*How to not cry when listening to Triptych:* You can't. The tears will come. They always come. You cannot stop them - they have too many feet. Oh, and also the teeth. Nobody wants to get bitten by those, after all.
The city is wartorn, nearly impassible I act the lovelorn, dramatically laughable Said you’d come see me here underground Now it’s closing night and you can’t be found I go through the emotions, again and again But you are not here to see them I go through the emotions, again and again And this time I actually feel them I play the heroine, I play to their sympathies I say the sweetest things to come in their empathy I asked just one thing of you: to be here Did I not let it slip that I was sincere? That was my best poker face, trying not to care I watch and I wait, while you never appear The city is wartorn, nearly impassible I act the lovelorn, I used to be laughable And though I've been spoiled by pretty privilege, I am no child, throwing a fit Could write the book of disappointment, And you’d be the final chapter of it So you’re a coward, or could never love me Or you have fallen to the enemy I asked just one thing of you: to be here Did I not let it slip that I was sincere? That was my best poker face, trying not to care I watch and I wait, while you never appear All these people came all this way, Faces stained with loss but smiling as they’re crying I would rather see you laugh at my tragedy, Than choke on these tears while I am curtsying So you’re a coward, or could never love me Or you have fallen to the enemy City is wartorn, never impassible I act the lovelorn, I used to be laughable
I watched a video of the singer performing this song live and she said it was about a bad actress who invited her lover to come see her show during wartime. He never showed up and this song describes that bad actress' feelings on closing night of the show. In relation to Triptych, I think this song describes Kevin's feelings as Strex is taking over his radio station and he's realizing Cecil lied to him about Desert Bluffs winning against them. As things got worse with Strex in Desert Bluffs, I imagine the things Cecil told Kevin might have been the biggest source of hope he had to keep fighting. But when those things didn't turn out to be true, he realized that all the fighting he'd done had been for nothing and would have never made a difference. Kevin had been playing the role of a hero of Desert Bluffs and was sure that Cecil's promises would come through but when it really counted, they never did. I think Kevin would have kept fighting for Desert Bluffs even if Cecil had told him it wouldn't work but the defeat hits so much harder because Kevin was given something to count on. If you think about it, that's a really strong parallel to the disappointment you feel when Cecil expects Night Vale to fight back against Strex on Parade Day and they don't. So many powerful emotions and interpretations packed into one song. This is by far my favorite weather and by far the saddest.
+Laura Payne That is exactly how I felt. "Stained with loss but smiling, while crying"..... It gives this bitter, almost nostalgia-like sadness. A desperate attempt on Cecil's part to give Kevin hope. Which only made it worse when it was all destroyed.
Interesting hypothetical: What would you have said to Kevin, given such a loaded question? "Yes" and "No" both feel awful. Refusing to answer would probably give it away unless you said "I can't answer in case it messes up the past," which seems acceptable, but lacks a storytelling punch. You could tell Kevin to run, and take everyone he can with him to Night Vale to hide, but then would Night Vale win as it did by the time Cecil is broadcasting in Triptych? And in any case, we already know he doesn't... Would it be possible to change the past (or more likely, that Kevin's future) by telling him different things--for instance, sending him into an alternate timeline, which is not out of the question for Night Vale/Desert Bluffs? Even if it is, you have no idea whether that timeline would be better or worse... maybe Strex would take Night Vale, too. If not, would Kevin have fought more defensively against Strex if Cecil had told him the inevitable? Would that have caused less damage to the organization, which would have ended up more powerful by the time it got to Night Vale? I find it really hard to blame Cecil for his answer. There's just no good option here and no way to tell how it'd affect things. :(
Cecil actually didn’t lie. They did win, just not in the way Kevin envisioned. It took a lot longer, and Kevin will still be unable to see it for much of the foreseeable future. I see this song as Kevin mourning the death of the town he knew in his final moments as himself, and sadly painting a horrific image of Desert Bluff’s future.
LEAP #ExtinctionEvent Try to think outside the box...not the earthly tv show it is associated with. This is a scientific creation from a feminine source creator. This is the final show as the actual planet under Earths crust rises. Enjoy your day
I disliked Kevin intensely until hints started to drop way back---when he mentioned that he had once been just like Cecil. And it was like, ".....wait...so....what did Strex DO to you, Kev?" We only got hints. And then the horrible things they must have put him through drove him to insanity. And I'm like: Oh, Kevin.........I....I kind of want to hug you. Or something. I dunno.
