In CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 you take on the role of V, a gun for hire in the dystopian metropolis known as Night City. Choose your life path; Corpo, Nomad or Street Kid and embark on a quest to uncover the secrets and conspiracies of the city and the Arasaka corporation all the while dodging magical teleporting police officers and hoping your car doesn't sink through the asphalt.
It goes without saying that the much anticipated Cyberpunk has had a... rocky... first 6 months of life.
The nature of my videos means they take months to make and most of the time I need to work ahead, start making them long before a game releases. Sometimes that means a game releases in a poor state and I already have a song prepared. It happened with Fallout 76 and it's happened again here!
Late last year I had this song ready, the props and costumes bought and the video planed all on schedule to be ready for the game's release. Then Among Us happened and I decided 'Cyberpunk is big enough to wait an extra month, I'll squeeze in an Among Us video first!'
...Then Cyberpunk released. In the firestorm of response to the game I opted to shelve the project to return to at a later date in the hopes things would calm down and the game might improve. Well here we are! Has the game improved? Possibly. But I had a free slot in my schedule and all of the props and costumes ready and waiting to go so I decided it was time to make this thing happen! I already have too many other projects in long-term limbo to let this one wait any more!
This song focuses on the 'Corpo' world of Arasaka. (Are you surprised I took the corporate corruption approach?) My initial concept for the song was more about the world of corporate espionage, but as I wrote about this interconnected digital corporate world the idea shifted into the themes of data collection and privacy and how these issues that we are already facing today might take form in a world where the corporations so keen to know everything about you have direct unfettered access to the inside of your head.
It's another 'this is a song about the world of the game and using that world to explore a real world theme' kind of song. Sorry if you were hoping for a song about shooting folks with laser guns and Keanu Reeves. ;)
A huge thank you to Cami-Cat for lending her stunning vocals to this track! I've wanted to work with her again ever since she joined me for 'Slide Into the Void' and I'm stoked to have her on this track. This might be one of my favourite choruses I've ever had and it's in no small part thanks to her!
Another huge thanks to DefendTheHouse for generously allowing me to use their gorgeous Night City footage in this video. Link to their channel below for more awesome game captures!
#Cyberpunk2077 #Corpo
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Check out the full Stupendium originals playlist for all of my original songs!
STUPENDIUM ORIGINALS: • STUPENDIUM ORIGINALS
THE STUPENDIUM ON SPOTIFY:
bit.ly/Stupendify
THE STUPENDIUM ON iTUNES:
bit.ly/StupendiTunes
Lyrics, vocals and video by The Stupendium
Guest vocals by Cami-Cat:
/ @cami-cat
Cinematography by Paul Marke:
www.paulmarke.com/
Custom costuming by CosFia:
/ fia_cosplay
Night City footage courtesy of DefendTheHouse:
/ defendthehouse
Set fabrication assistant: Nick J. Henderson
Mixing by oo Oxygen:
/ @oxygenbeats
Beat Production by The Artisans:
www.beatstars.com/theartisans/
Cyberpunk 2077, it's world and characters are property of Mike Pondsmith and CD Projekt Red!
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You can support The Stupendium on Patreon!
/ thestupendium
Grab your official Stupendium Merchandise! Shirts and mugs and hats, oh my! stupendiumstore.com/
Join the official Stupendium discord server!
/ discord
Drop me a tweet? @TheStupendium
The Stupendium is a musician, animator and content creator, creating weird, wonderful and usually incredibly nerdy songs and animations. Join them on their journey to obscure, niche internet stardom! They have some pretty decent videos, wonderful facial hair and a great sense of discomfort describing themself in the third person.
LYRICS: VERSE 1: Eventually all walls meet demolition So Wall Street had to keep the tradition Their financial systems resigned to ignition And out of the ashes, we have arisen An empire is forged in the fire of ambition In business there isn’t the time for attrition Invest to suppress then ingest competition Then each acquisition is new ammunition When governments crumble and fall to the floor That was paved with the graves of a corporate war A fundament funded in blood just to shore A foundation for founding our covenant - born Of a need for control of societal entropy Enterprise at the price of your indemnity Chart out the course and of course you were meant to be Bent to the will of a corporate entity Arasaka Security. You’re in safe hands. CHORUS: We’re the light in your screens, we’re the lead in your veins Then you wake from your dreams so we can sell them again In the light we distract with the shiny and new So you’re blind to the fact that the product is you So let your brain dance and replay the dream But don’t drown in the data stream ‘Cause we see where you are and we see where you go ‘Cause we know what you own and we own what you know VERSE 2: From the top of all our towers, the corridors of power clearly need rewiring Arasaka saw the spark and then embarked upon the path to turn that spark to lightning There’s no autonomous megalopolis so populous or prosperous you could reside in And every citizen that’s living in this city is a digit on the charts we’re climbing Political systems are too inefficient They split like the atom and burned in the fission Now every department and every decision Defer to the herds of our corporate divisions If you don’t remember the ballot you cast It’s printed on every receipt you were passed Each time you selected our products and services We were elected in each of your purchases What’s left to do when you’ve got the monopoly? Turn the consumer into the commodity It isn’t hard where you’ve hardware neurology Honestly, do read the company policy Take information and trade it for wealth You pay it in each augmentation we sell It’s easy to cut out the middleman When he’s cut out most of himself Arasaka Finance. Investing in your future. CHORUS: We’re the light in your screens, we’re the lead in your veins Then you wake from your dreams so we can sell them again In the light we distract with the shiny and new So you’re blind to the fact that the product is you So let your brain dance and replay the dream But don’t drown in the data stream ‘Cause we see where you are and we see where you go ‘Cause we know what you own and we own what you know VERSE 3: All that you say on the net we composite To maps that go straight from your head to your pocket Complain if you want, you’re still making deposits Of data - each day you log on is a profit Society currently lists electronic So isn’t conducting resistance ironic? We’ve plenty of skeletons locked in our closets But yours are assembled from old-stock hydraulics So lucky we know just the pieces you need All plucked from your social media feeds The places you go and the posts that you read All snatched for a new algorithm to feed Now holding our gold isn’t par for the brand Our silver is sat in the palm of your hand Quit whining and sign on the line in the sand The supply does not get to make the demands Arasaka Manufacturing. Building a better tomorrow. BRIDGE: Name, Age, Qualifications Race, Faith, Career aspirations Political leaning, Daily commute Marital status, Favourite fruit Family, Browser, Medical history Hobbies, interests, Brand affinity Fashion, style, your occupation Gender identity, orientation Lifestyle choices, dietary needs The marketing contact you choose to receive Posts, likes, employers, friends Social bias, exploitable trends Tastes, culture, phone of choice Facial structure, the tone of your voice If it’s inside your head we know You can’t escape the ebb and flow CHORUS: We’re the light in your screens, we’re the lead in your veins Then you wake from your dreams so we can sell them again In the light we distract with the shiny and new So you’re blind to the fact that the product is you So let your brain dance and replay the dream But don’t drown in the data stream ‘Cause we see where you are and we see where you go ‘Cause we know what you own and we own what you know VERSE 4: (In the light we distract with the shiny and new) When guiding the hand of the market If it’s holding a cheque or a gun The fingers go deep in your pockets And you can live under the thumb (So you’re blind to the fact that the product is you) You seem so surprised What did you expect? We’re thinking outside of that box that you checked The terms were presented in full to inspect You scrolled to the end just to get to ‘Accept’ (In the light we distract with the shiny and new) Arasaka would like to know your location Arasaka would like to know your location (So you’re blind to the fact that the product is you) Arasaka would like to know your location Arasaka would like to know your location
Cool beans
Swag
О кибер панк)
when GTA 6 comes out, will you make a song for it? if something is written incorrectly, know that I used a translator.
