Uh. What. This is... "Do you hear me, you raven bitch? Ignore the bait and take the switch: this is all I have to offer, witch!" is legitimately Sondheim level subtext. I want you to understand me clearly: You wrote a line there I would argue rivals one of two best narrative musical lyricists in history.
instead of sleeping i rewrote this so it was from vex's perspective in episode 89. Willing, He was willing Returning from that horrid place, I come to you, about his fate Gods willing. Silence, In defiance There had only been seconds between Our victory and suffering Now silence. And long ago, he said to you He’d give it all away He put me first, The fickle fool, But left me behind. In a moment of strife, He gave up his life. He gave it all away To keep me breathing, Me seeing, Me feeling, But still I stand here grieving, And I’m willing . I am willing. I know you’re here, you’ve been misplaced. But still a distant world away I’m willing Silence. Or...An alliance? Come to me, and leave him be I offer you a guarantee, Please just bring him back to me And long ago, I heard you fought A battle to be won And the two of the few who can do what you need Stand here tonight. So I offer strife, To save his life.. I’ll give my all away To keep him breathing Keep breathing Start breathing (repeat) ...Please leave him And silence. And - ...and silence. My friends standing at my back And silence. Then a gasp heard cutting through the black To take you from Where you belong A god-given revival A pause And then you breath again From the promise of survival And an oath. Us. With an enemy a world away. Look at us, in this mess But still I have your back I would do, Would do, Would do It all Again. Willing. Staring at your falling face, Yet still feeling her in this place I am willing.
I finished episode 3 of the second season today and this song came to mind in a sudden flashback. Like "what was that song the broke my soul????" I've been listening to ir for hours now
*spoiler warning* This song is a lot more sad after the final episode and having Vax gone. I know that campaign is over and I watched the first episode of the new one last night but his story was still ended while his sister and friends lived on. I suppose it's always sad when our heroes die before they get some sort of happy ending.
But, Vax's death was a happy ending. He sold himself for his sister to have her happy ending. And in that, Vax had a happy ending, knowing that his sister had a happy ending. Thats their happy ending. If Vex wasnt brought back, Vax wouldnt have his own happy ending, she was his life, and by losing her he lost his own... but ironically he lost his life in order to keep hers going, so she can have her happy ending. Its repetitive and im hating how im putting this.
Vax did get his happy ending, it just wasn't the one we expected/wanted for him. I do wish he could've stayed and grown old with his sister and Keyleth though
I'd really like to see a reprise of this... but... *SPOILERS FROM AN EPISODE AFTER THIS SONG* * * From Vex's point of view when Vax dies during the Aramente. This moment doesn't get nearly enough credit... but Vex'ahlia literally offered to hunt down and kill a major DEMON LORD. These are mortals, powerful as they may be. The absolute desperation and total lack of fucks given about challenging one of the most powerful entities of Hell was amazing... and if that's not "Willing" I don't know what is.
Spoilers: If you don't want to get spoiled, don't look. Laura confirmed in the wrap up to the campaign that at that point she did not fully understand just how much of a "Let's kill a god" she was really saying when she said that they would deal with Orcus for the Raven Queen. And she claimed that in game Vex'halia also did not fully understand what she was saying until afterwards. Luckily Matt said that the Raven Queen just thought it was cute, and would not call up that debt unless Orcus really started moving. Have to point out that many people say during the final fight 6 people woke up ready to face down a god. One was ready to face down 2. I argue against this, as there were 2 who were ready to face the second god, Vax and Scanlan. Vax was ready to face the second to pay his final debt for his sister's life. Scanlan was ready to face the second and snatch his friend away from her final embrace at the last second with a spell that would have most likely worked, but would have definitely pissed off the literal Goddess of Death and definitely brought her ire down on him, who would then have been in a weakened state. So this would have literally been a case of looking the God of Death square in the eyes and saying "Not today." Badass.
@@Jeremiah90526 something I had to watch a video about to catch onto. there was a lot going on 'behind the scenes'(aka 'behind the characters') in that set of scenes. you got one spell that might save a friend from godly servitude on the Far Side, but have to use the slot to bar an enemy's escape instead. damned if you do, damned if you don't. :) but really...if Vax survived the campaign at that point...the world would have gone askew. you do not deny a goddess. broad or limited as her domain may be, she WILL find a way to make your life Hell. possibly literally.
