The Mind Electric BEGINNING AND END COMPARISON - Played Simultaneously LR with text description 

OH MY GOD, ive been wondering for SO LONG why there are two versions of this song. i was aware that there was a "tame" and "chaotic" version, and that the song was reversed, but i had no idea that the tame version WAS the reversed part

“Joe, Are you SURE that you didn’t record us talking while recording the tame version again, Right?” “yeah of course I didn’t”

Something I just noticed; the glitch at 1:21 is actually a slowed down part of the piano in Murders right before "all for nothing at all"

If we believe the theory that this song is about the execution of the main character, I feel like the "tame" version represents the court session (given the people chattering and chanting) and the "flashing" version represents the electrocution itself, which explains the numerous "glitches" and electric spark sound effects. It also may represent the way the main character perceives the court session, the glitches symbolizing the distorted reality inside his mind.

I honestly prefer the flashing version, i feel like all the glitches and stuff adds so much personality to the song

Something i realized is that the reason the clean version is reversed is probably before the actual electrocution (explaining the background voices in clean),when distorted starts it could imply that the first electric shock started and the 'glitch' parts in it are the electricity getting worse,bending his mind and distorting simon into an unrecognizable person,the 'doctor i cant tell if im not me' line shows that he cant even tell if he really is himself anymore.

I honestly prefer the metal clanking music And fun fact: in the second corrupted part where the piano/opera plays, its actually a mozart song backwards!

I was panicking earlier because I was used to the tame version and had heard the hectic version, very thankful I found this

Oh wow I didn't realize how different the two versions were until now (and I listened to both a lot so that's saying something lmao) thanks for this video man!

something that i just want to point out since i didn't see it mentioned in the video--at 1:52 the "flashing" version's drums actually are reversed and begin to desync with that section. meanwhile the "tame" one is forwards and stays on beat

probably the best song in the album with how many little details and references it has that unfortunately had the negative side effect of making it the one song everyone gravitates towards when interpreting the album, disregarding a lot of the nuance of the other songs as "it's just the main character talking crazy because his brain got fried, don't look to deep into it"

This is for me to compare the individual sections easily: 0:00 (Intro) Think of these thoughts 0:16 (Court 1) Resident minor 0:32 (Court 2) Father, your honor 0:53 (Electric 1) All mine towers 1:05 (Calm 1) Scattering sparks 1:40 (Electric 2) Nuns commence incanting 2:00 (Calm 2) Spiraling down 2:11 (Climax 1) See how the surfs 2:34 (Climax 2) See how the brain 3:07 (Outro) When it grows bright

More differences and details: 0:03 - the flashing version has more harsh bass notes played every few notes whereas the tame version has the same volume bass throughout the entire first section 0:15 - Flashing: more distortion and repeat on the last syllable of "decimal" 0:15 - Tame version does indeed have more distortion on those two guitar notes but the flashing version has choppier, more obviously cut notes. this is the same effect for 0:28, 0:45, 1:18 (coming back to this, the flashing version might actually be a piano, which would be consistent with other guitar/piano switches throughout the rest of the songs) 0:32 - flashing: "explain" is distorted, "me" is repeated, albeit has a repeated "e", and "insane" is entirely reversed to sound like "enasni". also during this section, the piano is reversed at some notes 0:41 - flashing: extremely faint and really only noticeable in the instrumental, but the "service, service, service" is said very quietly behind "Condemn him to the infirmary" 0:45 - flashing: "Service, service, service, service, EEE" 0:45 - the guitar leading up to the next section contains different notes in the tame version. (Tame: G G G G G A A# B) (Flashing: G G G G G G G G...) same for 1:18 0:50 - flashing: the screaming found in the demos is found here 0:54 - it's very hard to hear here but thanks to Verosment's and naturalkatsup's Hawaii: Part II vocal isolation videos, we can see that "crumble" is distorted in the flashing but not in the tame 1:05 - flashing: "trouble" is distorted and repeated 1:06 - It may just be my headphones, but I feel like the pizzicato/harp in the background is louder and has a little bit more reverb in the flashing version than in the tame version 1:22 - flashing: Murders piano, mozart opera chant, sunkist hawaii samples, 1:48 - the laughing that takes place in the flashing section's vocal cut is at 2:00 in the tame version 2:14 - flashing: a reverse piano note begins to play, building up to the bridge 2:17 - flashing: during this entire section is metal clanking along with the drums. This can't be heard in this video because the clanking only happens in the left ear, and the left ear is occupied in this video. In the original flashing song it is prominent 2:17 - flashing: during this entire section, the "more electronic/added chiptune parts" are all in Hawaii: Part II Part II under Reampflication Edits, Simon Synth, and Teslacoil Synth 3:00 - Tame: "not you, huh?" 3:04 - tame: the "EEE" at the beginning of the flashing version is put here in the tame version 3:06 - for the tame version, the choir and joe are singing at the same volume. for the flashing version, joe is singing louder The very end has about 4.5 seconds of silence in the flashing version (the ending is instant in the tame version because it starts instantly in the standard version of the song where it is reversed)