Cool
“Arasaka would like to know your location” a line that enhances your awareness of just how many times you are asked that by software that has no REASONABLE reason to know.
Also there's the section from 4:01 to 4:31. The level of information people give to stuff like Facebook is alarming.
Because if they had a reason to know they wouldn't ask.
@@kodan7879 If they had a reason, they would still ask because they have to. If they just had the option to know things without asking the user, then those that don't have a reason to know these things also wouldn't ask.
Their reason is to show regional ads, so you would see ads for stores in your city. Also profit sites get from ad networks is based on user regions because someone from India would be much worse ad target than someone from Switzerland.
@@shot-gi6mr yes they ask initially wether they can at all. But they don't tell you when, how and why will they collect information. Try it at home! Instal, facebook, then Start talking to your phone about a certain product, with no apps running in sleep mode, the moment you turn on the net ads of the product you spammed will appear on your feed
The Data Stream: "Honestly, do read the company policy." The Fine Print: "Oh, Honestly. Did you not read the colony policy, that defines you as company property?" I hope that was intentional.
I was thinking the same
I HOPE SO
Given it was a closeup with all but a wink, and Stupendium liked your comment, we can safely say it was.
It was definitely a throwback.
Like how in Fine Print he says “You can rent an apology” and then in Chairman of the board he says “You couldn’t afford an apology”
True story: It's boring as anything, but I actually do bother to at least speed-read through the contracts on software. And these days, when I'm tempted to just skip it, I now hear the voice of Stupendium saying in my ear, "the terms were presented in full to inspect; you scrolled to the end just to get to 'Accept'"
Arasaka would like to know your location. So would Google, Facebook, Microsoft...
"We collect whatever information we want and sell it to the talibans if we so fancy" summed them all up for you
Fair enough (and very smart of you)
As an American I just accept any terms knowing I follow through. Cultural for me contracts and treaties are just suggestions
Does that ever actually prevent you from clicking Accept?
"The supply does not get to make the demands" is the coldest fucking line
I don’t even understand what it means
@@3RR0RNULLIt means that the consumers have become the product being sold and therefore nothing more than supply without a choice or opinion.
@@mim1cry539Also references supply and demand
@@3RR0RNULL "Supply and demand" is the concept of balancing the available amount of a good or service with how much its consumers want or need it. But in this context, the product is the people themselves, as illustrated by the lines "turn the consumer into the commodity" and "that the product is you". The character is saying that the product doesn't get to decide how it's sold, and so people can't dictate how Arasoka does its business. It's also a play on words with "demand/demands" where it means both how much the consumers want it, but also "insistent requests".
PS monopolies don't have to obey supply and demand, because the can artificaly control. In fact all you need is one company with the majority market share, and then some loose natural coordination takes place for inflation of price to control. Duopolies are almost as bad as monopolies.
"Honestly, do read the company policy." I have to wonder if this line was delivered in a similar way to The Fine Print's "Oh honestly, did you not read the company policy?" on purpose.
;)
Of course it was dude
Fine Print's was "colony policy"
If there’s one thing that Stups does well… actually there’s a lot in general he does well but he’s even better at playing the “corrupt corporate executive” role.
If you ever think you heard a callback to a previous Stupendium song, you can take it to the bank that it was intentional :P
Me: "Oh look, a song about Cyberpunk!" Stupendium: "Haha no, its about the negative effects unchecked capitalism. Haven't you heard my songs before?"
I mean, same thing. That’s like, half the point of Cyberpunk, innit?
@@CelticPheonix101 Cyberpunk as a genre as a whole It's all about unchecked capitalism and the fears of companies taking over our whole lives. And its visually represented by robotic parts. Carving out pieces of yourself to literally become parts of a company.
@@CelticPheonix101 he just means that's an underlying theme in many of stupes songs. it's a theme in many a video game too but stupes does love to take that standpoint often and is a subject matter that gets him very witty on his lines. Fine print was his most blatant one (before this one) but it's there often from house to tom nook
@@umbradens6129 I know, yeah. Was kinda-sorta my point.
I mean, that's *supposed* to be one of the major themes of cyberpunk. (Try telling that to CD Projekt Red, though, who said they wanted their game to be "apolitical." Oh well, I guess they nailed the theme in the end by making their workers work crunch shifts.)
Brother you were born to play a villianous wealthy stylish man
I can’t think of anybody better for the role
Play? No they are one
Evil Tony Stark
@@Clarkamadorian well, Trump. oh wait! "stylish"...
@@aRealAndHumanManThing well yeah but then you gotta add “politician” to the list of attributes otherwise I’d say Rockefeller or J.H. Blair could fit the bill
"If you don’t remember the ballot you cast, it’s printed on every receipt you were passed" That's a raw line if I've ever heard one.
