LITTLE ROVER | Song for Opportunity 

No, *I'm* not crying over a robot. *You're* just good at writing songs.

Mars looked to the empty dark sky again, as he often did since his metal friend had gone silent. Though at the time he knew this visit would be only a short blip in his time as a celestial body, he never expected the small wheels persisting in his dusty breath to grow so important to him. So long now he missed the gentle slow meandering and the tickle of the metal drone's prodding, he wished that the "Earth" which the rover spoke to would send him another companion soon. He so terribly wanted another to call him home. A streak in the sky wrenched Mars from his musings, and he felt an entity enter his space. "Another rover!" the ancient thought with excitement, drawing his breath shallow so the new arrival would land safely. But the entity was larger than the last....too large. Yet despite this it landed gracefully utop his skin. Tiny wheels touched down on his surface...no...not wheels. A mound of rusty sand rose and Mars opened his eyes, the shape which only his wandering body had taken greeting his eyes. The beings who made his friend, the children of Earth. They had come to Mars....and they were taking the lifeless Opportunity! His eyes grew hot and his breath staggered as a dust storm began to rage. No, they cant take his friend, they have no right! The creators moved faster with their drone than Mars could stop, and soon his still friend was in the pure metal skin of the Earth craft. Mars pounded on the door and then the window's, trying to save his only friend, his only memory from those who had supplied them to him. Dry dust streamed from his eyes, the water gone so long ago he no longer knew what it was. Then light streamed from the top of the metal body. Mars climbed the sharp angles and strange shapes until he looked down into a room full of objects which looked to have blinking stars embedded inside them. What were these Earth children? In the center of the room lay his friend, one of the children laying their hands deep within Opportunity. The small rover began to shudder, a pale light shone through its eye. The child stepped away and looked up at Mars, the celestial shocked he could be seen. Opportunity then cast its lens up to its friend, and a smile crept onto his emerging face. A drop trickled down the old celestial's face and the Earth child spoke. "I'm sorry we took so long to come wake him up, Uncle. Our offering to you as our new home...is the friend we sent you so long ago." Mars sprung rivers from his face and water returned to the dead landscape, the body shaking with joy and relief as he watched his only friend return before his eyes. The red planet on that day became a little bluer.

People to robots in fantasy: They can't feel anything so it doesn't matter what you say People to robots in real life:

i mean, i *heard* the news. i can describe how circumstances occured that led to machine shutdown. but its somehow *this* that makes it finally sink in Opportunity has been around since my childhood. i guess i thought itd always be there. till we meet again, little rover

As well as a robot. It was the symbolisation of the true start of the space age. We will forever be grateful to that one little rover for kicking the age of space off. It's saying goodbye to the start and hello to the future. As you can tell I'm struggling to put into words how amazing this little robot is but that's because the opportunity that it gave us is so amazing. Opportunity gave us so much more curiosity towards space. It deserves every ounce of mourning and respect it gets and more.

I know you’ll never read this, but I just really wanted to say, thanks. I haven’t listened to this song since it was released, and I have been going through a sort of depression lately, and this song not only helped me cry, but reignited my passion for space and curiosity for the universe. I can’t thank you enough, this is now 100% my new favorite song, and again, thank you for writing this, please never change

On the verge of tears, because of a robot. 90 days, 14 years, underdog story of the century.

Interestingly, this wasn’t the first time the solar panels were rendered inoperable on the Opportunity, but every previous time, the winds of Mars cleared them, making them operable again. Mars was looking out for his little buddy.

