They've also stuck around for an incredibly long time, although with some line-up changes. The band was formed in 1967 and they literally have a new album that came out in 2024.
The complexity and depth of the lyrics and the brilliant musical arrangement makes this a totally unexpected masterpiece. This song is immortal in its own way. All the credit to Buck Dharma and Blue Oyster Cult.
Please don't stop "babbling", Aileen. Your excitement when you hear a song that really grabs you is made all the more real by how much and how fast you speak. Even the occasional stumble as you search for the word on the tip of your tongue only demonstrates your love for music. Even when you do run on about the song, you never just ramble incoherently. Every excited word has a point. It's one of the reasons you're one of my favourite reactors. Your excited joy makes it more fun and brings me back to how I felt when I first heard these songs. ♥
Came here to say this. Too many women become convinced that their thoughts have little value, usually by men who say that you are too much. But know that those men are themselves not enough. You have intelligent thoughts and this is your channel. Speak your truth
Honestly I kind of hate SNL for reducing this beautiful song to a punchline (though I'm sure they never envisioned the lasting impact of that sketch). It only took a few decades, but thankfully that reference is being lost to the younger generations.
You blew me away with your interpretation! I'm not used to hearing deep thoughts on a reaction video. I agree - the song is truly a masterpiece, and your take on it adds that much more 🤩
A thousand years from now, in a galaxy that we don't even know exists, some seventeen year old kid will be waking up in his spaceship, getting ready to start his day and this song will be playing in the background. It's just one of those timeless songs that will be around as long as humans are.
FunFact: Steven King took this song as inspiration for his novel "The Stand". The fun thing is, I know this song from the Movie "The Stand" where this song is used as the intro music. I love it.
Another fun fact: Stephen King recorded an intro to the" Imaginos" album version of "Astronomy", that was released to radio stations only. His intro is played over the instrumental opening of the song and attempts to summarize the story behind the concept album "Imaginos". A video version of it can be found on RUclips.
A masterpiece, indeed. Very happy for you to have discovered this amazing song. Thank you for another lovely reaction, Aileen. You always lift my spirits, so glad you're here for us.
“Another forty thousand coming every day” is such a profound lyric that makes me realize how small we are in the context of the universe, and how each of us will follow the same path as the other 39,999 on that day.
Godzilla, Then Came the Last Days of May , Cities On Flame with Rock And Roll, Career of Evil, Dominance and Submission, Astronomy, Burning for You - you'll love 'em all
Thank god someone else knows their early records. All great choices on your list - I especially love "Dominance and Submission" and "Astronomy", but I would also add "Hot Rails to Hell" and "The Red & the Black". There's no question that Buck Dharma was one of the greatest guitarists of the 70's. The instrumental "Buck's Boogie" on their first live album just slays and I think the second solo in "Dominance and Submission" is his best. He just shreds in that one. What's funny about BOC is that they're often considered a heavy metal band, but there isn't a fuzzbox or any distortion really. The production on their records is so clean, but the songs are just killer.
Your pauses for such insightful comments are always awesome, don't apologize. Amazing how a song from way back then can mean just as much to someone like you witnessing it for the first time now. Your interpretation is spot on, I always love your reactions!
Aileen, the story of this song is that Blue Oyster Cult guitarist Buck Dharma was just diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia and had faced hia own mortality after that diagnosis and thought up this song about accepting your fate. Your explanation shows that you have a pretry good understanding of the actual meaning of this song. There are a few BOC songs you should definitely react to: Godzilla Im Burning for You Cities on Flame BTW I love the guitar solo in this song!
One of my favorite bands. Seen them many times. As other's have said "Burnin for you" is a must, also, "Godzilla", "Shooting Shark", "I love the Night", "Tainted Blood", "Joan Crawford", "Veteran of the Pshychic Wars" SOOOOOO many more. About the lyrics . . . Buck Dharma (Lead gutar, vocal) says that he wrote the song when at a young age he was diagnosed with a heart condition and he was really afraid of dying. He was telling someone about this fear and the person said something like "Don't waste your life fearing the reaper, man." I don't remember the exact quote, but that was basically the idea.
Don, who wrote this song, is one of the nicest guys I ever had the pleasure to have some conversation about music with in an internet forum. He still is an incredible musician and very interested in everything music production and he is a very down to earth person. Legend.
Needs more cow bell. Ok with that out of the way, the line about Romeo and Juliet to me was referring to how in life they could not be together, but in death they were together and nothing could separate them again.
BOC is one of the original classic bands that started it all.. great in concert... They have a ton of great songs... I suggest.. Fire of Unknown Origin... Lips in the Hills ... Black Blade.... Godzilla... Damaged... See You in Black... The Alchemist... Cities on Flame... Dominance and Submission... I could keep going but you get the idea .. Buck is an awesome guitarist... He can shred like a beast and not even sweat or look at the guitar... He will just stare at you in the crowd like a bad ass
The band member Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser wrote this piece, explained that this song is actually a love song to his then girlfriend, now wife, after being diagnosed with cancer, which he had beaten. Also, this and "Burnin' For You" are the quintessential Blue Öyster Cult songs.
WRONG!!! Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser has made it very clear - LOOK IT UP - He was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat which made him start thinking about his own mortality. This song is what came of it. Your rumor is yet a new one and is completely false. Guaranteed! And of course you left out their song "Godzilla".
