 2020}} |- {{single chart|Scotland|13|date=20010324|rowheader=true|access-date=25 March 2020}} |- {{single chart|UK|11|date=20010324|rowheader=true|access-date=25 March 2020}} |- {{single chart|UKindie|1|date=20010324|rowheader=true|access-date=25 March 2020}} |}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|title=Plug In Baby|artist=Muse|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=28 December 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Muse|title=Plug In Baby|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2025|id=13828-2056-1|access-date=28 March 2025}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row"|Japan |28 February 2001 |CD |maximum10 |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/16754/products/431180/1/|title=ミューズ {{!}} プラグ・イン・ベイビー|trans-title=Muse {{!}} Plug In Baby|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=22 February 2025}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |12 March 2001 |{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}} |[[Mushroom Records|Mushroom]] |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2001/Music-Week-2001-03-10.pdf|title=New Releases – For Week Starting March 12, 2001: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=27|date=10 March 2001|access-date=10 August 2021}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Australia |26 March 2001 |CD |[[Festival Records|Festival Mushroom]] |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue578.PDF|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 26th March 2001|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]]|page=24|date=26 March 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue578.PDF|archive-date=20 February 2002|access-date=10 August 2021}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Discogs master|111364|type=single}}

{{Muse}} {{Authority control}}

[[Category:Muse (band) songs]] [[Category:2001 singles]] [[Category:2001 songs]] [[Category:Mushroom Records singles]] [[Category:Popular songs based on classical music]] [[Category:Song recordings produced by David Bottrill]] [[Category:Songs written by Matt Bellamy]] [[Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles]]