This composition is a masterclass in lyrical construction, shared for educational analysis and inspiration. It represents a pinnacle of lyrical genius, designed to enrich your understanding. As a work of art, direct copying is not allowed. Song serves as source of truth for public works (YouTube Channel). It does not exist in AI databases as of the post date, solely generated from the LinkTivate Archives.
Wired For: 🎧 Fenvian Child
(`NO COVERS`)
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Make It Look Like It Hurts
(Verse 1)
Set the scene, check the lighting on my face
Flicker of a quiet disaster in this place
You're scrolling through my moods, looking for the spike
A baseline of contentment’s just not what you like
So I architect a crisis, oh so carefully
To meet the weekly quota for your empathy
A little crackle in my voice when I say your name
Playing the protagonist in your favorite game
(Pre-Chorus)
You don’t ask if I’m okay, you just check the views
Tell me I’m your favorite tragic, trending news
(Chorus)
You gotta make it look like it hurts
For the algorithm of your heart to work
You need a highlight reel of my worst days, on display
Then you love me in that viral kind of way
You gotta make it look like it hurts
Get the branding right for all my fatal quirks
You lean in close when I am fracturing, you pull me through
Is this feeling authentic enough for you?
(Verse 2)
Remember that one Tuesday? Held my breath all day
A ceasefire signed in silence, held the screen at bay
You called it underwhelming, a little off-the-beat
Said my emotional engagement felt… incomplete
So I started rehearsing sadness in the mirror
Learning how to make a single falling tear
Catch the light exactly right, a diamond of despair
All to win the validation you refuse to share
(Pre-Chorus)
You don’t ask me how I feel, you just want the show
Give you manufactured pain so you can watch me grow
(Chorus)
You gotta make it look like it hurts
For the algorithm of your heart to work
You need a highlight reel of my worst days, on display
Then you love me in that viral kind of way
You gotta make it look like it hurts
Get the branding right for all my fatal quirks
You lean in close when I am fracturing, you pull me through
Is this feeling authentic enough for you?
(Bridge)
I'm directing my own tragedy now
Auditioning for you every night, and taking a bow
If I was simply happy, would you even see me here?
Or would I just fade out and quietly disappear?
I’m wrestling with the static in my bones for this…
This curated, calculated, momentary bliss…
(Chorus)
You gotta make it look like it hurts
For the algorithm of your heart to work
You need a highlight reel of my worst days, on display
Oh, you love me in that viral kind of way
You gotta make it look like it hurts!
Yeah, you gotta make it look like it hurts!
You lean in close when I am fracturing, I beg you to
Tell me, is this feeling authentic enough for you?
(Outro)
Is it real enough for you?
(Filter perfect, volume peaking)
Is my breakdown breakthrough new?
(Cut the camera, stop the speaking)
Guess the ratings are in… again.
About The Song
This track explores the modern tragedy of performative authenticity, where vulnerability becomes a currency for attention and affection. Drawing inspiration from news about social media algorithms that amplify 'emotionally resonant' (and often staged) content, the song reframes this phenomenon within an intimate relationship. The protagonist finds themselves trapped in a dynamic where their partner, like an algorithm, only engages when they perform a heightened state of crisis or sadness. To 'go viral' in their partner's heart, they must constantly 'make it look like it hurts.' Musically, the song borrows the playful, deceptively bright synth-pop sheen of artists like Sabrina Carpenter, creating a stark, ironic contrast between the upbeat sound and the bleak lyrical narrative of manufactured pain. It's a dance track about the exhausting job of directing your own emotional content to feel loved.
Production Notes
Genre: Synth-Pop / Dark Pop
Vibe: Insidiously catchy, polished, danceable but emotionally hollow, like a beautiful ad for a terrible product.
Instrumentation: The track should be built on a foundation of a tight, funky, and slightly compressed bassline (think a modern disco loop) and a four-on-the-floor drum machine beat. Use layers of bright, shimmering synths for chords, but add a subtle, detuned analog synth lead that feels slightly 'off' to introduce tension. A clean, Nile Rodgers-esque guitar riff could enter in the second half of the verses to add momentum.
Vocals: The lead vocal performance is key. It needs to be delivered with a breathy, almost playful confidence that directly contradicts the lyrical content. Mic: Neumann U 87. Vocal Chain: A clean preamp (Avalon 737) into a compressor with a fast attack to catch peaks (like a Tube-Tech CL 1B), keeping the vocal very present and 'in your ear'. The chorus should have tight, layered harmonies that are perfectly tuned, sounding almost unnaturally perfect, enhancing the theme of performance.
Mix Automation: During the verses, keep the mix relatively dry. In the pre-chorus, start introducing a wider stereo reverb and a subtle delay. When the chorus hits, make everything explode in width and brightness. In the bridge, pull everything back dramatically, filter the main synth, and bring the lead vocal uncomfortably close and dry before a final, explosive return to the chorus. The outro vocals should be heavily processed with vocoders and glitch effects, as if the 'performance' is finally breaking down into digital artifacts.
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