Hyperpower!

Album:Year Zero

Length:1:42

Tempo:{{{BPM}}} BPM

Versions:HYPERPOWER!
Gunshots By Computer: Saul Williams

Live:Performance 2007

"HYPERPOWER!" is the first track on the 2007 release Year Zero. It is a short instrumental that kicks off the album, a la "Pinion."

A hyperpower is a nation that dominates the global stage through economy, military power, and technological prowess. The term has been used to describe the United States in the 1990s and retrospectively the British Empire in the 19th century.

Song credits

• Drums: Josh Freese

Appearances

Halos

• Year Zero
• Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D

Seeds

• The Definitive NIN - Heavy Tracks

Versions

HYPERPOWER!

This is the original album version. Instrumental, it continuously builds from the basic drum beat, adding layers of synthesizers, samples, guitars and bass until an explosive climax, after which everything suddenly stops. The decay of the drum reverb leads into "The Beginning Of The End."

Gunshots By Computer

This version is the opening track on Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D, and features vocals by Saul Williams. Williams recites a poem over "Hyperpower!." Minimal changes were made to the music. The mix is also referred to as "Guns by Computer."

Lyrics

    Are you looking for the truth or for another fight?
    If you want to give me what I want then give it up tonight
    Freedom. Ain't looking for no, ain't looking for no fight
    If you want to give me what I want then give it up tonight
    
    The world that circles around me can benefit from silence
    This song is my enemy, watch how I become it
    Cradled by mystery and make believe I am floating in the other night
    Children wish upon me
    
    This man and his army are praying in their fortresses making guns of steeples
    Insurgence of people the messiah's an immigrant detained at the border
    Severed from his trinity, his wife, and his daughter
    
    America the beautiful, nappy headed hoedown
    Lynchburg throwdown
    It seems our favorite past-time has become our most feared future
    Technology has failed us. Gunshots by computer
    
    Gunshots by Computer
    
    Are you looking for the truth or for another fight?
    If you want to give me what I want then give it up tonight
    Freedom. Ain't looking for no, ain't looking for no fight
    If you want to give me what I want then give it up tonight
    
    Gunshots by Computer

Song Credits

• Remix by Saul Williams

Live

This piece became a live opener for the Performance 2007 after its debut on the spring Australian leg of the tour, though it was sometimes merely the studio version played back over the PA. As well, Saul Williams performed "Gunshots By Computer" several times during his 2008 tour.

Sample

This piece features a sample of crowds throughout the track chanting:

    Power
    Power
    Hyperpower
    Power
    Power
    Hyperpower

Previous track - "N/A: First Track" Track 1 from Year Zero Next track - "The Beginning of the End"