It’s a quote from Milton Friedman I think. He basically said, there’s no need for too much democratic participation if every citizen votes every day when shopping.
It's been seared into my brain
@@carl7534 How?
@@pedrosso0 what do you mean by how?
@@carl7534 How do you 'vote' every day when you shop?
"The supply does not get to make demands" is immediately up there with "But we've spent the centuries in second to the birth rate" as lines that are rawer than a living chicken
that and, well, I can't list them all.
My personal favorite is "Where there's a will there's a way to inheritance, whether we killed her or not is irrelevant"
Another good one is “peace is just a product with a focus test of billions, and the test was unsuccessful so we altered it’s description”
Wait fuck what's that one from?
@@teamcybr8375 "But we've spent the centuries in second to the birth rate" is from Rest Employed, "Where there's a will there's a way to inheritance, whether we killed her or not is irrelevant" is from A Matter of Factories and “peace is just a product with a focus test of billions, and the test was unsuccessful so we altered it’s description” from The House Always Wins.
"The supply does not get to make the demands." - Well, duh! That's obvi- ... ... Oh my god, it's genius!
Right??? I loved this line
It’s a play on “supply and demand” and treating the customers as profit and products rather than customers and it’s a really really good line I agree.
@@user-nk8ft3nn8z thanks, I needed that explanation, it is a really good line
@@ari638 Though it's not like there are many lines in this song I don't love. This one did stand out though.
@@kylerivera3470 The Stupes patented Shocker Line!(tm) Seriously, I swear every song has that one line that really stands out, I have no clue how they do it.
"Your ballot is printed on each of your receipts" Man the line is such a good one. Literally "Voting with your wallet"
about this: My parents are really "anti monopolistic". They try to avoid at least Ferrero Group and Nestle (the rest is basically impossible at my place) and it's always unsettling how often they didn't notice. Every other time I visit them, I get ice from a company bought by Nestle as dessert. And every time they are surprised by this fact again
The condescending look they give when they say "Favorite fruit" killed me when I first saw it
Yep Ain't it
"Society currently lists electronic So isn’t conducting resistance ironic?" That is some damn fine wordplay right there sir!
As an electrical engineer myself I'm in awe of this bar. Current, electrons, conductivity, resistance and iron, all in one package. Marvelous!
@@user-ky4zv1kf2x I think I get it but can one of you explain so I can be sure?
Easy: electric current consists of electrons moving through conductive materials, like iron (not only them, but usually it is implied). Conductivity is an ability of material to conduct current (duh), a property directly opposite of resistance - the more resistant the material, the less conductive it is. So last line reads like an oxymoron, or at least a paradoxical question.
"We're thinking outside of the box that you've checker" Jesus fuck that line was genius.
Stupes might actually be the best nerdcore lyricist of all time. FabVl and Dan tie for first with me, but damn does Stupendium come in close
The worst part about this song is that the chorus would be a true statement coming from the existing tech companies of today. Cyberpunk is not a dystopian future, it is a commentary on today, just with more neon and more elective surgery.
As someone who does digital marketing, I realize that I'm both a pawn and a player for large corporations. The realities presented in this song are terrifying, and should be considered by everyone. Thank you, Stupendium, this song was genius.
Really? Knoq Inc. would like to know your occupation.
@@idontknoq4813 I'm a digital marketing specialist. I create and execute digital marketing campaigns.
@@tjwalkr3 Knoq Inc. would like to know your favorite fruit.
As an Graphic Designer and now as an AI Architect in advertising... yeah, we are now very close to the Cyberpunk future... Hell, we are already there
@@louisalex98 lame one, without sick implants
Songs criticizing corporate overlords and the status quo: Stupes' specialty, but also probably the reason why he hasn't exploded in popularity on the youtube algorithm harder than he has. Here's a comment to help counteract that, hopefully.
Criticizing? For me this was like an anthem lol.
Then again, cyberpunk is a genre steeped in mega corps, corruption, invasive tracking, an wanting to know your location.
contributing to counteraction
@@bhhmmv that’s terrible, but also accurate. I won’t lie, I’m as anti capitalist as they come, but when I saw the Corpo option I jumped at it and one of the biggest disappointments I had in the game was that it enforced a street kid lifestyle after the intro.
@@bhhmmv People say the same thing about "Rich Man's World" by Immortal Technique
"Society currently lists electronic, so isn't conducting resistance ironic?" JESUS MAN, CALM DOWN. Genius of this magnitude is borderline criminal.
Can you explain that bar to me? I get what "conducting resistance" means, I think I'm just missing something about the first half tho. I'm not from an English speaking country, btw, so it might be something really obvious that I'm not seeing here.
@@Umbra0023 It’s not just about technology, it’s about markets and technology. To say that society lists electronic is a play on the language of stock markets. Various technology options are described as “listing electronic” meaning they operate primarily in the technology sector of the economy. This line plays that against conducting resistance, making a metaphor between electrical and societal resistance, and pointing out that irony. It’s an economic and technological pun. Brilliant.
@@imallergictobullets Wooo, ok, it just clicked after reading this explanation and my thinking of it for a few seconds. It is a great line. I just have no stock market vocabulary so it really lost me. Thanks for taking the time.
@@imallergictobullets how long does Stupes write these? If you were to unpack all his bars in say videoessay format you'd end up with Hbomberguy lenght of video, so like 2 hours. It's all so dense and multi layered, holy shit.
No no, the criminal genius was about two months ago. This genius is strictly legal, thanks to Arasaka's finest legal teams.
My favourite part of the 'List of things we know about you' section absolutely has to be "Favourite fruit". It gets across that they're not interested in just these big, flashy pieces of personal information, but that they 100% know EVERYTHING, right down to your specific tastes of a specific kind of food. How horrifyingly accurate. I love it
I wanna like your comment, but it's at 111 xD
People really don't understand what "Metadata" really tells corporations when they act like it's not a problem. Metadata allows Amazon to know you're pregnant before any pregnancy test will detect it.
@@theSheighani42 You can come back. It's higher now.