@@carolsmith1639 years late on this but apparently the guy was just some random business partner of the clasp who was causing issues. He apparently liked to stalk and kill/kidnap pretty young girls likes Vex or he was just obsessed with her I forget which. Anyways when Vax figured it out he stalked him figured out the clasp connection and offered to join if they got rid of the guy. So they got rid of him somehow. Vex wanted to find him and figure out what exactly he wanted but she never did find him. he's probably dead. Matt and Liam never said and Vax didn't know the Clasp just told him he was gone.
Okay, this is outstanding. I need Critical Role: The Musical in my life. Also, listening to this gave me an idea for another song. It uses the same or similar music and melody, and it's still from Vax's perspective, but it's when he is the one dying. Back when the Briarwoods almost did him in. He's reminiscing about his childhood and dreaming of Keyleth. Instead of "Willing", it's "Slipping". He's slowly slipping away and asking his family to keep living (keep living, keep living, keep living) without him. Just a thought I had, figured I'd share. AMAZING work, really. Blew me away.
I was also Immediately inspired. The first draft of "What did you do?!" from Vex's perspective is already done I just have to figure out what music I wanna put behind it.
I'm crying. Holy crap, this was amazing, everything from the arrangement, the lyrics to the singing. The raw emotion just hit me so good. I can see this as a song in a musical, maybe becoming a more bombastic reprise later when he accepts his role as the Raven Queen's instrument.
I would love to see a song based on Scanlan leaving title "take my leave" with him and Kaylie singing to let him leave as the others members fight it before eventually leaving then a reprise called "let him leave" where grog conivinces them to not scry on him and just let him go. or there is always a Percy song about the Briarwood arch "your soul is forfiet" because you could have Percy singing about how all of his target will parish but in the background a deep and whispy voice says the line with him every time implying orthaxes plan for Percy
So I am pretty sure that there would have to be several VM musicals to do all the stuff they've done. Ooooooooooooor cut it way down. 1st Musical - The Underdark and K'Varn 2nd Musical - The Black Clouds over Whitestone 3rd Musical - The Conclave 4th Musical - Umbrasyl 5th Musical - Vorugal Last Musical - Thordak and Raishan Or you could come in on the tail end of the Briarwoods and break into the Conclave and shunt it down to 3 musicals. 1st Musical - The Conclave and build up to Umbrasyl 2nd Musical - Umbrasyl and Vorugal 3rd Musical - Thordak and Raishan Or to do one you'd have to do a completely new adventure with callbacks. Maybe a musical of them around the tavern talking about their adventures and just have scenes from throughout the series.
This is fantastic. I'm inspired to write my own. I have to say, when I first saw the title (in light of recent episodes), I thought "Willing" referred to The Raven Queen. "Your will be done..." Would make a KILLER reprise! And it would be amazing to have Liam sing this. Great job Jake & Gina!
I can't stop listening to this! It's absolute perfection, from melody to lyrics to the shifting of emotion thoughout the song. You do such a phenomenal job maintaining that quiet desperation that Liam does so well and then exploding (melodically/lyrically/singing) in the key moments. I'm in awe. Thank you so much for this.
I've been a fan of yours for YEARS, and I'm so excited to see you composing a song for one of my favorite web series. And not just that, but one of my favorite moments in the show.
I've just got this on loop I can't get over how good it is. Sidenote: I love that this has inspired other people to write musical numbers for other moments. I for one, need to make /something/ because this makes me feel ALL THE THINGS
As a fan both of musicals and CR, this song is so so so excellent. I can really picture this in a musical (reminds me of Fun Home or The Last Five Years). Great job!
Dude this is legitimately so so SO good! As both a critical role and a musical theatre fan, I'm being 150% serious when I say that if you did a full Critical Role musical soundtrack I'd buy the whole thing on bandcamp without a second's hesitation. Thanks for sharing this with us all and I hope to see more music from you!!
