The song "Deepfake" by Hippo Campus is a reflection on the disillusionment of the music industry and the pressure to conform in order to make money. The lyrics speak to the feelings of being a "fake" and pretending to enjoy something for the sake of profit. The chorus, "keep your friends close and your enemies closer, fuck all the celebrities you're idolizing over, music sucks, people change, do as many drugs as you can, probs won't ever be this good again," highlights the speaker's skepticism and disillusionment with the music industry and the idea of "coolness." The bridge alludes to the passing of time and the abstract nature of "essence" or meaning. The speaker questions the societal expectation to be "rad" and points to the dishonesty of idealized Hollywood depictions of fame. The repeated plea of "you're cool, you're really on a roll, I wanna be like you when I get older" can be interpreted as both a sincere desire to emulate success and a sarcastic commentary on the constant pressure to appear to be "cool." Overall, "Deepfake" is a critique of the capitalist underbelly of the music industry and its effect on the self-esteem and artistic integrity of young artists.