@@Darkwood2027 Hahaha, thanks. Yay 260th s:
I love apples fr
“In the light we distract with the shiny and new so you’re blind to the fact that the product is you” That hits a little too hard
its real, it happens with most software. if the software markets itself as "free", you are paying with your data. YOU ARE THE PRODUCT. especially with big companies such as google, Facebook, tiktok, or whatever else you're signed up for (and yes, it is ironic that i type this on a google account).also sorry for being a year late
The biggest sign of how much Stupes has grown is that the ending is exactly the same as “A huge thanks to Bethesda for making a perfect ga-,” but _far_ more classy. Spectacularly done!
Honestly, Bethesda deserved every single kick to the stomach it got.
tbh I was expecting him to glitch, like in a really quick shot he could blur himself in post so it looks like his textures haven't loaded in XD
The one thing I've always loved about Stupendium is that he always go the extra mile to not just make a song about the base story of the game. He always picks a interesting concept within the game and expands on it. I love it every time.
Thank you! It means a lot when folks appreciate that aspect. :)
@@TheStupendium thank you so much for your work stupendium as someone who loves good storyes your songs are the best
Theirs a dozen websites online that will let you rip an MP3 of a KZhead video, then just use some free audio editing software to cut the credits off the backend, port it over to whatever music app you store your tunes on and bam. Free music, it’s that easy. Yet while I don’t own every song by The Stupendium, I payed for every one I do.
@@TheStupendium It's really good attention to detail, and I respect that immensely. Fantastic work Mr. Stupendium.
The Fall Guys song evolving into an Uprising of abused forced game show contestants ensured that I had it on replay for weeks.
"Society currently lists electronic so isn't *conducting resistance* ironic?" this line made me smile when I finally got it Edit: just found another one: "Now holding our gold isn't par for the brand, our silver is sat in the palm of your hand." Silver is used for conductors in electronics, so if you have Arasaka's robot implants in your hands, then their silver quite literally is sat in the palm of your hand...
Lil' pun for the electrical engineers out there. ;)
could you explain the first one? Im not getting it still
@@thisisthecat9518 In electronics, you have conductors, which make it easier for electricity to go through them (for example copper wire, gold, silver and most other metals) and resistors, which make it harder for electricity to go through them, to regulate the stream of electricity so the system doesn't light itself on fire. The "conducting resistance" part references both of these, since, as the part before it said, "Society currently lists electronic", but it also references the fact that you're fighting back against Arasaka, "conducting resistance" in the sense of resisting the rule of whomever's currently ruling the country, city, world, etc. It's a sentence with 2 meanings, which I only recently learned is called a double entendre. Hope this helps!
Not to mention a certain rockerboy with a certain pseudonym.
@@MarioPerez-ng9it didn't know that one when I made this comment, since I hadn't played the game yet, but yeah
Since I discovered The Stupendium (by way of Google's algorithms suggesting "The Fine Print"), I've listened to nothing but this channel for two weeks. So much brilliance in one place. I teach creative writing at a local college, and I really want to do a themed unit around all of your songs that shine a satirical light on capitalism ("The Fine Print," "Rest Employed," "The Data Stream," etc.). It's like a collective treatise with repeating themes and lyrical genius. I wouldn't do such a thing without your blessing, of course, but I hope the idea alone serves as the highest compliment I can offer your work. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Thank you so much! I'm glad you have been enjoying my work! That sounds incredibly cool and I would be honoured!
I wish I was in that creative writing class! That sounds genuinely amazing! If you want a student to give you feedback on the unit, I'd love to do it over the summer! (I am not an English student or an arts student of any kind. I am a math student but I do enjoy and appreciate creative writing! I feel I'd enjoy something like this and there is always more to learn lol). I have an email on the about section of my KZhead account if you are interested at all lol
@@TheStupendium Absolutely love the genius of your work. Unfortunately, it's also what's preventing you from being mainstream as unfortunately the drive to "keep things simple" hits right on point with: If you don’t remember the ballot you cast It’s printed on every receipt you were passed They are literally implementing newspeak from Orwell to simplify thinking, bringing things to an abstract level of thought, which is much easier to bring meaningful changes of behaviour in as a rider, or in other words as a side effect. As the learned man you are, I'm sure you've already read the books of Dan Ariely - if not, I would start with predictably irrational. Digital marketing has become a religion unto itself, and a hive of manipulation and hacking of our minds to get us to do what we would never do under rational thought. Please keep doing what you are doing. There are plenty of people who reject "the hitmaker" mentality and think that dumb and catchy tunes make the most money. Music is an art, and art has the mainstream which is geared to revenue generation, and the real art, which are the classics that survive time. Your work definitely falls in the latter category, and I hope that more people wake up that you do need to keep things as simple as possible, but no simpler. You are a living legend my friend.
I discovered him with an "everything wrong with" a Why did I say okie dokie Minecraft animation, which led to the animation itself, which led to the video itself, which led to The Aftermath, and I've been hooked ever since.
@@soulsofwar8985 I'm sorry that I'm just now seeing your comment, but thank you for the encouragement. I only teach that class in the spring, so I have yet to really dive into creating its syllabus and curriculum. When I do, if I remember, I'll send it your way to get your thoughts. Thanks for being a kind stranger.
The wordplay in this song is astounding. And the direct commentary on what’s happening today is REDACTED.
The company had detected dangerous language, your comment has been scrubbed of language and a strike has been added to your account. Have a fantastic day!
Remember, if the service is free then assume the product is you.
Go to 2:59
We are the Product. I want may money back. O.o
Life's a breeze when you can leave uneasy things REDACTED
Thanks so much for having me on once again! You always kill it with production, it’s so cool to see. This was super fun!! 🤖❤️‼️
The best research assistant is here!
Let the brain dance indeed!
nice vocals cami-cat. love the lyrics you were voicing.
Great work 👍
KAMI CAT!!!!!
I like to imagine that stupedium is the person who will be making the music that controls people minds in the future
That's exactly what I wanted you to say...
@@TheStupendium :O
@@TheStupendium uh oh...
@@TheStupendium uh oh
@@TheStupendium well frick. Now i know why i like your songs so much!
I think this is still your Magnum Opus. The lyrics are tight as hell, every line rhymes perfectly and whats even more impressive, carries an actual message and meaning. This combined with the extremely addicting instrumentals makes for an absolute banger that is far more than just the sum of its parts. I've probably listened to this song well over a hundred times now and I certainly dont plan to stop there.
