"YOU ASK"...." Muse MTV Japan Interview (c. July 2001)

(Note: the guy behind them is the translator)

"Today we'll be presenting Muse."

The lady doing the introduction says she is very excited. The format is the same as before, "Yooooooo ask!"

Basically, people call in and ask their favorite band questions. I think this may have been the final segement of this particular show. 

During the intro we see Muse walking past the "FUBU" shop, (someone, probably Matthew, is counting "1,2,3" they raise their hands, wave and go inside)

After the intro, we cut to the studio. A white sofa and set, and a woman presenting, who sits apart on a white chair.

HOST: MTV "YOU ASK" has begun! 

She asks everyone to take the day off and have a good time, and participate. It's a special guest only event for Muse. 

"Everyone...Muse!"

To applause and "New Born" playing in the background, they enter. 

MATTHEW: Hello. Nice to meet you.

DOMINIC: Dom. Hello.

CHRISTOPHER: Hello.

After shaking hands, everyone sits. The host points at the screens, and tells everyone (in Japanese) to look a little behind them at the monitors.

We cut to a street scene, where a woman is interviewing people on the streets of Tokyo. 

RIKA/Fan 1/Question: She tells Matthew that the other members of Muse are also sexy, but has he ever had any suspicious relationships with them before? 

(Text at the bottom of the screen reads: Have you ever had a suspicious relationship?) 

The presenter in Tokyo produces a box. It has "MUSE" written on it in romanji. She says this may be a news program, but she will use whatever is in this box to wash the three of them. 

Muse start giggling. 

Back in the studio, the host produces the red box that was just on screen.

The host says that before answering the question, she has a present, and the two women on the phone. 

(She hands the box to them. Judging by the look on Matthew's face when he opens it, it must have been pretty pungent)

HOST (into the speaker of the phone): Good day! What is your name?

RIKA: Rika

RIKA is there with VIVIAN

EVERYONE says "Hello" into the speakerphone

Basically, they want to ask the question again; Have the three of you ever had a strange relationship?

MATTHEW says that they have had jacquzzis together, and baths. When we were recording "Plug In Baby" we were in a studio that had a big jacuzzi. And when we finished recording for the day we would all get in there. 

DOMINIC raises his hand.

MATTHEW: The love was purely brotherly.

HOST: Brotherly love

RIKA: I see, it seems that way. But even though you said that, I still have doubts.

CALLER #1: I felt that the sound quality was different between the first and second albums, was there a change in your mindset or something?

MATTHEW: I think we were trying to capture more of the atmosphere we have live...

HOST: Wait a moment, I have another call on the line.

CALLER #2: Hello

MATTHEW: Hello? You al'right? 

CALLER #2 has a question about touring. 

MATTHEW: I think mostly through loads of touring and stuff we became used to change, so I think there is probably loads of influences in there from what we first found. But I think mainly we try to capture the sound that we have live as a three peice band, and I would concentrate on getting it to sound like a three piece band.

CALLER #2:  If you're looking for something with good sex appeal, then I'd prefer something with a clearer feel.

*Crickets*

HOST: Dominic is a little unhappy about it. 

CALLER #2: I think you are doing a lot of live shows in Japan, but have there been any changes in terms of performance?

MATTHEW: I am sure...I've always had this thing about I wanted to do like er a thing with four sections of the stage that rotates around in a big circle and has four different scenes. But I think you need a very big venue to do it, but I am not sure if you can do it this time, but...we would have one that is just normal, one that is purely acoustic, and one that is like uh, over the top and like explosive. But I am not sure if we can do that, but we will definitely be doing something involving projection of that, and interactive projection.

HOST: Hiromi, you will go and see the next live performance, right? 

AFTER THE BREAK the HOST welcomes everyone back, and it is on with the questions. The next caller is SUMI, who works in an office in Fukuoka. 

HOST: Sumi asked about the last part of Plug In Baby. She said she would like to know what the lyrics are for the high pitched screaming part, as its not listed in the lyric sheet. 

MATTHEW is handed a sheet of paper and a sharpie

HOST: I think you should put the actual lyrics on to this

MATTHEW: I am not very good at handwriting, so it may take a few minutes....talk about something while I am doing it

(Both DOMINIC and CHRISTOPHER are leaning over his shoulder grinning)

HOST: Okay. Well that's fine. 

Writing out the lyrics doesn't take too long, however.

The host says she would like him to sing the lyrics, including the falsetto. 

MATTHEW: What? Sing it? No way!

(DOMINIC and CHRISTOPHER also murmur "No")

HOST (reads out in English): "I can feel your loving, but mine is gone..."

CHRISTOPHER: "So, I'll be in trouble..."

MATTHEW: It's a very complex (unintelligible)

HOST: "Waaagghh"..."Waagghh"...I understand there are very complex emotions involved, like they are overflowing in that part...

She says she loves it, and is going to try it herself

(For some reason, MATTHEW has put his shades on as she is speaking)

The HOST stands, shuts her eyes, takes a deep breath and belts out loudly with more a high pitched scream than an operatic falsetto: WAAAAAAGGGH 

(Note, if you have ever played "Fatal Frame II" and come across the Falling Woman/Crashing Woman ghost, this is kind of what she sounds like.)  

