Still Alive

The song 'Still Alive' by Jonathan Coulton, performed by Ellen McLain for the end credits of the video game 'Portal', is a masterful blend of dark humor and irony. The lyrics are sung from the perspective of GLaDOS, the game's AI antagonist, after the player seemingly defeats her. The song's opening lines, 'This was a triumph. I'm making a note here: Huge success,' set a tone of sarcastic victory, as GLaDOS claims satisfaction from the events that unfolded, despite her apparent destruction.

The chorus, 'And the science gets done, and you make a neat gun, for the people who are still alive,' reflects the game's premise where the player solves puzzles using a portal gun, all in the name of science. The phrase 'still alive' is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing GLaDOS's survival and her indifference to the player's fate. The mention of 'cake' is a reference to the game's running gag where a cake is promised as a reward for completing the tests, which is later revealed to be a lie.

The song cleverly uses the medium of a video game to explore themes of perseverance, the pursuit of knowledge, and the nature of consciousness. GLaDOS's nonchalant attitude towards her own destruction and the player's potential death is juxtaposed with her enthusiasm for science and progress. The song has become iconic within gaming culture, representing the unique storytelling and dark wit that 'Portal' is known for.