This, no waves like home, and slide into the void(in no particular order) are definitely my favourite of his songs
Much like you did with Vault Number 76, you've given Cyberpunk a valid reason to exist despite the everything :P I'm obsessed with this and I am so excited to dig into the lyrics and scream for a week straight.
Do you think that the world could ever be fixed? Is the data stream dried out? Did it ever exist?
C'mon it's not THAT bad. :P
unlike fallout 76 cyberpunk is a solid RPG behind the bugs, of course not to the level that was promised, but if CDPR just makes it stable then I really wouldn't have that many complaints
@@williamsmith6921 exactly. I've played through it. It's buggy, it's messy it's also stellar writing, designing and world building.
@@williamsmith6921Indeed. It has redeeming qualities.
Everybody’s talking about the music and visuals (which they should be, they’re both fantastic!) but man, give this man the acting credit he deserves! He’s got accents, body language, choreography, style, eye contact-everything. I didn’t even KNOW that he’s British until several months ago because the way he switches from different styles of speech is so fluid. The Stupendium has acting, performing, production, and music as a whole down to an ART FORM, and I DEMAND that he is given full credit for being a shape shifter!
I just noticed that the different characters have differently painted nails! He did not need to go that hard but he always does
True perfectionism. You can tell that he is always giving 100% but also always improving. Let alone the amount of work he does to, on top of all the work on his videos, this man puts into interacting with his community. If I wasnt me, I'd expect he's just a figure representing a producing company. But honestly, no company puts in as much work as Stupendium and his highly talented team and cooperators into their videos.
@@chriwehl7173 there is a reason why smaller game studios have begun to hire him for advertising in the form of his songs
I remember when I first found him on KZhead, I immediately looked to the sub button and when I saw 3k next to it I genuinely took a moment to take a second look just to be sure I wasn’t crazy
HE’S A FELLOW BRITISH BOI
basically my teacher made us listen to this song for a homework, and now I can't stop listening to this.
Oh really? That's crazy. XD Say hi to your teacher for me! Hope the song was educational. :P
@@TheStupendium will do, and the homework was very easy thanks to this song :D
@@angelobalbastre5998 What was the homework about?
What was the homework?
Do tell.
After a few dozen listens, I finally realized the subtle sinister implication in the "Arasaka" quotes. Arasaka Security: "You're in safe hands." Safe from everything except what Arasaka does to you themselves. Arasaka Finance: "Investing in your future." A future where your every action is controlled by Arasaka. Arasaka Manufacturing: "Building a better tomorrow." A better tomorrow for Arasaka where they've reached full omniscience and omnipotence.
"Honestly, do read the company* policy" - Is that a little "Fine Print" reference I spy with my eyes? *colony -> company
I noticed that too!
Company policy in this case.
@@DavidJoh Ah - I didn't actually catch that, but it makes more sense xD
I went WRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
That’s the first thing I thought when I heard the line. I keep seeing them… The self-references… they haunt my dreams… anyway this is such a pog banger tho, he never disappoints ^^
"name, age, qualifications..." this entire segment gave me chills. That's not about Cyberpunk anymore...
Nope
That's what The Stupendium is best at.
Cyberpunk isn't about the future, it's about the present.
@@yumenozen It already is
All it takes is enough people compliantly accepting being exploited en masse, and that's _already here_. They don't _need_ to install a chip in your brain to have a scarily accurate picture of you, and it's very hard to stop them.
I love how you reuse lines. Like "do read the company policy" from this and The Fine Print. And "Satisfaction Guarenteed; No retractions, no recipts" in "Room for Improvement" and "Rogue's Gallery." It really adds to the song because it deepens the meanings that both songs share (the former being a Corpocracy and the latter being a shady scamming businessman)
Fr how did I miss that- do you have timestamps? I would look for it myself but my attention span isn’t great, once I get halfway through the song I find myself just listening to the beat
i was looking for a comment like this.
@@Seren_Moth also, look at his Deltarune song. I think there is at least a correlation between fans of those two. No reused lines (at least I didn't notice) but in combination with some monitoring/control shit, Stupes villain style begins to hit you the most
I love the fact that the Stipendium changed their voice to that of cami-cat and you can see the little blue LEDs on the throat. Such a cool detail! I love this song, it’s insane how smart the word associations and rhymes are. You can really see the work behind it just. Wow.
When I talk to people about why I don't listen to radio music, they usually talk about how music about video games isn't really music, and that it's just internet people trying to make quick money with bad music. Now I'm a pretty easy going man, but let me tell you, if anyone's making trashy music for money, it's the peole who write music about their own brand with only one or two words repeated over and over, with no thought to it. Now this, however, this is art. Pure in form, comedy, visuals, lyrics, references, and social commentary. Just as digital art should be regaled as art, Internet music is as real and incredible (if not better) as regular/radio music. Stupes, on the off chance that you read this, I want you to know that you're an incredible, amazing creator, I love your music, and to keep moving forward, because this is pure art.
Thank you so much, friend! That means a lot! :)
I CAN NOT STRESS HOW MUCH I AGREE WITH THIS
This guy knows what's up. Most of my music are from internet singers/bands. I couldn't agree more.
You mean like: GUCCI GANG GUCCI GANG GUCCI GANG
My entire playlist is just songs about video games, and even tho the haters are gonna say it isnt real music, I love it, I'll listen to it, stop judging people you haters! Oh, and you people here, you are cool, and have a good taste in music, i must say, heh
“Honestly do read the company policy” love the reference
That defines you as company property
Or you will get defined as company property.
My say in autonomy: Wavered The conglomerate: Hell yes
I never read the fine print
@@authorbiologist4434 That waivers your say in autonomy
That "So let your ~*BRAIN DANCE*~ and replay the dream" lives rent-free in my head.
Dude is a master at his craft, not just singing, but costumes, song writing, and editing too Edit: even the "please hit subscribe" shtick, he has made it a part of the theme
“Honestly, do read the company policy” Am i the only one thats getting huge “The Fine Print” vibes off of this line?
Sounds a lot like a wink to that
Well, time for TikTok to take another one, I suppose. Still, this song is fucking masterpiece.
The Outer Realms and Firefly are western style cyberpunk, change my mind.
The exact line you're thinking of is "Oh honestly, did you not read the colony policy, that defined you as company property."
He confirmed on tiktok that it’s a callback!!
