Lyrics: Owl in a cage, You show your age, Your sweetness, has run foul. Without a change, you're lost, exhausted, by your time. On stage and you walked in my room and light sparks in the dark. Life was suddenly thrilling and new, What's between you and I, just a comfortable lie. I'm the fool who believes when you look in my eyes, Prince, all alone upon your throne, your power, is so frail. You raised your voice, you have no choice inside your gilded jail.
Corrected: Owl in a cage, You show your age, Your sweetness, has run foul*. Without a change, you're lost, exhausted, by your time. On stage and you walked in my room and light sparks in the dark. Life was suddenly thrilling and new, What's between you and I, just a comfortable lie. I'm the fool who believes when you look in* my eyes, Prince, all alone upon your throne, your power, is so frail. You raised your voice, you have no choice inside your gilded jail.
Can we all just appreciate that this melody is the leitmotif that plays almost every time Stolas has been on screen. This song has been following him for a while, but only now does he have the words.
I saw a reviewer who disliked Stolas' singing because it was less clean than the original, but personally I think this makes it much more emotional. When I think of this scene, I think of those painful, longer notes where he's legit almost crying.
Not almost crying. He is crying. But I know what you mean. This is beautiful. Me and my friends have things where we like playing games with names like characters from Helluva Boss, and my friends want me to sing this (since I’m Stolas (minus being gay. The other friend of mine who’s Blizø is a girl, and I’m glad because I don’t want to be Gay.)). I actually consent because of how much of a banger this is. How can ANYONE dislike this song?
I saw probably the same video you did or atleast i heard that someone dislike's this version, i respect the opinion but as someone with depression, i love what Bryce Pinkham did with this song, it's difficult to put the emotional hell that is depression into words but he did it and i love it.
"What's between you and I just a comfortable lie" The fact that Stolas is finally realizing the true nature of his relationship with Blitzo is very good but still very sad to see 😥
@@jeneveuxpasdiremonnom1198 at least we also learned a bit more about Blitzø and how messed up his childhood was. We also have to remember that what was supposed to be some quick fun turned into an all night divorce celebration.
Can we talk about how talented his V/A is? Not only is he singing in Stolas’ extremely expressive voice, but he managed to get the voice cracks as if Stolas is at a breaking point. Pure talent. (And don’t get me started on the lyrics and how I feel about Stolas-)
So per a Q&A, this song was done in one take, and Bryce was *breaking down* in the studio. Everyone else was sobbing. I have seen a lot of criticism about how this song came out as opposed to Octavia's lullaby, but I think it's an amazing decision by the creators and vocal director to go with such an emotionally heavy take even if it doesn't sound perfect. It fuckin sounds REAL.
The fact that the first part of the song introduced bird mistreatment in the song surprises me. At he said "owl in a cage" "nothing has changed" a bird needs things to change in its environment so it does not get a stress disorder. Really love this show
I've NEVER heard so much emotion in any singers voice, except Stolas. the wavering in his voice makes his feelings all the more real, yet he's not forcing it. he genuinely sounds sad, like he's been crying and just broke out into song mid meltdown. it's beautiful.
@@IronycheinPain Yeah his VA has done musical theatre too so he's obviously doing the breaks and breathy vocals at parts on purpose to increase the emotion. The song wouldn't sound right if he was singing like in the lullaby, it needs the pain.
@@IronycheinPain I looked to see if he had a singing double for the lullaby because it sounded like he struggled to hit the higher notes in this song. I didn’t understand at first. But knowing that it’s actually Stolas’ VA for both songs makes it clear that this was intentional. He hit the notes in the lullaby perfectly so he must have actually been crying during the recording of this song, which adds to the heartbreak.
I feel so genuinely awful for Stolas. It was nice to see him stand up to his wife who NEVER loved him at ALL. Even if those emotions were from Blitzø practically breaking up with him, it was still the most Cathardic thing to see this lonely prince finally say "Enough" to his Ex-Wife. The VA work, The singing, The FUCKING ANIMATION WERE SO WELL DONE AND HONESTLY, THIS IS BY FAR MY FAVORITE EPISODE Edit: I forgot to mention but his lament might also hint at Stolas finally saying no to Blitzø in regards to the Grimoire. This means, I.M.P. might actually go out of business if they (Or rather, Blitzø) can't find a way to compromise to Stolas without using him
Runes in the book hint on an alternative way to access the mortal realm via the succiby crystals. Stolas might be more interested in giving Blitz the freedom to roam the realms and then see if he still will be interested in Stolas, given the fact he has no more reasons to see him.
dont think he will take it away. i.m.p are the only people who can help him in the upcoming war. he doesnt stand a chance against paimon. regarding hes the most loyal henchman of lucifer it means he gets involved aswell
Him saying his relationship with blitzo was a "comfortable lie" means he knew something was off but continued to deny it and think that blitzo loved him. That's something I can definitely relate to and it makes me feel even worse for stolas that he has to go through something like that. TLDR; good song, can relate.
Honestly I give a great hurrah to the creators of the story for how well they've made it, same to the composers and singers because this song is beautiful
I hurt for him he's never know what love is other than for Octavia but it's not the same. to feel desired by someone who you also feel the same way for like I remember the time I'm my life I was like that and nearly had a panic attack
I think that blitz does love him but is afraid to show it, I’m taking this from when blitz tripped balls in the facility and that version of stolas says “why are you afraid to love people blitzy”. My best guess is that his mom is dead since at the end of s2 e1 he looks at the photo of him, fizz and a woman who I presume to be his mom and then cries. I’m gonna make a prediction here. We know he had a shitty father so that would probably lead him to lean on his mother, so I think that when she died that fractured the family and now everyone hates everyone and made blitz emotionally scared which makes him scared to show any affection/attraction to stolas because he is afraid of losing him too. If I really want to try to make a major prediction, I think that striker will come back to try and finish the job, leading to stolas being severely wounded but surviving and during that blitz will seem genuinely worried and then everything will be brought into the open. Edit: forgot to mention that I think that blitz being “only an imp” really doesn’t help since imps are like the lowest rank in the social hierarchy, judging by you only really see them as farmers, and servants
@Ryan Gagnon either blitz does feel something toward stolas or he feels bad for him because in episode 7(?) when he drops stolas off, you can see the shame in blitz's face as stolas talks to him
Throwing this out here since I know a bunch of people weren't to happy with how the song turned out in comparison to the demo: Apparently, in the latest watch party that the Helluva Boss cast had, they confirmed that the reason why Stolas's voice sound a little off-key during this segment it's because the Voice Actor was fucking CRYING during the recording. If you disliked the song regardless that's fine, but one can't deny that such info really re-contextualizes how the whole scene plays out
That's fucking hardcore dedication to a character! Stoles is crying and breaking down in this song/scene and he cried to do the song and character and scene justice!
*‘You raise your voice, you have no choice’* that line hit so close to home, this song does an incredible job of capturing emotion, especially that of realizing you may never have a choice in your own life
"Gilded jail" is such a way to put it. Stolas has all these luxuries and riches, and yes, hes royalty, but he had nobody to turn to until Blitz came back 25 years later, and even then... He just wanted to use him.
And yet, Blitz actually did start liking Stolas, but the class divide between them, Stolas not-so-great-behaviours and his own insecurities prevent him from seeing what's growing between them.
What I love is that Blitz also believes Stolas is just using him, and honestly in his point of view it makes sense. Its not really showing either as entirely to blame but that they're both fked up
If Stella says “it’s annoying to hear you screeching your silly woes all the time” It makes me wonder how often he just casually sings bangers like this Edit: Many thanks for the spell check Twist_Ending
I loved thatttt.. I also love at 1:02 where he said "all alone" I love the cracks in his voice, gave it emotion. The most recent stolas song, "Just Look My Way" has his lowest note so far, a B2 in the chorus. This one has his highest at a Bb4. Dude has range!
I first saw him as an overtly sexual owl demon but from Loo Loo Land, to Ozzie’s, and this made me realize how much more complicated and relatable he is. Loneliness just sucks and him and Blitzo shows that.
And, I believe he isn't even that sexual, he just thinks that if he acted like he was Blitzø would like him better, since Blitzø was the one that started flirting and stuff
This. This is what i love about Stolas. Hes a broken man, being stuck with a wife that never cared about him, his only real joy coming from Octavia. Blitz is an important person to him. Stella being a kindless, cruel person drove Stolas down this path. She is responsible for this. The so called "embarrasment" was her own making. Stolas is a tragic figure. And one i cant wait to see more of.
