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.
The Devil
Blue Stahli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spirit of enabling
Sinister command of what I want to hear
I'm the only one who pulls my strings
I'm the devil living in the pride
I'm the devil, no one's hands are tied
I'm the devil, damnation dignified
Why would you pretend your will is not your own
Claiming something pushed you there?
Don't mean to condescend but it's you and you alone
You're the architect of your despair
And I'm the devil living in the pride
I'm the devil, no one's hands are tied
I'm the devil, damnation dignified
I'm the devil and it's only me inside
I'm the devil living in the pride
I'm the devil, no one's hands are tied
I'm the devil, damnation dignified
I'm the devil and it's only me inside
I'm the devil, damnation dignified
I'm the devil and it's only me inside
The lyrics of Blue Stahli's "The Devil" provide a powerful commentary on personal responsibility and the nature of evil. At its core, the song is about the ways in which we deceive ourselves in order to justify our own destructive behavior. The opening lines of the song, "Forcing of the hand, a whisper in the ear, Spirit of enabling, Sinister command of what I want to hear," capture the way in which our own desires and impulses can lead us down dark paths. We often know what is right or wrong, but we choose to ignore that inner voice in favor of pursuing our own selfish desires.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, as it emphasizes the fact that we are all ultimately responsible for our own actions. "I'm the devil living in the pride, I'm the devil, no one's hands are tied, I'm the devil, damnation dignified, I'm the devil and it's only me inside," Stahli sings. This is a sobering reminder that no one can truly force us to do anything we don't want to do, and that we are all capable of great evil if we allow ourselves to be controlled by our worst impulses.
In the second verse, Stahli makes it clear that he has no patience for those who try to shift the blame for their actions onto external factors. "Why would you pretend your will is not your own, Claiming something pushed you there? Don't mean to condescend but it's you and you alone, You're the architect of your despair," he sings. This is a powerful message about personal accountability, and it serves as a reminder that we must all own up to our own choices and the consequences that come with them.
Overall, "The Devil" is a song that explores the darker sides of human nature, and it does so with a great deal of introspection and self-awareness. It's a song that encourages us all to take responsibility for our own actions, and to resist the urge to blame others or external factors for our own shortcomings.
Line by Line Meaning
Forcing of the hand, a whisper in the ear
Manipulation by external forces and internal voices urging actions.
Spirit of enabling
A mindset of allowing and justifying harmful actions or behaviors.
Sinister command of what I want to hear
Tendency to follow only what confirms own desires, even if it leads to destruction.
I'm the only one who pulls my strings
Ultimate responsibility for own actions and decisions rests with the individual, not outside forces.
Why would you pretend your will is not your own
No one can truly deny their own agency and accountability for their choices, even if they try to blame others or fate.
Claiming something pushed you there?
Excuses and deflections do not absolve personal responsibility or escape consequences.
Don't mean to condescend but it's you and you alone
Empowering mindset of acknowledging own role in life outcomes, and not blaming others or fate.
You're the architect of your despair
Our choices shape our lives, whether positively or negatively, and can lead to negative outcomes if misguided or reckless.
I'm the devil living in the pride
The voice or impulse within oneself that tempts towards selfish or indulgent actions, leading to pride and arrogance, as well as sin.
I'm the devil, no one's hands are tied
Absolute freedom of choice and agency can lead to destructive, immoral, and ultimately lonely paths, as no one can force one to act righteously or morally, except oneself.
I'm the devil, damnation dignified
Owning and embracing one's negative impulses, and indulging sin out of pride and defiance, even at the cost of spiritual or personal wellbeing.
I'm the devil and it's only me inside
The reality of sin and temptation desires lies within oneself, and the ultimate decision to act or resist is solely one's own.
I'm the devil, damnation dignified
Owning and embracing one's negative impulses, and indulging sin out of pride and defiance, even at the cost of spiritual or personal wellbeing.
I'm the devil and it's only me inside
The reality of sin and temptation desires lies within oneself, and the ultimate decision to act or resist is solely one's own.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Bret Autrey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
iAxdy
Over the years, I've listened to this album so many times. I'm one of those silent subs that's been here since 2014....thanks for all the great music!
Hawk1118
sudden realization that it's been 7years since first hearing this intensifies
Ulysse Bertholon
Same here, this album is still a masterpiece even after all these years
TRUMP- -PETA
@I2K wtf
Angamaitë Sangahyando
I used to listen to this when I fled Ukraine to Poland back in 2015, in my teen years, reading Russian transhumanism from Pelevin. Now 7 years later, I returned to Ukraine, the war has finally come, I need to come back to reading Pelevin... And it's not over till we say so! ("Silent subs" btw lol)
- Adûnâi
Михаил Смолин
Этот альбом оставит самые тёмные, и в тоже время светлые воспоминания, спасибо Тебе, Брэт, за настольгию, и тем чувствовать, что с твоим творчеством готов вернуться в настоящее 🤟🤟🤟
Black Coffin
я просто улетаю от вокала. А это прекрасное расщепление, просто до мурашек
Lewis Hancock
Years later, this is still a banger album!
MS - Dok
7 years and still hits hard all the right buttons.
jjc
can't believe this album came out 5 and a half years ago... damn, time flies by