Jonathan Coulton's Still Alive, is widely acclaimed by gamers as the perfect epilogue to the much-loved Portal, so much so that it is in danger of becoming a meme.

However, does it have a rival in the theme song for the the upcoming game Mercenaries 2?

Here's a little snippet:

The song is called "Oh no you didn't!" and was written especially for the game by Chris Tilton. Personally I love the juxtaposition of mean hip-hop lyrics with the upbeat piano melody, but there's a part of me that wonders if they are't trying to ride Portal's coat tails with this amusing little ditty.

So then, Escapist community, are we looking at a charming eccentricity, or a cynical marketing ploy?

EDT: Sorry for posting a video Virgil, but it seemed the most effective way of kicking the discussion off. That's right folks, I'm getting my apology in early.

I love that song.

I like this song more then Still Alive, Still alive struck me as meh..

It's excellent, but I can't help but feel that they are cashing in on the popularity of Still Alive. Still, I'd far rather hear more quirky and funny songs like this than yet another bombastic score or metal accompaniment to a game. If Still Alive's started a trend, then let it continue for a wee while at least. I'm not prepared to condemn something like this, not at this stage anyway.

Bulletinmybrain:
I like this song more then Still Alive, Still alive struck me as meh..

Stole the words out of my keyboard.

I don't know if it will reach the popularity of Still Alive, but it sure is catchy.

I find that to truly enjoy Still Alive, you have to have played the other HL games. This one to me is amusing no matter if you played the game before or not

Jak The Great:
I find that to truly enjoy Still Alive, you have to have played the other HL games. This one to me is amusing no matter if you played the game before or not

Not really. The only reference to anything outside of Portal is the "Maybe Black Mesa..." and "When I look out there I'm glad I'm not you..." segments. Apart from that you need no prior knowledge to enjoy the song.

I'm not sure about the next "Still Alive". When I played Portal I had no idea that it was going to be there, it was a surprise, yet from the second it started I was cracking up. That song is part of the trailer/commercial so it won't come as a nice surprise.

It was a long time before I actually realised "Still Alive" was actually from a computer game...but this...it's almost Stock, Aiken and Waterman.

I think this song comes under the same fitting as that Battlefield: Bad Company add when they're singing 'Mad World' then they argue and end up singing something about momma's cookies. That was pretty damned funny. I couldn't see this song relating to Still Alive really.

Still Alive is also still better.

The song is on the M2 website btw, Here

I find that commercial to be a little too... I don't know how to describe it, pretentious?

I'm sure the potential for this to become a trend is there, but I find myself feeling torn between both songs since they are both pretty darn good.

I like the "In Cash We Trust" at 0:06

lol awesome. They should've had the main character slap someone in the face on "Didn't". Would've made it twice as great.

That's sexcellent.

It's a very catchy tune, but I still prefer Still Alive. Comes close, though.

I think the direction that video game marketing and especially the role of music in the marketing. Gears of War used Mad World, Assassin's Creed had Teardrop and now Mercenaries 2 gives us this.

I'm even entertaining the vague hope that this 'outside-the-box' thinking in advertising might spread back into game design itself. After all, if a strange advert can sell a game, maybe a strange game could sell too.

nilcypher:

I'm even entertaining the vague hope that this 'outside-the-box' thinking in advertising might spread back into game design itself.

Hasn't music and game ads usually been together. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kle0vau26xQ

Love it. I for one can't wait to be cruising down the road with my windows open blasting this song for all to hear and enjoy.

shatnershaman:

nilcypher:

I'm even entertaining the vague hope that this 'outside-the-box' thinking in advertising might spread back into game design itself.

Hasn't music and game ads usually been together. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kle0vau26xQ

Oh definitely, but it's nice to see some adverts not going for the obvious choices. The more dancing Links we can have the better in my opinion!

nilcypher:

Oh definitely, but it's nice to see some adverts not going for the obvious choices. The more dancing Links we can have the better in my opinion!

Ah I see. I'm not a fan of being different just for the sake of being different myself (Dancing Link scares me) but if they can pull it off my power to them.

shatnershaman:

Bulletinmybrain:
I like this song more then Still Alive, Still alive struck me as meh..

Stole the words out of my keyboard.

Oh no you dih-ent!

Heh, I find myself singing that song to myself along with "Always look on the bright side of life".

Not exactly the next "Still Alive" but a very funny and catchy tune nonetheless and it made me want to get Mercenaries 2 more than I already had.

Hey Nil how did you get the 1000 post without being naughty and not get the 100 post one?
I also remember you once saying you tryed to ban yourself and it worked...

On-topic, this will become worse than Chuck Norris jokes.

TheGhostOfSin:
Hey Nil how did you get the 1000 post without being naughty and not get the 100 post one?

I did get the hundred post badge, but I've rearranged my badges so that only my 1000 posts one is shown.

does it says "niggas" at 0:14, how can that be on a commercial?

ohhh it says payback will be comin not niggas will be comin

I like both songs, but I wouldn't say that they're necessarily comparable.

I liked "Oh no you di'int" because it was the lyrical style of one type of music renditioned in another style.

I liked "Still Alive" because the lyrics were insanely funny and it was sung by GLaDoS.

From what Ive heard, aren't Aperture Science and Black Mesa are supposed to exist in the same universe?

Still alive has gone stail, this song is still fresh, juic and sweet.
Enjoy the song while it lasts, before the internet spoils it.

I don't see this getting bigger than Still Alive. For one thing it lacks lyrical genius. Until I heard the full version (as opposed to just the first verse found in adds) I though the poster was full of crap, because it just seems like another talentless white guy pop-rapping. Only when we reach the chorus do they fully commit to absurdity and thus become funny, but it still doesn't make the verses much better. Still Alive had really good lyrics and so it managed more than one joke, which is always better than one joke if both are pulled off at comparable levels.

Northover32:
not causing any disturbiance in writting this word but it says "niggas" at 0:14, how can that be on a commercial?

No sign of that in the video.

I love it, loved it the first time I saw the ad on tv. And I don't really see it as riding Still Alive's coat tails in any way. I never really cared for Still Alive that much, I think Glados' plain dialogue during the game is a lot better.

For me, this was a better sounding song than 'Still Alive' (actually had nice little beat lol), although I think 'Still Alive' had funnier lyrics. Maybe I'll make my mind up if I hear more of it.

Bulletinmybrain:

Northover32:
not causing any disturbiance in writting this word but it says "niggas" at 0:14, how can that be on a commercial?

No sign of that in the video.

Yeah I didn't notice that either.

I'm now weirdly tempted to go look up more about this game.