Two objects.. Stolas want help Octavia. And, when is the divorce. Octa is minor so... she idls with Stela or Stolas... so, a great battle for stolas begin now.
Not really. Stolas put himself in this situation, Stella only made it worse. He's the one who chose to cheat on her with an imp (SORT of justifiable). He's the one who desperately tried to make his daughter comfortable in his and Stella's home for far too long, until she was broken by their constant fighting. He's the one who ruined his past life over Blitzø. Him divorcing her was him trying to back off from that dark part of his life and pursuing a better life with Blitzø and Octavia. But he fails so miserably it's saddening.
Thinking back to the pilot, I never would have guessed Stolas would end up as my favorite character, especially after the VA change. Amazing father, sticking out an abusing relationship for his kid. And really, a very painful and complex relationship with Blitzo. Such great character development.
The voice cracks and less clean singing completely brings this together, it brings the pain and emotion to the song, you can feel both passion and heartbreak in his voice!
I am proud on Stolas so much. He finally starts to realize that his realationship with Blitz isn´t what he think it is and the fact that he tell Stella to get out of the house is one perfect animated scene. And about the book. If you look closely you can see that the book is from King of lust Asmodeus. And the crystal in the book. That crystal will have big influence in the story.
The crystals are an alternative way to access the mortal realm. It says they are "registered", meaning they are also the legal way to summon portals. That's most likely how the succubi crossed over in the spring break episode. If Stolas got them for Blitz, there would be no need for the monthly rendezvous. Blitz could continue his business without needing him. It would be a chance for Blitz to show how he really feels about him. I'm looking forward to it!
I feel like Stolas always knew his relationship with Blitzø was “a comfortable lie”. Maybe not out right, but subconsciously, from their meeting 25 years later. He was just so lonely and missed who he thought was an old friend that he decided to ignore all the signs, or rather make the best of what he has until it inevitably goes away. I guess that’s why it’s so sad.
I always find myself longing for a longer episode. Even if it's the longest episode ever I will always go "That's it already?", but never in disappointment.
When he scrolls through his phone and sees all the selfies are taken with Blitzo looking displeased in every single one of them and him finally noticing he's being played IT HURTS SO GOOD
It's an interesting juxtaposition to the previous episode ending with Blitzo scrolling through his photos... the relationships he has had and sabotaged. Fizz, Verosika, Stolas, Mom/sister. He took that photo with Stolas himself. He genuinely loved verosika and she him. His family. He's deeply messed up too. Both of them have tragic back stories. Both of them like each other. Neither really knows how to say it. Neither is very good at dating. What happens after this song was an awesome change for Stolas too. And takes the "comfortable lie" part of this song and throws it out. He decides in that moment confront Stella that he knows exactly what he did and he doesn't regret it at all. He kicks her out and decides to for his part be genuine and all in on the relationship with Blitzo. And as we learn in the next episode Blitzo has decided that as well. We see both of them actually invested for the first time. The writing on this show is so good.
Fun fact: the backing tune of this is based on Stolas’s Leitmotif, which is played during the “bath scene” and in Truth Seekers while he is his true demon form. In fact you can hear it hasn’t been changed at all at the beginning
Sam Haft the songwriter for the show said there was a Danny Elfman inspired song this season: this HAS to be it! This is literally Jack’s Lament! And the fact that it was birthed from the gorgeous Stolas Speaks score from S1 makes it all the more special
Yes, I'm not the only one who hears it. When I first heard this song, I was thinking of "Jack's Lament" by Danny Elfman too, which I'm not surpised, because I also remember Viv did say "The Nightmare Before Christmas", was one of the biggest inspiration for her work.
My gosh I was like I know this tune sounds familiar like jacks lament in knightmare before Christmas since I had listened to it so much as a kid glad someone else has gotten it
The "all alone" part is what hits the most for me, besides being an extremely hard technique to pull off well, the breaking fry is wrought with grief. Perfect vocal device for the moment 👌
Stolas is incredible. Not just because “gay owl prince” but because his character arc seems very promising, and this song about him feeling alone in his own home after the divorce and him realizing his relationship with Blitzø is “a comfortable lie” hits hard. In fact, he has become so depressed from his false relationship with Stella (shown through their general sourness towards each other, and young Stolas “bitch crying” when he sees he has been arranged to be married) that he has to take “happy pills.” His father is the father of many, needing to be reminded Stolas’s name. And despite his abysmal relationship with Stella, he still genuinely cares for his daughter. I might be overanalyzing a homosexual owl, but I don’t care too much, honestly. This song is a banger, too. Edit: I forgot to mention how he does look up to his neglectful father, as he seems to clap the same. The lyrics of this song prove that Stolas also genuinely loves Blitzø, and this song seems so good because it feels like an actual person singing, with their voice cracking because they seem to actually be crying. It feels so real and hits so hard. Edit 2: Stolas is clearly vulnerable during this song, as throughout most of the show, he only blinks with his bottom eyes (I think) and in this song he blinks with both sets.
something to note is that the crystal he looks at in the book, the "Asmodean Crystal" is the same one he asked for in the newest episode when he sees Asmodeus.
I believe the reason he’s asking for one for Blitzø is because he loves Blitzø but is tired of feeling used by him, therefore giving him the crystal will make Blitzø leave and in his mind solidify the fact that he was just being used for his grimoire
This song just completely blew me away! i swear it's Stolas's absolutely best song yet even though it's only his second song but his vocals were just ever so marvelous and incredible, major kudos to his voice actor!!!
So something I've noticed, that I love, and has lead to frustration. The voice actor for stoles is an amazing singer, because his songs sound so imperfect. Both that we've heard have actually sounded like someone singing in an everyday setting. Like singing a lullaby, or after heartbreak. This results in times of course voice, cracks, hearing his regular voice mode than his singing, and it ends in a beautiful amazing voice acted song, as opposed to a song slipped into bits of voice acting, like say moxie. However I've seen a lot of people who say stolas's voice actor isn't a very good singer purely because of how much he actually puts his voice acting into his songs, and it really bothers m3 because songs like this should be sung how he does.
He (Bryce Pinkham) was crying throughout the song, adding much to the genuine feeling. Pretty sure he is also a broadway actor. And did this in one take. Either way. You captured what was annoying me about a lot of the criticism. Many just want a clean and mechanically perfect, almost disney-like sound, bereft of actual context and imperfections fitting the scene. Which I do not at all subscribe to. He shows he can act, not just sing. There's good reason behind the teams choice, and any time I listen to his haunting singing, it truly feels as if I were listening to someone falling apart.
Yes. I feel the same way as this as I do Hamilton. Lin Manuel Miranda may not be a 'good' singer to most, but the actual performance he puts into his music makes it feel all the more real, and not just same auto tuned, perfect song. (And in this song in particular the breaking, sad tones really add a kick to the heart imo)
OMG I absolutely LOVE the VA for Stolas!!! So much emotion in his singing and voice, and this entire episode was just... AAA!!!! I feel so bad for Stolas, but this was amazing development and such a good look into his past. I so hope they do more singing bits for him, he's beyond incredible
Let’s also mention that this song is SO HARD TO SING especially if you want to hit all the right notes, the VA also added emotion, almost crying into his voice during the song making it so much harder
Because like his father she doesn't give two shits about his feelings, he's better off without stella and its about time stolas broke free from his unhappy guilded jail
@@titantheshapeshifter7358 I don't think Paimon doesn't care, he's just really fucking bad at being a father. He's not malicious, but definitely negligent.
By God I forgot how good a singer Stolas' VA is EDIT: I personally like to call this "Stolas' Lament" EDIT 2: YEAH, IK Paranoid DJ's Song "Just Look My Way" is also called "Stolas' Lament" I honestly forgot it was called that. EDIT 3: After listening it a few more times, yeah I can see why many people don't like this song, or at least Bryce Pinkham's singing. Pinkham's doing his best, but some of those notes weren't hit the best. But I still love the song, I feel like the emotions of the song and scene make up for the less than Stellar singing
Bro he had no reason to make ‘choice’ in the line ‘you have no choice’ sound *that* pained. It’s honestly one of my favorite deliveries in any of the songs thus far in the series. The whole song’s delivery sounds like a broken man, but that line hits the point home so hard it’s not even funny
Just watched the watch party livestream, Bryce (Stolas VA) did this whole song in one go four times until they got the right one. They didnt stitch parts together, thats him singing it in one whole take. That is so cool!!
