Hah, oh wow. Those are some incredibly creepy and dystopic lyrics when you know the context. It almost feels like something GLadOS would sing if she ran a Big Data marketing company. Bravo, Ms....
somebody hears you. you know that. you know that.
somebody hears you. you know that inside.
someone is learning the colors of all your moods, to
(say just the right thing and) show that you’re understood.
here you’re known.
leave your life open. you don’t have. you don’t have.
leave your life open. you don’t have to hide.
someone is gathering every crumb you drop, these
(mindless decisions and) moments you long forgot.
keep them all.
let our formulas find your soul.
we’ll divine your artesian source (in your mind),
marshal feed and force (our machines will)
to design you a perfect love—
or (better still) a perfect lust.
o how glorious, glorious: a brand new need is born.
now we possess you. you’ll own that. you’ll own that.
now we possess you. you’ll own that in time.
now we will build you an endlessly upward world,
(reach in your pocket) embrace you for all you’re worth.
is that wrong?
isn’t this what you want?
amen.
Hah, oh wow. Those are some incredibly creepy and dystopic lyrics when you know the context. It almost feels like something GLadOS would sing if she ran a Big Data marketing company. Bravo, Ms. Teng... Bravo!
Definitely. I love how she processes the voices to give the song a slightly sinister, synthetic feel. It contrasts wonderfully with the legitimately beautiful arrangement.
Definitely. I love how she processes the voices to give the song a slightly sinister, synthetic feel. It contrasts wonderfully with the legitimately beautiful arrangement.
You just made me so happy! I'm ecstatic every time someone discovers how amazing she is. She is my very favorite recording artist. Each of her albums is compelling in its own way, and she writes...
You just made me so happy! I'm ecstatic every time someone discovers how amazing she is.
She is my very favorite recording artist. Each of her albums is compelling in its own way, and she writes powerful, nuanced songs about complex topics. She also is able to make magic happen with a piano. While other music tends to fall in and out of favor with me over time, I have never tired of listening to her. Sadly, her other albums aren't available on Bandcamp but they're well worth looking into if you liked Aims. I linked "The Hymn of Acxiom" because I feel like it's relevant to Tildes' audience with how privacy-conscious it is, but there are so many other standout tracks from her!
One of my all-time favorites (from anyone, not just her) is "City Hall," which she wrote after San Francisco started issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples back in 2004 (despite it still being illegal at the state and federal levels). The song tells the story of a couple finding out about the opportunity and taking a road-trip to finally get legally married. Despite it subtextually being about a same-sex couple, she intentionally wrote it to be gender-neutral so that the focus wouldn't be on their identities but on their relationship. It evoked hopefulness and strength during a difficult time for queer rights in the United States, and the song was a personal torch of mine that I carried with me through the dark. Years later, after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, I quoted from the song in my vows as I married my husband, at, sure enough, our own city hall.
She is genuinely a treasure, and her songs have a magical combination of accessibility, beauty, and depth. Most of them have simple arrangements and pop structures, making them immediately pleasing and enjoyable, but that characterization belies the craft that she puts into them. There is a richness to her music that keep me coming back.
Yes, City Hall was one of the ones that stood out for me! (I listened to a bunch on YouTube last night.) I'll be recommending it to some people I know. It seems she's not making music so much any...
Yes, City Hall was one of the ones that stood out for me! (I listened to a bunch on YouTube last night.) I'll be recommending it to some people I know.
It seems she's not making music so much any more, in favour of a career in global something-or-other? I do see some concert listings for her, so she hasn't given it up altogether. I'd hate to complain about anyone who's doing something to help the Earth, but dang, I'd hate to see her give up making music too.
I feel the same way. She's already made plenty of music that has enriched my life, and she doesn't owe me anything! I should be happy with what I have, right? But on the other hand, I don't want...
I feel the same way. She's already made plenty of music that has enriched my life, and she doesn't owe me anything! I should be happy with what I have, right? But on the other hand, I don't want her to stop yet! It's clear she has a gift.
This is a beautiful, affecting song about a data tracking and marketing company.
Wait, what?
Seriously.
Hah, oh wow. Those are some incredibly creepy and dystopic lyrics when you know the context. It almost feels like something GLadOS would sing if she ran a Big Data marketing company. Bravo, Ms. Teng... Bravo!
Definitely. I love how she processes the voices to give the song a slightly sinister, synthetic feel. It contrasts wonderfully with the legitimately beautiful arrangement.
Thanks for posting that. I loved the song so much I bought the album, and listened to the whole thing tonight. What a great talent she is!
You just made me so happy! I'm ecstatic every time someone discovers how amazing she is.
She is my very favorite recording artist. Each of her albums is compelling in its own way, and she writes powerful, nuanced songs about complex topics. She also is able to make magic happen with a piano. While other music tends to fall in and out of favor with me over time, I have never tired of listening to her. Sadly, her other albums aren't available on Bandcamp but they're well worth looking into if you liked Aims. I linked "The Hymn of Acxiom" because I feel like it's relevant to Tildes' audience with how privacy-conscious it is, but there are so many other standout tracks from her!
One of my all-time favorites (from anyone, not just her) is "City Hall," which she wrote after San Francisco started issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples back in 2004 (despite it still being illegal at the state and federal levels). The song tells the story of a couple finding out about the opportunity and taking a road-trip to finally get legally married. Despite it subtextually being about a same-sex couple, she intentionally wrote it to be gender-neutral so that the focus wouldn't be on their identities but on their relationship. It evoked hopefulness and strength during a difficult time for queer rights in the United States, and the song was a personal torch of mine that I carried with me through the dark. Years later, after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, I quoted from the song in my vows as I married my husband, at, sure enough, our own city hall.
She is genuinely a treasure, and her songs have a magical combination of accessibility, beauty, and depth. Most of them have simple arrangements and pop structures, making them immediately pleasing and enjoyable, but that characterization belies the craft that she puts into them. There is a richness to her music that keep me coming back.
Yes, City Hall was one of the ones that stood out for me! (I listened to a bunch on YouTube last night.) I'll be recommending it to some people I know.
It seems she's not making music so much any more, in favour of a career in global something-or-other? I do see some concert listings for her, so she hasn't given it up altogether. I'd hate to complain about anyone who's doing something to help the Earth, but dang, I'd hate to see her give up making music too.
I feel the same way. She's already made plenty of music that has enriched my life, and she doesn't owe me anything! I should be happy with what I have, right? But on the other hand, I don't want her to stop yet! It's clear she has a gift.