The Viral Truth Behind 'Rät': 5 Shocking Entities Penelope Scott's Song Is Really About
As of December 20, 2025, the song "Rät" by American singer-songwriter Penelope Scott remains a powerful anthem for a generation disillusioned with unchecked capitalism and the tech elite. This viral hit, released on her 2020 album Public Void, is far more than just a catchy tune; it's an acidic, deeply personal "breakup letter" to the entire culture of Silicon Valley and its most visible, often controversial, figureheads. The track’s enduring popularity stems from its unfiltered critique of technocracy, fake philanthropy, and the narcissistic billionaire class that promises to save the world while arguably making it worse.
The core of "Rät" is a scathing, yet deeply relatable, expression of disillusionment. It captures the moment a young person realizes their childhood heroes—the "disruptors" and "innovators" of the tech world—are simply self-serving oligarchs. Originally titled "Elongated Muskrat" in its demo phase, the song explicitly uses one major figure as a symbol for the entire toxic system, making it a definitive Gen Z protest song.
Penelope Scott: Biography and Discography
Penelope Scott is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and producer known for her unique blend of anti-folk, indie pop, and punk sensibilities, often delivered through a filter of Gen Z angst and leftist political commentary.
- Full Name: Penelope Scott
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Musician, Singer-Songwriter, Producer
- Age: Approximately 25 years old (as of the current date, based on 2020/2021 reports)
- Musical Style: Anti-folk, indie pop, electronic elements, characteristically lo-fi and self-produced.
- Key Themes: Societal issues, political commentary (leftist ideas), technology critique, post-college identity, and navigating dysfunction.
Major Discography:
- Junkyard (Compilation Album): Released in 2020, a collection of demos.
- The Junkyard 2 (Compilation Album): Also released in 2020.
- Public Void (Album): Released in 2020, featuring the breakout hit "Rät" and other popular tracks like "American Girl" and "Lotta True Crime." The album cemented her reputation for criticizing societal issues.
- Mysteries for the Modern Man (EP): Released in 2023, continuing her exploration of complex themes.
Scott is notable for self-producing and self-releasing all of her music, a feat that resonates with her anti-establishment lyrical themes and DIY aesthetic.
The Deeper Meaning: 5 Entities 'Rät' Critiques
While often labeled simply as an "Elon Musk diss track," the true genius of "Rät" lies in its ability to use one person as a synecdoche for a much larger, more pervasive cultural illness. The song functions as a comprehensive critique of five distinct, interconnected entities.
1. The Narcissistic Billionaire (The Elon Musk Symbol)
The most obvious entity is the specific type of billionaire represented by Elon Musk. The song was originally nicknamed "Elongated Muskrat," making the target clear. The lyrics criticize the faux-altruism of the tech elite who possess the wealth and power to genuinely help humanity but instead choose to use it to further their own ego-driven, often impractical, goals.
The "breakup" metaphor perfectly captures the feeling of betrayal: a former idol is now seen as a "rat" who has chewed through the foundations of hope. The reference to "Tesla" in the lyrics further grounds this critique in the reality of the tech-industrial complex.
2. The Silicon Valley "Tech Cult" and Technocracy
Penelope Scott herself described "Rät" as a "breakup letter to the tech cult that is Silicon Valley." This entity is the entire ecosystem of the USA's West Coast technocracy, which she sees as "degenerate." The song targets the culture that worships technological innovation as a savior, often ignoring the real-world, social, and economic damage caused by its relentless pursuit of "disruption."
The song’s cynicism is a direct rejection of the utopian promises of Big Tech, highlighting the hypocrisy of ultra-wealthy individuals claiming to fix the world from their isolated, privileged bubble. This critique extends to concepts like "crypto," "NFTs," and other speculative ventures that often feel like distractions from genuine systemic problems.
3. The Illusion of "Killing God" and Modern Nihilism
One of the song's most provocative lyrical lines is the mention of being part of the "movement that killed god." This entity refers to the sweeping philosophical and cultural shift toward secularism and modern nihilism. Scott is likely using this to point out the lack of a moral center or shared ethical framework in the modern, hyper-capitalist world.
In the vacuum left by traditional religion, the tech elite—the "rats"—have stepped in to become the new false prophets, promising salvation through apps, electric cars, or space travel. The song suggests that this new "religion" of technology is just as flawed and self-serving as the old institutions. This theme connects with the broader emotional landscape of the *Public Void* album, which explores dysfunction and a post-college struggle for identity.
4. The Generational Disillusionment of Gen Z
"Rät" is a defining voice for a generation that inherited a world of climate crisis, economic instability, and the pervasive surveillance of social media giants. The song's popularity on platforms like TikTok is a testament to its resonance with Gen Z's collective anger.
This entity is the shared feeling of being manipulated by systems designed by older generations. Scott’s music, often characterized by a raw, unpolished sound and "female rage," perfectly captures the frustration of watching immense wealth be squandered on vanity projects while essential societal issues remain ignored.
5. The "Friend" or Former Idol
On a more personal, emotional level, "Rät" is a critique of the listener's own past naiveté—the former "friend" or idol they once supported. The song is a journey from admiration to disgust. The lyrics suggest a deep, almost intimate, relationship with the figure being criticized, which is the relationship a fan or an idealist has with a public figure they admire.
By framing it as a breakup, Scott makes the political personal. It’s not just a protest; it’s the painful admission that someone you believed in—someone you thought was on your side—turned out to be just another "rat" in the system. This emotional vulnerability is what makes the track so enduringly powerful and fresh, even years after its release on the *Public Void* album.
'Rät' as a Lasting Cultural Touchstone
The massive success of "Rät" proves that a song can be politically charged, deeply cynical, and incredibly catchy all at once. It transcended its origins as a TikTok snippet to become a legitimate cultural touchstone, especially among young people who feel unheard by traditional media and political structures. The raw, self-produced quality of Penelope Scott's work adds a layer of authenticity that is often missing from mainstream pop.
In conclusion, "Rät" is not just about one person or one event. It is a comprehensive takedown of the entire Silicon Valley ethos, the false promises of technocracy, and the pervasive, soul-crushing disillusionment of a generation. It is a powerful, enduring symbol of the shift in cultural power, delivered with an undeniable, unfiltered honesty that only an independent artist like Penelope Scott could provide.
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