People criticize this voice actor's singing but I think it makes the song more meaningful for his voice not to be perfectly polished and for it to crack a bit at emotional moments.
even though i understand blitz is very emotionally distant, and stolas is kinda.. /pushy/, he didn't deserve to be "used" the way blitz used him. i say "used" because we all know blitz's feelings for stolas are anything but platonic, but imagine truly thinking you've found love in someone only to find out that they completely disregard your feelings and don't really view you as anything other than a gateway to something they need. this episode made me kinda dislike blitz as a person, in a good way, because he's intended to be morally ambiguous.
@@The0neWhoWa1ts yeah me too, i really don’t like blitzo now, i mean he did all of that, do you guys think blitz even loves him? his actions make me doubt a lot
@@AnonymousAnonymous-vs8jc i don't necessarily think he LOVES stolas, but he definitely /really/ cares for him. we've all seen how blitz deals with romantic relationships, i think he just needs to get used to someone truly caring for him bc it's obvious he's not used to it
blitz is definitely not written as a good person, but he certainly has his own issues causing him to do what he does. I think it's clear that his arc in the series will be about working through his issues and becoming a better person
You’re really asking this when blitz said himself this would be fast but literally right after they say that blitz stayed the whole night and even openly admired he fucked Stolas to Stella, something he definitely didn’t need to do? He F’ed that bird, enjoyed it enough to stay all night, and earnestly felt bad enough to Stella but didn’t hesitate to admit it. That doesn’t tell me he wasn’t at least into it. However you even see the first moment Stolas hurts blitz then he stresses blitz name has an O and that makes blitz absolutely irate. To me blitz is no harder to like now than before. It just shows that the problem in their relationship was a two way street.
He deserves better, Stolas is by far the best person among all characters we've met. All he ever wanted was a good childhood for his daughter. Enduring a spiteful and abusive wife for 17 years, if every parent had that kind of devotion to their children our world would be a better one.
@@Mediados Millie and moxxie are good too but they kill people on a regular basis while stolas probably doesn't so he is the best character in helluva boss Charlie is in probably all of hell
@@Shahzad-ss1jq I can hardly accuse Millie and Moxxie, cause they may kill, but for them it is nothing heavy or important. When a human dies, they enter what Imps consider normal life, so they have no reason to feel bad about it.
For those who dont know, the first time Stolas appears in the series (not sure if in the pilot as well) his theme plays and its called "Stolas Speaks", which is the instrumental for this song, "Stolas Sings". I found that a really nice detail 🤓
I so wish for Stolas to be happy. He might be the only character that I can say feels like just a circunstancial victim of fate, he has no malice or ulterior motives, he is just there, trying to fulfill his role, and wanting to be loved, while the world around him is filled with liars, abusers, and scammers.
Most fev parts "What's between you and I just a comfortable lie" (0:48) - Stolas turn back to face the book. Symbolize Stolas accepting that Biltz only wanted that book and nothing more "Prince, all alone" (1:00) - just love how he delivered that line. The rasp in his voice. The raw emotion. Sends chill down my spine "Is so frail" (1:12) - beautiful visually "You raise your voice" - (1:14) beautiful vocally
Actually, Stolas' Lullaby has a longer version you can find on Sam Haft's youtube page that contains a second verse discussing Octavia's birth and how she stole the light from the "midnight sun" and put it in her eyes. Which I think has something to do with seeing some sort of prophesy about her in his book the night she hatched.
I love this song because it actually feels like it is stolas who is singing it with voice cracking of hiding the tears, because bryce pinkham is a phenomenal singer (as proved in s1 e2 and all of gentleman's guide to love and murder) and it pisses me off to hear people say that he sung this poorly because it is sung perfectly to make stolas sound like he is on the brink of tears.
this is so beautiful. The singing, the animation, and you can just sense the pain within his voice. The want for a healthy relationship, and the amount of joy he gains from being with Blitzo
With this song I kind of totally think IMP is gonna get stuck in a bad situation just like episode 6, but this time Stolas won’t come save them immediately like then
I pity everyone who wrote off this series after the first couple episodes. The sheer quality of the writing, animation, and music is stunning, and we're only on the second season's beginning. Who knows how much better it can get?
"What's between you and I, just a comfortable lie." That line hits deep. Also I think Stolas is seeing that Blitz is just using him and doesn't see him the same way.
he has such a charming voice man, the photos of blitz may have probably been just photos taken exactly when he had that expression (or he hates taking photos considering him crossing himself out in his apartment photos), but i’m sure we all know they genuinely love each other and they just need time to fix themselves before properly starting to love each other
beautiful! this isnt just singing, its pouring ones heart out! i feel his skill as a va AND a singer! i personally listened to this a few hundred times, and the notes HIT!!! theyre just not notes one is used to so maybe people think its wrong. but to me it sounds perfect, emotional and gut-wrenching!
The way you can hear his anger and pain when he sings "just a comfortable life" is amazing, I remember disliking Stolas in the very beginning but with him more on the screen I became more attached. I just wish that he will get the life he deserves and Stella will burn from the karma
[LYRICS] Owl in a cage, you show your age, your sweetness has run(rung?) foul without a change, you’re lost, exhausted by your time on stage then you walked in my room and like sparks in the dark, life was suddenly thrilling and new whats between you and I? just a comfortable lie! I’m the fool who believes when you look in my eyes prince all alone upon your throne, your power is so frail you raise your voice, you have no choice inside your gilded jail.
It’s hard for me to express just how much I love Stolas & his singing. Suffice it to say, the feels he elicits have me wanting him to make many more songs.
Genuinely my favorite song in the series. People complain about the voice cracks and stuff, but having listened to a cover intended to sound clean, no, that is raw emotion breaking the sound, not a lack of talent - on the contrary, it's an ABUNDANCE of talent, and it's the pure emotion that makes this my favorite version of this song. Remember, art isn't about making something "good", it's about making something that causes your audience to FEEL, and there is more feeling in this broken, at-times-off-key version than any "clean" version out there.
Oh his va is outstandingly talented and I'm so bewitched by this scene! It's so heartbreaking to also hear him sing about how he truly sees himself and how he begins to realise the nature of his relationship with blitz! So relatable and just a wonderful scene that captures stolas' essence! (I also notice him taking more pills than previously shown and that makes me so sad!)
I love how Stolas voice actor (Bryce Pinkham) actually put a lot of work into this with the little voice cracks and points where it sounds as if he's on the verge of tears (I know Stolas is on the verge of tears but still)
Everything about this song just Makes Stolas much more a unique character who deserves to have a companion and not be trapped by the rules of the Goetia Family
I feel like people forget he’s a trained broadway singer, so he’s performing the character and it’s not about hitting each note methodically but infusing story and personality into the voice. He nailed it.
man... when i started watching helluva boss, i used to see stolas as just a weird gag and nothing else but damn, this whole scene is really relatable. being on top of the world or having what you thought you wanted only to be met with heartbreak and pain. all stolas wanted was someone close to him that actually cared about him. its hard to watch his life fall down when he seemed to just want something to actually make him happy, and he had to break rules just to be told the person he thought cared about him never did. this is why i want characters like him to get whatever he wants, and especially what he deserves. blitzo also deserves better. what does fortune and royalty really mean when you grew up without a single friend...
"You have no choice" well played for this part it is incredible when it goes up in the high notes. The fact that the voice cracks leaves slight shivers.
The way I like to interpret the song is almost like Stolas retelling all those flashbacks in the episode up till the present moment through his perspective and realisations. The first part could be about his father, Paimon. The lyrics that really got me was "🎵You show your age, your sweetness has run foul🎵" kids never really question what their parents tell them and Stolas seems to be recounting how that fact seemed to have more than a negative affect in the long run. When the tune changes to a theme thats associated with his and Blitzo's relationship it talks about Blitzo, the second flashback, his feelings in that moment and how he was/is being used, how he feels stupid about thinking he Blitzo wanted him for more than his book and possessions and how he feels disappointed in himself for thinking Blitzo loved him by singing "🎵I'm the fool who believed when you look in my eyes....🎵" When singing about false love he trails off to Stella's verse. Stella's abusive, emotionally and physically, we know that already. Which itself explains the lyrics "🎵You raise your voice, you have no choice🎵" he then continues on by finishing the song with "🎵Inside your guilded jail🎵" almost saying how because of her his home now feels like a prison. Because as we all know Stella sucks
I love this idea of the song relating to all of the flash backs and what he’s gone through. I to feel that this is a song about how he hated his relationship with all of his significant figures. The night before(if ep7 was the night before this.) was most likely his breaking point and he is now having a mid life crisis.