Can I just say… I feel like this is the true way the song was supposed to be heard. It is differentiating the perspectives of the protagonist compared to an outside viewer, such as, the judge and jury in a courtroom implied by the song. Cutting and glueing the pieces together for the listener to better comprehend what all is going down throughout the song gives you an omniscient point of view to experience how everyone is perceiving the event. In other words, the editing of the song(s) helps explain to you how everyone feels and what they would see. One other thing to wrap this up, I really like how both versions go hand-in-hand when they are overlapping; I could’ve gone my whole life without ever knowing the cymbals answer each other like a question and answer. This is shown around 0:50 and I am still in awe of that effect. And to that, I am really appreciative of the creator putting this video together to showcase the amazing details that went into this song. (To the creator) You are amazing!

bout to fire up audacity and make my own version of this. both of them together is the only way i want to hear this song now

The tame version sounds like the mind recalling what happened before electroshock therapy while the flashing is the same mind trying to recall it afterwards, with their memories and thoughts mashing together making the song incoherent in some places.

I came here looking for you to approve a speedrun, but I've ended up spending my day listening to Miracle Musical. Thanks very much :)

the first time i listed to the flashing version, i got scared because before that i mostly listened to the tamed version, the "so so so" looping part was the part that scared me the most

did anybody else notice/hear “we are safe” in the first glitchy part the tame version doesn’t have?

should also add that the tame version has a "not you, huh?" after the "Doctor, I can't tell if I'm not me!"

this is literally my favorite song in the album just because of how complex it is

At 3:00, in the tame version, you can hear a "Ha! Not you, huh?" in response to "Doctor, I can't tell if I'm not me"

I love how well synced the 2 versions are in this video

2:35 Just noticed there’s whistling in the background that sounds like Labyrinth. Other people have probably noticed it before but I just did and it sounds cool. I love those little details that go over your head and then you finally notice it

I love how the Flashing version keeps the word "insane" in reverse, symbolizing just how damaged the character's psyche is at this point.

i want this to be the end credits of the world, with everyone understanding what the song is about

If the actual song had just been like this I would love it SO MUCH more. Making it like this still gives that hectic and desperate feel because you can still hear the difference between ears, plus if you made the parts in the Flashing Version that aren't in the Tame Version be both ears so it wasn't overwhelming one ear that would be really cool! Doing some editing to the full product and bam, I would listen to this a lot more. I love the actual song but the 3 minutes of backwards audio can get annoying after awhile.

1:20 those "light piano notes" are from the end of Murders

this is pure ear heaven. by that i mean i’m putting my ears into a frying pan.

my right ear feels a little lonley at parts AND IT WIGS MY BRAIN OUT

wow they put a lot of work in to this song is this why it took so long to come out? also this song is what got me more in to tally hall

2:35 is majestic : the whistling is fire

i don't have headphones so i just held up my speakers to my ears which worked

not only does this fucking slap, it also helped me figure out I've been using my earphones wrong this whole time LMFAOOO thanks man

At *3:01* on the flashing version you can hear the end of labyrinth on the chiptune

2:16 love this part

Why am I addicted listening to dis-

I like the chaotic parts of the flashing version, but also everything going on in the background in the tame version. Honestly I can only enjoy the song fully when it's like this

Such a great comparison!!

This hits different at 3 am

Thank you so much for making this. This song is so freaking complex and I love how every time I listen to it or another version it’s just I learn something new. Thank you

Just gonna add this comment: The reason for the two versions is one is a recollection, one is while it's happening. The reversed (tame) version is what's happening AS it's happening. That's why there's chatter, dude's in a mental asylum (condemn him to the infirmary) sent there by his father (No it's not an actual judge, what judge calls the defendent "resident minor"? That's his son) The background talking is to give us an idea of what's really going on. There's very specific audio chosen that's meant to reflect things like old time basic cable (TV Land reruns) and people arguing in an asylum. What happened is serious shock therapy. Dude fully disassociated after finding his lover murdered by the Anglerfish and rather than helping people are trying to make him be more "normal" (See how the serfs work the ground? And they give it all they got. And they give it all they got. And YOU'LL give it all you got) Editing real quick to go over some misconceptions: - No he didn't murder her. Considering he was never tried for murder he didn't do it. We learn from the interlude that it was common knowledge that she was murdered. The fact that he never actually stood trials means it wasn't him. -The Anglerfish/Sirens is the one who actually murdered the love interest. There's a reason why they say they'll be atoning, not our protagonist who gets a happy ending via The Whale. -The protagonist is suffering from Disassociative Identity Disorder, not schizophrenia. We know this because in Murderers he constantly refers to "they" before finally coming full circle and finally realizing "I was in the forest looking to see the trees but none were there.." -The Protagonist is in Purgatory. He's been in a loop and that's why the Miracle Musical was put on by The Whale (Yes, really. Joe Hawley's the one who put it on and The Whale is him. The Whale is basically God.) in order for things to be different enough to where our protagonist can FINALLY process his life and move on.

