Running is difficult. Whether you’re running a marathon or a 5K, you can feel yourself losing air and/or your legs feeling like jelly, but you keep going nonetheless. Some find it fun and cathartic while others avoid it at all costs. No matter what end of the spectrum you fall on, you still run. We all do. YutaY breaks this down in his debut single, appropriately named “Run”.
Whether it’s from the anxiety that technology brings or the comparisons that we try so hard not to make to the influencers, we’re all running from something. Maybe it’s the annoying tweets from our political leaders. Or maybe, it’s our own self-crippling thoughts. And just like in real life, metaphorically running from these things wears out our brain and can drain our mental health. Although we don’t feel this as heavily as we do on a physical run, it happens over time and can be harmful due to its difficulty.
YutaY created an incredible visual to help people get an idea of what social media and technology is doing to us, and made it into a game.
This is a music video like you haven’t seen before. You are the main character and you gain points by avoiding the “enemies” who, in this case, are represented by influencers, tweets, data-stealers, and finally: yourself.
YutaY displays a type of transparency by expressing the reality of how most often, we are our own biggest enemy, and what we tend to run away from the most. I believe that the goal is to show us to accept our flaws and take care of ourselves. Because running is tiring, regardless of what you’re running from.
Along with video-game visuals, YutaY writes and co-produces the soundtrack to our new favorite game. With relatable lyrics, and a catchy beat—easy to bop your head to, it drives home a message of how so many of us feel, but find difficult to discuss.
So whether you love or hate running, I recommend you go play this game and enjoy a good song while you’re at it. Then take a moment to reflect, and protect your mental health.
YutaY