The broken falsetto on "you have no choice" makes me physically grimace every time because the raw emotion is just painful to listen to. I love it so much.
I love this song. The only thing that sucks about this song and his episode 2 song is that they're too short lol. Don't get me wrong, their lengths make sense, but they REALLY need to give Stolas a longer song at some point.
Can we please just appreciate the voice acting here? Watching this, it's like I literally forgot that I wasn't actually hearing this tall owl lament. Props the the VA.
I love how 'Jack's Lament'-y it sounds. Also, I've read some people liking the singing version by the componist more and though I agree it sounds more clean, this version is better in this context. Stolas is heart broken and barely keeping it together so having moments where he can't reach a note all too well or cracking his voice slightly sounds more realistic to me
I'm not sure if this has anything to do with anything, but is anyone else fascinated about the fact that stolas had his first song in season 1, episode 2, and this is in season 2, episode 1? He's so connected to prophecies, I can't help but wonder if the episodes and seasons will add up in some way. Could also be a total coincidence and I'm just overthinking it.
It's crazy how much this depiction of hell is. Alot of times people will say "Oh it's gonna be fun" or try to downplay just how much torture it will actually be. But this show has a very unique take on it in that it all seems like normal civilization...ish... Yet everyone is constantly broken, never satisfied, going through so many ups and downs and it's hell for them because there is no peace
This being the song that defines him cause it adds lyrics to his leitmotif aside, I just realized that "like sparks in the dark" is some beautiful foreshadowing because that's what Via saw at the end of the following episode.
I think there is an amazing difference between this song and the one he sang to Octavia. The first song was perfect.. whereas here he doesn't really care about how he sings, it's about the emotions, that's why it sounds false at times and so raw, an amazing job from the VA
I just realized, Stolas's lyrics in this song are sung to the tune of the haunting background music that plays when he makes his entrance in "Truth Seekers" (starting when the black stuff erupts from Agent 2's mouth)! :D
I’m sure people have already said this but when he sang the “you have no choice” I broke. I’m not trying to say Blitz is in the right but I see both their sides. Stolas is realizing his relationship with Blitz isn’t what he thought and that Blitz has been using him, but at the same time I feel for Blitz, who realized he actually cared for Stolas. But Blitz is pushing away from Stolas, maybe bc he’s afraid to be hurt? Im not really sure but I really felt for Stolas during this- Thx for coming to my Ted talk
I realised Stella is even worse than I initially thought, it is Stolas who decides for the divorce but at the lust ring it sounds like Stella has made it so every one believes she did it.
![STOLAS SINGS (Owl in a Cage) - Helluva Boss [Sam Haft] - Cover by Caleb Hyles](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wtJmtyTkqTM/mqdefault.jpg)
Lyrics:
Owl in a cage,
You show your age,
Your sweetness, has run foul.
Without a change, you're lost, exhausted, by your time.
On stage and you walked in my room
and light sparks in the dark.
Life was suddenly thrilling and new,
What's between you and I, just a comfortable lie.
I'm the fool who believes when you look in my eyes,
Prince, all alone upon your throne, your power, is so frail.
You raised your voice, you have no choice inside your gilded jail.
This so far is the absolute best episode in Season 2 of Helluva Boss! Especially the backstory!😍💕
Stolas has a good talent taste of music and he still wearing his outfit from Ozzie’s which is depressing
👍🎼🎼👍
Correct me if I'm wrong, I think he said "Has Run Foul" or "As Run Foul" either of these 🙃
Corrected:
Owl in a cage,
You show your age,
Your sweetness, has run foul*.
Without a change, you're lost, exhausted, by your time.
On stage and you walked in my room
and light sparks in the dark.
Life was suddenly thrilling and new,
What's between you and I, just a comfortable lie.
I'm the fool who believes when you look in* my eyes,
Prince, all alone upon your throne, your power, is so frail.
You raised your voice, you have no choice inside your gilded jail.
Some corrections:
Your sweetness has run foul.
You walked in my room
Like sparks in the dark
Just thought I would say!
Can we all just appreciate that this melody is the leitmotif that plays almost every time Stolas has been on screen.
This song has been following him for a while, but only now does he have the words.
This gave me chills
Poetic
Man I haven’t heard leitmotif since music theory class. Brings me back!
Yeah the first time you actually hear it is in S1 episode 1 when Stolas calls at around 8:06
I just went to go see and it blew my mind! And already you can see the quality improvement since them with Stolas' facial movements💖
I saw a reviewer who disliked Stolas' singing because it was less clean than the original, but personally I think this makes it much more emotional. When I think of this scene, I think of those painful, longer notes where he's legit almost crying.
Not almost crying. He is crying. But I know what you mean. This is beautiful. Me and my friends have things where we like playing games with names like characters from Helluva Boss, and my friends want me to sing this (since I’m Stolas (minus being gay. The other friend of mine who’s Blizø is a girl, and I’m glad because I don’t want to be Gay.)). I actually consent because of how much of a banger this is. How can ANYONE dislike this song?
I saw probably the same video you did or atleast i heard that someone dislike's this version, i respect the opinion but as someone with depression, i love what Bryce Pinkham did with this song, it's difficult to put the emotional hell that is depression into words but he did it and i love it.
dude I'm barely able to speak when I'm about to cry, it only makes me cry harder. Imagine singing and crying at the same time-
Finally someone gets it 😭
He's heartbroken, depressed and hungover, it should not have come out this pretty let alone match the out-of-context official recording of it.
"What's between you and I just a comfortable lie" The fact that Stolas is finally realizing the true nature of his relationship with Blitzo is very good but still very sad to see 😥
When I saw this comment he sung that
Ikr 😭 but at least we can look into the lore to find the crumbs of hope (that's what I'm doing ik I'm desperate)
@@Al-of-the-stars girl don't tell me I'm desperate af too 😭
@@jeneveuxpasdiremonnom1198 at least we also learned a bit more about Blitzø and how messed up his childhood was. We also have to remember that what was supposed to be some quick fun turned into an all night divorce celebration.
Tbh at this point i hope he'll just give up on blitzo and try to find someone who deserves him. He's had *enough* toxic partners for lifetime
Can we talk about how talented his V/A is? Not only is he singing in Stolas’ extremely expressive voice, but he managed to get the voice cracks as if Stolas is at a breaking point. Pure talent. (And don’t get me started on the lyrics and how I feel about Stolas-)
Actually I'm pretty sure his VA was crying during this song, and his voice brought the rest of the crew to tears :(
To me the feat is getting through the song without full on bawling.
He is a broadway singer after all
So per a Q&A, this song was done in one take, and Bryce was *breaking down* in the studio. Everyone else was sobbing. I have seen a lot of criticism about how this song came out as opposed to Octavia's lullaby, but I think it's an amazing decision by the creators and vocal director to go with such an emotionally heavy take even if it doesn't sound perfect. It fuckin sounds REAL.
HES SO TALENTED he even made it to broadway
He went from a “clingy rich asshole” to a seriously cool, loveable and utterly brilliant character, love it so much, this show is great.
Character development
Goes to show how important context is
The fact that the first part of the song introduced bird mistreatment in the song surprises me. At he said "owl in a cage" "nothing has changed" a bird needs things to change in its environment so it does not get a stress disorder. Really love this show
Omg I didn't even notice that detail. The writers are amazing.
Also I made the likes perfect, lol
I wonder if that's why Stella acts out so much?
@@rosegirl3220 A Stella redemption arc, huh? Maybe, but it still helps with how Stolas describes Blitzø coming back as "something new"
I've NEVER heard so much emotion in any singers voice, except Stolas. the wavering in his voice makes his feelings all the more real, yet he's not forcing it. he genuinely sounds sad, like he's been crying and just broke out into song mid meltdown. it's beautiful.
RIGHT??? Near the end, it sounds like he's breaking into tears, and it's INCREDIBLE.