This is definitely one of the times I wish I could hear out of both ears I can only hear the flashing version with headphones on. 😅 Oh well still really cool to even hear without headphones such an awesome video! 😊

I legitimately cannot stop listening to this song, I love it.

Really outstanding edit, especially with the time code and everything. (I can tell this was edited in premiere) Great work and thank you!

Thank you for posting this I love it

The only one i noticed were the most obvious of the voice distortions/ added glitches from the flashing version and chiptune in the final segment. I never would have noticed the symbols crashing forwards/ reversed, you did a great job.

i feel it's also important to mention that at 1:05 on the left only, there's a triangle playing

It’s kinda weird that nobody’s pointed this out yet, Perhaps the glitches in the flashing version are a result of Simon (the guy who sings this in story probably because of a demo name for this song) repressing memories? Or perhaps loosing them? With his testimony in the court being severely tampered with in the flashing version, To the point where the word “insane” is reversed, And all of the fast segments having glitches right before them, Those being where he’s electrocuted (I believe the story of this song is simon getting convicted for a crime he didn’t commit, falsely pleading insanity for less harsh sentencing, Getting the exact opposite and being put through electro shock therapy, which makes him go actually insane.) Which would all be reasonable things to repress.

Your underated bruh

this analasis is exactly what i wanted to hear and i only first heard the song yesterday! the algoRhythm was a bro today

i noticed that the flashing version's first verse is more "rougher" on the synth compared to the tame version

i feel like the "Tame" Version shows more of the real "story" and the "Flashing" version shows what simon saw, a corrupted vision of what happened that was more chaotic and distorted due to his punishment

Thanks for uploading this! I listened to the song forward and backwards many times trying to understand if it was a perfect mirror, all the wacky stuff in the second half threw me off listening to them in sync

Damn this honestly portrays insanity better than either on its own, which one do you hear? Which one is real? Am I hearing things? Like jeez

I think the last part sounds much better in the distorted version, i especially love the tesla synth

thanks to this I realized that I had the headphones backwards

I really enjoy this, thank you

The first part of the flashing part that the tame doesn't have actually has the scream from demo 4

Amazing work you did. It helped a lot to try and understand the whole of the album. Couldn't have done better with just Filmora and a reversed video. Edit: I rewatched the video a couple of times hearing and testing many differences and i found a kind of reliable theory. The Tame version happens hand to hand while the protagonist in question is sent to the electric chair. The Flashing happens after and it is the mind remembering the situation, deduced by the whole glitch, distortion, heavy sounds and electric tunes it has. This may be proven by some specific differentes in each song. 1. In the Tame version i think the reason why it has more *Guitar distortion* while playing the heavy piano pauses from Murders is because the protagonist remembers the murder being a lot more chaotic since it is his mind holding a grudge against the murder, but in the Flashing version the distortion isnt added because his mind isn't correctly functioning and he is now the chaotic monster he thought the murder was. This may be thanks to the electric chair messing up his axons & dendrites (his neurons), part that is said in both versions. 2. Following what i said, the "Help me, Axondendrite" part is said in both versions and it is his brain calling for help. In the Tame part it's heard a lot better because he's "awake" (or in its five senses) and feeling it all and how it happens. On the other hand, at least i can't hear the "help me, axodendrite" part on the Flashing version, maybe because his mind tries to not remember the feeling of the hurtful chair anymore since his energy was probably spent after the distorted part. 3. Again, i deduce that the distorted mixture of the opera, hawaii and the murders piano scene is his mind going through the pain once again. Maybe it got more activated while in the happening.

there are some parts i prefer from the tame and some parts i prefer from flashing. i prefer the part from "see how the serfs" onwards and also "all mine towers" to "cower and pray" in flashing but i prefer a lot of the rest in the tame version

AAGH I LOVE THE LITTLE DETAILS SO MUCHH AAAGHHHH

this is really helpful! i always listen to the tame version to hear joe's beautiful voice clearly, but the flashing version is very cool and it *does* feel like you're in the mind of 'simon'..

Am I the only one wondering what the people are saying in the background?