Let's not forget "Cities on Flame", "Veteran of the Psychic Wars", "Fire of Unknown Origin" and "Godzilla". Those are all mandatory tracks to be heard by everyone. Everything these guys did was amazing, but those tracks are special. BOC pioneered "Progressive Rock", even before Plink Floyd and Rush entered the scene. They helped bands like KISS get their start. Even Frank Zappa kind of shifted his style in response to their music. They've been rocking since '67... and just released their final studio album this April, and have tour dates in 2025, marking their 58th anniversary. More longevity than the Rolling Stones, more than the Beach Boys, more than AC/DC... Nearly as long as Scorpions (who are hitting 60 next year). And you have to admit, we all want to see her grooving out to "Cities on Flame", that's a great song for her...
Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser never explained anything about this song except the true story fans all know - He was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat which made him do a lot of thinking about his own mortality which led to him writing this song . He's been clear about that & that explanation in his own words is very easy to find from reliable sources because he was upset when he found out some people thought it was about suicide. - Facts from Stony Brook, the place BOC met, formed & played as often as they had time between other gigs at out then local venue, The Mad Hatter. ♥️🎧🎵🎸🎹🥁🎶
@Cadinho93 Wrong! He wrote this in response to the news that due to health issues, his life may be shortened and he was concerned about dying young and leaving his wife/family behind. Essentially telling her that it's okay. Death is a natural part of life and we shouldn't live in fear of it. Live the best life you can and when your time comes, accept and embrace it. It had nothing to do with cancer. He was diagnosed with a form of heart disease that, due to possibly causing arrhythmia, might shorten his life. That's it. It's that simple and far less dramatic you portray. I have actually met and talked with all of them... at the time this song was topping the charts (retired radio DJ) and learned a lot more than I thought I knew. For instance Veteran Of The Psychic Wars is about the struggles with mental health, addiction and the societal stigma they held back then. Times were different and nobody ever really spoke publicly about mental health. "If you're seeing a psychiatrist, you must be crazy and a danger to those around you" was the prevailing sentiment and it was really tough for anyone fighting those inner demons
Had to watch my dad face the reaper this year when he was given a death sentence thanks to pancreatic cancer. He handled it bravely in those last few months. I have his copy of this album on vinyl...
Blue Oyster Cult is one of my all time favorite bands! I first saw them in 2001 when I was 9 and I've seen them a total of 13 times. They always put on a great show!
A great reaction, Aileen, this is a very philosophical song as well as being a great Rock track, it's become a classic for very good reasons. I feel it's about enjoying life not worrying about what the future might hold or about death itself.
Great reaction. This band was my first live concert in San Francisco @ the Cow Palace for the SPECTRES tour in around 1978…one of the bands that opened up for them…EARTHQUAKE….A LONG TIME AGO.
Everyone is going to recommend Godzilla and Burning For You. Those two plus this one were the biggest hits. Doesn't necessarily equate over to best song. In my younger days I was a Radio DJ and everyone knew I was coming on the air when they heard me play BOC's Veteran Of The Psychic Wars. I think you will really enjoy it, both on the surface AND the message within the lyrics
I'm a 56-year-old male and I grew up listening to Blue Oyster Cult and for me they are just one of the greatest bands that I had the privilege to listened to as I was growing up starting with, Some Enchanted Evening, and Mirrors. I was 10. I also agree that they were underrated thru the years, they were and are a great band. All I can say is thank you for your lives thru music and sharing it, I will always listen to you and love your music.
There's a whole bunch of mega hair bands in the 80s that owe Blue Oyster Cult a thank you for showing how to make fantastic music with the electric guitar. One of the most underrated bands in history!
What a very insightful reaction, you articulated your thoughts perfectly , and to be honest, your thoughts really made sense. Keep on expanding your world through song!
Yea Aileen……that’s how we all felt in (1976) when we brought this album home and dropped the needle. Remember laying on the bed with headphones on and hearing this track for the 1st time ! Eased my fear of death ☠️ mind you, I was 11 years old at the time. I’ve heard this song at least 1,000 times since, including 13 times live,and I get that same feeling every time like it was my 1st ❤️
I saw this band when they were touring at the time of this song released in Pendleton Oregon (of all places, right?) They were performing in the Armory with a full house...super loud! and exciting to watch, the drummer was phenomenal! Great reaction Aileen!👍
Try "Veteran Of The Psychic Wars" or "Black Blade". Both were co-written with author Michael Moorcock, who also wrote the "Elric" sagas. ("Black Blade" is a direct reference to those books.) As a heads-up, "Veteran Of The Psychic Wars" digs into PTSD.
Moorcock also had a close relationship with the psychedelic space rock band Hawkwind, and they wrote a whole album called Chronicles Of The Black Sword based on the Elric stories.
I always thought "Black Blade's" parallels to Tolkien's Túrin were interesting; cursory searching reveals Elric was published substantially earlier, but Tolkien's legendarium goes back a number of decades. Just curious how many similar beats fantasy strikes, or maybe there's something mythological from which they're both drawing. Anyway, just brain-vomiting.
Yes. Thank you Aileen: acceptance of the awareness of death is the great motivator in life. We will all die, the question is how do we live? Do we live in fear of the only inevitable in life, or do we live to raise the appreciation of the wonderful things we get to do and learn and share in the time we have? I could have this conversation with you all day, Aileen. Go ahead, feel free to explore and express. Nothing delights me more.