NOTE TO EVERYONE: People keep commenting about how Opportunity is fine and booted back up. This is sadly not true, people are confusing Opportunity with Curiosity, NASA's other Mars rover. Curiosity briefly crashed and rebooted after a short while, Opportunity has been completely shut down and the mission has been declared over, NASA are no longer attempting to wake it, it cannot wake on its own. LYRICS: There's a speck beyond the heavens There's a dot among the stars That men for generations said To be the face of Mars I've often thought his thirst for war Might one day find an end That he might calm down a little If he only found a friend Well it's far too far to visit We've barely reached the moon But we thought we'd send a messenger To say we'd be there soon So our finest, best and brightest Set their minds to a machine To venture in our stead through space To keep him company So carry on little rover Opportunity awaits Though your song may be over May your music never fade That you’ve written in the sands Of lands afar we’ve yet to face Little rover We hope you found your home A year among the stars And then our hero hurtled down And Mars was quite surprised To find the little guy around He showed him rocks and mountains And all the things between And the little rover wrote us About all the things he’d seen The time flew by and soon His visit reached its final day But he and Mars got on so well That rover chose to stay So off they went together For adventure they were bound But he kept on writing letters About all the things they found So carry on little rover Opportunity awaits Though your song may be over May your music never fade As it floats along the dust You conjured in the trail you blazed Little rover We hope you found your home A whole year of their friendship passed And then a dozen more And letters of adventures Kept on piling at our door But tiny wheels in alien fields Can only go so far And soon the rover's time had come To rest among the stars We’re all rushing to be somewhere In this crazy human race How ironic that some gears and wheels Would go and win first place Your one small step turned out to be An odyssey in space So when one day we join you You left tire treads to trace So carry on, little rover Opportunity awaits Though your song may be over May your music never fade As it plays among the stars That shine upon you where you lay Little rover We hope you found your home It's time to sleep little rover Maybe someday you'll awaken To find that we all followed you Along the steps you’ve taken So you can rest your head Knowing one day we'll be saying Little rover You helped us find our home Little rover We hope you found your home We're sorry That we couldn't bring you home

5 years later, and i still think with 90% certainty this will forever be my fave song from Stupes! So beautiful, meaningful, and hopeful that it always makes me cry.

Goosebumps already, and the song just started. The symbolism is especially lovely. You do excellent work as always!

I have been in love with robots since I was a tiny child and followed the Opportunity story since they launched it. I was legitimately kind of heartbroken when they announced that it's mission had finally come to an end. This song is amazing and I am glad that I stumbled across it tonight. Thanks for making it!

I'm not crying about a rover, you are! Talk about a beautiful "mini" project Stupes, this is as amazing as your big ones.

IM NOT CRYING OVER A LAND ROVER...IM NOT CRYING OVER A LAND ROVER...IM NOT CRYING OVER A LAND ROVER...IM NOT CRYING OVER A LAND ROVER...IM NOT CRYING OVER A LAND ROVER...IM NOT CRYING OVER A LAND ROVER...IM NOT CRYING OVER A LAND ROVER...IM NOT CRYING OVER A LAND ROVER...IM NOT CRYING OVER A LAND ROVER...

Reading the description on your love for robotics and wanting to be a roboticist (Not sure if that's the actual term) really resonated with my want to be an artist. I can draw at least at some level of decent in my opinion, but do to my hand tremor I kinda had to make peace with never being able to be the kinda artist I wanted to be (which is basically anime). I'm glad you found something else to do that makes you happy and you can make a living on. I still draw every now and then as my love for it never faded, bu the feeling of finding out you aren't made for what you want to do really resonated with me. Yet more of a reason I love you and your songs. You're awesome man.

Is there anything you can't do? Songs about games? Nailed. Christmas Songs? Nailed. Diss tracks? Nailed. Rap challenges? Nailed! Now you've blown us all away with a song about a brave little robot. Keep up the amazing work - Now I need to go find some tissues.

This little robot dedicated its whole life to giving us a better future, let's finish what he started.

jeesus, i've never had this much emotion since up.

Opportunity: "My battery is low... and it's getting dark." Mars: "It's okay... I'm here. You even can hold my hand if you want to... I'm not going anywhere." ... Humanity: "Opportunity, what's going on? Are you okay? You're scaring me. Opportunity, please respond!" Mars: "...Opportunity is sleeping now. She's at peace." Humanity: "Does that mean...?" Mars: "Yes." Humanity: "Oh no..." Mars: "I'm terribly sorry." Humanity: "It's fine... I just wish she knew that we were sorry... we couldn't be there for her." Mars: "No, you were always there for her. We all were." Humanity: "But we created her. And then we just sent her off without second thought. How could we do this to her?" Mars: "Don't be sad. That's not what she would have wanted. She was never alone. And had an amazing life of adventure thanks to you, and she was truly happy. All she ever wanted was to let you know just how fantastical my world truly was. She saw and loved me for the real me, and I think that's what made her a truly great friend." Humanity: "Thank you... for keeping her company." Mars: "Like I said, you were there too. She was never alone. She had her whole family with her, including me. And she'll always be here, resting with me." Humanity: "I'll really miss her." Mars: "Me too." ... *R.I.P Opportunity* 2003 - 2018

Man rest in peace little buddy 2004-2019

Listened to this alot after my breakup, I dont know why but this song was calming and soothing to me, kind of emotional too. Good job man.

