God Games Lyrics

Exploring 'God Games' from EPIC: The Musical by Jorge Rivera-Herrans, Teagan Earley, and Cast

Jorge Rivera-Herrans and the Cast performing 'God Games' — Jorge Rivera-Herrans, Teagan Earley, and the Cast performing 'God Games' from *EPIC: The Musical*.

Song Credits

Featuring Artists: Jorge Rivera-Herrans, Teagan Earley, Luke Holt, Brandon McInnis, Mike Rivera, Janani K. Jha, Earle Gresham Jr., POESY & Cast of *EPIC: The Musical*
Writer: Jorge Rivera-Herrans
Producer: Cardo Got Wings
Release Date: August 30, 2024
Album: *EPIC: The Musical*
Label: Winion Entertainment LLC
Musical Genre: Pop, Musical Theatre
Language: English

Song Meaning

Jorge Rivera-Herrans and Cast performing the song 'God Games' — The cast of *EPIC: The Musical* performing 'God Games', a pivotal moment in the story.

ANNOTATIONS: In the Odyssey, Athena must win the God Games to have Odysseus released from Calypso's island. Athena begins by referring to Odysseus as "Father, son of [Chronos], King of kings." In Greek mythology, Athena is Zeus's daughter, and Zeus is her only parent. Zeus gets angry with Athena later in the song and tries to smite her, making this heartbreaking for her. Odysseus had wanted to be friends with Athena since he was a kid, but she kept a mentor-student relationship with him until she befriended Telemachus. Odysseus has been imprisoned on Calypso's island for 7 years, unable to return home to Ithaca. Athena asks Zeus to help Odysseus by reminding him of all the sacrifices and stuff he's done for him. Zeus agrees, and Divine Intervention is when gods or another powerful deity becomes involved in changing a mortal's fate. Zeus tells Athena that Odysseus has made a million mistakes, sacrificing his own crew and making enemies with Poseidon. This is a reference to how Poseidon was unaware of this discussion over Odysseus' fate. Athena might be risking angering or having to fight Poseidon by helping Odysseus, as she and Poseidon already had a rivalry in the mythos over becoming the patron god of Athens. The Odyssey also features various gods belittling human lives and treating them as pawns in a game, a theme that is very common in Epic and Greek mythology. Apollo, the God of Light and Music, is here because of the loss of the sirens at Odysseus's hands and loathes the suffering that was caused. Hephaestus, the God of the Forge, is here because of Odysseus' ingenuity in battle, such as his creation of the Trojan Horse. Aphrodite, the Goddess of love and lust, draws Odysseus' ire for abandoning his mother while warring with Troy. Ares, the God of War, is despised by Ares, who prefers senseless violence over logic and guile. Hera, the Goddess of Marriage, Queen of the Gods, doesn't think of Odysseus as any special compared to other heroes, which in her case would be that he too is disloyal to his wife. Zeus, the God of Thunder, King of the Gods, is angered that Odysseus didn't (successfully) stop his crew from slaughtering the sacred cattle of the sun god Helios, and maybe also because he chose his own life over his crew's. Athena's first trial is easier than expected, as she appeals to Apollo by saying Ody was doing so in self-defense to try and get back home. To enhance her argument, Athena also replies with the fact that not all the Sirens were killed, and many of them were able to get away and warn those in their brood to be cautious when using their songs, lest they incurred Ody's wrath once again or the wrath of his powerful one-ship fleet. It's also notable that Apollo refers to Odysseus as "Ody," a nickname, like how Eurylochus called him Ody or how the Fandom tends to call him by this nickname. The gods tend to treat human matters as a game or entertainment, so Apollo calls Odysseus by a nickname, much like someone would when referring to a character in a piece of media. Apollo, the Trojan god, was a key figure in Homer's "Iliad," guiding Paris' arrow into Achilles' heel. In Homer's "Odyssey," Odysseus and his men raided Ismarus, defacing Apollo's temple. However, neither of these events spurned Odysseus's wrath, as he seemed to be just there for the show. Level Two follows closely, with Odysseus passing Scylla without fighting her and 6 of his men being eaten. In the Trojan War, Odysseus hid inside a wooden horse disguised as a gift for the Trojans and led his men to strike the Trojans at night. Athena gains wisdom and befriends Telemachus (Odysseus' son), instead of treating him like a student. She does not want to repeat her mistake with Telemachus that she made with Odysseus. In the song "Warrior of the Mind" and "My Goodbye," Athena tries to get Hera's vote with traits that SHE values in Odysseus; things like being intelligent would get Athena's approval, but not Hera's. Hera is the goddess of marriage and fertility, so she was more interested in Odysseus' relationship with Penelope than anything else. In the original interpretation of the story by Homer, Odysseus never consciously or consentingly cheats on his wife. In the Odyssey, Odysseus remains faithful to his wife Penelope throughout his long journey and resists the seduction of both Circe and Calypso. This makes Hera even more likely to side with Athena and allow him to be released, as marriage is her domain and sacred to her. As Athena has convinced each required god to release Odysseus, she has indeed won Zeus's game by his own parameters, believing he should and will release him as previously decided when the rules were set. Zeus is a notorious sore loser in most myths that depict him in a less savory way, and most modern media also seems to run with this trope. Jorge coined "Beast Mode Zeus," which can be heard in his voice, the usual regality of it replaced by pure anger. To win his own game, Zeus calls upon the power he holds as the god of lightning and attacks Athena with the same Thunder Call that took down Odysseus' ship. The livestream visuals during the release of the Wisdom Saga give an additional menace to this portrayal of Zeus, who attacks Athena multiple times to the extent of leaving her bleeding on the ground with significant burn scars on her body as she tries and fails to stand. The instrumental music continues to play until it concludes with a segment of "Legendary," reminding Athena about the friends she feels duty to help. The instrumental over all reminds her about the friends she feels duties to help, leading to her heartfelt response. With this final line, Zeus accepts defeat. Although in the Livestream visuals depicted this moment as Athena's defeat at the hands of Zeus, in the animatic by YouTuber Neal Illustrator, this moment is a true triumph of Athena, showcasing how she succumbs to her wounds yet defeats Zeus in a final confrontation. After running the gauntlet with five deities and Athena's pleading of her case, Calypso will be forced to return Odysseus to his journey back to Ithaca, and Athena's two champions will be able to reunite against the threats to their thrones. The Wisdom Saga concludes here, and Athena's prize is claimed at last. Level Six Complete, Athena Wins. "God Games" is a key track in *EPIC: The Musical*, where Athena goes to Zeus to ask for divine intervention to free Odysseus, who is trapped on the island of Calypso. The song showcases the tension between the gods as they debate whether Odysseus deserves to be released or not. The playful and dramatic dynamics between the gods, including Apollo, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Ares, and Hera, represent the complex relationships and moral conflicts of the gods. The conversation starts with Athena appealing to her father, Zeus, for help. She wants to save Odysseus, a mortal who has faced unimaginable trials, but the gods are reluctant to interfere. Zeus, playing his usual game of power, turns the request into a challenge, proposing a "game" where each god must voice their opinion on whether Odysseus should be freed. This divine "game" becomes a metaphor for the arbitrary nature of power and the godly intervention in human lives.