MUSE laugh and applaud, as do the studio audience. 

We cut back to Tokyo, where another woman, YUKA, stands with a microphone. She has a question for MATTHEW. She seems somewhat hostile and accusative.  

YUKA: My friend is actually your pen pal*, and you've met her once, but apparently you didn't call her by her name even once. Why is that? Are you angry? Just not into her? Shy around girls?

HOST: That's quite a question you have been asked...

(The translator is explaining the question)

HOST (cont): He's a bit frozen in place, he was messing around a few moments ago. 

(There is a long silence)

HOST: Before you answer, the person herself from the video is here in the studio. 

YUKA walks on, and sits between DOMINIC and CHRISTOPHER (poor CHRISTOPHER is now balancing at the edge of the sofa)

HOST: So, first of all the music video is great... 

YUKA repeats the question, why not call her by her name? 

The HOST jokes that MATTHEW seems frozen. He gets bleeped about something.

MATTHEW explains that they did an interview with him for an Australian fanzine. He gave her his e-mail, and he e-mails her sometimes (you can tell how old this is, as he mentions "instant messenger"), and he does still speak to her. But he does reiterate, he has only seen her once when they did an interview. 

He gets bleeped again.  

MATTHEW (cont): I think I spoke to her...I think she phoned up the hotel or something arranging to meet. But I think it was an interview that was an unplanned interview.  

HOST: The discussion about Australia is getting more concrete. 

MATTHEW: Sorry if it is not enough...

(The poor translator behind them can hardly keep up with him)

DOMINIC (pointing his thumb at MATTHEW) Speaks fast.

YUKA nods.

MATTHEW (diplomatically): In terms of being my type though..,she is very young you know? Very very nice. But like in a friendly way.  

HOST: Well that's what he means, but you don't look convinced? There are various circumstances. So tell your friend the same thing.  

YUKA says she has something a little insignificant with her, but she would like to give a gift. She hands a thin bamboo strip of wood to DOMINIC, which he rolls between his palms and lets go. This is a traditional Japanese toy known variously as a Chinese Top, Bamboo-copter, or Bamboo Dragonfly. DOMINIC goes to retrieve it, and gets pushed off the couch, and then kicked over by MATTHEW when he does.

CHRISTOPHER: What is this? Hey?

He produces "ORIGIN OF SYMMETRY" wristband from the side of the sofa next to him, which MATTHEW (and the HOST) explain, you put together yourself. 

MATTHEW (playing with the BAMBOO DRAGONFLY, before pointing with it): You will be able to wear it to the gig tomorrow. It's a free pass.

(Cut to footage of "ORIGIN OF SYMMETRY" live at Zepp Tokyo on July 15th)

Cut back to the studio, the host counts "3,2,1" and takes a polaroid of MUSE with YUKA. MATTHEW has the BAMBOO DRAGONFLY in his mouth. However the picture shows it in his hand.

HOST: It's done. 

She presents YUKA with the picture, noticing that the polaroid hasn't developed fully yet.

(YUKA shakes the picture to dry it. This reminds me when Polaroid, in response to the Outkast song of the era, advised people not to shake Polaroid pictures)

...Back in the studio after a short break.

HOST: It's time for a last question

Everyone turns to face the monitor

RENA (speaking in English): I want to ask you a question. I think you guys are only twenty*, and all the love songs in the albums are kind of deep, and kind of unique. Where do you guys get the inspiration from? Is it like your imagination, or your own experiences? 

The HOST says that she is "a nice girl with a cute laugh" and they have invited her into the studio. She notes that everyone is smiling. The answer to the question will come after the video for "BLISS" plays.

HOST: You are sitting here, surrounded by three members of Muse

RENA: My heart feels like it's going to explode.

HOST: Well, it's a bit of a shock, so um, ask your question.

RENA speaks very quietly, and is drowned out by the hum of the studio lights and the music, but she basically asks the same question.

MATTHEW explains that it is pretty much all of his experiences. Some good, some bad, which he is trying to express in the music. 

DOMINIC: It's always a pleasure to have a girl like her sitting between us on the couch

MATTHEW: It makes me nervous because a beautiful woman, like um, being in admiration is quite... 

The HOST gushes that RENA looks very happy

RENA says she has some presents. She has bought them all some traditional Japanese wind chimes. There is a cacophony of sound as they rattle them around, and thank her.

CHRISTOPHER: What's this...? 

CHRISTOPHER once again produces one of the backstage passes, and gives it to RENA.

MATTHEW says that he thinks the wind-chime is much better though

The HOST says that taking a picture would be like before, so what can be done for RENA? It could be a song, a short speech, or even some dance moves?

MATTHEW'S idea is the most sensible. He suggests inviting her backstage for the concert tomorrow. He says that she can watch the concert from the side of the stage, and "you can hang around in the dressing room, and drink some stuff". 

The HOST runs off saying they are almost out of time, but she forgot to take a picture.

To close out the show, everyone screams loudly for the falsetto of "Plug In Baby". 

Notes

"Only twenty": Early to mid twenties, not as young as twenty.

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