Thanks to everyone who came by to chat in the premiere! I really enjoyed it, I think I'll do it again in a few weeks, though I've learned a few things and definitely won't be posting it as far in advance next time.

I didn't even know this was considered a horror song

Hot take: SNL's more cowbell skit was, thematically speaking, Western culture attempting to laugh off its crippling fear of death

Blue Öyster Cult is just criminally underrated. This song and I Love The Night is so chilling, haunting,.and beautiful.

The gentle male singing voice (no screaming or yelling) contrasts sharply with the meaning of the lyrics; this is what makes the song intriguing and alluring.

I never thought of this song as creepy until this video I always found it a uplifting song honestly

The only thing haunted about this song is its lack of adequate cowbell.

I always thought the song was about to embrace death when it comes for you and to not be afraid of it

To me, what makes DFTR creepy is the main character's acceptance of the very dark, very scary concept of death and our fleeting exiatance. He is alluring this girl into death, trying to convince her of its cathartic properties. It's a harmonically beautiful and peaceful piece about a dark topic and that's exactly what makes it creepy. When the girl finally gives in and the solo kicks in, it's as if the dark nature of the man is revealed. Atleast that's my take on it.

If you think about it as the Reaper singing the song to the the girl ,(seducing her to her death), it's like dark, but beautiful, classic poetry. I miss the seventies.

BÖC eternally underrated

The very name alone, _Don’t Fear The Reaper,_ is so threatening and unnerving.

I was talking to my dad about this song yesterday. We were talking about the context of the third verse. It's clearly about a couple where one of the pair has passed and the other can no longer find the will to go on. He said that he felt it was the boyfriend comforting the girl as she died of heartache. Me, personally, I saw it as the girl is driven to take her own life out of grief. And, instead of death sending a reaper, death sends her love to come and get her. "The curtains flew and he appeared" he appears just outside her window. "She ran to him" "she had taken his hand" "they were able to fly". She ran to the open window and was reunited with her lover. Even if the meaning of the song was never about suicide, that last verse really implies it.

The grim reaper eventually smiles at all of us. All you can do is smile back.

Am I the only one who has never found this song haunting at all? I thought the lyrics were very good, the main theme and riff and chorus are all pretty chill, but definitely not haunting. The only section that's haunting in any way is the guitar solo, and that's really it... still a great video though

This song is just badass, I never thought it was creepy...

To be fair, BOC wrote a lot of songs that could be called creepy. Veterans of the Psychic Wars feels even creepier to me than Don't Fear the Reaper

this is the reason why i suscribed to polyphonic, i knew that he, sooner or later, had to make a video of the godly Blue Öyster Cult

It needs more cowbell.

To me, the song was always about The Reaper helping that woman accept her own unevitable death by taking the form of her deceased lover. That's why the last verse says "she had become like they are" cause she's the only one dying.

The person that wrote it was literally dying he had a heart problem he spent 9 days in the basement writing it. It made him feel better bcz he knew he could die at any time.

To all those complaining about premiering, I'm trying something new. I haven't used this feature and I thought it could be a fun way to build hype. I didn't realize it showed up in your feed as if it were a new video. I won't be premiering every video, but I will be trying to find new ways to interact with you guys and improve your experience of watching my channel.

As major BÖC fan, this is brilliant and seasonally appropriate gift. If you could, please consider stepping into the Imaginos story and Sandy Pearlman's eclectic lyricism present in BÖC's earlier works

6:26 even though his talking breaks up the music, I still got chills when I heard the guitar solo just by itself

Polyphonic: This song has a deep and haunting meaning. Me: HAR HAR COWBELL

I consider it one of the most romantic songs of all time. The main acoustic riff is one of all times best. The lyrics, chorus are just magical. I consider the meaning as the lovers have transcended beyond mortality and reality and their love has become immortal. I never thought it as suicide or killing or death. Now I believe, how fantastic this song is that it has 2 drastically opposite ways to perceive it.

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES BLUE ÖYSTER CULT BOIS

I feel like the “horror” interpretation may be a case of people only listening to part of the lyrics - “it talks about the reaper so it’s horror”. Kind of like how people think “Born in the USA” is patriotic but it’s actually about the Vietnam war if you actually listen to all the lyrics. Great video - thanks!