The Divine Debate

Each god presents their argument, with their personalities reflected in their words. Apollo, the god of prophecy and music, dismisses the suffering of mortals with his casual attitude but ultimately agrees to release Odysseus. Hephaestus, the god of craftsmanship, is more cynical, questioning whether Odysseus truly deserves redemption. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, reveals her vendetta against Odysseus, criticizing him for abandoning his mother. Ares, the god of war, highlights Odysseus's failures in battle, while Hera’s indifferent stance on the matter sets up a fascinating dynamic of divine judgment. Athena, who has supported Odysseus throughout his journey, passionately defends him, challenging the gods' judgments. Her final victory in the "game" underscores her commitment to Odysseus and the complex moral choices the gods face. The song ends with Zeus reluctantly agreeing to release Odysseus, though his manner reflects the arbitrary nature of divine power.

Symbolism of the "God Games"

The "God Games" can be seen as a reflection of the fickle nature of fate and the power that the gods hold over mortal lives. It highlights how the lives of humans are often subject to the whims of divine beings, who make decisions based on their own agendas and rivalries. The fact that Odysseus’ fate is ultimately determined by a "game" emphasizes the randomness and complexity of the divine will.

Songs Sharing Similar Themes

Thumbnail of the 'God Games' performance — A moment from the 'God Games' performance in *EPIC: The Musical*.

'The Divine Comedy' by Andrew Lloyd Webber: This musical explores the themes of divine judgment and the complexities of moral decisions, much like "God Games." The gods in *EPIC: The Musical* play their own version of this judgment in deciding Odysseus' fate.
'Gods and Monsters' by Lana Del Rey: This song shares the theme of godly power and the destructive nature of it. While more focused on the relationship between humans and gods, it reflects on the corrupting influence of divinity in a way that resonates with the gods' behavior in "God Games."
'The Gods' by The Carpenters: This song reflects on the notion of divine influence and fate, echoing the themes of the gods playing games with the fate of humans in *EPIC: The Musical*.

Questions and Answers

What is the significance of the "God Games" in the song?: The "God Games" represent the arbitrary and capricious nature of divine power. The gods' debates and decisions highlight how fate and divine will are often determined by personal vendettas, making the lives of mortals seem at the mercy of unpredictable forces.
How does Athena's defense of Odysseus reflect her character?: Athena's defense of Odysseus demonstrates her loyalty and sense of justice. Throughout *EPIC: The Musical*, she has been a constant protector and advocate for Odysseus, and in "God Games," she is willing to fight even the other gods to ensure his release.
What does Zeus' reluctance to release Odysseus tell us about his character?: Zeus' reluctance shows his arrogance and desire for control. He enjoys playing games with the gods and mortals alike, using his power to manipulate situations for his own entertainment and to assert his dominance over others.

Awards and Chart Positions

"God Games" is part of *EPIC: The Musical*, which is expected to gain significant recognition in the theater community for its innovative portrayal of Greek mythology.
The song has been well-received by audiences, particularly for its clever interplay between divine and mortal characters, and is expected to be a standout track from the musical.

Fan and Media Reactions

Cast performing 'God Games' — The cast of *EPIC: The Musical* performing 'God Games' during a live performance.

"The way Athena passionately defends Odysseus is incredible. This song is an emotional rollercoaster, and the dynamic between the gods is just brilliant." — A fan’s review on social media.

"Zeus' reluctance to release Odysseus just shows how manipulative he can be. 'God Games' really highlights the chaotic, unpredictable nature of the gods." — A theater critic’s insight.

"Athena’s determination is so powerful in this song. I love how the gods are all portrayed with their own personalities, making the decision to release Odysseus feel like a real battle of wits." — A fan’s reflection on the song's themes.

God Games Lyrics - Epic: The Musical

God Games

Exploring 'God Games' from *EPIC: The Musical* by Jorge Rivera-Herrans, Teagan Earley, and Cast