"Born of a need for control of societal entropy, enterprise at the price of your indemnity" For the love of God, his genius is beyond what we deserve.
I was particularly proud of that one. :P
The best part: and I don't think 2077 dives into this, but this line is actually *canon*. The tabletop rulebooks go into discussion what they call "technoshock" -- where technology advances so quickly in such a short time that people can't give up and end up willingly surrendering their autonomy to cope. It's directly responsible for the rise of the Megacorps and also the Gang of Four running around unchecked.
Coming back after Cyberpunk Edgerunners dropped to confirm it's still a banger
Stupendium is responsible for making content so good that I've bought 4 games because the song got me interested in the game enough to purchase it
Update: Cyberpunk 2077 is one of my favorite games now.
@@NyxesRealms Which games did you buy?
@@pyrania6828 cyberpunk 2077, control, the outer worlds and among us
@@NyxesRealmsFor me it was control, fnaf security breach, and inscryption
@@NyxesRealmsI’m GOING to get several games due to these songs. I already have Fallout: New Vegas, and next on the list is Control.
Did we need Dystopic Robot Capitalism the Dance Remix? Yes. Yes, we did.
Best description for this song I've heard
and did we need you in the comments, also yes, because you guys are awesome too
Dystopic robot capitalism is the best (worst?) kind of dance remix! Glad you enjoyed it!
@@TheStupendium and you sir are a music genius and Dance Artist, keep being amazing and bring your ideas to Life!!
Oh, hello!
THE VISUALS, I can never get over them, they are always so outstanding
indeed
Definitely
@@demonictogaaftoncipherstar4271 Absolutely
Ehhhhh
When the song about the game has better graphics than the game itself
I adore the fact that this comment section is just 100% positivity and support. I scrolled for a long time just to see if any single soul dared to post hate on this masterpiece, and none were found. It's like this on all the other videos too! The Stupendium has such a lovely and supportive community, and deserves nothing less for the consistent bangers they produce. I look forward to watching this channel grow ever more.
If you scroll to the bottom of the description, there is a little paragraph about Stupendium where he refers to himself in the third person and uses he/him, so your use is very probably correct.
@@RobinParravel I believe in a Reddit AMA or something similar, Stupendium said he uses he/they
@@carsoncampbell5608 thanks for clarification :)
This isn't really necessary to point out in light of the AMA thing, but in more recent uploads, such as No One's Home, the description refers to Stupes as "they."
@@blarg2429 Thank you for taking the time to inform me. I shall edit the post. :)
"There’s no autonomous megalopolis so populous or prosperous you could reside in" is such a powerful line when said aloud! love it!
nothing hits harder than a Stupedium song about dystopian capitalism
Dude, right!?
@@caseyhall2320 I knooooowww
Parts of this song aren't dystopian..... shit is happening right now.
@Bender Bending Rodriguez True; but it's more like. With the the help of the government they purchased, not like the government is doing it for some ideological reason, it was because it (they) are being literally bought. Every dollar we spend makes them richer; more powerful, allowing more and more government to be bought, and thus; eventually replaced by corporations. *if you don't remember the ballot you cast, it's printed on every receipt you were passed, each time you selected our products and services; we were elected with each of your purchases*
The fine print
Welcome back to another thrilling episode of “Stupedium plays a shady corporate type”
I’m noticing this trend
They do it so well. The Outer Worlds song got me hooked on this channel to start with (although the Frostpunk song might be the best...)
what ep now?
@@exploratory-fordora9672 By my calculation, 7'th. The Data Stream, Rest Employed, Nook line and sinker, The Fine print, A matter of factories, Vault no. 76, House always wins.
I wouldn't count vault 76 instead I think rogue's gallery would work better
You know how most videos have peaks and troughs and valleys? This song is a plateau from end to end. Every verse a hit, every delivery on point, every beat a banger, every suit a treat.
1:14 There is so much to unpack in this video in general, but i love the ''Vocal synthesis: loading preset Cami-Cat'' graphic. This entire video is so well put together, literally every frame has something new to discover~!
"It's easy to cut out the middle man when he's cut out most of himself" such a good line, and also very true to the roots of cyberpunk as a genre. cyberpunk, maybe more than any other genre, is openly skeptical to capitalism and it's ability to be the great dissolver of all non-transactional social structure in service to the pursuit of capital as an atomized individual consumer. this was a cover that was truly meant to be given how the critique of capital functions throughout your work, and the effects are somehow even more stunning than usual
Yeah, if it ain't anti-capitalist, it ain't punk, and this song feels punk.
@@stm7810 well it could be just against unchecked capitalism as a capitalism can be just fine if it’s under government supervision
@@JohnGlenn2327 capitalism is still an unjustified hierarchy that creates work place dictatorships and inequality.
@@stm7810 The only problem is every political system results in the same result in dehumanizing the people on the street level. Cyberpunk does criticize capitalism, but it ain't so nice with the rest of the world either.
@@stm7810 But what other alternative do we truly have? Yes communism exists but it would require the dethroning of all Social Elite. And there are too many of them around the World to do that before they just start sending massive Armies after you. We should try to regulate Capitalism and the Elite as much as we can but we can never really get rid of them.
"The supply does not get to make the demand", bloody hell that line hits.
This song did a better job of exploring the themes of the game than the gaddamn game did
Very much so if the game was half as good as this song it would be awesome.
You are living in the dystopia not talking about it. The point of the game is to live it, but you literally are in the world and they do a great job actually exploring it. It's called gameplay.
@@pohefan3461 no
@@pohefan3461 If we were living in a matrix developed by Bethesda that would have been accurate back then. Even 10 months ago the game still was a buggy mess, the gameplay and models were ridiculously bugged. Immersion creates a feeling for the story. Having people clip through the floor kinda tends to ruin immersion
@@aaaaaaronftw8548 and they've since fixed that so are you done complaining now? Also that wasn't the persons comment.
Please please PLEASE tell me someone else realized this before me! "We're the lead in your veins" is also a pun on LED; Arasaka is both the cool shit we put in our bodies (and everywhere else), as well as the poison that flows through society (and also our veins).
Damn, never thought of that. DAMN YOU STUPES
By clicking the like button, you agree to compulsively replay this song on a variety of platforms until data bleeds out your ears. Do you accept?