This is a really cool video, and I'm glad you made it

around 2:18, the flashing version starts playing the labyrinth melody and it wouldve been good to mention that in the graphic

0:01 if you hear closely, tame version has chattering here too. edit: 0:03 flashing version has louder bass. edit: 0:15 flashing version voice has some cracks or glitch. edit: 0:29 0:45 1:19 i think flashing version has reversed... whatever this is called, not a musician. not sure if it is reversed but it surely is different. edit: 0:33 for flashing version, not only vocal but whole audio including piano has distorts too(kinda obvious) 0:46 1:21 flashing version's distort part has some signs before they start, also different from tame version. 1:46 flashing version has reversed cymbal and tame version has normal cymbal again. 1:54 the sign here has reversed cymbal and 'so' 2:16 sign also makes it a little different before the text says so(kinda obvious again)

this was a actually pretty interesting, i didn’t notice most of these changes

I wish the tame version had the chiptune, that stuff is legendary.

2:43 I've always wanted to know what exactly that guy is saying in the background. It sounds a bit like the other samples used but i can more clearly make out what he's saying. Whatever it is, it sounds a lot like there's an "Apollo" in there. Whether that's referencing the Greek god, the theater, or one of the Apollo missions, I'm not sure.

Did I just notice they kept the labyrinth tune😱 3:01 ITS THE ENDING TUNE OF LABYRINTH LISTEN CLOSE TO SYNTH

the minds electric

Oh wow, i was actully planning on making something similar to this. This is great, thank you!

I noticed that the flashing version cuts out the "I" from "I think of these thoughts..."

IM TOO OBSESSED EITH THIS SONG

Gonna be completely honest with you all, had no idea the flashing version existed until this video😭 I'm a disgrace to the community ik

light world and dark world

It took me a little while to figure out, but the 'Tame' version here is the part where the whole song is played backwards before it plays forwards (Obviously other people have figured it out in the comments, but I don't know all the 'lore' about this song and the album, and it seems like there's a lot of different versions of the song around). Listening to (i think) the official video, with the slightly shorter song (the 'Tame' one) played backwards, and then the 'Flashing' one played forwards, in the 'Tame' song I can hear the voices in the background. The people chattering in the background are backwards here, but when the 'Tame' song is played in reverse the people talking are forwards. It's just very hard to hear what they're saying. When it's backwards: At 1:01 voices begin on the right, then I think someone saying "I too!" on the left. The same voice says something indistinct on the right and then the left again, and the general voices continue on both sides until they get drowned out at about 1:10 by the music. From about 2:01 there are indistinct voices on both sides. Around 2:06 I can hear a feminine voice saying "You aught to be ashamed of yourself" in the left of my headphones. At 2:17 voices begin again on both sides. The most distinct comes from the left, a 'young' voice (? It's higher, and easier to hear than the lower voices. Also the voice that replied to it sounds reassuring, like it's speaking to a child) seeming to have a conversation with a lower voice. "... A-and then they sailed off without... [indistinct]" (The lower voice, possibly:) "They couldn't sail off... [indistinct] " "Why not?". There are other voices, but I can't hear them well or make out what they're saying behind the music.

Damn this is a really good comparison.

Thank you.

Flashing version sounds like the memories of someone going through it and Tame more like the memories of someone watching it (I don't know how to describe it)

At 2.05 of the reversed tame version you can hear the labirynth part playing. "See how i circle.."

i relate to this song as a tti survivor thank you for this

they sort of feel like theyre supposed to be played like this??

Actually in the more distorted one it has cerrtqin segments from songs like murder I think it's the only one that is used

This little bit at 1:22 gives me very unsettling liminal vibes. It’s like if the Backrooms had a soundtrack.

Why do both these versions give me such a different perspective on life?-

I always had a feeling that the less distorted version was just the reversed part but unreversed

it's great! but you mixed up when the flashing and tame versions start, as well as which ones are played in reverse

This is amazing! Really sad that it hasn't gotten more attention yet

Very well made

What I want to know is what are the faint chattering voices saying throughout? There's clearly some overlaying conversations occurring throughout the song in both tame/flashing versions and trying to interpret them or pick up what they're saying requires a better ear than mine even with a headset. Any ideas?

Thank you for doing all the tremendous amount of work one must go through just to listen to Joe Hawley's music

you missed the metronome in the tame version, "scattering parts of thought energy" part

Where’s the AXON DENDRITE A(hellp meee) XON DENDRITE. Part because it’s one of the demos I think

True heroes make animatics to the Flashing Version-

This comparison is honestly fascinating. I did just think the reversed song was then played forwards. I love that it got distorted and garbled where you think the song is playing as it should, but it's a "glitchy" version instead

Tropical music

WAIT AT 2:32 I HEAR A FEW SOUNDS FROM LABYRINTH IN THE RIGHT EAR

I mostly prefer the tame version but the demo 4 part is a lot better in the flashing version