2 years... Let's hope he's still resting well. And let's hope we're closer to waking him up.

Wow. It is truly amazing to see you work with something like that and still make something incredible. This just goes to show how good you are. I'm really happy to see you expand beyond videogames. Have you ever thought about making songs for movies? After seeing this I know you can do anything. I'd love to see you sing about How to Train your Dragon with the third and final movie just coming out now. You would do great with that. Keep up the amazing work!

Opportunity, your avenger has arrived. Let us hope that Perseverance is as wonderful as you were.

As a aspiring astrophysicist, this song is pretty personal for me. Thank you for writing this amazing song.

Dude, how do you craft such beautiful music😂 This legitimately almost made me cry. Such an awesome sendoff to Earth’s first feet on the red carpet of the stars.❤️

Alright, I'm gonna say it. When humans eventually succeed in colonizing Mars, the first city built on the planet should be named Opportunity, in honor of the rover who's pioneering efforts helped get us there.

Yo, I swear to God the shuffle button on your originals playlist is out to get me. First that emotional song you made as you were moving, and then this afterwards? Brutal.

I am fascinated with all things space and this brought tears to my eyes I hope opportunity comes to life once more to greet Mars once more it's only friend for all the years it spent alone.

A whole group of scientists 'bouta cry.

All the feels. At the end my throat's constricted and there are tears in my eyes. Goodbye little rover.

When we’re able to make fully sentient robots, this will be the first song i’ll show it. Or maybe i’ll become a real life Pokemon Trainer. Either one would be amazing.

*FUN FACT* The FIRST Song EVER Sang On Mars Was 'Happy Birthday' Sang By Curiosity

This song makes me tear up every time. Someday it’ll get dark and my batter will be low, and I’ll join our little buddy among the stars.

A moment of silence for Opportunity. Thank you, for all you’ve done. Until we meet again.

this is the first time i clicked this on my recomended, and i enjoyed it. its inspiring in a way, too. because after five years... it has not faded.

*"my battery is low,and it is getting dark"*

Watching and following Opportunity was what got me interested in space, from launch, landing, the journey and updates, all the way to it's eventual death. Through every temporary shut down and reawakening when Mars itself blew the solarpanels clean enough for it to keep going. Opportunity was what made me see just how far humans could go. Thank you Stupendium, this is a brilliant homage to one of humanitys greatest achievements, to the little rover whom went above and beyond any expectation one could have had for it. You have me shaking in tears. As others have mentioned, Mars's first colony should carry the name Opportunity, and if Mars permits, I hope we'll be able to find and recover our little hero or at the very least set up a monument in the colony so that we might never forget.

i cried my eyes out the first time i heard this song, its bitter sweet now. the rover sitting quietly out there. shut down, but essentially immortal.

I remember when you have 7k subscribers (with me of course i subscribe then immediately) becouse i know then already that you become a legend and here we are. I believe in that you get 1 milion really soon.

You made me cry, and dream that one day when the wars would be over we could reach the stars

If we make a city on mars we should name it opportunity after the rover :D p.s. you are way to good at writing songs like seriously everytime I listen to you I get dazzled by how amazing you are

I actually teared up while listening to this while reading up on Opportunity. I hope that when we establish a civilization on Mars they name the first city after the little guy and build a statue of him in his honor. He may have been a machine but he had the soul of a person.

Liked at around 30 seconds; awesome as always!

i was looking through your channel for songs i haven’t heard and i don’t know how i haven’t heard this one until now

We have to make a mars mission for opportunity now.

I'm not crying, I just have something in my eye! The reflection of Opportunity's last letters... Edit: I'm imagining Opportunity landing as an adolesent, so they were excitable. Their messages starting out as simple things like "wow! There's big rocks here! And they're red, just like we saw far away!" Then as they grew up, they were more detailed, kneeling down and picking up samples, writing exact specifications and notable observations in a journal.