YES
yes with my still exsisting sould i think i still have one didnt read the policy
@@Happyyyyyyyyyyy Some might say that "sould" is a typo, but in reality it is clever wordplay implying that his soul was in fact sold. For 62 cents.
I accept the trade offer.
Absofrickinlutely
One aspect of this that I particularly enjoyed was the slogans of the Arasaka firms. The "Arasaka Security: You're in safe hands." just reeks of corporate speak. As someone who has worked in multiple factories and firms with similar sentences plastered over them, that it just comes off as so disingenuous is amazing to me. Really hit the nail on the head there
As a lawyer I can only say your completely right but I also have to say as a lawyer your the ,,corporate killer“ friendly sentenced it’s about killing competition no matter the cost so yeah I love the song with all its aspects
Remember when Google's motto was "Don't be evil?" That they got rid of that motto means even they couldn't keep using it with a straight face.
@@Yawehplaneswalker616 I mean they did collab with China, so it does make sense. Arasaka really would like to know your information. Or in this case it might be Miltech
and me a guy that uses his phone "arsaka would like to know your location" has a simmer feel
@@nyxnox2135 Actually they removed it after they designed dumb AI software to help US military drones identify missile targets.
"complain if you want, you're still making deposits of data" is a really powerful line. yet another great entertainment piece to distract ourselves with also i just noticed the line "we're the lead in your veins" which is really good. lead is a literal poison, thus the corporation is the poision in your veins also i just fucking noticed the "vocal synthesis" before the first of cami-cat's sections which is an amazing detail
damn i thought the world was really fuckin polluted and that was just like. a thing for humans in the game, to have lead in you given our current realworld direction we could be heading there but definitely not anytime soon
I have never seen anyone else put so much thought into his content the way Stupendium does. The meta, the visuals lyrics and sounds, the easter eggs, and the persitent allusions to our dystopic reality. No one else comes close.
i am officially convinced that stupendium has access to a magic wardrobe of infinite clothes and they look good in all of them
remember his hat warehouses from his most fashionable faction video? lol its sure he has a warehouse with these stacked next to the swan suit from the untitled goose game song.
Not just clothes, nail polish and lenses as well
@@netherillager5959 guess we know where his ad revenue goes. But we get epic videos so its a win-win
"If you don't remember the ballot you cast, it's printed on every receipt you were past." God, this song. And it doesn't glitch- Oh, no, there's someone t-posing in the middle of the road.
taking "vote with your wallet" literally
How true these lyrics are today is scary!!! Also your wardrobe is ON POINT!! Looking excellent!!
In my head, it always ends with "Arasaka already knows your location"
Forget about all those horror-themed songs... THIS is still the scariest thing the Stupendium has ever produced.
monsters are never as scary as the reality of late-stage capitalism
this and the Outer Worlds song - both are.... sadly where the world is going... get back to work, the corporate overlords demand your submission.
@@TheDerpyDeed You're not wrong. Heck, I tried PLAYING Outer Worlds, but found it too depressingly REALISTIC despite the sci-fi space-future setting. Genuinely stopped playing it because it just made me feel down. The Stupendium's song, of course, captures that atmosphere perfectly...
Well. Its scary because its truth . Nothing is more scary than truth we try to ommit and its slap us in our face.
@@TheDerpyDeed Our corporate overlords aren't even demanding, we're willingly giving it to them because of convenience.
This totally feels like what you were going for, everyone make way for Amazon's anthem in 2035
I love how this song perfectly captures the two sides of Cyberpunk 2077; Corrupt Dystopia, and SWEET Rave Party
Bro I have watched this like 7 times or more and ONLY NOW just realized: "Eventually, all walls meet demolition. So Wall Street had to keep the tradition." was a pun. It just flowed so smoothly I didn't even bat an eye. Bravo! You have fooled me yet again, Stupes! (Probs cuz im just dumb 😅)
Omg thx for the heart
I don't know why, but the line "We're thinking outside of the box that you checked" Is another one of those Stupendium lines that I'll never forget
rhyme intended
Stupes: No one can top neither my visuals nor my lyrical skills The Internet: ... Stupes: Fine, I'll do it myself
Came back to jam now that Edgerunners is out and still a banger. Maybe one day we'll get Nomad and Street Kid versions.
I love how the more intrusive, invasive and manipulative the list of data gathered gets, the more glitchy the caption becomes. It's such an awesome and subtle effect to reflect the never-ending hunger of the algorithm.
This song about “Cyberpunk” (the game) perfectly captures the spirit of cyberpunk (the genre)! Not only does it sound cyberpunky, it *feels* cyberpunky. The rap feels like the exact kind of thing a massive corporation would describe itself as if it were forced to be honest, and the chorus sounds like something you’d hear in the kind of pop song where people don’t pay attention to the extremely dark lyrics because the music part of the song sounds so happy and upbeat. Also, it sounds super cool!
It's better at being a Cyberpunk Product then the game that it's based on
IGN: This song really makes you feel cyberpunky
the "Let your Brain Dance" line is even better if you know the reason for it especially with the "Wake from your dream so we can sell it again". It doesn't help when the fact of the matter is it seems at times that the world is really heading for this kind of future..one that the genre warns about the kinds of dangers there are.
pumped up kicks is one of the best examples of music that's upbeat with dark lyric.
@@baronluke8065 that and hey ya from outkast
I love the stifled chuckle on the line, "the supply does not get to make the demands"; it's as if that the idea that they could is so ridiculous and naive that it can only be laughed at. Little touches like this really communicate the character of the characters portrayed and are only achievable with the performance of a skilled actor.
Hilariously, the supply has made demands many a time in the past. Usually leading to the company that needed the supply up and dying, subsumed by someone that acquiesced.
@@vyor8837 honestly it’s more that consumers can protest. Sure, the supply can try to make the demands, but you’re the people making the supply, not the supply. They can just get different people. When a company has the legal ability to send people to where you live with the express intent of breaking your kneecaps, you don’t really have a choice
@@rolandcaters7258 You do if you have the same capacity toward them. You have the chance to live or die free, or the guarantee of death in acquiescence. Just depends on whether or not you're willing to live life on hard mode.
