oyasumination

oyasumination serves as a complex, meta-narrative critique of the digital creation landscape, specifically focusing on the intersection of internet culture, vocal synthesis, and artificiality. The title itself is a portmanteau of the Japanese "Oyasumi" (Good Night) and "nation" (or possibly "illumination"/"animation"), suggesting a farewell to a collective digital state or a shutting down of a system.

The Burden of Creation: The recurring phrase "the weight of the world" juxtaposed with "macrocosmic joke" suggests a nihilistic view of content creation. The "fake moon" likely represents the artificial spotlight or the illusory nature of internet fame and viral trends. The narrator challenges a figure—potentially a metaphor for a content creator, a virtual idol, or the internet itself—who is "blind to reality" and merely "pretending to inspire."

Rejection of False Utopias: Lines dismissing flying cars and talking machines indicate a rejection of superficial technological progress or "hype" when it lacks substance. The narrator prefers a painful reality ("suffocate on my own terms") over a comfortable simulation. This reflects the glitchcore and hyperpop ethos, which often embraces the chaotic and broken aspects of technology rather than its polished, corporate promise.

A Love Letter to Chaos: The original songwriter, ippo.tsk, described the track as a "love letter to all things shitposting, voice synth, and Japanese rock." In this context, the lyrics can be read as a celebration of the absurdity of internet humor and the niche, often incomprehensible nature of vocal synth music. The "catastrophic dream" is the chaotic creative process itself—messy, nonsensical, but deeply felt.

The song opens with a cynical observation of a satellite failing to capture the truth, suggesting a hidden, sad lie beneath the surface of a "macrocosmic joke." The narrator speaks to an unseen figure, perhaps a creator or a personified system, declaring that their artificial constructs and "fake moon" will eventually fall apart. There is a sense of inevitable collapse, where the grand illusions of this digital world will be exposed, and the subject will be forced to face the reality of the sun.

As the verses progress, the lyrics critique a figure who throws life into disarray while pretending to be an inspiration. The narrator expresses a refusal to sleep or be complacent, choosing to stay awake until they can suffocate on their own terms rather than accept the false reality presented to them. The imagery of flying cars and talking machines—staples of a futuristic utopia—is dismissed as irrelevant. The narrator remains indifferent to these technological marvels, focusing instead on the "weight of the world" that the subject fails to understand.

The bridge and final sections intensify this confrontation. The narrator mocks the subject's "catastrophic dream" and their blindness to reality, pinning a final note onto their memoir before the end. The recurring motif of the "weight of the world" serves as a grounding force against the flighty, artificial ambitions of the antagonist. Ultimately, the song concludes with a mix of defiance and resignation, inviting the subject to "throw yourself into the sun" as payment for their completed mission, leaving behind a legacy that is nothing more than a hollow, macrocosmic joke.

oyasumination was originally written and produced by the artist ippo.tsk, featuring vocals by the English synthesizer Eleanor Forte. It was first released around late 2019/early 2020, with a major video release in November 2021. The song was explicitly created as a tribute to the producer's influences: "shitposting, voice synth, and Japanese rock."

The version by vally.exe is a cover released on December 23, 2021. vally.exe is a well-known Utaite (a term for cover artists on YouTube/NicoNico) recognized for their soft, airy vocals. However, for this track, vally.exe adopted a more energetic and powerful delivery to match the frantic pace of the rock-infused instrumental. vally.exe handled the mixing and vocals, while the original instrumental by ippo.tsk was used.

The song gained significant traction in the rhythm game community, particularly osu!, where its high BPM and complex rhythmic structure made it a popular choice for difficult beatmaps. This popularity in the gaming sphere helped propel vally.exe's cover to become one of their most streamed and recognized tracks.

The song utilizes a loose, often irregular rhyme scheme that prioritizes rhythmic flow over perfect rhymes. Rhymes are frequently slant or approximate (e.g., "joke/more," "plan/sun"), which contributes to the song's jagged, uneasy feeling.

Rhythmic Drive: The rhythm is the defining feature of the track. It operates at a high BPM (likely around 180-200 BPM), typical of rhythm game music. The vocal melody is syncopated, often hitting off-beats that drive the momentum forward. The phrasing is rapid-fire, mirroring the information overload of the internet. There is a distinct contrast between the frantic verses and the slightly more melodic, soaring chorus, where the rhythm opens up to allow for sustained notes on phrases like "weight of the world."

Musical Hybridity: The song is a prime example of Hyper-Rock or Digital J-Rock. It features the fast-paced, driving drum beats and distorted guitars typical of Japanese Rock (J-Rock) but fuses them with the glitchy, stuttering production effects common in Hyperpop and Glitchcore. The tempo is relentless, creating a sense of urgency.

Vocal Delivery: vally.exe employs a vocal style that balances breathiness with power. Unlike the original robotic SynthV vocals, vally.exe's human voice adds emotional nuance, particularly in the desperate plea of the chorus. The vocals are often layered and processed with reverb and slight distortion to blend seamlessly with the electronic instrumental.

Lyrical Irony: The lyrics use a high register of language ("macrocosmic," "mission statement," "underlings expire") to discuss what is essentially a digital temper tantrum or a 'shitpost,' creating a humorous contrast between the serious tone of the words and the chaotic context of the music.

While not a mainstream chart-topper, vally.exe's cover of oyasumination holds a cult status within specific internet subcultures.

• osu! Community: The song is heavily associated with the rhythm game osu!. The beatmap for the song (often titled with the difficulty "the most incomprehensible thing...") is well-known for its challenge, leading to thousands of plays and reaction videos from high-profile players. This exposure is the primary driver of the song's popularity.
• Utaite/Hyperpop Scene: The cover solidified vally.exe's reputation as a versatile vocalist capable of bridging the gap between soft, angelic covers and high-energy electronic rock. It is often cited as one of their best works.
• Vocal Synth Tribute: The song acts as a modern anthem for fans of the Vocaloid/SynthV scene, acknowledging the niche culture of "shitposting" and synthesized music production.

The lyrics are dense with cosmic and digital imagery that serves as allegory for the internet experience.

• The Fake Moon: Represents artificial light, false idols, or the curated, disingenuous personas often seen online. It is a guiding light that leads nowhere.
• Throw Yourself into the Sun: A violent metaphor for self-destruction or total exposure. It suggests an Icarus-like fall from grace, where the ambition to reach too high (or become too viral) results in being burned by the 'real' light.
• Macrocosmic Joke: Refers to the absurdity of existence, particularly within the digital realm where serious events and 'shitposting' coexist side-by-side. It trivializes the grand ambitions of the creator.
• Machines Will All Talk: A literal reference to the medium of Vocaloid and SynthV (voice synthesizers), acknowledging the artificial nature of the singer's voice in the original version, which vally.exe re-contextualizes as a human singing about machines.

"The Weight of the World": This phrase is the central hook of the song. It appears at the end of the choruses, acting as an anchor. Musically, it is usually accompanied by a resolution in the chord progression, providing a moment of clarity amidst the chaos. Its repetition reinforces the burden of reality that the lyrics discuss.

"So keep laughin'/runnin' while you can": This parallel phrasing creates a sense of impending doom or a countdown. It warns the subject that their current state of ignorance or bliss is temporary.

"Once the fake moon falls": This imagery recurs as the catalyst for the song's events, marking the turning point where the artificial world collapses.