I saw several people complain due to it not sounding good
But I feel like it adds to what we're supposed to feel about him
@@IronycheinPain Yeah his VA has done musical theatre too so he's obviously doing the breaks and breathy vocals at parts on purpose to increase the emotion. The song wouldn't sound right if he was singing like in the lullaby, it needs the pain.
@@IronycheinPain I looked to see if he had a singing double for the lullaby because it sounded like he struggled to hit the higher notes in this song. I didn’t understand at first. But knowing that it’s actually Stolas’ VA for both songs makes it clear that this was intentional. He hit the notes in the lullaby perfectly so he must have actually been crying during the recording of this song, which adds to the heartbreak.
@@IronycheinPain WHO SAYS IT DOESN'T SOUND GOOD? I think it sounds great!
I feel so genuinely awful for Stolas. It was nice to see him stand up to his wife who NEVER loved him at ALL. Even if those emotions were from Blitzø practically breaking up with him, it was still the most Cathardic thing to see this lonely prince finally say "Enough" to his Ex-Wife.
The VA work, The singing, The FUCKING ANIMATION WERE SO WELL DONE AND HONESTLY, THIS IS BY FAR MY FAVORITE EPISODE
Edit: I forgot to mention but his lament might also hint at Stolas finally saying no to Blitzø in regards to the Grimoire. This means, I.M.P. might actually go out of business if they (Or rather, Blitzø) can't find a way to compromise to Stolas without using him
Runes in the book hint on an alternative way to access the mortal realm via the succiby crystals. Stolas might be more interested in giving Blitz the freedom to roam the realms and then see if he still will be interested in Stolas, given the fact he has no more reasons to see him.
dont think he will take it away. i.m.p are the only people who can help him in the upcoming war. he doesnt stand a chance against paimon. regarding hes the most loyal henchman of lucifer it means he gets involved aswell
@@BlackMysteries1 uhh wut war??
@@fizzy69o.0 the familytrouble she mentions. that he will pay. its not looking good
@@BlackMysteries1 uhh wut does Lucifer have to do with it?? And i dont think Paimon would be brutal towards Stolas (despite being shitty father)
Him saying his relationship with blitzo was a "comfortable lie" means he knew something was off but continued to deny it and think that blitzo loved him. That's something I can definitely relate to and it makes me feel even worse for stolas that he has to go through something like that.
TLDR; good song, can relate.
Honestly I give a great hurrah to the creators of the story for how well they've made it, same to the composers and singers because this song is beautiful
I hurt for him he's never know what love is other than for Octavia but it's not the same. to feel desired by someone who you also feel the same way for like I remember the time I'm my life I was like that and nearly had a panic attack
I think that blitz does love him but is afraid to show it, I’m taking this from when blitz tripped balls in the facility and that version of stolas says “why are you afraid to love people blitzy”. My best guess is that his mom is dead since at the end of s2 e1 he looks at the photo of him, fizz and a woman who I presume to be his mom and then cries. I’m gonna make a prediction here. We know he had a shitty father so that would probably lead him to lean on his mother, so I think that when she died that fractured the family and now everyone hates everyone and made blitz emotionally scared which makes him scared to show any affection/attraction to stolas because he is afraid of losing him too. If I really want to try to make a major prediction, I think that striker will come back to try and finish the job, leading to stolas being severely wounded but surviving and during that blitz will seem genuinely worried and then everything will be brought into the open.
Edit: forgot to mention that I think that blitz being “only an imp” really doesn’t help since imps are like the lowest rank in the social hierarchy, judging by you only really see them as farmers, and servants
@@ryangagnon5489 definitely! Thanks for telling me this sounds super interesting :D
@Ryan Gagnon either blitz does feel something toward stolas or he feels bad for him because in episode 7(?) when he drops stolas off, you can see the shame in blitz's face as stolas talks to him
Throwing this out here since I know a bunch of people weren't to happy with how the song turned out in comparison to the demo:
Apparently, in the latest watch party that the Helluva Boss cast had, they confirmed that the reason why Stolas's voice sound a little off-key during this segment it's because the Voice Actor was fucking CRYING during the recording. If you disliked the song regardless that's fine, but one can't deny that such info really re-contextualizes how the whole scene plays out
That's fucking hardcore dedication to a character! Stoles is crying and breaking down in this song/scene and he cried to do the song and character and scene justice!
@@LoxyLightthis comment did not age well….😂
@@PotatoesopI can totally agree 😂😂😂
@@LoxyLight WRONG
@@LoxyLight How does it feel to get proven ABSOLUTELY WRONG by that banger Just look My Way? 😂
*‘You raise your voice, you have no choice’* that line hit so close to home, this song does an incredible job of capturing emotion, especially that of realizing you may never have a choice in your own life
You can hear the emotion in his voice
Lol, yeah, right? The actor did an amazing job.
"Gilded jail" is such a way to put it. Stolas has all these luxuries and riches, and yes, hes royalty, but he had nobody to turn to until Blitz came back 25 years later, and even then... He just wanted to use him.
And yet, Blitz actually did start liking Stolas, but the class divide between them, Stolas not-so-great-behaviours and his own insecurities prevent him from seeing what's growing between them.
What I love is that Blitz also believes Stolas is just using him, and honestly in his point of view it makes sense. Its not really showing either as entirely to blame but that they're both fked up
I love everything about Stolas. And him as a kid is golden.
Except that one picture of him as a newborn- baby birds are kinda freaky-
@@rae-rae8005 True
@@rae-rae8005 as if human babies look better right after birth lmao
@@fizzy69o.0 pfft- oh trust me I know they aren’t cute either
@@rae-rae8005 at least Stolas wasnt covered in blood ^w^
If Stella says “it’s annoying to hear you screeching your silly woes all the time”
It makes me wonder how often he just casually sings bangers like this
Edit: Many thanks for the spell check Twist_Ending
Woes*
Stolas just sitting on a successful music career
She doesn’t know how blessed she is to hear it, much like a certain other human whose dog stepped on a bee…
I honestly don’t think he sings that often. This might be an exaggeration on Stella’s part.
@@wiwaxiasilver827 Stella is Amber confirmed??
“You raises your voice, you have no choice.” 1:14. The most powerful sound Stolas has ever made and the highest note he has hit. My ears are loving it
Ikr i LOVE when he did that
I loved thatttt.. I also love at 1:02 where he said "all alone" I love the cracks in his voice, gave it emotion. The most recent stolas song, "Just Look My Way" has his lowest note so far, a B2 in the chorus. This one has his highest at a Bb4. Dude has range!
SAME THATS MY FAVORITE PART.
I first saw him as an overtly sexual owl demon but from Loo Loo Land, to Ozzie’s, and this made me realize how much more complicated and relatable he is. Loneliness just sucks and him and Blitzo shows that.
And, I believe he isn't even that sexual, he just thinks that if he acted like he was Blitzø would like him better, since Blitzø was the one that started flirting and stuff
That makes sense
This. This is what i love about Stolas. Hes a broken man, being stuck with a wife that never cared about him, his only real joy coming from Octavia.
Blitz is an important person to him. Stella being a kindless, cruel person drove Stolas down this path. She is responsible for this. The so called "embarrasment" was her own making.
Stolas is a tragic figure. And one i cant wait to see more of.
I loved how the pictures made that clear with both him and his father.
He's Got a Big Heart.
Two objects..
Stolas want help Octavia.
And, when is the divorce. Octa is minor so... she idls with Stela or Stolas... so, a great battle for stolas begin now.
I remember how he started as just "funny horny owl man".
Damn im happy this went in a different direction.
Not really. Stolas put himself in this situation, Stella only made it worse. He's the one who chose to cheat on her with an imp (SORT of justifiable). He's the one who desperately tried to make his daughter comfortable in his and Stella's home for far too long, until she was broken by their constant fighting. He's the one who ruined his past life over Blitzø. Him divorcing her was him trying to back off from that dark part of his life and pursuing a better life with Blitzø and Octavia.
But he fails so miserably it's saddening.
Thinking back to the pilot, I never would have guessed Stolas would end up as my favorite character, especially after the VA change.
Amazing father, sticking out an abusing relationship for his kid. And really, a very painful and complex relationship with Blitzo.
Such great character development.
The voice cracks and less clean singing completely brings this together, it brings the pain and emotion to the song, you can feel both passion and heartbreak in his voice!