+sailtheplains I thought that Kevin was creepy at first but with the hints changed my mind about him , He was cecil's counterpart and opposite . He's what Cecil might've become if the smiling God shined on Nightvale and than wham! Triptych happened and now I'm like for Team Rescue Kevin from the Desert otherworld and bring him to his home .It just might change his fate .
How to not cry: 1. Listen to this song 2. Get reminded of Triptych 3. Get reminded of Kevin 4. Cry 5. Cry a lot 6. Die of crying and cherish that you didn't have to earn your death
This is one of my favorite songs in the entire world, and the fact that it hit so hard during Triptych made it a million times better. I cry nearly every time I listen to it. I'm such a sap.
I loved Kevin LONG before this episode, my favorite character from the moment I heard his first sentence (like him more than Cecil even). All of the Kevins from the past, present, and future hold a place in my heart but I think passive aggressive, scary Kevin is the best
I always interpreted it as Kevin realizing that Cecil lied to him and Desert Bluffs was doomed to fall. He's been the hero of the town until now; he realizes it's hopeless.😢
The convenience store near my college played this song as I rang up. The guy behind the counter said it was totally intentional, and I swear to god I've never been happier!
+Kyper E. Kamiko Well, 'Triptych' means 3 pieces of art that are supposed to be seen in context with each other. In the episode we see Kevin in 3 stages of his life: his past, present and future.
I'm guessing everyone who isn't is finding this to be the most confusing comments section ever. Like, "who is this 'Kevin' dude everyone's going on about?"
I don't think this song actually has anything to do with the episode, I think it's just a song for the weather like most of the other songs they play for the weather. it doesn't have to have some deep meaning in context of the episode.
I know you asked months ago, but since no-one answered... Because this recording was taken directly from an episode of 'Welcome to Night Vale', which is basically a weird, creepy, utterly amazing radio play with a large and devoted fan base. The format is that of a community radio show in the fictional town of Night Vale hosted by a guy named Cecil. In each episode the 'weather' is a different song. The 'er' is the end of Cecil saying "and now, the weather." The episode this aired in (#73, Triptych) was a pretty heart-wrenching one featuring a major twist in the backstory of a recurring character, Kevin, hence all the fans commenting here. Hope this was helpful.
This is the turning point where Nightvale got a liiiiiiittle too convoluted for me. Don't get me wrong- I loved the weirdness of the show. But like, it was just going downhill from here. They're trying to make each episode too special. Like, it's supposed to be a community radio. Not every episode has to have some sort of BREAKING NEWS or weird deviation to the show.
Triptych - AKA the episode that made the entire fandom freeze.
I swear we were all overcome with guilt for all the time we hated Kevin
Ever since I got sent to the Strex corporate retreat for several months of trust exercises, I am literally incapable of hating him.
*How to not cry when listening to Triptych:*
You can't. The tears will come. They always come. You cannot stop them - they have too many feet. Oh, and also the teeth. Nobody wants to get bitten by those, after all.
Ik this was 5 years ago but I just listened to that episode and it made me SO sad. I wish things had gone differently for Kevin :(
@@phoebescott6787 Same, I'm really late to discover the podcast but I had to pause Triptych so I could cry
The city is wartorn, nearly impassible
I act the lovelorn, dramatically laughable
Said you’d come see me here underground
Now it’s closing night and you can’t be found
I go through the emotions, again and again
But you are not here to see them
I go through the emotions, again and again
And this time I actually feel them
I play the heroine, I play to their sympathies
I say the sweetest things to come in their empathy
I asked just one thing of you: to be here
Did I not let it slip that I was sincere?
That was my best poker face, trying not to care
I watch and I wait, while you never appear
The city is wartorn, nearly impassible
I act the lovelorn, I used to be laughable
And though I've been spoiled by pretty privilege,
I am no child, throwing a fit
Could write the book of disappointment,
And you’d be the final chapter of it
So you’re a coward, or could never love me
Or you have fallen to the enemy
I asked just one thing of you: to be here
Did I not let it slip that I was sincere?
