Cyber Stockholm Syndrome

Single by Rina Sawayama

## Music Video

"**Cyber Stockholm Syndrome**" is the lead single and eighth track from Rina Sawayama's debut extended play *Rina* (2017). Written by Rina along with Justin Tailor and its producer Clarence Clarity, the song was released on 22 March 2017.

## Background

Sawayama wrote "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" back in 2015, and described it as "a prequel to Tunnel Vision". She also said that the song was inspired by a conversation with Arvida Byström about "being confident online to deal with pain [in real life]".

On 17 March 2017 she announced the song's released date for 22 March, with a series of videos on her social media. Sawayama said about the song:

> ‘Cyber Stockholm Syndrome’ is happy and sad, honest and autobiographical, and I feel like I’ve truly written from the heart from the first time. It took two years of rewriting and revising as I wrestled with the beauty and anxiety of digital life. Before, I saw the internet as a captor of our time and free will. But now, I see embracing a positive relationship with our online selves as an act of self-preservation and defiance. In this age, the digital world can offer vital support networks, voices of solidarity, refuge, escape. Marginalized people, or socially anxious people like myself can, in fact, be freed. That’s what ‘Cyber Stockholm Syndrome’ is about: pessimism, optimism, anxiety, and freedom.
>
> — Rina Sawayama, 'Rina Sawayama’s Glitchy R&B Captures The Realities Of Living & Loving Online', *The Fader*

## Remix

A "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" remix was announced on 17 May 2017 for a 12-inch vinyl, produced by Nite Jewel. It was officialy released on 16 June 2017.

## Music video

### Background

The official music video for "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome" was shot on 6 June 2017, with direction by Anoushka Seigler.

Premiered on 30 August 2017 on The Vinyl Factory's YouTube channel, Seigler said about the video, "We wanted to place the landscape of the video in an other-worldly past, present or future to play on the introvert and extrovert aspects of the character in the the track. Flirtatious yet shy, she is exploring her cyber fantasy and understanding ways of communicating how she feels."

### Synopsis

The dystopian music video, described as a "retro-futuristic homage to ’90s and ’00s music TV", takes tentative steps into a the intoxicating world of cyber sensuality through a high gloss sheen of vibrant hues and hazy focus.

## Lyrics

Girl in the corner

Stirring her soda

Biting the shit out of her straw

Ready to go out

Only her body tells her no

Pretty but sad inside

Isn't she beautiful?

Queen of the ball

Even when she's home alone

And she said

I'm not here for love tonight

The way you touch just don't feel right

Used to feelin' things so cold

Minimizin' windows

Pictures lit by electric lights

Fiction, fact, boundaries collide

Find me in my palm so bright

Cyber Stockholm Syndrome

Came here on my own

Party on my phone

Came here on my own

But I start to feel alone

Better late than never, so I'll be alright

Happiest whenever I'm with you online

Better together

Ever the overrated touch

I am connected

I am the girl you want to watch

Lips full of glitter glow

Spinnin' like mirror-balls

Phone in a strobe

Stuck in a crazy cyber-world

And she said

I'm not here for love tonight

The way you touch just don't feel right

Used to feelin' things so cold

Cyber Stockholm Syndrome

Came here on my own

Party on my phone

Came here on my own

But I start to feel alone

Better late than never, so I'll be alright

Happiest whenever I'm with you online

In my 4 by 3

They can't get to me

Free to roam all over my cyber fantasy

Better late than never but I am alright

Happiest whenever I'm with you online

Now you see her flying high speed

'Cross the distant galaxy

Candy cane your heart out

Burn bright, don't burn out

Came here on my own

Party on my phone

Came here on my own

But I start to feel alone

Better late than never, so I'll be alright

Happiest whenever I'm with you online

(Came here on my own)

## Credits and personnel

* Music video

 **Dance Co-ordinator** | Windy Tsoi

## References

1. ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "I have written a prequel to Tunnel Vision called Cyber Stockholm Syndrome - can u guess what it's about"
2. ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "2 yrs ago I started writing this song inspired by a conversation w/ @arvidabystrom about being confident online to deal with pain irl"
3. ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "22/03/17"
4. ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "< CSS >"
5. ↑ Rina Sawayama’s Glitchy R&B Captures The Realities Of Living & Loving Online
6. ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "fuck u guys r gonna love this CSS remix thats coming out oh lordddd"
7. ↑ RINA SAWAYAMA on Twitter: "omg @NiteJewel"
8. ↑ Nite Jewel remixes Rina Sawayama’s Cyber Stockholm Syndrome for belting new 12″
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Rina Sawayama unveils dystopian video for 'Cyber Stockholm Syndrome'
10. ↑ The Vinyl Factory. Rina Sawayama - Cyber Stockholm Syndrome