Another great BOC song with this theme is “I love the night” at first glance it sounds like it’s a song about someone breaking up with their girlfriend and meeting an enchanting vampire woman who invites him to join her into the beauty of the night... but really, he is kissing his girlfriend “goodbye” in the beginning and meeting an angel of death figure afterwards. Once again embracing the enigmatic beauty of death. Listen, and read the lyrics it’s hauntingly beautiful... Also ANOTHER more dreadful song BOC has about death is “Deadline” very cryptic lyrics... they won’t make sense unless you know the backstory. It’s centered around the true story of an acquaintance of the band who was brutally killed by the mafia- the song speculates on what he was doing before his death and other people’s perceptions of his death... In my opinion, the most overlooked rock band, right next to Budgie and Thin Lizzy. All of which have such amazing songs in their discography.

In my opinion, the quintessential song about the romantic quality of death is Echo and the Bunnymen’s ‘The Killing Moon’. It’s so beautiful and yet so haunting.

Fear the reaper has been a loving relaxing song to me as long as i can remember. I guess it's just me?

I always thought it was about two lovers killing themselves like Romeo and Juliet

An acoustic cover of Don't Fear the Reaper appears in Scream, because Scream was all about referencing classic horror.

There's so much to be said about Blue Oyster Cult's history and albums. So many interpretations and hidden lore, especially on the whole "Imaginos" storyline. Looking foward to this, they're my favorite band after all.

I’m disappointed there was no talk about how the song is often interpreted as approaching the subject of a suicide pact. The songwriter denies this, but the words do veer into that territory of two lovers dying together. At first with the mention of being like Romeo and Juliet, but after the break and being with the specter of the Reaper in the background, it can be seen as saying the transcendence (she became like they are) is death itself.

I found this song like a month ago and i can’t stop listening to it

but that ending bassline tho...

Everytime someone makes a cowbell fever joke god kills a puppy

I still get chills every time I hear the guitar solo in this song. It's so freaking good

As I lay dying, I want this song playing near my deathbed. I want to breathe my last as the outro is playing. That would be the quintessential ending to my life. That fading five-note riff is just awesome! So peaceful, yet beckoning to whatever adventures lay on The Other Side. I've seen BOC three times and they were incredible each time.

This channel is called polyphonic, but most of time, there's only one voice.

The guitars and bass in this song are amazing holy shit

This song is honestly comforting for me. Whenever I’m sad, angry, anxious, or just miserable with life, I just listen to DFTR and instantly feel better. This video was amazing.

This song is about loves victory over death. Pathos in spades. One of my all time favorites.

Next video should be about King crimson, Just saying

My favourite fact about Blue Oyster Cult is that apparently they prompted a change in the law. They shot members of the audience with lasers during some of their shows and apparently this practice was legislated against as a result.

I just like the song because it uses the simplified version of the Andalusian Cadence, the i-VII-VI-VII minor chord progression. Once I started learning guitar and my friend pointed out it's use in many LEGENDARY songs, I instantly realized why I like those songs so much. Stairway to Heaven, Don't Fear the Reaper, and All Along the Watchtower are probably the most well known ones. Best song I ever wrote is a bit more complex and creative interpretation of the Andalusian Cadence myself, and I didn't even realize it at the time (I was barely 20, 10 years later I still haven't topped it. Only song I have that labels want to buy from me, plus it can get anyone jamming.)

Even after listening to the analysis, it doesn't seem to be a creepy song to me. Just astonishingly beautiful, and magnificently layered, both in poetics and instrumentals. Such a great song

Excellent. I had a different impression for the last verse, when it says "she had taken his hand", and "she had become like they are", I thought it was the man seeing his lover leave with the reaper. Then they turned back to the man to say goodbye. It felt like his lover was dying, and he was comforting her as she accepted death. Or not? Just my take.

Saw them play this song three weeks ago, and then after the show met the entire band. They were cool!

There is a reason that this song is considered one of the all time greats. Hands down. No questions asked. This song is amazing. Its so well done. Its delightful to listen to. While also being deep, and every section of it having meaning. It is emotional and dragging when you want it to be, but also cheerful and uplifting when you want it to be. Not many songs can change how they sound based on the mood of the person listening.

“Whoops; accidentally made a horror!”

This is the first time I’ve encountered premiere anything and I am confused, do your thing though Polyphonic it’s nice seeing creators trying new things out

One of my favorite songs of all time, I never get tired of it

I’ve never even thought about this song in a negative light. For me, it’s one of the most uplifting messages in music. My ear was always drawn the light shining through the darkness feared by so many.

Excellent. Requesting "Radar Love"...

this was the best birthday present ever, thanks Polyphonic BÖC forever!

No matter how creepy the shit you use this song as a backing for, I just can't fucking hear it. It is so uplifting and happy to me.