My understanding is that Buck Dharma wrote this song when he was having a health scare. It's been misinterpreted as being about suicide. It really shows off the way he can marry poppy grooves and catchy melodies to thought-provoking lyrics. The guitar solo is a classic (and the transition out of it is a masterpiece of editing), and one every student guitarist should learn. BOC was my first favorite band.
FWIW Buck Dharma doesn't get NEARLY the love he should for his guitar work and songwriting. This song is a post-metal song from before there was even really a "metal" to be progressed from to a post state at that point.
Actually, Buck wrote the song thinking that he would want to be reunited with his wife when he eventually would die. Essentially an eternal love song... he did not intend for this song to glorify s***cide in any way.
Awesome Song. Love the cowbell and the Guitar riffs. Aileen or anyone reading this, How do you make a song request? Been trying to figure that out. I have some song ideas.
A lot of us love your rambling, it's real. BOC's song Godzilla is a great one as well. The guitar is really hard and the words can give you a laugh, but the lyrics are actually deep. Completely different sound.
Love your rambling ❤❤❤❤. Near where I used to live is a small town named Zillah. In this town is a Church of God Zillah. Yes, they have a statue on a trailer. The album Some Enchanted Evening was their first live album. All bangers and you really feel the live performance power
Don't you ever think you're rambling.you're sharing your excitement and it's an absolute joy.to see.been watching you for 3yrs and listening to you talk about what you to take away from the songs is still something I truly love.
What the song is saying is Live your life the best you can, you can't stop death, you can't argue with it, when it happens it happens. Your spirit goes on
BOC are known as 'The Intelligent Fan's Hard Rock Band'. They are top tier. Their songs are often about the darker side of fantasy, mythology, & science fiction. An underrated group - You won't find many top hits. This band deserves a very deep cut exploration of their music. Go for studio & follow up with live performances if possible. Here are a few song recommendations to get you started: 'I Love the Night' (one of my favorites) 'Godzilla' 'Burnin' for You' 'Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll' 'Hot Rails to Hell' 'ME 262' "Flaming Telepaths" "Astronomy" (original version please) "Mirrors" "Unknown Tongue" "Veteran of the Psychic Wars" "Sinful Love"
wow, you had mirrors and sinful love. a true fan no doubt. I would add The revenge of Vira Gemini. From Agents of Fortune. Such a great song. And then Last Days of May But again, there are so many great songs I cannot fault you whatsoever.
k. here's the problem with that, you're not wrong, its about Buck coming to terms with his mortality; but this is the Paradox of Poetry. the song, from any layperson's listening, is about suicide. "then came the last night of sadness and it was clear she couldnt go on..." that has very few other ways to read it. This is the same as Metallica's Fade to Black just being James butthurt that someone stole his favorite amp. when you stick to prose that can be widely interpreted you tend to be able to hide your true intent in the field of interpretations, but when you play it too straight, well, how else would someone take it. not ragging on you, I'm just saying, Ive heard it 1000 times and even knowing its true intent, it still comes off as two lovers in a suicide pact.
@guyinreallife6035 Yes, the first time I heard it, I thought it sounded as if it were glamourizing suicide. However, I heard (recording) Buck Dharma talk about this. He was actually taken aback that people thought that the song was about suicide. After he explained what he was saying in the song I got it.
Interesting. When I first heard this song, and even now, I hear a guy telling his, what? Girlfriend? That they should commit suicide to be together forever, so not to fear death.
Well, the lyrics mention Romeo and Juliet, and how did their lives end? I feel that it is disingenuous of the lyricist to say that the song means something else entirely
@@gamleskalle1sorry, chief… Can you give us a newer ‘Blue Oyster Cult’ joke?? Doesn’t even need to be about this; their classic song… I’m CERTAIN you can…or are you ‘too tired’ to make an example of us all??
That last verse after the solo gave me the CHILLS! And I've heard this song SOO many times. This is just the first reaction I've watched of this song and it made me pay extra attention to all the lyrics and intricate musical details I may have missed before. This is simply amazing song writing. It also reminds me slightly of Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven. All thanks to Aileen.
Godzilla! And yeah, Don't Fear the Reaper is certainly a masterpiece. So much to be said about it and my thoughts on it have shifted some or taken on more significance in all these years since it came out when I was in junior high and I raced out to buy the album, and then I saw them in concert a couple times. I never get tired of hearing this song for some reason. Godzilla is another hit of theirs that I bet you would love. It's so creative and it's musically so fun and it's really an adventure and it's comedic and yet it has an actual real message behind it.
I was living in Denver when B.O.C. came to town to open for Electric Light Orcestra. E.L.O..is one of my favorite bands and Jeff Lynn is a producer who is second to none but i must say that Blue Oyster Cult blew them away. WOW.what a show. I was delighted to see them one more time in San Francisco at Slims..a much..much smaller venue south of Market St. They may not have had all the equpment that they did in Denver..playing for thousands of us but they still blew me away. Blue Oyster Cult is undoubtably one of the greatest rock bands to ever hit the stage and/or the studio. And i feel blessed to have seen them live twice..with a couple of decades in between.
I just love when Aileen starts thinking of any words to describe what exactly she's feeling when it comes to music she likes. That rumbling is adorable.
