Set the World Afire
| "Set the World Afire" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Megadeth | |
| from the album So Far, So Good... So What! | |
| Released | January 19, 1988 |
| Recorded | 1987 |
| Studio | Music Grinder, Los Angeles |
| Genre | Thrash metal |
| Length | 5:48 |
| Label | Capitol |
| Songwriter(s) | Dave Mustaine[1] |
| Producer(s) |
|
"Set the World Afire" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. It is the second track from their third studio album, So Far, So Good... So What!, which released in 1988 under Capitol Records.
Development
"Set the World Afire" was the first song frontman Dave Mustaine wrote after being kicked out of Metallica. On the topic, Dave Mustaine said "The first song that I wrote on my way back from New York was written on the back of a cupcake wrapper, if you can believe that."[2]
The song was originally titled "Megadeth", inspired by a political pamphlet Mustaine had read on the bus ride after being kicked out. After the band decided to use the song title for the name of the band, they retitled the song to "Set the World Afire".[3]
“It said, ‘The arsenal of Megadeath can’t be rid.’ I thought, ‘What a fantastic song title.’ That song later became ‘Set the World Afire.’ So, in the midst of having a problem naming the band, it was suggested that we call ourselves Megadeth instead of the song. With extreme lack of foresight, I decided to go with that, not knowing what a professional setback the name would be for us. No one imagined this band would become this successful at the level where the name would affect us. When you’re thinking about ruling the club circuit and playing the arenas, and unsafe sex and drugs and alcohol and parties and fighting and speeding down the roads, the thought of someone not liking your band because the name’s “Megadeth’—it’s like, ‘Fuck you, it’s your loss.’ But when you’re trying to get on the radio that’s something else entirely.”
— Dave Mustaine[4]
Music and lyrics
The lyrics of the song are about nuclear holocaust.[5] The beginning of the song features a quiet sample of "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire", a 1941 song by The Ink Spots.[6][7]
Live
"Set the World Afire" was played at the first ever Megadeth concert, with Kerry King on guitar.[8][9] After the band changed their name, the song was known as "Burnt Offerings",[10] and possibly "No Time".[11] A bootleg CD-R of their first show was also named Burnt Offerings, after the early title.[12] A live performance on September 7th, 2005[13] in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was included on That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires. The song was track 3 on that album.[14] When played, some fans yell about it being "the cupcake song!".[15]
Personnel
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|
Production
- Produced by Paul Lani and Dave Mustaine
- Engineered by Paul Lani with Matt Freeman
- Mixed by Michael Wagener
- Executive produced by Tim Carr
- Mastered by Stephen Marcussen
References
- ^ So Far, So Good... So What! liner notes (2004 rerelease). Capitol Records. 2004. pp. 4, 6–9.
- ^ Bienstock, Richard (2018-01-18). "5 Things You Didn't Know About Megadeth' 'So Far, So Good ... So What!'". Revolver. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ Dome, Malcom. "Megadeth's So Far, So Good… So What!: the chaotic story of thrash's most f**ked-up album". Louder Sound. Metal Hammer. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ Wiederhorn, Jon. "34 Years Ago: Megadeth Release 'So Far, So Good... So What!'". loudwire. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ Hunt, Dennis (March 6, 1988). "Meeting Mr. Megadeth, Dave Mustaine". Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ^ "30 Years Ago: Megadeth Struggle Through 'So Far, So Good ... so What!'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Townsquare Media. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
- ^ "SO FAR SO GOOD… SO WHAT". metal nerdary. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ Scorpion, The. "SCORPION Q+A". Megadeth.com. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "Megadeth's First Show". megadeth.com. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ "Megadeth First Show". Megadeth.com. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "Megadeath (lost Megadeth demo tape; 1983)". Lost Media Wiki. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "Megadeth – Burnt Offerings". discogs. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "Megadeth Setlist". Setlist.FM. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "Megadeth – That One Night: Live In Buenos Aires". discogs. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "Dave Mustaine About His Cupcake Song". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-05-09. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