I am proud on Stolas so much.
He finally starts to realize that his realationship with Blitz isn´t what he think it is and the fact that he tell Stella to get out of the house is one perfect animated scene.
And about the book. If you look closely you can see that the book is from King of lust Asmodeus. And the crystal in the book. That crystal will have big influence in the story.
The crystals are an alternative way to access the mortal realm. It says they are "registered", meaning they are also the legal way to summon portals. That's most likely how the succubi crossed over in the spring break episode.
If Stolas got them for Blitz, there would be no need for the monthly rendezvous. Blitz could continue his business without needing him. It would be a chance for Blitz to show how he really feels about him. I'm looking forward to it!
@@mateleacloverae I thought those would be like a love potion kind of thing but I hope your right
@@alexisscherette5469 from what we got from someone translating it is pretty much what they said, so we shall see.
@@mateleacloverae it would also be legal for blitzø because as we all know he shouldn’t have the book as it is meant for stolas
I feel like Stolas always knew his relationship with Blitzø was “a comfortable lie”. Maybe not out right, but subconsciously, from their meeting 25 years later. He was just so lonely and missed who he thought was an old friend that he decided to ignore all the signs, or rather make the best of what he has until it inevitably goes away. I guess that’s why it’s so sad.
This episode was WORTH THE WAIT. Amazing work by the illustrators and writers and editors and voice actors and overall the whole team
The quality is amazing- So proud of all the team!
I always find myself longing for a longer episode. Even if it's the longest episode ever I will always go "That's it already?", but never in disappointment.
This isn't even the ep that was meant to be released either s1 part 2 is still under complications
@@jodiejarvis1941 boy do I have news for ya
@@mrpro538 tell me da news
Also confused why my name has 1941 in it
When he scrolls through his phone and sees all the selfies are taken with Blitzo looking displeased in every single one of them and him finally noticing he's being played IT HURTS SO GOOD
It's an interesting juxtaposition to the previous episode ending with Blitzo scrolling through his photos... the relationships he has had and sabotaged. Fizz, Verosika, Stolas, Mom/sister. He took that photo with Stolas himself. He genuinely loved verosika and she him. His family. He's deeply messed up too. Both of them have tragic back stories. Both of them like each other. Neither really knows how to say it. Neither is very good at dating. What happens after this song was an awesome change for Stolas too. And takes the "comfortable lie" part of this song and throws it out. He decides in that moment confront Stella that he knows exactly what he did and he doesn't regret it at all. He kicks her out and decides to for his part be genuine and all in on the relationship with Blitzo. And as we learn in the next episode Blitzo has decided that as well. We see both of them actually invested for the first time. The writing on this show is so good.
Fun fact: the backing tune of this is based on Stolas’s Leitmotif, which is played during the “bath scene” and in Truth Seekers while he is his true demon form. In fact you can hear it hasn’t been changed at all at the beginning
Ya i figure it out to
Rewatching truth seekers after watching this…hearing this theme there, got me emotional!
Someone else pointed out that it even plays in banjo form when he first takes the mic at the Harvest Festival!
Incredible song! Every second is so well animated
No wonder it took this long
This gonna be the top clip of it fo sure
Sam Haft the songwriter for the show said there was a Danny Elfman inspired song this season: this HAS to be it! This is literally Jack’s Lament! And the fact that it was birthed from the gorgeous Stolas Speaks score from S1 makes it all the more special
Yes, I'm not the only one who hears it. When I first heard this song, I was thinking of "Jack's Lament" by Danny Elfman too, which I'm not surpised, because I also remember Viv did say "The Nightmare Before Christmas", was one of the biggest inspiration for her work.
My gosh I was like I know this tune sounds familiar like jacks lament in knightmare before Christmas since I had listened to it so much as a kid glad someone else has gotten it
THAT'S why it's familiar!
He even did the ladder thing like Jack!
ooh, Stolas somewhat reminds me of Jack overall when thinking about it
His song hit deep when I first heard it but the part of "Prince upon your thrown" and "you raise your voice you have no choice" just hits so difff
Im not trying to be rude but i think u mean "throne"? :D
Like chairs for royal butts? xD
@@savyluwiii yea I didn't realize I misspelled again I'm glad you told me haha
Dude exactly
@@DedOops fr
The "all alone" part is what hits the most for me, besides being an extremely hard technique to pull off well, the breaking fry is wrought with grief. Perfect vocal device for the moment 👌
Stolas is incredible. Not just because “gay owl prince” but because his character arc seems very promising, and this song about him feeling alone in his own home after the divorce and him realizing his relationship with Blitzø is “a comfortable lie” hits hard. In fact, he has become so depressed from his false relationship with Stella (shown through their general sourness towards each other, and young Stolas “bitch crying” when he sees he has been arranged to be married) that he has to take “happy pills.” His father is the father of many, needing to be reminded Stolas’s name. And despite his abysmal relationship with Stella, he still genuinely cares for his daughter. I might be overanalyzing a homosexual owl, but I don’t care too much, honestly. This song is a banger, too.
Edit: I forgot to mention how he does look up to his neglectful father, as he seems to clap the same. The lyrics of this song prove that Stolas also genuinely loves Blitzø, and this song seems so good because it feels like an actual person singing, with their voice cracking because they seem to actually be crying. It feels so real and hits so hard.
Edit 2: Stolas is clearly vulnerable during this song, as throughout most of the show, he only blinks with his bottom eyes (I think) and in this song he blinks with both sets.
Underrated comment, that literally tells you everything about Stolas, brilliant charater brilliant comment.
@@mogscp4765 I wrote this a year ago woah
@@MorganOgerpon_Fan Ye, not really looking on those dates ;/
@@mogscp4765 still crazy like HUH I PUT THAT MUCH EFFORT IN A YEAR AGO?
@@MorganOgerpon_Fan Lolll, well I just guess this is the most accurate comment I saw.
something to note is that the crystal he looks at in the book, the "Asmodean Crystal" is the same one he asked for in the newest episode when he sees Asmodeus.
I believe the reason he’s asking for one for Blitzø is because he loves Blitzø but is tired of feeling used by him, therefore giving him the crystal will make Blitzø leave and in his mind solidify the fact that he was just being used for his grimoire
@@OzzitiesOr if Blitz stays, then they can start over and be in love together.
The Stolas voice actor did such a great job on singing this song
This song just completely blew me away! i swear it's Stolas's absolutely best song yet even though it's only his second song but his vocals were just ever so marvelous and incredible, major kudos to his voice actor!!!
"Just a comfortable lie" breaks my heart every single time.
The VA is amazing.
So something I've noticed, that I love, and has lead to frustration. The voice actor for stoles is an amazing singer, because his songs sound so imperfect. Both that we've heard have actually sounded like someone singing in an everyday setting. Like singing a lullaby, or after heartbreak. This results in times of course voice, cracks, hearing his regular voice mode than his singing, and it ends in a beautiful amazing voice acted song, as opposed to a song slipped into bits of voice acting, like say moxie. However I've seen a lot of people who say stolas's voice actor isn't a very good singer purely because of how much he actually puts his voice acting into his songs, and it really bothers m3 because songs like this should be sung how he does.
He (Bryce Pinkham) was crying throughout the song, adding much to the genuine feeling.
Pretty sure he is also a broadway actor. And did this in one take.
Either way. You captured what was annoying me about a lot of the criticism. Many just want a clean and mechanically perfect, almost disney-like sound, bereft of actual context and imperfections fitting the scene.
Which I do not at all subscribe to. He shows he can act, not just sing.
There's good reason behind the teams choice, and any time I listen to his haunting singing, it truly feels as if I were listening to someone falling apart.
Yes. I feel the same way as this as I do Hamilton. Lin Manuel Miranda may not be a 'good' singer to most, but the actual performance he puts into his music makes it feel all the more real, and not just same auto tuned, perfect song. (And in this song in particular the breaking, sad tones really add a kick to the heart imo)
OMG I absolutely LOVE the VA for Stolas!!! So much emotion in his singing and voice, and this entire episode was just... AAA!!!! I feel so bad for Stolas, but this was amazing development and such a good look into his past.
I so hope they do more singing bits for him, he's beyond incredible
Well, there ARE 15 songs in total confirmed for this season (including this one ofc)... So they definitely will
Let’s also mention that this song is SO HARD TO SING especially if you want to hit all the right notes, the VA also added emotion, almost crying into his voice during the song making it so much harder
@@ChloecoquettesCorrection: Added emotion by actually crying the whole song.