Blue Oyster Cult is an underrated, yet amazingly talented band. I recommend their songs “Burnin’ for You” and “Godzilla”
Summer of love!!
I'll add Astronomy to that list.
Veteran of the Psychic Wars
They've also stuck around for an incredibly long time, although with some line-up changes. The band was formed in 1967 and they literally have a new album that came out in 2024.
I Love The Night.
The complexity and depth of the lyrics and the brilliant musical arrangement makes this a totally unexpected masterpiece. This song is immortal in its own way. All the credit to Buck Dharma and Blue Oyster Cult.
Please don't stop "babbling", Aileen. Your excitement when you hear a song that really grabs you is made all the more real by how much and how fast you speak. Even the occasional stumble as you search for the word on the tip of your tongue only demonstrates your love for music. Even when you do run on about the song, you never just ramble incoherently. Every excited word has a point. It's one of the reasons you're one of my favourite reactors. Your excited joy makes it more fun and brings me back to how I felt when I first heard these songs. ♥
I second that, I love hearing your interpretations of songs
Never bad especially when the babbling is mixed in with excitement for explaining a song and what you get from it..continue..🙏
In Tarot the death card is not necessarily a bad thing, in fact it could be quite the opposite.
Same. I only tune in to 3 reaction channels and about to cut one. The "babbling" is part of the genuine appeal. Don't change a thing.
Came here to say this. Too many women become convinced that their thoughts have little value, usually by men who say that you are too much. But know that those men are themselves not enough. You have intelligent thoughts and this is your channel. Speak your truth
Guitarist pours his heart and soul into the solo
Aileen: "Oh those drums!"
its like she was listening to a Rush song lol
"I got a fever and the only prescription is more Cowbell". Godzilla and Burnin For You are their other best you should check out next.
The version of Godzilla from E.T.L. so you get the intro.
The SNL cowbell skit that will live forever in GIF land
Honestly I kind of hate SNL for reducing this beautiful song to a punchline (though I'm sure they never envisioned the lasting impact of that sketch). It only took a few decades, but thankfully that reference is being lost to the younger generations.
and Astronomy
@@Johnny_SockoYou speak truth and wisdom. Incidentally, you can barely hear the cowbell on this song...
Now you need to watch the SNL skit with Christopher Walken called "More Cowbell" based on this song
@TomBrown-q8r NOW they are. They were hilarious 20-40 years ago.
I need more cowbell 😅
Its actually a wood block
@@rigitdigit Albert Bouchard (the drummer) says it was a cowbell, with tape wrapped around it, played with a tympani mallet. (rather than a drumstick)
Best me to it! 😂. That was epic!
"Burnin for you" is another great Blue Oyster Cult song you should check out!
You blew me away with your interpretation! I'm not used to hearing deep thoughts on a reaction video. I agree - the song is truly a masterpiece, and your take on it adds that much more 🤩
That transition into the last verse is top shelf stuff. One of the best.
Sometimes a band writes a perfect song. I cannot imagine this being better.
i've got a fever, and the only cure...
Damn, you went deep on the honor living and dying and being a part of the whole cycle. Love that! Never stop rambling, Aileen!🤗
Love how the feedback trail on the last note of the guitar solo stretches all the way through the last verse
The whole Agents of Fortune album is an atmospheric masterpiece. Morning Final, Debbie Denise, Vera Gemini etc…. So so good.
Summer of Love and ETI are my personal favs from the album
@@thedrumfreak97Love E.T.I. Morning Final too.
A thousand years from now, in a galaxy that we don't even know exists, some seventeen year old kid will be waking up in his spaceship, getting ready to start his day and this song will be playing in the background.
It's just one of those timeless songs that will be around as long as humans are.
FunFact: Steven King took this song as inspiration for his novel "The Stand". The fun thing is, I know this song from the Movie "The Stand" where this song is used as the intro music. I love it.
Every time I hear the song I remember the original miniseries. Now I have to put the DVDs in and watch it again.
@@LibrarianMichael Such an eerie opening scene
Another fun fact: Stephen King recorded an intro to the" Imaginos" album version of "Astronomy", that was released to radio stations only. His intro is played over the instrumental opening of the song and attempts to summarize the story behind the concept album "Imaginos". A video version of it can be found on RUclips.
Clive Barker also used the lyrics in a book of his.
I watch the Stand once a year
A masterpiece, indeed. Very happy for you to have discovered this amazing song. Thank you for another lovely reaction, Aileen. You always lift my spirits, so glad you're here for us.
Everyone watching this is singing along.
“Another forty thousand coming every day” is such a profound lyric that makes me realize how small we are in the context of the universe, and how each of us will follow the same path as the other 39,999 on that day.
Godzilla,
Then Came the Last Days of May ,
Cities On Flame with Rock And Roll,
Career of Evil,
Dominance and Submission,
Astronomy,
Burning for You - you'll love 'em all
all great choices! as long as it's not the radio edit of career of evil. haha
Thank god someone else knows their early records. All great choices on your list - I especially love "Dominance and Submission" and "Astronomy", but I would also add "Hot Rails to Hell" and "The Red & the Black". There's no question that Buck Dharma was one of the greatest guitarists of the 70's. The instrumental "Buck's Boogie" on their first live album just slays and I think the second solo in "Dominance and Submission" is his best. He just shreds in that one. What's funny about BOC is that they're often considered a heavy metal band, but there isn't a fuzzbox or any distortion really. The production on their records is so clean, but the songs are just killer.
