To Win, Will You Give Up?
Can we call ourselves human if we abandon our conscience?
Listen to “To Win, Will You Give Up?” on your favorite music app.
Meaning
"To Win, Will You Give Up?" explores how we lose our humanity when we become so obsessed with winning that we no longer question the cost. It helps us reflect on what we’re willing to sacrifice to succeed—not just time or comfort, but conscience, empathy, and integrity.
The lyrics challenge the listener to confront the darker parts of ambition. When success becomes an unquestioned goal, we may justify things that once felt wrong: ignoring injustice, rationalizing violence, or turning a blind eye to suffering if it doesn’t serve us. These choices chip away at our soul over time.
"To Win, Will You Give Up?" doesn’t just depict villains or extremists. It reflects moments we all face. Moments when we let our ego win over kindness, when we stay silent instead of speaking up, and when we strive for status, even if it means disconnecting from others or from ourselves.
The repeated question in the chorus acts as a mirror: How far are you willing to go? What would you trade for power, for comfort, for being right? And if you get there, will it have been worth the cost?
The song is a warning and a plea: if we don’t pause and look inward, we risk becoming the kind of person we never meant to be.
Inspiration
I wanted to explore five key themes that make people alienated from their humanity and forget their conscience:
Superficiality – when you want to win status, beauty, money, or followers on social media just to appear above others, without having any deeper values or integrity underneath.
Hedonism – when you only care about pleasurable and beautiful things, enjoying your privilege while turning a blind eye to your flaws or how others suffer because of your choices.
Dogmatism – especially religious dogmatism, where everything becomes black-and-white. That’s how people justify harming or even killing others just for being different. It’s been happening throughout history, and still happens today.
Apathy – when you see someone suffering right in front of you and do nothing. Like the bystander effect, a common phenomenon where you decide not to help because you assume someone else will step in.
Egotism – when everything becomes about your ego. You want to win just for the sake of winning or being right. It’s not just billionaires or politicians—it shows up in regular moments too, like hurting your partner in an argument just to win, or putting down a friend because you’re jealous of their success.
The song sounds and feels really angry, and that’s on purpose. I used tension-heavy strings, fast-paced drums, and effects that make it feel like you’re in a battle. I even sang parts while clenching my whole body and gritting my teeth so the tension would come through.
All of that reflects how rage and relentless greed can take over when you’re laser-focused on winning. It consumes you until you lose everything that makes you human.
This song is a warning. Any of us can become that kind of person if we’re not paying attention. It’s a reminder to reflect inwardly and ask: Why am I chasing this goal? What am I sacrificing to get there? Is it worth it?
Behind the Music Video
As the director, I wanted to show the story of a ruthless woman whose ambition drove her to crush anyone who stood in her way. She sacrificed her humanity to reach the top, but that success left her hollow.
The video visually explores two distinct worlds, differentiated by lighting: the bright conscious world representing external reality, and the dark shadow world representing the subconscious. Drawing from Jungian psychology, the shadow holds the parts of ourselves we repress—the unconscious thoughts and feelings we push away. In this shadow world, two characters embody the anima and animus, the feminine and masculine aspects of our conscience, according to Jung. They wore blood red traditional Thai outfits to highlight how deeply culture shapes our moral compass over generations.
Throughout the video, my eyes remain closed in the shadow world to show my character’s attempt to shut out the inner voice saying “maybe you shouldn’t be doing this” and warning her against her actions. As her obsession with power grew, inkblot-like marks spread over her body, inspired by the Rorschach test, representing how deeply corrupted and disturbed her subconscious had become.
At the climax, she climbed the stairs to heaven, representing reaching the pinnacle of worldly success. She violently attacked angels while screaming, “Where’s my salvation?” as she realized the hole in her soul caused by greed couldn’t be filled.
The video ended with her succumbing to madness while her conscience, the anima and animus, completely disappears into the darkness.
ps. This was my first time directing, storyboarding, designing the set and costume, and working with the cast and crew on set. It was really interesting and fulfilling for me! All of the cast and the majority of the crew were my friends in real life. They did a fantastic job given that none of them had prior acting experience. It came out well in the end!
EXCLUSIVE BEHIND THE SCENES of To Win, Will You Give Up? Music Video
Lyrics
Paint me a pretty picture to live in
Remove all the ugliness
The whole universe is replaceable
I don’t care if anything’s real
Dreams and beliefs
I traded them for instant pleasure
For glory, for treasure
The depth of my soul is mine to spare
To win, will you give up everything?
To win, will you give up everything?
He struck his hand across her cheekbone
Under the guise of true love
Sealed my eyes shut, it never happened
None of my fucking business
Faith and beliefs
I wield my double-edged sword
In the name of the lord
Hands soaked in blood is justified
To win, will you give up everything?
To win, will you give up everything?
To win, will you give up everything?
To win, will you give up everything?
Where’s my salvation? I’ve done everything right
Where’s my salvation? I’ve done everything right
Where’s my salvation? I’ve done everything right
Where’s my salvation?
To win, will you give up everything?
To win, I will give up everything
To win, I will give up everything
To win, I will give up everything
To win, I’ve given up everything
Awards & Features
Extras
Tamlin. - To Win, Will you Give Up? (Acoustic Live with Cello & Double Bass)
Tamlin. - To Win, Will You Give Up? (Official Instrumental/Karaoke)
Credits
Music
Artist, Composer, & Producer: Tamlin.
Mix & Master Engineer: Max Honsinger
Music Video Crew
Director & Producer: Tamlin.
Director of Photography: Natthaphon Sakulvanaporn
Director's Assistant: Taiyo Mako
Lighting Crew: Lighthouse Film Service Co. Ltd.
Production Coordinator: Ampika Merkkhwang
SFX Makeup Artists: Pareeyawee Likityingwara (Beam), Sasina Panichpreechakorn
Behind the Scenes Videographer: Ake Sirakhunaporn
Editor & Colorist: Chen Li
Computer Graphics: Ekapon Kunjamnong
Angel Costume Maker: Kanyawi Paensuwan
Music Video Cast
Power-Hungry Woman: Tamlin.
Anima: Pajareeya Suriwong
Animus: Vich Sanardharn
Stylists: Melissa Marie Davison, Wirachart Sing-on
Slapped Woman: Samantha Wai Yin Eaton
Slapping ManChristopher Porter
Man with Sword: Patrick Kelly
Man with Beer Bottle: Callum Boaden
Drunk Man: Genji Motomura
Man with Baseball Bat: Leonid Lednev
Woman with Pan: Ngo Thi Ngoc Khuyen
Praying Man: Ross Beeching
Fallen Woman: Ploypailin Pungvongsanuraks
Angry Crowd: Daniel Rodrigo Parra Romero, Ornjai Rochanasmita, Jitrada Phuawongphat, Attakorn Saiyasombat, Narattha Vorakunthada, Tobias Roder, Supakorn Komthong
Archangel: Marc Cem Close
Angels: Ali Baykara, Luis Alberto Tenorio Davila
