Dynasty

Dynasty by MIIA is a profound exploration of the rise and fall of a relationship, using the extended metaphor of a fallen empire to articulate the magnitude of heartbreak. The song elevates a personal romantic breakup to the scale of a historical tragedy, suggesting that the love shared was not just a connection, but a sovereign kingdom—a 'dynasty'—that the couple built together.

The central theme is the shattering of the illusion of permanence. The lyrics contrast the perceived invincibility of their love ('heaven couldn't shake,' 'forever couldn't break') with the brutal reality of its collapse. This juxtaposition highlights the shock and disbelief that often accompanies the end of a long-term, significant relationship. The narrator feels like a ruler surveying the ruins of a kingdom they thought would last for centuries.

Implicitly, the song touches on the concept of betrayal and lost identity. The lines asking if the narrator was a 'fool' or the partner a 'thief' suggest a violation of trust, where the emotional investment given was taken without a return. The 'scar I can't reverse' speaks to the permanent alteration of the self; the experience has left a mark that time cannot erase, and the process of moving on ('healing') is paradoxically painful because it requires accepting the loss of something that defined them.

The narrative begins in a state of retrospective confusion and pain, where the narrator stands amidst the metaphorical rubble of a failed relationship. There is a struggle to discern the truth of the past; the protagonist questions whether they were naive ('a fool') or if their partner stole something vital from them ('a thief'). The journey was arduous, described as a maze they navigated to find a partner they believed was unique and irreplaceable, a 'one in a million' connection.

However, the reality shifts abruptly. This partner, once the central character, is now merely a discarded element of the narrator's life story. The investments made—emotional, temporal, and spiritual—are gone, having collapsed as easily as a stone tumbling down. The core of the song's tragedy lies in the disparity between expectation and reality: they believed they had constructed a 'dynasty,' a sovereign and eternal union that no external force, not even heaven, could disturb. It was meant to be unbreakable, a legacy built to last forever.

As the realization sets in, the imagery turns to destruction. The walls of their shared empire have fallen, leaving the narrator to walk alone through the debris. The physical and emotional landscape is scarred; the wound is described as something irreversible, a paradox where the healing process itself induces more pain. Despite the agony, the memory of the 'dynasty' persists—a monument to what they thought they had, now standing only as a testament to its own destruction.

The story behind Dynasty is deeply personal and rooted in the real-life heartbreak of the song's creators. While performed by the Norwegian singer MIIA (Mia Virik Kristensen), the track was written by her aunt, songwriter Hillary Bernstein, and produced by her uncle, Joachim Rygg (known as J Ryggs).

At the time of its creation, Bernstein and Rygg were a couple and had been together for over a decade. They wrote the song about their own breakup and impending divorce. They were a close-knit musical 'team' with MIIA, often working together. When the couple split, they channeled their pain into this power ballad and asked their niece, MIIA, who was around 17 years old at the time, to record the vocals. The song was recorded in a studio in Los Angeles.

Released in early 2016, the song initially gained traction after being featured in an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. However, its massive popularity came years later, finding a second life as a viral sensation on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, particularly within the Gacha Life and AMV (Anime Music Video) communities, where its dramatic themes resonated with younger audiences creating narrative content.

The song primarily utilizes an AABB or ABAB rhyme scheme depending on the section, often employing slant rhymes (e.g., 'thief' and 'see', 'million' and 'building') which give the lyrics a conversational yet poetic flow. The rhythm is slow and deliberate, set in a 4/4 time signature common to pop ballads.

The pacing is critical to the song's emotional arc. The verses are more rhythmic and conversational, allowing the narrative to unfold. The pre-chorus slows down slightly to build tension, leading into the chorus where the melody elongates. The musical rhythm syncs with the lyrical themes; the 'tumbling' stone and 'shaking' dynasty are often matched by drum hits or shifts in the instrumentation that physically simulate the instability described in the text.

Musical Techniques:

• Orchestral Arrangement: The song is defined by its cinematic production. It begins with a somber, lonely piano melody that establishes a mood of introspection. As the song progresses, it builds into a massive orchestral crescendo featuring thundering drums and sweeping strings, mirroring the emotional intensity of a collapsing empire.
• Vocal Dynamics: MIIA's vocal performance is central to the song's impact. She starts with a breathy, fragile delivery in the verses, conveying vulnerability. In the chorus, she shifts to powerful belting, demonstrating anguish and defiance.

Literary Techniques:

• Hyperbole: Phrases like 'heaven couldn't shake' and 'forever couldn't break' use exaggeration to show the absolute confidence the narrator once had in the relationship.
• Rhetorical Questions: 'If I was a fool or you a thief?' poses a question to which there is no satisfying answer, highlighting the narrator's confusion.
• Juxtaposition: The lyrics constantly contrast the past solidity (dynasty, stone) with the present ruin (debris, torn page), emphasizing the scale of the loss.

While Dynasty was a moderate success upon release, notably appearing in Keeping Up with the Kardashians, its true legacy lies in its massive digital resurgence years later. It became a 'sleeper hit' thanks to social media.

• TikTok and YouTube: The song became a staple in the creator community, specifically used in 'POV' videos, emotional edits, and notably within the Gacha Life community (a game where users create anime-style characters and stories). Its dramatic lyrics made it perfect for storytelling formats involving betrayal and royal angst.
• AMVs: It is widely used in Anime Music Videos due to its 'epic' sound, fitting well with action or tragic anime scenes.
• Streaming Success: Despite being an indie release, it has garnered hundreds of millions of streams on Spotify, largely driven by this user-generated content, cementing MIIA as a viral success story.

The song relies heavily on the extended metaphor of royalty and empire to describe a romantic relationship.

• The Dynasty: Represents the relationship itself. A dynasty implies a succession of rulers and a legacy meant to span generations. By calling their love a dynasty, the narrator emphasizes its intended longevity, power, and grandeur. It wasn't just a fling; it was an empire.
• The Debris: Symbolizes the emotional aftermath and the memories that remain after the breakup. Walking through the 'debris' suggests sifting through the wreckage of their shared life to understand what happened.
• The Scar: A metaphor for emotional trauma. Unlike a physical wound that heals and fades, this scar represents a permanent change in the narrator's psyche. The line 'the more it heals, the worse it hurts' suggests that the process of acceptance is more painful than the initial shock.
• The Maze: Represents the difficulties and complexities encountered in finding this person initially, highlighting the effort invested in the relationship.
• Stone: Represents the perceived solidity of their bond, which ultimately 'tumbled' down, proving to be less stable than believed.

The title phrase 'Thought we built a dynasty' is the central hook and motif of the song. Its repetition serves to hammer home the central irony: the difference between what they believed they were building and what actually happened. The phrase 'heaven couldn't shake' and 'forever couldn't break' are also repeated to reinforce the magnitude of their shattered confidence.

Musically, the piano motif from the intro returns throughout the verses, grounding the song in a sense of melancholy even as the production grows larger. This recurring melody acts as a haunting reminder of the loneliness at the core of the track.