Over the years I've worn out more than one copy of "Secret Treaties" and "On Your Feet or on Your Knees".
E.T.I.
@@stevee5668 - Totally understandable.
Your pauses for such insightful comments are always awesome, don't apologize. Amazing how a song from way back then can mean just as much to someone like you witnessing it for the first time now. Your interpretation is spot on, I always love your reactions!
Aileen, the story of this song is that Blue Oyster Cult guitarist Buck Dharma was just diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia and had faced hia own mortality after that diagnosis and thought up this song about accepting your fate. Your explanation shows that you have a pretry good understanding of the actual meaning of this song.
There are a few BOC songs you should definitely react to:
Godzilla
Im Burning for You
Cities on Flame
BTW I love the guitar solo in this song!
well said.
That true whoa
I love how you just get it with your reactions. Musically lyrically. It’s why I respect you so much as a reactor
One of my favorite bands. Seen them many times. As other's have said "Burnin for you" is a must, also, "Godzilla", "Shooting Shark", "I love the Night", "Tainted Blood", "Joan Crawford", "Veteran of the Pshychic Wars" SOOOOOO many more.
About the lyrics . . . Buck Dharma (Lead gutar, vocal) says that he wrote the song when at a young age he was diagnosed with a heart condition and he was really afraid of dying. He was telling someone about this fear and the person said something like "Don't waste your life fearing the reaper, man." I don't remember the exact quote, but that was basically the idea.
Don, who wrote this song, is one of the nicest guys I ever had the pleasure to have some conversation about music with in an internet forum. He still is an incredible musician and very interested in everything music production and he is a very down to earth person.
Legend.
First time hearing this band with you! This was awesome! Thank you so much. Have a wonderful day Aileen 😀
Blue Oyster Cult Veteran of a 1000 Psychic Wars.
It's just called "Veteran of the Psychic Wars," but it's a great song for sure.
Yes, yes and more yes! Great song.
The live version from Extra Terrestrial is the best version
Needs more cow bell.
Ok with that out of the way, the line about Romeo and Juliet to me was referring to how in life they could not be together, but in death they were together and nothing could separate them again.
"I Love the Night", A beautifully haunting song with so many layers. They lyrics are great. Soundscape.
"Tattoo Vampire", "Godzilla"...ect
Great reaction pretty lady. Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll is a banger thank you for your honesty and perspective love what you are doing ❤
BOC is one of the original classic bands that started it all.. great in concert... They have a ton of great songs...
I suggest..
Fire of Unknown Origin...
Lips in the Hills ...
Black Blade....
Godzilla...
Damaged...
See You in Black...
The Alchemist...
Cities on Flame...
Dominance and Submission...
I could keep going but you get the idea .. Buck is an awesome guitarist... He can shred like a beast and not even sweat or look at the guitar... He will just stare at you in the crowd like a bad ass
The band member Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser wrote this piece, explained that this song is actually a love song to his then girlfriend, now wife, after being diagnosed with cancer, which he had beaten.
Also, this and "Burnin' For You" are the quintessential Blue Öyster Cult songs.
WRONG!!!
Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser has made it very clear - LOOK IT UP -
He was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat which made him start thinking about his own mortality. This song is what came of it. Your rumor is yet a new one and is completely false. Guaranteed!
And of course you left out their song "Godzilla".
Let's not forget "Cities on Flame", "Veteran of the Psychic Wars", "Fire of Unknown Origin" and "Godzilla". Those are all mandatory tracks to be heard by everyone. Everything these guys did was amazing, but those tracks are special.
BOC pioneered "Progressive Rock", even before Plink Floyd and Rush entered the scene. They helped bands like KISS get their start. Even Frank Zappa kind of shifted his style in response to their music. They've been rocking since '67... and just released their final studio album this April, and have tour dates in 2025, marking their 58th anniversary. More longevity than the Rolling Stones, more than the Beach Boys, more than AC/DC... Nearly as long as Scorpions (who are hitting 60 next year).
And you have to admit, we all want to see her grooving out to "Cities on Flame", that's a great song for her...
Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser never explained anything about this song except the true story fans all know -
He was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat which made him do a lot of thinking about his own mortality which led to him writing this song . He's been clear about that & that explanation in his own words is very easy to find from reliable sources because he was upset when he found out some people thought it was about suicide.
- Facts from Stony Brook, the place BOC met, formed & played as often as they had time between other gigs at out then local venue, The Mad Hatter. ♥️🎧🎵🎸🎹🥁🎶
@@Chiari_Queen_T Beg to differ. "Don't fear the Reaper" and "Burnin' For You" are their two best songs.
