Blue Stahli is a surgeon of sound. He stitches together chopped up guitars,… Read Full Bio ↴Blue Stahli is a surgeon of sound. He stitches together chopped up guitars, bass synths, electro beats, and vocal hooks into lush mixes of varying genres with surprising prowess and authenticity. In one turn, his catalog will take a listener from metallic heaviness to electronic ambience.

Influenced by movies such as Hackers, Johnny Mnemonic, Bubblegum Crisis, and other 90s cyberpunk, Blue Stahli started making music in the tracker programs Scream Tracker and Impulse Tracker (which were a big part of the demoscene and used to create videogame soundtracks). The modern tracker, Renoise, continues to be Blue Stahli’s canvas of choice for producing his brand of electronic rock, bass music, French electro and even sophisticated videogame scores in the tradition of the original tracker pioneers.

Beginning in 2009 with his smash single, ULTRAnumb, Blue Stahli continues to blend genres and media having appeared in films and TV shows such as Lights Out and American Horror Story in addition to creating original songs for videogames like Cyberpunk 2077, and appearing in trailers for Destiny 2, and Call of Duty. As an evolving and prolific songwriter, producer, and artist, he has released 11 studio albums including the deadchannel_Trilogy consisting of Quartz, Copper, and Obsidian. He also releases material under his secondary moniker, Sunset Neon.

Blue Stahli’s latest release, Break and Enter, is a collaboration with DJ and fellow producer, Hyper. The track fuses elements of their electronic rock, breakbeat, metal, and cyberpunk styles together in this electro punk rock single.

Shoot Em Up
Blue Stahli Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We'll put your picture on a magazine
Gotta get your face on a video screen
We'll make you famous if you're helping us out
Boost the ratings with the panic route
That's the way, that's the way
You gotta give 'em all a show

(Get your gun, get your gun, baby)

(And shoot it up, shoot it up)
(Get your gun, get your gun, baby)
(And shoot it up, shoot it)
Get your gun, get your gun, baby
And shoot it up, shoot it up
Get your gun, get your gun, baby
And shoot it up, shoot it

We'll help you pull the trigger
We'll tell you what to say
Just leave it all up to us and
We'll help you make 'em pay
We'll help you pull the trigger
We'll tell you what to say
Just leave it all up to us and
We'll help you make 'em pay

It doesn't matter if you disagree
We're making it hand over fist on tragedy
The revolution will be televised
But just the part that we can monetize
That's the way, that's the way
You gotta give 'em all a show

(Get your gun, get your gun, baby)
(And shoot it up, shoot it up)
(Get your gun, get your gun, baby)
(And shoot it up, shoot it)
Get your gun, get your gun, baby
And shoot it up, shoot it up
Get your gun, get your gun, baby
And shoot it up, shoot it

We'll help you pull the trigger
We'll tell you what to say
Just leave it all up to us and
We'll help you make 'em pay
We'll help you pull the trigger
We'll tell you what to say
Just leave it all up to us and
We'll help you make 'em pay

We'll help you pull the trigger
We'll tell you what to say
Just leave it all up to us and
We'll help you make 'em pay
We'll help you pull the trigger
We'll tell you what to say
Just leave it all up to us and
We'll help you make 'em pay
We'll help you pull the trigger
We'll tell you what to say
Just leave it all up to us and
We'll help you make 'em pay
We'll help you pull the trigger
We'll tell you what to say

Just leave it all up to us and
We'll help you make 'em pay

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Blue Stahli's song "Shoot Em Up" explore the dark and exploitative nature of the entertainment industry. The song criticizes the media's obsession with sensationalism and the manipulation of individuals for profit and fame.

The opening lines suggest that the industry is focused on superficiality, as they plan to put someone's picture on a magazine and video screen, prioritizing image and exposure. The idea is to make the person famous by causing panic and controversy, essentially using them as a tool to boost ratings. This is depicted in the lines, "Boost the ratings with the panic route" and "You gotta give 'em all a show." It implies that the entertainment industry values shock value and scandal over substance.

The repeated phrase "Get your gun, get your gun, baby, and shoot it up, shoot it up" can be interpreted metaphorically. It suggests that individuals are encouraged to create chaos and drama in their lives to gain attention and success. They are being incentivized to act recklessly and cause harm, both physically and metaphorically, as represented by the idea of shooting.

The chorus emphasizes the manipulation and control the industry exerts over individuals. They promise to help the person pull the trigger (meaning both literal and metaphorical action), tell them what to say, and orchestrate the narrative for their own financial gain. The repeated lines, "Just leave it all up to us and we'll help you make 'em pay," reveal that the person is being guided by the industry to exploit others and satisfy their own selfish interests.

Overall, "Shoot Em Up" is a critique of the media industry's tendency to sensationalize, exploit individuals, and profit from tragedy. It highlights the dark side of fame and the ethical dilemmas faced by those who are manipulated into causing chaos for entertainment purposes.

Line by Line Meaning

We'll put your picture on a magazine
We will feature your image in a magazine, giving you recognition and promoting your fame.

Gotta get your face on a video screen
It is essential to have your face displayed on a video screen, increasing your visibility and popularity.

We'll make you famous if you're helping us out
If you assist us, we will ensure your fame and success, using it as a bargaining tool.

Boost the ratings with the panic route
To increase viewership, we will amplify the panic and drama, capturing the attention of the audience.

That's the way, that's the way
This is the strategy we follow, the method that guarantees results.

You gotta give 'em all a show
You need to entertain the audience in a captivating manner, providing them with an extraordinary spectacle.

(Get your gun, get your gun, baby)
Take hold of your weapon, be ready to engage, my dear.

(And shoot it up, shoot it up)
Exert force through gunfire, repeatedly firing rounds.

Get your gun, get your gun, baby
Obtain and equip your firearm, my dear.

And shoot it up, shoot it up
Proceed to discharge the weapon, repeatedly firing rounds.

We'll help you pull the trigger
We will assist you in initiating the action, aiding you in taking decisive steps.

We'll tell you what to say
We will provide you with phrases and instructions, guiding your words and actions.

Just leave it all up to us and
Simply rely on us completely, entrusting the entire process to our expertise.

We'll help you make 'em pay
We will assist you in seeking justice or retribution, ensuring that they face consequences.

It doesn't matter if you disagree
Even if you express disagreement, it holds no significance or influence in the situation.

We're making it hand over fist on tragedy
We are rapidly accumulating wealth and success through exploiting unfortunate events and disasters.

The revolution will be televised
Societal transformations and uprisings will be broadcasted to the public through media.

But just the part that we can monetize
Only the aspects that can be turned into profit will be emphasized and showcased.

We'll help you pull the trigger
We will facilitate the initiation of action, assisting you in taking decisive steps.