I recently started getting back into researching the opportunity and spirit rovers and I am so happy to find this song, I love this and will be forever included in my playlists. I'm just upset that I didn't find this song sooner!

Fuuuuuuck Goddammit I'm crying. It's not often I cry over songs. You've knocked it out of the park on this one. God bless you, you extraordinary man!

Really beautiful, like all your songs ...it make me cry...i used traductions the first time because im french and i dont understand all the words, but im really happy for having discover you...sorry my english is not perfect 😅... it was just for saying that you have some europeans fans

so as you might know the curiosity rover sings happy birthday to itself every year, I think it would be pretty cool to see an animation ( im not asking anyone to make an animation i just wanted to share my idea with someone) of just the rover sitting still going *wind blows in background* Rover: *in robotic voice* happy birthday to me Rover: *in robotic voice* happy birthday to me *some dust passes by the rover* Rover: *in robotic voice* happy birthday dear opportunity Rover: *in robotic voice* happy birthday to me *powers down*

Spirit: *cries mechanically*

I've listened to this maybe 10 times and it still makes me cry.

I really like that line "the little rover wrote us". Just the flow of it feels nice in my brain.

Even years after it's release, this song still brings me tears. 🥲

I know that when (not if) we send humans to mars, we'll find the poor little bots we sent before us. We'll bring them home. Some day.

I may have said this before, and just forgotten, but I think this has got to be one of your best songs

After watching this over and over again i now want a movie or short film about a spartan that encounters a sentiant rover from the future going on an adventure to try and send the little rover home

We need a mars rescue mission to recharge the rover

Thank you Opportunity, for giving us opportunity someday. We miss you

I... I dont know why, but every time this makes me tear up. Damn you Stupendium, how dare you make something so beautifull?

Thank you. My dog just passed away and this is one of my "let yourself cry" songs. Thank you for making it. You may never know how mutch this helps.

This is so sad. Alexa, play Little Rover

I grew up on the space coast and as I kid I always dreamed of space but I never really realized how impactful it was on my life. I moved to North Carolina for college and chose to stay here once I graduated and now that I don’t get to see the launches I always try to keep up on the happenings. Space has become a hobby and passion for me. And Opportunity became like a family friend to me. I remember when he launched when I was young and I for better terms grew up with him, always keeping up with what new things he finds. And I’m happy to see that so many others have found this same love for that little robot. The day he sent his last transmission was a very sad day for me and for mankind. This tribute song sunk to my core and had me an tears. Amazing work. Thank you for doing this.

….my brain is telling me to feel sad during this song, but i can’t help but feel happy and…. What is it? Am I happy? Hopefull? Or just content. Yeah, I think it’s that one. Like saying goodbye to a friend, but…. Not in a sad way. I don’t know how to describe it. In a way that we both feel full and complete, like we have had just enough time, and feel good ending it here.

This song hit me where it counts. I wouldn't be surprised if this song inspired people to get to Mars quicker to see our brave little rover so that way he can see that his little adventure lead to big and great things.

i was a little over 1 year old when Opportunity went to mars. i heard that Opportunity was done last year and was saddened. you have done the rover and it's team a service with this song. i hope some of the staff who worked with Opportunity find this song and know that the rover meant a lot to a lot more people than they think. this is one of the few things at all, let alone songs, that make me feel anything. you've done good.

I am not crying (it’s just a bit of sand in my eye)

"My battery's dying and it's getting dark" ~Opportunity Not even gonna lie that's like super sad, and the song isn't helping. 😤😞

This song made me tear up.

Though your Song may be over may your Music Never fade.

I love how he refers to Mars the Roman god of war (he’s called Ares in Greece)

Now, I really want to see an animation made about this. I can see it now. It would have a story of an anthropomorphized Rover meaning, it would act more like a person or pet, where it would wag its antenna as a tail and emote with its camera as eyes(so Wall-e but more dog like than human like). The story, would start with the song starting out when the engineers first built the rover at NASA. It would follow along as the rover is, showed its tools and shown where it’s going either the engineers being excited and happy and that attitude being reflected in the rover. We would then follow the Rover as it goes in the rocket and is launched into space and lands on Mars. Once there the rover would find a depiction of the god of Mars and they would go on several adventures. Mostly just sightseeing trips, of course all the while the Rover is sending letters back to earth for the people at NASA. Towards the end of the song, we would see the rover flashing through its memories as it’s wheels fail, and we see a battery symbol start to go low. Then, in a flash through the Rovers eyes, we will see humans in suits around the rover but it will then cut back to the rover alone(or with mars the god) as its camera powers down and it goes to sleep.