@Cadinho93 Wrong! He wrote this in response to the news that due to health issues, his life may be shortened and he was concerned about dying young and leaving his wife/family behind. Essentially telling her that it's okay. Death is a natural part of life and we shouldn't live in fear of it. Live the best life you can and when your time comes, accept and embrace it. It had nothing to do with cancer. He was diagnosed with a form of heart disease that, due to possibly causing arrhythmia, might shorten his life. That's it. It's that simple and far less dramatic you portray. I have actually met and talked with all of them... at the time this song was topping the charts (retired radio DJ) and learned a lot more than I thought I knew. For instance Veteran Of The Psychic Wars is about the struggles with mental health, addiction and the societal stigma they held back then. Times were different and nobody ever really spoke publicly about mental health. "If you're seeing a psychiatrist, you must be crazy and a danger to those around you" was the prevailing sentiment and it was really tough for anyone fighting those inner demons
Nice reaction. Blue Oyster Cult have many many great songs, they are one of the greatest hard rock bands of all time IMO.
Had to watch my dad face the reaper this year when he was given a death sentence thanks to pancreatic cancer. He handled it bravely in those last few months. I have his copy of this album on vinyl...
"You sank my battleship"! Classic.
Took my mother in 2015 as well. Hope you are ok
@@bayareathrasher666 Going to Bay Area Thrash shows helped big time bro 🤘
I've always loved this "out of left field" guitar solo. It's quite beautiful with a classical feel to it.
“ Don’t fear the Reaper “ , Blue Oyster Cult. Great Song !!
Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple 72 SHOULD BE NEXT BEAUTIFUL LADY
Blue Oyster Cult is one of my all time favorite bands! I first saw them in 2001 when I was 9 and I've seen them a total of 13 times. They always put on a great show!
The last time I saw them was in 2004 when I was 40 and I've seen them probably 25 times. ❤
One of the most surprising and best guitar solo there is
Definitely! It’s perfect for the song. No shredding, just fits the song perfectly. Melodic and darkly beautiful. It’s a classic Rock song, of course.
A great reaction, Aileen, this is a very philosophical song as well as being a great Rock track, it's become a classic for very good reasons. I feel it's about enjoying life not worrying about what the future might hold or about death itself.
The greatest and most evil-sounding guitar solo ever.
Great reaction. This band was my first live concert in San Francisco @ the Cow Palace for the SPECTRES tour in around 1978…one of the bands that opened up for them…EARTHQUAKE….A LONG TIME AGO.
Everyone is going to recommend Godzilla and Burning For You. Those two plus this one were the biggest hits. Doesn't necessarily equate over to best song. In my younger days I was a Radio DJ and everyone knew I was coming on the air when they heard me play BOC's Veteran Of The Psychic Wars. I think you will really enjoy it, both on the surface AND the message within the lyrics
THANK YOU 🤘🍻astronomy is another I love
I love VotPW because it's in the movie "Heavy Metal". I have the soundtrack CD. It's filled with so many great songs from so many different bands.
I'm a 56-year-old male and I grew up listening to Blue Oyster Cult and for me they are just one of the greatest bands that I had the privilege to listened to as I was growing up starting with, Some Enchanted Evening, and Mirrors. I was 10. I also agree that they were underrated thru the years, they were and are a great band. All I can say is thank you for your lives thru music and sharing it, I will always listen to you and love your music.
Hey Aileen, you ramble on! No apologies, I love it! Talking about music is the next best thing to listening to music 🖤
Almost better the sex , 😂 ,
Ramble On is Led Zeppelin...wrong band 😋
@allenporter6586 I wasn't referencing the Led Zeppelin song - just a little musical play on words. She said she was sorry she was rambling. 🙄
Thank you for this one, Aileen...........an absolute MASTERPIECE !!!
Bill: Ted? Ted: What? Bill: Don't "Fear the Reaper"! [both of them air guitar] Grim Reaper: I heard that.
Bill & Ted's bogus adventure
You might be a King or a little street sweeper...
but sooner or later, you dance with the Reaper!
Rock on, Dude!
Reaper stole the show 😂
@@DomLab-g2n William Sadler is underrated as an actor.
I love watching you react and enjoy the music I have listened to for years. You really seem to enjoy music the way it was meant to be.
There's a whole bunch of mega hair bands in the 80s that owe Blue Oyster Cult a thank you for showing how to make fantastic music with the electric guitar. One of the most underrated bands in history!
BOC are awesome very underrated imo. Also you look gorgeous Aileen! Happy Halloween 🎃 😊
BOC had multiple vocalists. Thats why godzilla and this one, for example, sound totally different
God-Zilla! God-Zilla! God-Zilla! That song makes me so happy.
One of my all-time favorite bands. They're especially perfect for the autumn season. I Love the Night is another track that you must hear.
Their song "Then Came the Last Days of May" is great
Astronomy and Flaming Telepaths you should definitely listen to!
You’ll probably hate me for saying this, but I really love the cover of Astronomy that Metallica did. Both versions are great!
flaming telepaths is a banger!
But not in that order. Must be listened to back to back.
@ Of course!
Aileen, just want to wish you so much peace and joy. It’s always fun, coming to your channel.
This song was so huge when I was in high school so glad you finally reacting to BOC
I was in my final year of high school in the UK 🇬🇧, I remember this being absolutely massive
I love this song. Thanks for reacting to it 🤘
And don't worry about your tangents. They're insightful and add to the reaction 😁
Veteran of the psychic war live in 1981 Hollywood Florida for THE Buck's guitar solo!!
This!
I went and checked it out because I never know how live vs. studio turns out. Holy freakin moley, Batman! That guitar solo is epic af.
I was going to mention this one as well! It's my fave version of my fave Blue Oyster Cult song.
