Muscle Museum

"Muscle Museum" is the third single by English alternative rock band Muse, and the third from their debut album, Showbiz. It was released on 7" vinyl—backed with "Minimum"—and double CD—backed with "Do We Need This?", a live acoustic version of the song, "Pink Ego Box" and "Con-Science"—on 22 November 1999 and reached #43 in the UK Singles Chart[1]—an improvement of 9 positions on "Cave". It was named "Muscle Museum" when the band couldn't think of a name for the song so they looked 'Muse' up in the dictionary, picking the words immediately before and after[citation needed].

Music video

The music video is directed by Joseph Kahn and features different people in a suburban neighborhood, crying in different situations.

Track listings

All songs written and composed by Matthew Bellamy.
7" (MUSH66S)
No. Title Length
1. "Muscle Museum" 4:22
2. "Minimum" 2:40
Total length:
7:02
CD1 (MUSH66CDS); French CD1 (NV 3212-4)
No. Title Length
1. "Muscle Museum" 4:22
2. "Do We Need This?" 4:15
3. "Muscle Museum" (live acoustic version) 4:44
Total length:
13:21
CD2 (MUSH66CDSX); French CD2 (NV 3212-5)
No. Title Length
1. "Muscle Museum" (full-length version) 5:25
2. "Pink Ego Box" 3:32
3. "Con-Science" 4:52
Total length:
13:49
Promo CD (MUSE 5)
No. Title Length
1. "Muscle Museum" (radio edit) 3:55
Total length:
3:55
Australian CD (561 360-2); Benelux CD (481.2002.22)
No. Title Length
1. "Muscle Museum" 4:22
2. "Do We Need This?" 4:15
3. "Pink Ego Box" 3:32
4. "Muscle Museum" (live acoustic version) 4:44
Total length:
16:53
German CD+ (561 360-2)
No. Title Length
1. "Muscle Museum" (radio edit) 3:17
2. "Overdue" 2:26
3. "Jimmy Kane" 3:27
4. "Muscle Museum" (album version) 4:22
Total length:
13:32


The "Muscle Museum" US promo CD cover.
US promo CD (PRO-CD-9841); French 2-track promo CD (NV 3217-2)
No. Title Length
1. "Muscle Museum" (radio edit) 3:51
2. "Muscle Museum" (album version) 4:22
Total length:
8:13

Re-release

"Muscle Museum"

The "Muscle Museum" 'US Mix' CD1 cover.
Single by Muse
from the album Showbiz
B-side "Escape (Live)"
"Agitated (Live)"
"Sunburn (Timo Maas' Sunstroke Remix)"
"Sober (Saint US Mix)"
"Muscle Museum (Soulwax Remix)
Released 9 October 2000
Format 7", 2CD
Label Taste/Mushroom
Muse singles chronology
"Unintended"
(May 2000) "Muscle Museum" (re-release)
(October 2000) "Plug In Baby"
(March 2001)
Alternate cover

The "Muscle Museum" 'US Mix' CD2 cover.
A 'US Mix' of "Muscle Museum" was released on 7" vinyl—backed with a live version of "Escape"—and double CD—backed with a live version of "Agitated", the 'Timo Maas Sunstroke Remix' of "Sunburn", the 'Saint US Mix' of "Sober" and the 'Soulwax Remix' of the song—on 9 October 2000 and reached #25 in the UK Singles Chart[1]—18 positions higher than its original release.
7" (MUSH84S)
No. Title Length
1. "Muscle Museum" (US Mix) 4:29
2. "Escape" (live)
CD1 (MUSH84CDS)
No. Title Length
1. "Muscle Museum" (US Mix) 4:29
2. "Agitated" (live) 3:11
3. "Sunburn" (Timo Maas Sunstroke Mix) 6:27
4. "Muscle Museum" (live video) 4:29
Total length:
18:36
CD2 (MUSH84CDSX)
No. Title Length
1. "Muscle Museum" (US Mix) 4:29
2. "Sober" (Saint US Mix) 4:04
3. "Muscle Museum" (Soulwax Remix) 3:46
Total length:
12:19
Remix promo CD (MUSE 10)
No. Title Length
1. "Muscle Museum" (radio edit) 3:58
2. "Sober" (The Saint Remix) 4:04
3. "Sunburn" (Timo Maas Sunstroke Mix) 6:44
Total length:
14:46

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog
United Kingdom 22 November 1999 Mushroom 7" MUSH66S
2CD MUSH66CDS/MUSH66CDSX
CD MUSE 5
Australia Mushroom CD 561 360-2
Benelux Play It Again Sam CD 481.2002.22
France Naïve 2CD NV 3212-4/NV 3212-5
Germany Motor CD+ 561 360-2
United States Maverick CD PRO-CD-9841
Worldwide reissue 9 October 2000 Mushroom 7" MUSH84S
2CD MUSH84CDS/MUSH84CDSX
CD MUSE 10