Well. Freaking. DONE! This is amazing! Do you think you'll make this a series? Maybe do a song for every member of VM during there most impactful/biggest moment? This is what I would consider the most impactful moment for Vax, so maybe a song for Percy when he fought Ripley, Vex when she fought Saundor, Scanlan when he met his daughter, Pike when she is alone and away from her party, Keyleth coming to terms with what she is supposed to do for the world, and Grog during the Kevdak fight! Sorry, that is probably too much to ask of anyone, just know that this is amazing and I look forward to seeing what else you make!
With the cartoon out I keep coming back to this song and I want you to know if we get to THIS scene after watching the episode I am gonna mute the cartoon and play this song as I watch the scenes.
I think of this song often and have to come back and listen to it cause it guts me every time. the animatic in my head that plays every time I listen…. it’ll never happen but good lord does it slap LMAO. I love this and your song redacted a lot.
i finally got to the point in the campaign in which I understand this song and!!! HOLY SHIT it hurts a whole lot more! can't imagine what it was like watching it live and making this. gina is very correct to be proud of these lyrics omg
i have been listening to this on repeat for the past 2 days. holy crap the amount of emotion and honesty and rawness in the singing and lyrics. i love this but i also hate this because with yesterday's episode, this song doesn't help starve the tears off.
I have a twin brother (he is the youngest) and this song broke my heart. This whole part of the campaign killed me inside. I cant imagine how it would feel to lose him.
Even now, years later, this is one of the greatest ballads I have ever heard. This touches on such tentative emotions, such sensitive moments. For years, I have been listening to this song. I do not understand how this has under a million views.
DUDE 10/10 THIS IS AMAZING! This was a very emotional moment in the series and u captured Vax's selfless personality ,especially with his sister, perfectly
So I'm ruined now., and am In the prosses of writing a response song because this beauty can only be truly responderd with more music. I am inspired like death insires greif, inevitable and yet the only way to get a hold of it is to accept it and work through it. Lovely, you do Critical Role justice, now I only hope to emulate the beauty you have just put in front of me.
I was just thinking about whether you guys were gonna make a new song or not, and I'm so glad you did(and the fact that it's about critical role makes it even better :D )
I listen to this song a lot. Yet, every time I listen I still get chills. Listening to this after watching the campaign final just gives it even more meaning. This is an absolutely amazing song and gives Vax justice for his many sacrifices.
Dude I need to tell you I found this about 4-5 days ago and i haven't stopped listening to it yet, it legitimately gives me chills every time I listen to it, you have real talent.
This is amazing! I like the musical theater style of it, the lyrics are perfect and the performance especially at the end is sooo good! If I had a Twitter I'd totally tweet this to Liam!
Okay, so I saw CritRole stuff on Gina's tumblr not too long ago, and I was like… arm flailing in excitement, and now to see that y'all've a song about it? Man, so happy. This was really beautiful as well.
im loving this song, the few notes that are played representing the spechless vax seeing her dead sister, the lyrics that represents his internal fight on his lost, the powerless situation in this conundrum with the only hope that someone or something can fix it and the singing giving it the emotion at max level, absolutely gorgeous
OH my god, how?! HOW did you do this? This is incredible! I love musicals, I watched a lot of them (lived in Hamburg, a pretty well-known musicalcity) and I can tell you I never cried that much over a song. Generally I am not easily moved to tears AND I didn´t even reached that part in Critical Role yet (but I knew what was coming since I was spoilered) and still this captivates me so much. You deserve all the praise for this. Very beautiful lyrics and your voice is soothing and very fitting for Vax too.
I've been listening to this for days, trying to figure out how to describe exactly how it makes me feel, but I'm a little without words. I wish I'd heard it earlier...it's just incredible.
Well I didn't need to get anything done today other than curl up in a ball of sadness right? This rabbit hole of Critical role songs I fell down is really something, between all the exceedingly sad songs about Percy and Vax I need a nap lol.
I literally want to cry listening to this. The emotion is so strong, the lyrics are just amazing and I can absolutely, with out a doubt know that Vax was thinking this when he traded his life for Vex's. I love this so so much! I hope you guys do more songs, because this is so lovely!
Omg, this is a vocal masterpiece that is vastly underrated. With tears pooling down my cheeks like waterfalls, thank you for creating such a beautiful tribute.