What a very insightful reaction, you articulated your thoughts perfectly , and to be honest, your thoughts really made sense. Keep on expanding your world through song!
Yea Aileen……that’s how we all felt in (1976) when we brought this album home and dropped the needle. Remember laying on the bed with headphones on and hearing this track for the 1st time ! Eased my fear of death ☠️ mind you, I was 11 years old at the time. I’ve heard this song at least 1,000 times since, including 13 times live,and I get that same feeling every time like it was my 1st ❤️
I saw this band when they were touring at the time of this song released in Pendleton Oregon (of all places, right?) They were performing in the Armory with a full house...super loud! and exciting to watch, the drummer was phenomenal! Great reaction Aileen!👍
Try "Veteran Of The Psychic Wars" or "Black Blade". Both were co-written with author Michael Moorcock, who also wrote the "Elric" sagas. ("Black Blade" is a direct reference to those books.) As a heads-up, "Veteran Of The Psychic Wars" digs into PTSD.
Moorcock also had a close relationship with the psychedelic space rock band Hawkwind, and they wrote a whole album called Chronicles Of The Black Sword based on the Elric stories.
I always thought "Black Blade's" parallels to Tolkien's Túrin were interesting; cursory searching reveals Elric was published substantially earlier, but Tolkien's legendarium goes back a number of decades. Just curious how many similar beats fantasy strikes, or maybe there's something mythological from which they're both drawing. Anyway, just brain-vomiting.
I like your tangents, that is why we come here- to hear your thoughts on our favorite songs! Love your channel - thank you for all the great content.
This is truly one of the great classic rock songs.
Yes. Thank you Aileen: acceptance of the awareness of death is the great motivator in life. We will all die, the question is how do we live? Do we live in fear of the only inevitable in life, or do we live to raise the appreciation of the wonderful things we get to do and learn and share in the time we have? I could have this conversation with you all day, Aileen. Go ahead, feel free to explore and express. Nothing delights me more.
My understanding is that Buck Dharma wrote this song when he was having a health scare. It's been misinterpreted as being about suicide. It really shows off the way he can marry poppy grooves and catchy melodies to thought-provoking lyrics. The guitar solo is a classic (and the transition out of it is a masterpiece of editing), and one every student guitarist should learn.
BOC was my first favorite band.
YOU are correct!
Indeed, this song is essentially a lullaby to someone from a loved one to calm them down for the visit from the Grim Reaper.
I mean there ain't shit any of us can do, we are all on the way out after all
FWIW Buck Dharma doesn't get NEARLY the love he should for his guitar work and songwriting. This song is a post-metal song from before there was even really a "metal" to be progressed from to a post state at that point.
Actually, Buck wrote the song thinking that he would want to be reunited with his wife when he eventually would die. Essentially an eternal love song... he did not intend for this song to glorify s***cide in any way.
A masterpiece indeed! Everything about this song screams banger from the iconic riff, the chorus, instrumentation and amazing lyrics.
"I Love the Night"
Love you sister. This song just goose bumps. Thank you for the birthday wish.
Burnin' For You is mandatory!
Awesome Song. Love the cowbell and the Guitar riffs.
Aileen or anyone reading this, How do you make a song request? Been trying to figure that out. I have some song ideas.
A lot of us love your rambling, it's real. BOC's song Godzilla is a great one as well. The guitar is really hard and the words can give you a laugh, but the lyrics are actually deep. Completely different sound.
Love your rambling ❤❤❤❤. Near where I used to live is a small town named Zillah. In this town is a Church of God Zillah. Yes, they have a statue on a trailer. The album Some Enchanted Evening was their first live album. All bangers and you really feel the live performance power
Don't you ever think you're rambling.you're sharing your excitement and it's an absolute joy.to see.been watching you for 3yrs and listening to you talk about what you to take away from the songs is still something I truly love.
She is rambling and sometimes tries to interpret before she has even finished listening to a verse. She is close here but off.
MY ALL TIME FAVORITE BAND! Thank you so much for reacting to them! There's a HUGE rabbit hole to go down.
More cowbell!!!
I got a fever. And the only cure is more cowbell.
LOL SNL 👍✌️💜
Much more cowbell needed.
Yes... THE Bruce Dickinson...
Was looking for this comment.
Even though I grew up with this song constantly playing on the radio I still can't hear it without "More cowbell!" popping into my head. 😁
This song is best heard with a heavy dose of 420.
Love your ramblings your spot on with you analysis as far as I’m concerned absolutely love the instrumental passage of this track
What the song is saying is Live your life the best you can, you can't stop death, you can't argue with it, when it happens it happens.
Your spirit goes on
I enjoyed your rambling of Didn't Fear The Repear!
That guitar is so underrated.
Buck Dharma tops my list of the most underrated guitarists from that era.
BOC are known as 'The Intelligent Fan's Hard Rock Band'. They are top tier. Their songs are often about the darker side of fantasy, mythology, & science fiction. An underrated group - You won't find many top hits. This band deserves a very deep cut exploration of their music. Go for studio & follow up with live performances if possible. Here are a few song recommendations to get you started:
'I Love the Night' (one of my favorites)
'Godzilla'
'Burnin' for You'
'Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll'
'Hot Rails to Hell'
'ME 262'
"Flaming Telepaths"
"Astronomy" (original version please)
"Mirrors"
"Unknown Tongue"
"Veteran of the Psychic Wars"
"Sinful Love"
I think I'd give that title to both BOC and Rush.
wow, you had mirrors and sinful love.
a true fan no doubt.