It sounds like he sings like this all the time, and it's so good so I dont understand why Stella is so annoyed by it lol
Because like his father she doesn't give two shits about his feelings, he's better off without stella and its about time stolas broke free from his unhappy guilded jail
It's because she hates him.
@@psychonaut175 and because they are just arranged.
Probably because there’s no background music, just loud talking
@@titantheshapeshifter7358 I don't think Paimon doesn't care, he's just really fucking bad at being a father. He's not malicious, but definitely negligent.
By God I forgot how good a singer Stolas' VA is
EDIT: I personally like to call this "Stolas' Lament"
EDIT 2: YEAH, IK Paranoid DJ's Song "Just Look My Way" is also called "Stolas' Lament" I honestly forgot it was called that.
EDIT 3: After listening it a few more times, yeah I can see why many people don't like this song, or at least Bryce Pinkham's singing. Pinkham's doing his best, but some of those notes weren't hit the best. But I still love the song, I feel like the emotions of the song and scene make up for the less than Stellar singing
I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING
Good idea for a song title!
'The Ballad of Stolas'
PERFECT OMG
You Will Be OK still knocks me away.
Bro he had no reason to make ‘choice’ in the line ‘you have no choice’ sound *that* pained. It’s honestly one of my favorite deliveries in any of the songs thus far in the series. The whole song’s delivery sounds like a broken man, but that line hits the point home so hard it’s not even funny
Just watched the watch party livestream, Bryce (Stolas VA) did this whole song in one go four times until they got the right one. They didnt stitch parts together, thats him singing it in one whole take. That is so cool!!
People criticize this voice actor's singing but I think it makes the song more meaningful for his voice not to be perfectly polished and for it to crack a bit at emotional moments.
Yeah I think people are being a bit nitpicky the song was amazing
Fun fact: Bryce Pinkman was actually crying while recording this.
@@s.p.d.magentaranger1822 That makes it even better
even though i understand blitz is very emotionally distant, and stolas is kinda.. /pushy/, he didn't deserve to be "used" the way blitz used him. i say "used" because we all know blitz's feelings for stolas are anything but platonic, but imagine truly thinking you've found love in someone only to find out that they completely disregard your feelings and don't really view you as anything other than a gateway to something they need. this episode made me kinda dislike blitz as a person, in a good way, because he's intended to be morally ambiguous.
Couldn't of said it any better, just seeing how it all happened made me feel for Stolas alot more and made me kinda dislike Blitz...
@@The0neWhoWa1ts yeah me too, i really don’t like blitzo now, i mean he did all of that, do you guys think blitz even loves him? his actions make me doubt a lot
@@AnonymousAnonymous-vs8jc i don't necessarily think he LOVES stolas, but he definitely /really/ cares for him. we've all seen how blitz deals with romantic relationships, i think he just needs to get used to someone truly caring for him bc it's obvious he's not used to it
blitz is definitely not written as a good person, but he certainly has his own issues causing him to do what he does. I think it's clear that his arc in the series will be about working through his issues and becoming a better person
You’re really asking this when blitz said himself this would be fast but literally right after they say that blitz stayed the whole night and even openly admired he fucked Stolas to Stella, something he definitely didn’t need to do? He F’ed that bird, enjoyed it enough to stay all night, and earnestly felt bad enough to Stella but didn’t hesitate to admit it. That doesn’t tell me he wasn’t at least into it. However you even see the first moment Stolas hurts blitz then he stresses blitz name has an O and that makes blitz absolutely irate. To me blitz is no harder to like now than before. It just shows that the problem in their relationship was a two way street.
Damn for a prince of hell he's got an angelic voice!
He deserves better, Stolas is by far the best person among all characters we've met. All he ever wanted was a good childhood for his daughter. Enduring a spiteful and abusive wife for 17 years, if every parent had that kind of devotion to their children our world would be a better one.
@@Mediados Millie and moxxie are good too but they kill people on a regular basis while stolas probably doesn't so he is the best character in helluva boss
Charlie is in probably all of hell
@@Shahzad-ss1jq I can hardly accuse Millie and Moxxie, cause they may kill, but for them it is nothing heavy or important. When a human dies, they enter what Imps consider normal life, so they have no reason to feel bad about it.
@@Mediados I guess they wouldn't kill you if they it wasn't their job so they are the best characters in the show
He sings like a Disney Princess & i love it
For those who dont know, the first time Stolas appears in the series (not sure if in the pilot as well) his theme plays and its called "Stolas Speaks", which is the instrumental for this song, "Stolas Sings". I found that a really nice detail 🤓
Thats actually a pretty cool fact, and for that, you may remove the nerd emoji
Also I ruined your 69 likes. I have no regrets
@@Im_a_goofy_goober_yeah THANK YOU SO MUCH.......
@@Im_a_goofy_goober_yeah NOOOOOOO MY 69
I so wish for Stolas to be happy.
He might be the only character that I can say feels like just a circunstancial victim of fate, he has no malice or ulterior motives, he is just there, trying to fulfill his role, and wanting to be loved, while the world around him is filled with liars, abusers, and scammers.
His voice breaking in the "Just a comfortable lie" line hurts me so bad ;-; baby noooo I'm so sorry I wanna hug him so bad
Beautiful singing. Never thought I'd simp for a humanoid demon owl prince.
same
I'm inclined to agree... yet some part of me simultaneously wants to say "I knew," haha
Ditto.
Most fev parts
"What's between you and I just a comfortable lie" (0:48) - Stolas turn back to face the book. Symbolize Stolas accepting that Biltz only wanted that book and nothing more
"Prince, all alone" (1:00) - just love how he delivered that line. The rasp in his voice. The raw emotion. Sends chill down my spine
"Is so frail" (1:12) - beautiful visually
"You raise your voice" - (1:14) beautiful vocally
The "rasp" comes from a really hard polyphonic technique that mixes chest and fry at the same time.
The face the book context was clever thinking. Good job seeing that!
Stolas really has the 2 best songs and they're both criminally short!
Actually, Stolas' Lullaby has a longer version you can find on Sam Haft's youtube page that contains a second verse discussing Octavia's birth and how she stole the light from the "midnight sun" and put it in her eyes. Which I think has something to do with seeing some sort of prophesy about her in his book the night she hatched.
I love this song because it actually feels like it is stolas who is singing it with voice cracking of hiding the tears, because bryce pinkham is a phenomenal singer (as proved in s1 e2 and all of gentleman's guide to love and murder) and it pisses me off to hear people say that he sung this poorly because it is sung perfectly to make stolas sound like he is on the brink of tears.
Exactly! He sings it with _emotion,_ and it infuriates me when people interpret that as him being a bad singer. Like how ??
@@drownedtrashrat3501 The VA even cried while he voicing this and people say it's bad ...
I like how Stolas’s cape has stars inside of it.
this is so beautiful. The singing, the animation, and you can just sense the pain within his voice. The want for a healthy relationship, and the amount of joy he gains from being with Blitzo
Bryce Pinkham (Stolas' VA) did such a good job expressing emotion while singing.
God this song really shows Stolas's view his and Blitzo's relationship has changed
Seeing them interact in the future is definitely gonna be different
With this song I kind of totally think IMP is gonna get stuck in a bad situation just like episode 6, but this time Stolas won’t come save them immediately like then
I pity everyone who wrote off this series after the first couple episodes. The sheer quality of the writing, animation, and music is stunning, and we're only on the second season's beginning. Who knows how much better it can get?
"What's between you and I, just a comfortable lie."
That line hits deep. Also I think Stolas is seeing that Blitz is just using him and doesn't see him the same way.
he has such a charming voice man, the photos of blitz may have probably been just photos taken exactly when he had that expression (or he hates taking photos considering him crossing himself out in his apartment photos), but i’m sure we all know they genuinely love each other and they just need time to fix themselves before properly starting to love each other
I feel so bad for Stolas. He used to be so wholesome and happy. Then everything was slowly snatched away from him.
Technically he never was
We just saw his good moments
This episode was a interesting one for me but I have to say, I love this song its so emotional and good.
