Couch Co-op

“U still CTRL me!” is a song built around a layered double metaphor. On the surface, the song is written from the perspective of someone reflecting on a long, turbulent relationship that has evolved over many years through break-ups, reunions, intimacy and emotional distance. The relationship matures over time, but the sense of emotional control never fully disappears. Beneath this is the central metaphor: the personification of video game controllers and the evolving relationship between gamers and their hardware from the 1980s up to the modern era. Each verse references changing controller designs, gaming technology and player habits across different eras. The lyrics intentionally function on two levels simultaneously. References to wires, buttons, sticks, vibration, shoulder buttons, headsets, wireless connectivity, ports, recharging and VR all operate both as relationship language and as commentary on the evolution of gaming hardware. This song also explores the idea of ‘control” itself’ questioning who is really controlling who. Although the protagonist appears to guide the relationship, they remain emotionally controlled by the other person, exposing the paradox between gamer and controller.

The inspiration for this challenge came from the lyrics, so I tried to make as much noise from a game controller, in this case the XBox controller, as I could. The non-percussive noise that I used came from running my fingernail on the bobbled plastic, which acts as grip for the hands. This noise produced two key sounds: The melody line (as can be heard from 0:13 and throughout) This was created using Vital by adding two different versions of the sound to two oscillators. The chord sound in some of the sections (0:59 - 1:20 and 2:04 - 2:25) This was created using Vital and adding the same two scratch noises to oscillators as wave tables To add some additional sounds, I used the button noises from the controller for percussion throughout, which can be clearly heard from the start, but the rhythm starts from 0:05. Plus the sound of the XBox switching on and the achievement sound at the end were recorded to add some extra context.

Artist: Couch Co-op
Song: U still CNTRL me!

Intro Skit

Verse1
When I was young I was wired,
And I was rarely admired,
They used push me n shove me,
Till I was damaged n tired.

I was a bit of a square,
Not really going nowhere,
But when I went to a friend's,
It was like there's 2 of me there.

I don't remember the names,
Of all the wonderful games,
But we played em together,
And then we played em again.

But  time it passes us all,
 You left me feeling so small,
When we said our goodbyes,
You put my face in the wall.

What?

Chorus 
Those days when  you used to hold me,
You  played games with me,  left me lonely,
But Things change, now we speak remotely,
You can take my lead but  you still control me!

Verse 2
Baby you were the best,
You'd put me up by on your desk,
N You would wiggle my stick until,
Yo I  had nothing left!

 Tho I became someone else,
You'd  come n press me for help,
We would  pause in the moment,
Weighing what options were dealt.

But when  I grew  a bit older,
I had a lot on my shoulders,
New directions to grasp,
N new connections took over.

That night you had sweaty palms,
N I broke down in your arms,
You never held me again,
It was like you sold me for parts.

Damn!

Chorus
Those days when  you used to hold me,
You  played games with me,  left me lonely,
But Things change, now we speak remotely,
You can take my lead but  you still control me!

Verse3
In my craziest times,
I wore the strangest designs,
I started feeling vibrations,
Mad cats would copy my styles.

Back when they called me the Duke,
And I was part of a group,
We got too big in Japan,
And then we had to  reboot!

It was two thousand and six,
You got me back in your grips,
We started bowling n strolling,
Like we were tied at the wrist.

But when we tried to connect ,
 I couldn't fully detect,
All the things you were showing me,
And I lost  your respect.

No!

Chorus 
Those days when  you used to hold me,
You  played games with me, left me lonely,
But Things change, now we speak remotely,
you can take my lead but  you still control me!

There's so much more I accept,
Like when I feel your caress,
I'm way more sensitive baby,
N we go further, no flex!

N Tho Were using ur toys,
I hear  your talking to boys,
Why's your head  set on speaking,
In a provocative voice?

Are we playing new games?
I see a rift on your face, 
Come  Let's leave this existence,
N visit different planes.

 I've docked in so many ports,
Had models tangled in cords,
As I recharge I consider,
One day I'll know all your thoughts.

Yeah!

Send off.