I would add The revenge of Vira Gemini. From Agents of Fortune. Such a great song. And then Last Days of May
But again, there are so many great songs I cannot fault you whatsoever.
I've heard it said that, if Black Sabbath and Rush had a kid, the kid would be Blue Oyster Cult.
It’s captivating to watch you absorb and process all of that musical information ❤
SNL did a skit with Christopher Walken with this song. I got a fever and the only cure is more cowbell
I'm telling ya, fellas, you're gonna want that cowbell!
Can we ever listen to this song without the played out skit?
@@wombatcube NO
@wombatcube no one said that you had to read the comments
@@wombatcube
Cowbell Sketch: I... Am... Inevitable...
Saw them too!!! GREAT SMOKE AND LIGHT SHOW!! "BABY TAKE MY HAND AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO FLY"!!!! AWESOME!! 😍❤️🎸🔥
Thank you. This is NOT about suicide. It's about the fact death is inevitable. That love survives forever.
k. here's the problem with that, you're not wrong, its about Buck coming to terms with his mortality; but this is the Paradox of Poetry. the song, from any layperson's listening, is about suicide. "then came the last night of sadness and it was clear she couldnt go on..." that has very few other ways to read it. This is the same as Metallica's Fade to Black just being James butthurt that someone stole his favorite amp. when you stick to prose that can be widely interpreted you tend to be able to hide your true intent in the field of interpretations, but when you play it too straight, well, how else would someone take it.
not ragging on you, I'm just saying, Ive heard it 1000 times and even knowing its true intent, it still comes off as two lovers in a suicide pact.
@guyinreallife6035 Yes, the first time I heard it, I thought it sounded as if it were glamourizing suicide. However, I heard (recording) Buck Dharma talk about this. He was actually taken aback that people thought that the song was about suicide. After he explained what he was saying in the song I got it.
Interesting. When I first heard this song, and even now, I hear a guy telling his, what? Girlfriend? That they should commit suicide to be together forever, so not to fear death.
@@erice.214 which strikes me as weird that he wouldnt see it that way.
brilliant song regardless
Well, the lyrics mention Romeo and Juliet, and how did their lives end? I feel that it is disingenuous of the lyricist to say that the song means something else entirely
Burnin’ For You, E.T.I., The Vigil, I Am the Storm. So many great BOC songs to dive into!
And btw… nice work!
Astronomy is my favorite
I’ve watched many reactions by many reactors. You stand out because you really listen, and then react. Keep up the good work!
Aileen never be sorry for rambling. We love listening to you.
Ah yes, some good ol' B.O.C! If you haven't heard "Burnin' for You" or "Godzilla", then definitely put that on the list.
‘Guess what??
I’ve got a fever…and the only prescription is MORE COWBELL!!’
Tired joke
@@gamleskalle1 Not as tired as you. go away.
"I put my pants on just like the rest of you, one leg at a time. Except, once my pants are on, I make gold records!"
@@gamleskalle1sorry, chief…
Can you give us a newer ‘Blue Oyster Cult’ joke??
Doesn’t even need to be about this; their classic song…
I’m CERTAIN you can…or are you ‘too tired’ to make an example of us all??
@leeedwards9068 Go to Blue Oyester bar, the greatest salad bar in town..... also a gay bar. Ymca, its fun to etc....
Great stuff. You appreciate the depth. Thanks for the understanding.
40,000 men and women every day. I believe that those were the death statistics in the early 70's .
That last verse after the solo gave me the CHILLS! And I've heard this song SOO many times. This is just the first reaction I've watched of this song and it made me pay extra attention to all the lyrics and intricate musical details I may have missed before. This is simply amazing song writing. It also reminds me slightly of Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven. All thanks to Aileen.
Great band - very good review, really enjoy seeing people hear music for the first time- music that I grew up with 😊😊
Godzilla! And yeah, Don't Fear the Reaper is certainly a masterpiece. So much to be said about it and my thoughts on it have shifted some or taken on more significance in all these years since it came out when I was in junior high and I raced out to buy the album, and then I saw them in concert a couple times. I never get tired of hearing this song for some reason.
Godzilla is another hit of theirs that I bet you would love. It's so creative and it's musically so fun and it's really an adventure and it's comedic and yet it has an actual real message behind it.
Godzilla live. There is a few different live versions of it but a must hear! You won't be disappointed.
I was living in Denver when B.O.C. came to town to open for Electric Light Orcestra. E.L.O..is one of my favorite bands and Jeff Lynn is a producer who is second to none but i must say that Blue Oyster Cult blew them away. WOW.what a show. I was delighted to see them one more time in San Francisco at Slims..a much..much smaller venue south of Market St. They may not have had all the equpment that they did in Denver..playing for thousands of us but they still blew me away. Blue Oyster Cult is undoubtably one of the greatest rock bands to ever hit the stage and/or the studio. And i feel blessed to have seen them live twice..with a couple of decades in between.
Great pick Alieen, one of my favorites from BOC and one of their best tracks too. It’s a very chill song, my dope music lol. 💜🖤
I just love when Aileen starts thinking of any words to describe what exactly she's feeling when it comes to music she likes. That rumbling is adorable.