Unintended (song)

"Unintended" is a song by English rock band Muse, released as the fifth and final single from their 1999 debut album, Showbiz. It peaked at number 20 on the UK Singles Chart in June 2000 and reached number five in Norway in 2008.

"Unintended"
'CD1' cover
Single by Muse
from the album Showbiz
B-side	"Recess" "Nishe"
Released	5 June 2000
Recorded	April 1999
Studio	RAK studios, London, England
Genre	Alternative rock soft rock acoustic rock
Length	3:57
Label	Taste Mushroom
Songwriter	Matthew Bellamy
Producers	Paul Reeve Muse
Muse singles chronology
"Sunburn" (2000) "Unintended" (2000) "Muscle Museum" (2000)
Music video
"Unintended" by Muse on YouTube

Release

The song was released on 5 June 2000 on 7" vinyl – backed with a live version of "Sober" – double CD – backed with "Recess", a live acoustic version of "Falling Down", "Nishe" and a live acoustic version of "Hate This & I'll Love You" – and cassette – backed with "Recess". It reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the highest-charting single from the album,^[1] and became a top-five hit in Norway in 2008, peaking at number five on the VG-lista chart.

Music video

The music video features many lovers 'blending' around each other as Matthew Bellamy and the band sit around. The blending effect is achieved using the slit-scan technique.

Live performances

"Unintended" was performed consistently by the band until 2001. After this, it was performed occasionally in 2007, as well as on rare occasions during The Resistance Tour and The 2nd Law Tour. After 2013 the song didn't return until 2025, being played at various festivals that year including Pinkpop in the Netherlands. The 2025 performances were based on the piano arrangement showcased on Bellamy's debut solo album Cryosleep.

Acoustic version

On 23 June 2020 Matt Bellamy posted on his social media the release of an acoustic version of Unintended based on the arpeggio pattern from Bach's Prelude in C major from The Well-Tempered Clavier.^[2]

On 26 June the single was released on YouTube, Deezer, Amazon Music, Spotify and Apple Music on an EP, along with two other versions:

1. Unintended (Acoustic version)
2. Unintended A.I. Dream V.3 (Obeebo A.I.)
3. Unintended (Piano Lullaby) [Instrumental]

Also, Bellamy wrote a tweet:^[3]

I wrote this song when I was around 19 years old and it seems more relevant today than it was back then!

Track listing

All tracks are written by Matthew Bellamy.

7"

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Unintended"	3:57
2.	"Sober" (live)	4:07
Total length:		8:04

'CD1'

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Unintended"	3:57
2.	"Recess"	3:35
3.	"Falling Down" (live acoustic version)	5:10
4.	"Unintended" (music video)	4:00
Total length:		16:42

'CD2'

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Unintended"	3:57
2.	"Nishe"	2:42
3.	"Hate This & I'll Love You" (live acoustic version)	5:00
Total length:		11:39

Cassette

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Unintended"	3:59
2.	"Recess"	3:37
Total length:		7:36

Personnel

Sources:^[4][5]

Muse Matt Bellamy - vocals, nylon-string guitar, Hammond organ, Mellotron, production, mixing Chris Wolstenholme - bass guitar, double bass, production, mixing Dominic Howard - drums, production, mixing

Additional Personnel Paul Reeve - production, mixing, backing vocals

Charts

Chart (2000–2008)	Peak position
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6]	99
Norway (VG-lista)[7]	5
Scotland Singles (OCC)[8]	17
UK Singles (OCC)[1]	20
UK Indie (OCC)[9]	1

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
United Kingdom	5 June 2000	Mushroom	7"	MUSH72S
			2CD	MUSH72CDS/MUSH72CDSX
			CS	MUSH72MCS
			CD	MUSE 8
Benelux		Play It Again Sam	CD	481.2004.22