@@wolvenedge6214 I hate capitalism as much as the next guy, but "live life on hard mode" is an understatement and "guarantee of death in acquiescence" is, in most contexts, an overstatement. It would be good to have such an uprising, but when this system is all you've known the average peon is actually substantially more comfortable on the brink of destitution with no free time lest they grow even poorer than on the ground getting their face stomped in. Humans are good at subconsciously redefining what counts as a luxury and what counts as a necessity, and that innate talent is quite useful to the ruling class of our society. That "if" of yours is a bigger one than you give it credit for, or so it seems to me.
I genuinely want to see him play a villain on the Big Screen. This mans got the whole villain act down to a science
That "Tone of your voice" line hits way harder 2023.
This makes me want to delete every social media account I have & throw my phone in the river. Incredibly well-done, from concept to lyricism to production. Simply amazing.
Every V is gangsta until one of Arasaka's Departments Head starts rapping. As always, hard job, for a Corpo)
Lyrics: Clever vibe: amazing Visuals: Stunning Cars glitching through the ground: zero Quite stunning
Thanks, man! :D
hotel: trivago
@@TheStupendium Thank you for the great content!
@@205780 Was tempted to type that too
@Deborah Ajao Thats me!
I just love the dynamic of a corporate spokesperson and a party goer sending you the same message. It's this duality of cold corporativism and debauchery representing the two biggest sides of a dystopian capitalist future.
The dystopian future has never sounded more catchy!
"Honestly do read the company policy" I think people would after being defined as company property
By then it is far to late...
"The supply does not get to make the demands." That line was fantasticly beautiful.
Cyberpunk is now the number 1 played single player game on steam. Huge resurgence. If you have anything to make this "remastered" or release it again. It would he a good time. Much love Stu.
Stupendium you glorious bastard, you're like 90% of the reason I got this game.
"The supply does not get to make the demands" what a raw fucking line
why is no one bringing up the "It's easy to cut out the middle man, when he's cut out most of himself" line. It's honestly one of the most slick lines I've ever heard.
Chills, man.
Take notes Shadowrun, *this* is the downside to having too many augmentations.
Cause they’re too busy saying the same thing about every single line in the song. It’s all gold.
I liked the "we think outside the box that you just checked" better.
"invest to suppress then ingest competition" The most succinct description of predatory pricing schemes to create monopoly via forced takeover horizontal integration ever. Beautiful.
Amazon in a nutshell
I've often said that while Cyberpunk diverged from real history in 1990, you can't say we're not headed somewhere similar.
So the Anti-Corporate Trilogy is The House Always Wins The Fine Print The Data Stream Honestly you do this theme well man, love it!
lol there is other ones in the back catalog too but thata definitely the big three
What about satis-factory?
I feel like the only fallout fan that liked Mr. House but I do think that he likes playing the role of an evil capitalist.lol
All of those songs are pro capitalism tho!
@@bigdoghenry1441 what? There's tons of fallout fans that like Mr. House, including me.
Excellent stuff man. Fantastic rhyming & clever lyrics 👍👍
Thanks, man! I really appreciate it! :)
If ever my two favorite nerdcore musicians collaborated... I don't think the 2 fanbases could handle the hype! Of course, it's hard to say if it ever will happen, since the music style of both of you are unique and I'm not sure how you'd make it work. But I trust you two musical geniuses would find a way to make it work if you decide to go for it!
Please do a collaboration
@@whyamihere5732 Yep.
@@Lazarultos throw aviators on top to break down reality
It's like my gazillionth time watching this utterly outstanding video and I just noticed... during the interlude bit with "gender identity, orientation" the pan pride flag is front and centre. I'm probably reading too much in to it, but is that perchance significant...?
I am pan, yes. :)
@@TheStupendium That's awesome! I've got something in common with an honest to goodness celebrity!
Damn... How painfully relevant and depressing.... A banger nonetheless... Guess I'll just sit back, relax, and consume.
Honestly, I really appreciate how you put so much emphasis on how Arasaka doesn't even need to pull the rug out from under you, how being profitable to the company is still a horrifying existence. The simple grief and pain of checking the box for "Arasaka would like to know your location".
Ironically, Arasaka could control everyone except itself.
you had a choice
Honestly, the line about turning people into the commodity feels like an evolution of slavery. After all, the best slaves don't realize they are.
"Political systems are too inefficient, they split like the Atom and burned like fission" ...That line, together with "Peace is just a product, with a focus test of billions" and "Rhyming on the multiplane, my lyrics work on several layers" is my favourite from such a wondrous artist that is The Stupendium. Seriously, why is this guy still not in every music store as a famous international artist ?
I also thought of that
I'm sure two of those are connected.
I just thought it would call back to the house always win song
@@Devin-qq6fd definitely
" *Mother Nature* is *minted* its evident , if *we're her kids* then what is the precedent? Where there's a _will_ there's a _way_ to *inheritance* *_whether we killed her or not is irrelevant_* " i mean CMON
Probably my 70th time watching and I just noticed the section before Cami-Cat firsts comes in loads her in as a voice synthesizer. Cool detail!
"I wanted to wait until I had time to finish it properly" wow, you put more thought into this song then the CDPR did when making the game
It's a small detail but I love that little smirk at the end where they say Arasaka would like to know your location Given all the lines, the tech installed directly into you, it's not a request. It's a taunt, arasake knows your location. They've always known, they tell you in there own song before this They've told you all there dirty secrets knowing you can't stop them.. and now they taunt you with that simple question, wondering if you'll compliantly accept
Ohhh that line was already chilling without thinking about it like that but here you go giving it a sadistic touch too
google knows your location
@@DeusExMachinae01 Nah, google knows my *PHONES* location, but not my location. The scary part is in cyberpunk you are the phone, so they know where you are 24/7
which fits arasaka more then any other megacorp considering the whole thing was basically one mans attempt to recreate the japanese empire with himself as the emperor or "corporate god"
Even better, they KNOW whether or not you'll accept, they sing about shit they do to your mind in the song, and they even most likely know your reaction from their tech, they just want to see it.
"Honestly, do read the company policy" Uh-oh, not again. What an out-of-this-world line, one might say. ;)
:D
;)
I get a feeling company policies are somehow important to read. Can't tell why.
Found your stuff yesterday during my college finals. You are truly an incredibly talented fellow. Never stop crafting these masterpieces!