manipulative!
Manipulative! is a synth pop song that tells of a chase-then-runaway story by a manipulative partner. It hopefully serves as a warning for others to avoid such a relationship.
Trigger warning: the song has mentions of suicide threats
behind the writing
The story of this song is a standard three-act plot. First act is about how the manipulator does everything to catch his prey. The second act is about how he does everything to leave the preyed on their own. And third act is when the victim had realized what had happened is finally able to call for help and warn the whole town about the madman.
The chorus as well evolves by the third time, switching from victim blaming to realizing they have been gaslit — that there is really only one person to blame, and it’s the person who abused his power.
behind the production
The production of this song takes inspiration from German New Wave music such as that of Falco and Peter Schilling, from the instrumentation (synths, bass, drum machine, effects) to the staccato way of singing.
Each layer of music was chosen to support the storytelling. The warbled synth in the verses symbolizes the act of manipulation, while a gospel wave is trying to catch up to it and give some enlightenment to the victim.
The outro gives the listener time to ponder over the emotional rollercoaster that was laid out in the last 2 ½ mins.