You know when I heard about the twins it made me cry One day I will fulfil my wish to work in space and my wish to work there and find opportunity and his/her brother spirit who died 2004 - 2011 Rest in peace spirit and opportunity you all be in our heart ♥

I am so not crying over a robot. We miss you Oppy.

I legit cry every time the song plays. Absolutely amazing lyrics and song. Even though this song doesn't have an accompaning animation, it is one of your best songs. Keep up with the brilliant songs, you absolute legend.

I'll admit, I can listen to most, if not all of your songs. But this one is impossible to finish, because I tear up towards the end. Thanks for making me cry over a Rover. ;_;

Out of all the song makers i have heard, you sir, are the best

You should enlist in movie song production cause this is outstanding.👌

I'm hearing this right after the Perseverance landing. Hits a little different. I'm not old enough to witness the launch of Opportunity, but I have always been a fan of space, and consequently, spacecraft. My favorite of which being the Mars Rovers. When I heard that Opportunity had died, I was sad. This, I feel, is a worthy piece of art for Opportunity. I know you'll never see this, but keep up the good work, Stupendium! (Also, I just realized this was posted on my Birthday. Cool!)

Have you considered sending this to NASA? I think they'd appreciate it. Edit: It's been five years and I'm still getting replies to this? Fine. The answer is only revealed upon completing your vision quest and achieving apotheosis. Only then will your mind be capable of understanding the truth.

Genie: You have three wishes. Me: I wish the Opportunity mars rover is found in perfect condition when we make it to mars. Genie: okay that ones free you have three more wishes.

I never thought a song about a rover we sent to mars would make me feel so much

For some reason I am physically incapable of listening to this song without crying. I think it's because it's somewhere between an eulogy for Opportunity and a song of praise for the heights humanity's cleverness and curiousity can take us to

“We’re all rushing to be somewhere in this crazy human race” “How ironic that some gears and wheels would go and win first place” best lines of a song I have ever heard

This song is absolutely amazing. Combine it with our tendency to project onto anything, little Opportunity included, it's no wonder this is so popular. And people say AI would hate us because we'd abuse them. People get attached to roomba's of all things, you really think we'd abuse Humanity's "Children"?

2015: robots are out to get us because we abuse them! 2019:

"We're sorry that we couldn't bring you home" That last lyric hit me in the feels right there

I THOUGHT I WAS DONE CRYING ABOUT OPPORTUNITY BUT THEN YOU HAD TO GO AND DO THIS BEAUTIFUL THING.

It's amazing how beyond all the political scandals, racism, and wars- everyone comes together and cries for a little Robot we left on a new frontier.

Opportunity's wheels never stopped. They're just on new ground, crawling up that rainbow bridge. Carry on, little rover, send Odin our regards.

We could barely reach the moon and yet a tiny little robot left the first tracks on mars, this whole song seems an homage to David Bowie's style with the celestial melancholy of Space Oddity but with the soul of the sleeping robot. Maybe one day we'll wake it up, maybe the first human face it will see will resemble Matt Damon (only kidding, but maybe). And maybe they'll play this song to it. That would be nice wouldn't it? A beautiful tune that nearly shed some tears, thanks little rover.

I am late but whatever, Opportunity’s last message was “My battery is low and it is getting dark...” ...

Its funny to think about the buddy comedy style back-and-forth between a little rover and the god of war.

I love this. The personification of the rover; the calm, emotional melody; the thought that went into it. And the references to the god Mars; as a mythology buff, I admit I loved that twist. Marvellous (though at this point, I guess I've come to anticipate that from you).

God that was beautifull. Cant belive I cried like that over a song about a rover. May you sleep well until the day we can join you on your new home

I love how you referenced Ares, the god of war. One of his names is Mars after all.

Though your song may be over May your music never fade A message from me to you stupendium

This is really beautiful for a rover that died. It actually brought tears to my eyes.

There are some people too good to possibly exist. Stupendium has become one such person. Edit: Holy crap, a heart! Thanks, bro!