Noticed something about the ending songs

[R_DeSanta]

Did anyone else notice that the ending songs actually lyrically add up to the ending itself and the story? Especially in ending A and ending B.

 

Like after ending A, Don’t Come Close by Yeasayer plays and honestly it’s such a good fit for such an intense ending. Not only the music itself is so dark and fits perfectly with Michael and Franklin just walking off in the dark, but also if you really analyze the lyrics it really makes sense with the situation, to me it’s almost like Trevor singing to/ about Michael. I feel like this song is really dark because it highlights in a way how unfair it is and just how betrayed Trevor felt by everyone.

‘People don’t change, they only get old’ (sounds like something Trevor would say about Michael, especially since Trevor sometimes literally yells ‘People don’t change!’ in the ending itself)

’If I let you back in close, will you hurt me?’ (Trevor expecting Michael to betray him again but still believing it’s not going to happen)

’Most people would release you’ (Michael isn’t as wanted as Trevor despite technically having the same enemies throughout the story, possibly because of the deal he made and also because unlike Trevor he’s not mentally unstable)

‘You’ll never live down what you can’t forget, so forget it’ (Hinting at Michael’s regret about the whole situation which will haunt him regardless, basically telling him that whether Trevor’s alive or not Trevor will haunt him. Remember in Bury The Hatchet Trevor tells Michael that he will be his nightmare? Well after the ending where Trevor dies Michael just wakes up from a nightmare.)

’Bringing disease to the surface, ouch I must be, sharper than your average man, tell me honey what’s the plan’

(Another possible hint at Trevor being mentally unstable)

 

Now in ending B/ The Time’s Come after Franklin walks off after having just seen Michael die and says Michael’s words to Lamar (‘you wake up one day, and your legs they just give, and you can’t run anymore) and Sleepwalking by The Chain Gang Of 1974 (arguably the main GTA V song) starts playing that’s supposed to be a very sad moment and I think the lyrics of the song is just one big manifestation of the regret and almost disbelief and numbness Michael felt from everything he’s done for his family and in the story.

’State of dreaming has left me numb’

(Like Michael says literally at one point he spends so much time in his head after realizing that his big dream of going to Vinewood and raising his family being wealthy and away from crime didn’t turn out the way he thought)

’Now despite my fears I dance for you, and did what others knew’

(Michael reflecting on everything he did for Amanda and his kids, and the sacrifices he made for them, paired with the general sentiment that he did the right thing)

‘I would care, would wait, and live again, more desperate, desperate’

(Michael wishing he could do it all over again, missing the passion from his years as a criminal)

‘Visions of better times, kingdoms and lilac wine’

(Michael reminiscing on the better times with his family, he often refers to it especially when hanging out with Franklin, that Amanda, Jimmy and Tracey used to be normal)

 

Now with ending C/ The Third Way, The Set Up by Flavored Nations played and I always thought this song wasn’t that lyrically deep because it’s mainly so upbeat and repetitive with ‘It’s a setup it’s a setup it’s a setup’, but in the verses it also fits ending C.

‘There’s a traitor there’s a mole, there’s a peacetime overthrown’

(Possibly referring to Michael and Trevor making up and restoring friendship in the crew)

‘No we won’t fall’

(Just a lyric referring to the resilience of the crew)

Let me know what you think, and maybe if you have another reference or maybe noticed something.

[D T]

I think it was intentional for sure. I reckon the guys at Rockstar directed these artists to feature particular themes in their music, much like HEALTH did with Tears in Max Payne 3. The entirety of Neon Indian's track 'Change of Coast' sounds like Rockstar talking directly to fans who were disappointed with GTA IV.

 

"You, never knew me at all now, did you?" Everyone expected Rockstar's games to look and play a particular way after San Andreas, leading most fans to believe GTA IV would be more of the same, rather than a more grounded story drenched in social commentary.

"I don't know, I don't know if it's any different from before" Despite the more vibrant location, GTA V does still touch on various themes the previous game explored, while retaining most of the same fundamental gameplay mechanics.

"I don't know, it's all you've ever spoken of" A lot of people seem to have forgotten this over the years, but pre-GTA V Rockstar was constantly sh*t on by the general public for making GTA IV "too serious" and "ruining" Max Payne 3. LA Noire was largely considered another borefest and used as an example of Rockstar losing their sense of humor. Just about any online discussion lead to people missing the "old Rockstar" and nostalgia tripping over the 3D era games. GTA V was meant to be a return to form, a prettier and less serious game than the last.

 

 

The GTA Online intro almost felt like an apology from Rockstar themselves. It pays homage to GTA VC with a plane landing under a pink sky, making it undoubtedly clear they've ditched the gloomy look of its predecessor.