I feel bad for stolas :(
I cannot get over the way this sounds. The way he says age and the sound of sweetness is...breathtaking. I hope to sound as great as this did someday.
beautiful! this isnt just singing, its pouring ones heart out! i feel his skill as a va AND a singer! i personally listened to this a few hundred times, and the notes HIT!!! theyre just not notes one is used to so maybe people think its wrong. but to me it sounds perfect, emotional and gut-wrenching!
The way you can hear his anger and pain when he sings "just a comfortable life" is amazing,
I remember disliking Stolas in the very beginning but with him more on the screen I became more attached. I just wish that he will get the life he deserves and Stella will burn from the karma
This entire episode was so well animated! Worth the wait 100%
[LYRICS]
Owl in a cage, you show your age,
your sweetness has run(rung?) foul
without a change, you’re lost, exhausted by your time
on stage
then you walked in my room and like sparks in the dark, life was suddenly thrilling and new
whats between you and I? just a comfortable lie!
I’m the fool who believes when you look in my eyes
prince all alone upon your throne, your power is so frail
you raise your voice, you have no choice
inside your gilded jail.
It’s hard for me to express just how much I love Stolas & his singing. Suffice it to say, the feels he elicits have me wanting him to make many more songs.
Genuinely my favorite song in the series. People complain about the voice cracks and stuff, but having listened to a cover intended to sound clean, no, that is raw emotion breaking the sound, not a lack of talent - on the contrary, it's an ABUNDANCE of talent, and it's the pure emotion that makes this my favorite version of this song. Remember, art isn't about making something "good", it's about making something that causes your audience to FEEL, and there is more feeling in this broken, at-times-off-key version than any "clean" version out there.
Dude his va is awesome you can hear the pain in his voice when he’s singing and it’s absolutely beautiful!
Okay okay here me out, ‘A Comforting Lie’ would be an amazing name for this song❤️
Also I’m gonna be taking Stolas’ vocal cords
In the credits of the episode they already named the song sooooo
@@JoseMejia-jw8rs Then the dream is a reality
Oh his va is outstandingly talented and I'm so bewitched by this scene! It's so heartbreaking to also hear him sing about how he truly sees himself and how he begins to realise the nature of his relationship with blitz! So relatable and just a wonderful scene that captures stolas' essence! (I also notice him taking more pills than previously shown and that makes me so sad!)
I love how Stolas voice actor (Bryce Pinkham) actually put a lot of work into this with the little voice cracks and points where it sounds as if he's on the verge of tears (I know Stolas is on the verge of tears but still)
This was like take 4 iirc, he had been crying in the prior 3 takes
Everything about this song just Makes Stolas much more a unique character who deserves to have a companion and not be trapped by the rules of the Goetia Family
His voice never ceases to amaze me. His vocals are so clean and elegant 😭🤌
Stolas sings very beautifully.. I want to listen and listen...
I feel like people forget he’s a trained broadway singer, so he’s performing the character and it’s not about hitting each note methodically but infusing story and personality into the voice. He nailed it.
He has officially become my favorite character. You can't help but cheer for Stolas. He may be an upper demon of hell but he's actually a decent dad.
man... when i started watching helluva boss, i used to see stolas as just a weird gag and nothing else but damn, this whole scene is really relatable. being on top of the world or having what you thought you wanted only to be met with heartbreak and pain. all stolas wanted was someone close to him that actually cared about him. its hard to watch his life fall down when he seemed to just want something to actually make him happy, and he had to break rules just to be told the person he thought cared about him never did. this is why i want characters like him to get whatever he wants, and especially what he deserves. blitzo also deserves better. what does fortune and royalty really mean when you grew up without a single friend...
Whenever Stolas sings, it's always good.
"You have no choice" well played for this part it is incredible when it goes up in the high notes. The fact that the voice cracks leaves slight shivers.
There is honestly so much emotion in Stolas’ singing voice, especially the “you raise your voice” and the “comfortable lie” lines.
The way I like to interpret the song is almost like Stolas retelling all those flashbacks in the episode up till the present moment through his perspective and realisations.
The first part could be about his father, Paimon. The lyrics that really got me was "🎵You show your age, your sweetness has run foul🎵" kids never really question what their parents tell them and Stolas seems to be recounting how that fact seemed to have more than a negative affect in the long run.
When the tune changes to a theme thats associated with his and Blitzo's relationship it talks about Blitzo, the second flashback, his feelings in that moment and how he was/is being used, how he feels stupid about thinking he Blitzo wanted him for more than his book and possessions and how he feels disappointed in himself for thinking Blitzo loved him by singing "🎵I'm the fool who believed when you look in my eyes....🎵"
When singing about false love he trails off to Stella's verse. Stella's abusive, emotionally and physically, we know that already. Which itself explains the lyrics "🎵You raise your voice, you have no choice🎵" he then continues on by finishing the song with "🎵Inside your guilded jail🎵" almost saying how because of her his home now feels like a prison. Because as we all know Stella sucks
I love this idea of the song relating to all of the flash backs and what he’s gone through. I to feel that this is a song about how he hated his relationship with all of his significant figures. The night before(if ep7 was the night before this.) was most likely his breaking point and he is now having a mid life crisis.
8 months. We've waited for 8 months for this masterpiece
I’m so hyped for season 2! The first episode has me all excited already!
The voice cracks makes it seem like he’s crying while singing this, it’s just gorgeous
The broken falsetto on "you have no choice" makes me physically grimace every time because the raw emotion is just painful to listen to. I love it so much.
I love this song. The only thing that sucks about this song and his episode 2 song is that they're too short lol. Don't get me wrong, their lengths make sense, but they REALLY need to give Stolas a longer song at some point.
your wish has been granted
This song hits harder with the recent episode
i’m here crying listening to it after full moon😭
The part when he says “what’s between you and I, just a comfortable lie. I’m the fool” it melts my heart stolas deserves the world 😭😭
Can we please just appreciate the voice acting here? Watching this, it's like I literally forgot that I wasn't actually hearing this tall owl lament. Props the the VA.
I love how 'Jack's Lament'-y it sounds. Also, I've read some people liking the singing version by the componist more and though I agree it sounds more clean, this version is better in this context. Stolas is heart broken and barely keeping it together so having moments where he can't reach a note all too well or cracking his voice slightly sounds more realistic to me
I love the use of the high note at the end to simulate the sound of crying. It really adds to the sorrow.
I'm not sure if this has anything to do with anything, but is anyone else fascinated about the fact that stolas had his first song in season 1, episode 2, and this is in season 2, episode 1?
He's so connected to prophecies, I can't help but wonder if the episodes and seasons will add up in some way.
Could also be a total coincidence and I'm just overthinking it.
It's crazy how much this depiction of hell is. Alot of times people will say "Oh it's gonna be fun" or try to downplay just how much torture it will actually be. But this show has a very unique take on it in that it all seems like normal civilization...ish... Yet everyone is constantly broken, never satisfied, going through so many ups and downs and it's hell for them because there is no peace
Truth to be told Stolas is terrifying, I think many forget what powers he posses especially his beach wife.
This being the song that defines him cause it adds lyrics to his leitmotif aside, I just realized that "like sparks in the dark" is some beautiful foreshadowing because that's what Via saw at the end of the following episode.
I think there is an amazing difference between this song and the one he sang to Octavia. The first song was perfect.. whereas here he doesn't really care about how he sings, it's about the emotions, that's why it sounds false at times and so raw, an amazing job from the VA
I just realized, Stolas's lyrics in this song are sung to the tune of the haunting background music that plays when he makes his entrance in "Truth Seekers" (starting when the black stuff erupts from Agent 2's mouth)! :D
There are so many emotions in his voice during this song. It feels like the most vulnerable we’ve seen Stolas. You can hear is heartbreak
The episode was awesome! My favorite part is where he stood up to Stella.
I’m sure people have already said this but when he sang the “you have no choice” I broke. I’m not trying to say Blitz is in the right but I see both their sides. Stolas is realizing his relationship with Blitz isn’t what he thought and that Blitz has been using him, but at the same time I feel for Blitz, who realized he actually cared for Stolas. But Blitz is pushing away from Stolas, maybe bc he’s afraid to be hurt? Im not really sure but I really felt for Stolas during this-
Thx for coming to my Ted talk
The fact that this was one continuous take (confirmed in the cast watch party) is literally amazing.
I realised Stella is even worse than I initially thought, it is Stolas who decides for the divorce but at the lust ring it sounds like Stella has made it so every one believes she did it.