Nice video man. I like this song a lot and found the contrast between love and death interesting keep up the good work man

The guitar riff was honestly my favorite part of the song!! Also this was a really cool video to watch more insite on how we can easily miss the true message

I’m ignoring the “cowbell” comments, and just watching this video cause it’s one of my favorite songs.

You deserve way more subs tbh

I've never really found the song haunting if anything it is one of the most life affirming songs I can think of given that it is a love song

Another great video. Really appreciated the background music in this one as well

Buck Dharma was a genious, this song is amazing, Agents of Fortune is amazing. Blue Öyster Cult is amazing.

Also next Halloween you should do number of the beast

I have never thought of this song as even remotely creepy

this is my favorite polyphonic video. growing up in the 80s, this song was just ubiquitous. i enjoyed the music, but never payed attention to the message. until polyphonic broke it down for me. much appreciated!

Edgar Allan Poe at 1:13

6:33 this part in the song gives me chills all the time

I have always loved this song, not for the death or romance, but for the instrumentals. The change in rhythm, and the different turns the song takes. Great vid and info. I sub'd.

This analysis really helped me appreciate this song, which I already loved, anew. Thanks, Polyphonic.

Please do Fugazi.

Next Halloween-y song I'd like to suggest that you do a video on is Bauhaus' "Bella Lugosi's Dead".

I watched this when it first came out. I kept coming back because the analysis is amazing. It got my back into a song that I wrote off as a radio hit. Very good analysis, I love this video.

One of your best videos! Great work!

Jeremy Clarkson: “Reassuring tunes coming up”

7:18 Wow. I never thought of it like that. Overall this was an amazing video, but that was my favorite point. It never struck me like that, that it could be so much deeper

This song actually helped me deal with my anxiety around death. Great video!

The imagery towards the end of the song is my favorite part the reaper appearing

You gotta do one on rage against the machine!

This song always makes me want to cry. I love blue öyster cult.

One of my all-time favorites since childhood. It draws me in with a peculiar sense of comfort mixed with a sobering chill, and release...which I believe makes it a work of art in audio form. I'd love to hear it being played out of an ice cream truck on a Sunday morning 🙂

Super interesting and unexpected to hear this song being reviewed. I had never really listened to the lyrics before. Love this channel. Thanks.

I GOT A FEVER!

If we take the perspective of Buck (or the person asking to take his hand) as 'the reaper', the reaper is just calming her down before taking her soul away. _I don't know why my brain works like this, sorry if I'm wrong..._

Well written. I really dig this channel... One of my favorites. Thanks.

I swear I adore the visual editing in these videos

Why does everyone say this song is in Am? OK, it starts with the Am7 chord. The chords under the famous riff are Am7-G-F6add9-G. G is played twice as long as either Am or the F6/9 thing and G is repeated. On top of that one guitar, the loudest one, hammers home the G by droning it at the beginning of every bar (pulling off the A to it on the first bar). This makes G the tonal centre of the main riff, overwelmingly so to my ear. So since the tune is in the base key/scale of C major but G, not A, is the tonal centre this makes Don't Fear the Reaper G Myxolidian (AKA the Myxolidian mode of C major) rather than A minor (AKA the Ionian mode of C major). This is why it sounds haunting raher than simply sad, and confusingly a tad hopefull and bit whimsical as well. This is why it's so effective and everybody loves it. And of course why everybody everybody should learn their modes :)

I've always loved this song & it brings me peace & joy. I've never understood why people fear death, when it's obviously part of life AND I strongly believe in a loving God & our ability to turn any circumstance into joy. I've had chronic pain for 40 years, plus a multitude of other illnesses. I've found its all in the way you perceive your life.

Incredible video man. Also an incredible song among many by an awesome, yet so underated band, BÖC.

Brilliant analysis, and I absolutely love the way you bring it all back around to the band itself at the end. 👍🤘

Can you please do a video on "Don't let me be misunderstood" by the animals or "dust in the wind" by Kansas

This is so cool.My favorite band.

Every time I hear this song I get the chills, but the good ones. Such an amazing piece.

This is my favorite song of all time, and one of the greatest songs ever written IMO. I will have this played at my funeral one day.

Could you please, please, please, make a video about the whole concept and story behind Pink Floyd's masterpiece The Wall? I'd really love to watch your analysis, and I hope I won't be the only guy who asked you about that. Thanks so much!

This video will eventually have a video, right?

You did such a good job with this video (about my most favorite song ever) that i would love to see you put together a lyric video for the song and remix it only to extend the duration of the song. I've watched this video more than once. It's really well done

Your videos are master classes on how music history could and should be taught. You deserve every sub you get.