That was my best poker face, trying not to care
I watch and I wait, while you never appear
All these people came all this way,
Faces stained with loss but smiling as they’re crying
I would rather see you laugh at my tragedy,
Than choke on these tears while I am curtsying
So you’re a coward, or could never love me
Or you have fallen to the enemy
City is wartorn, never impassible
I act the lovelorn, I used to be laughable
I watched a video of the singer performing this song live and she said it was about a bad actress who invited her lover to come see her show during wartime. He never showed up and this song describes that bad actress' feelings on closing night of the show. In relation to Triptych, I think this song describes Kevin's feelings as Strex is taking over his radio station and he's realizing Cecil lied to him about Desert Bluffs winning against them. As things got worse with Strex in Desert Bluffs, I imagine the things Cecil told Kevin might have been the biggest source of hope he had to keep fighting. But when those things didn't turn out to be true, he realized that all the fighting he'd done had been for nothing and would have never made a difference. Kevin had been playing the role of a hero of Desert Bluffs and was sure that Cecil's promises would come through but when it really counted, they never did.
I think Kevin would have kept fighting for Desert Bluffs even if Cecil had told him it wouldn't work but the defeat hits so much harder because Kevin was given something to count on. If you think about it, that's a really strong parallel to the disappointment you feel when Cecil expects Night Vale to fight back against Strex on Parade Day and they don't.
So many powerful emotions and interpretations packed into one song. This is by far my favorite weather and by far the saddest.
+Laura Payne That is exactly how I felt. "Stained with loss but smiling, while crying".....
It gives this bitter, almost nostalgia-like sadness. A desperate attempt on Cecil's part to give Kevin hope. Which only made it worse when it was all destroyed.
Laura Payne holy shit,best interpretation ever.
Interesting hypothetical: What would you have said to Kevin, given such a loaded question? "Yes" and "No" both feel awful. Refusing to answer would probably give it away unless you said "I can't answer in case it messes up the past," which seems acceptable, but lacks a storytelling punch. You could tell Kevin to run, and take everyone he can with him to Night Vale to hide, but then would Night Vale win as it did by the time Cecil is broadcasting in Triptych? And in any case, we already know he doesn't...
Would it be possible to change the past (or more likely, that Kevin's future) by telling him different things--for instance, sending him into an alternate timeline, which is not out of the question for Night Vale/Desert Bluffs? Even if it is, you have no idea whether that timeline would be better or worse... maybe Strex would take Night Vale, too.
If not, would Kevin have fought more defensively against Strex if Cecil had told him the inevitable? Would that have caused less damage to the organization, which would have ended up more powerful by the time it got to Night Vale?
I find it really hard to blame Cecil for his answer. There's just no good option here and no way to tell how it'd affect things. :(
Cecil actually didn’t lie. They did win, just not in the way Kevin envisioned. It took a lot longer, and Kevin will still be unable to see it for much of the foreseeable future. I see this song as Kevin mourning the death of the town he knew in his final moments as himself, and sadly painting a horrific image of Desert Bluff’s future.
LEAP #ExtinctionEvent Try to think outside the box...not the earthly tv show it is associated with. This is a scientific creation from a feminine source creator. This is the final show as the actual planet under Earths crust rises. Enjoy your day
I disliked Kevin intensely until hints started to drop way back---when he mentioned that he had once been just like Cecil. And it was like, ".....wait...so....what did Strex DO to you, Kev?"
We only got hints. And then the horrible things they must have put him through drove him to insanity. And I'm like: Oh, Kevin.........I....I kind of want to hug you. Or something. I dunno.
+sailtheplains I thought that Kevin was creepy at first but with the hints changed my mind about him , He was cecil's counterpart and opposite . He's what Cecil might've become if the smiling God shined on Nightvale and than wham! Triptych happened and now I'm like for Team Rescue Kevin from the Desert otherworld and bring him to his home .It just might change his fate .
Dashing through the snow
On a one-horse open sleigh
Over the fields we go
TRIPTYCH'S NOT OKAY
Annike Downey yea I was crying
How to not cry:
1. Listen to this song
2. Get reminded of Triptych
3. Get reminded of Kevin
4. Cry
5. Cry a lot
6. Die of crying and cherish that you didn't have to earn your death
I almost cried on the bus whe I realized this was Kevin's reaction to Carlos leaving. :(
+Apollo Arcturus Where you waiting for it in the rain?
YES
This matches perfect with Kevin
This weather has been my favorite weather of all time and space and dimension.
I just discovered Welcome to Nighvale and have been binge listening to it. I just listened to Triptych...and I'm really blown away by Kevin's story.
This is one of my favorite songs in the entire world, and the fact that it hit so hard during Triptych made it a million times better. I cry nearly every time I listen to it. I'm such a sap.
This song is so beautiful, and the episode of Triptych was really sad!
I loved Kevin LONG before this episode, my favorite character from the moment I heard his first sentence (like him more than Cecil even). All of the Kevins from the past, present, and future hold a place in my heart but I think passive aggressive, scary Kevin is the best
Same
To shame Nightvale.
To shame...
Same, his voice activated my fav sensors so hard, and I also love villain characters. I'm on ep 83 and I wish to know what he's doing
This song fits perfectly with Triptych
I always interpreted it as Kevin realizing that Cecil lied to him and Desert Bluffs was doomed to fall. He's been the hero of the town until now; he realizes it's hopeless.😢
is it bad i can recognize cecil's voice from "er" alone
Criminally underrated.
This song is so lovely
I know that this was taken strate from night vale. You can hear the end of Cecil saying weather.
keeeeviiinnnn........*sobs in a corner"
The convenience store near my college played this song as I rang up. The guy behind the counter said it was totally intentional, and I swear to god I've never been happier!
"So long, Coward, that could never love me."
Just got why it was called Triptych. I am so slow on the uptake
+LostSubsForever could you explain it to me then? I know what a triptych is, but I don't get the meaning.
+Kyper E. Kamiko
Well, 'Triptych' means 3 pieces of art that are supposed to be seen in context with each other. In the episode we see Kevin in 3 stages of his life: his past, present and future.
I... I need to go sit down
Looks like a certain radio host made this song popular....
Kevin summed up....like if your from welcome to nightvale
just HOW MANY people are here from nightvale!?
We are legion.
All of them.
I've actually been listening to this song before I heard the episode✋
You can literally hear the end of Cecil saying weather in the very beginning of the video, even the person who posted this is here from nightvale
I'm guessing everyone who isn't is finding this to be the most confusing comments section ever. Like, "who is this 'Kevin' dude everyone's going on about?"
Best weather, even now.
I think that this and the same recording on SoundCloud and WTNV are the only three public recordings of this song.
-er.
i come back to this song a lot
Is this in anything besides Night Vale? I’ve definitely heard this song before but I haven’t ever listened to night vale
What a great song
beautiful song that /is trapped in my head/
I don't think this song actually has anything to do with the episode, I think it's just a song for the weather like most of the other songs they play for the weather. it doesn't have to have some deep meaning in context of the episode.
But, why wasnt a different song put there instead? What's more likely
GoldenBytes uh what
It doesnt have to, but it can. Music can be seen in many ways by different people.
+GoldenBytes k
Han-Mi ? Is that you?
"Home" by theo adler its not on sound cloud like they said
Johnny Guitar? Anyone?
i can feel no empathy for kevin, unlike a lot of folks...
he cannot hit on sweet carlos. carlos is made only for cecil.
kiling eve s2 vibes
why is there a “er” at the beginning what
I know you asked months ago, but since no-one answered...
Because this recording was taken directly from an episode of 'Welcome to Night Vale', which is basically a weird, creepy, utterly amazing radio play with a large and devoted fan base. The format is that of a community radio show in the fictional town of Night Vale hosted by a guy named Cecil.
In each episode the 'weather' is a different song. The 'er' is the end of Cecil saying "and now, the weather."
The episode this aired in (#73, Triptych) was a pretty heart-wrenching one featuring a major twist in the backstory of a recurring character, Kevin, hence all the fans commenting here.
Hope this was helpful.
ow
This is the turning point where Nightvale got a liiiiiiittle too convoluted for me. Don't get me wrong- I loved the weirdness of the show. But like, it was just going downhill from here. They're trying to make each episode too special. Like, it's supposed to be a community radio. Not every episode has to have some sort of BREAKING NEWS or weird deviation to the show.
There you go. WTNV is back to its usual self.
Never watched this show but it apparently has some good music on it.
CoyKoi84 it’s a podcast