THIS WAS MUCH BETTER!.. | FIRST TIME HEARING Blue Oyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reeper REACTION 

I think it's hysterical an Amber's first words on this video was "cowbell". I guarantee you every single person watching this who knows this song knows why. Please please please now that you've done this song you have to do a reaction video to the Saturday Night Live skit By Christopher Walken, about the cowbell in this song. Please!

"I have a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell."

I got a fever...and the only prescription...is more cowbell! 😂🙌🏼 I’ve told my husband and kids if this isn’t played at my funeral I WILL come back and haunt them. Full poltergeist shit lmao This is in my top ten favorite songs of all time.

Not many "perfect" songs written in the history of music. This is one of them. Buck Dharma absolutely hit a monster home run with this song. This will be played and enjoyed two hundred years from now.

The band member who 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.

The "More Cowbell" sketch is over 20 years old and has surely made an impact on the American Lexicon!

The solo in this song is so haunting/terrifying. It makes me wonder what my baby brother, who died in april, saw. I hope he had no fear. I miss and love you forever, brother, with love always ❤️

I love how the guitarist held that note for like 20 seconds after the interlude and back into the chorus. Such a cool transition. Amazing song.

We need more cowbell!!

This and 'Burnin' For You' are the quintessential Blue Oyster Cult tracks. Great song... MORE COWBELL!!!!!!!!

I feel like a teenager in the 70"s again when I see you guys jamming to music I grew up on. Thank guys. God Bless

This song, 'Dust in the Wind' and 'Carry on My Wayward Son', 'Sister Golden Hair', 'Hotel California', and so many other absolute CLASSIC songs came out in a period between 1975-77. Add just a couple more years and you others like the entire 'Tusk' album from Fleetwood Mac as well. Every era has it's bangers, but the 1970s were just packed end to end with amazing music. The 80s had it's own brand of awesome music, but the arrival of MTV added a new minimum level of physical attractiveness required to be huge that would have excluded a lot of earlier artists.

BOC has 15 studio albums. 15! They got something for everybody. Y’all need to do Godzilla. Yes, it’s about the big lizard. But so much more.

"Don't Fear The Reaper" is stellar. "Burnin' For You" is a very close second.

With its hypnotically seductive opening, the hushed, cajoling voices, the sudden, jagged death-throe guitar violence, and finally the souls drifting away on the outro, this song is so beautiful that it’s spooky, and so spooky that it’s beautiful.

Blue Öyster cult is so underrated man , my favourite top 5 band of all times

I had just taken a drink before Amber said, "cowbell." I literally did a spit-take. 😆

I’m glad you guys like this song, it’s amazing, More Cowbell!!!!!

the lyrics in this song are just outstanding

one of the most famous opening bass riffs ever. this song is a monster masterpiece and BOC is an incredible band cowbell. lmao!

This is the opening song of Stephen Kings The Stand TV Miniseries. The original '94 version. I think of it every time I hear this song. The Stand is the greatest novel ever written, fyi, lol. There is also a famous SNL sketch with Chris Walken, centered around this song.

"Godzilla" a must listen by B.O.C. these tunes are speaker busters.

I've always loved the vibe of this song. I also love that we are still discussing the possible meaning of this song...45 years later! That's what good song writers and artists do! 🌟🎶

This song was written by Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser, their lead guitarist and singer on this song because he had heart issues and was wondering if he was going to die.

Undoubtedly BOC's best song. "Burnin' For You" is a Close Second...The whole "Fire of Unknown Origin" Album is great.

Now that you've heard "Don't fear the Reaper" now you need to watch a clip of SNL "more cowbell". Lots of familiar faces and a hilarious dive into this song.

One of the greatest rock songs of all time! BOC is such an underrated band still! This is a perfect October and Halloween 🎃 song!

1/20/23@ 4:40. I am a 64 year old grandmother who raised my two children on this music. Can I just say I love this concept so much. As much as I think I loved the music of me era…. I’m getting a whole new appreciation for what we took for granted. Best music era ever. It guts me. Thank you so so much.

Listen again closely. As the bridge ends (you called it the transition) you hear the guitar play a note. If you listen that note continues to vibrate through the chorus and into the final verse. It is the world record longest human strummed sustained guitar note ever recorded and in the 50 years since no one has bested it

"Veteran of Psychic Wars" - is an amazing song of theirs. And their "Godzilla."

This was BOC's massive, massive hit. The break in the song is so different and cool.

I've got a fever and the only medicine I need is more cowbell! Classic SNL. This skit about BOC is rated one of the top 10 SNL skits ever. Also, this song was in the opening of The Stand miniseries written by Stephen King. I always think of Flagg when I hear this song. There is a mini bio on RU-vid with the person who directed this song all the way back in the 1970s, when music didn't have any extra computerized help. He will listen to one person and edit out the other players analyzing their instrument to the song. It is truly amazing.

This song came out in 1976, a song that has held up and still sounds good. Another song that I liked, "I'm Not In Love" by 10cc came out the year before, in 1975, was technologically ahead of it's time. Have a listen, I'm sure Amber would go into the same trance!

"Don't Fear The Reaper" is just so well produced and engineered....I can't imagine how many takes they had to go through to get this song so perfect.....Christopher Walken just gave us a small glimpse!

The original TV version of Stephen King's The Stand played this over the opening credits, which was the outbreak of a pandemic. It's one of the best opening sequences in a film/TV series.

This song is indelibly connected in my mind with the TV miniseries of Steven King's apocalyptic masterpiece _The Stand_, where it was used as the most appropriate opening.

It’s impossible for me to listen to a serious discussion about cowbell without busting into laughter. LOL I’d swear I was watching Saturday Night Live if I didn’t know any better.

"Burning For You* is an even better song by BOC

I saw them in Columbus about 5 years ago. They were all together, and when they sang this song, they ALL sang, and it was like you'd hear them singing around you. Coolest vocal effect I'd heard live.

The 1st concert i ever drove myself to was Blue Oyster Cult & Black Sabbath at Six Flags in Arlington, Tx. 1981. Good times....❤

Blue Oyster Cult: try Cities on Flame, Godzilla, Dominance Submission, Veteran of the Psychic Wars (do the live version), Astronomy, Hot Rails to Hell. There are a lot of really good songs from them.

now you have to watch the SNL skit featuring Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken doing this song

BOC has many different sounding songs. This one, 'Burning For You,' 'Godzilla,' and 'Veteran of the Psychic Wars' are my favorites.

It's talking about a love so strong they always die in each other's arms. That transition was the chaos of change and how we all fear or at least find change distasteful, but that once you're through dying there's a peace in that transition waiting at the end of it.

For those here Thinking this is a pro Suicide Song, it is not. Here is the meaning from the songwriter himself "I felt that I had just achieved some kind of resonance with the psychology of people when I came up with that, I was actually kind of appalled when I first realized that some people were seeing it as an advertisement for suicide or something that was not my intention at all. It is, like, not to be afraid of [death] (as opposed to actively bring it about). It's basically a love song where the love transcends the actual physical existence of the partners." - Buck Dharma, lead singer[5]

This is a quote from an article about the meaning of the song: Nothing boosts a song’s popularity like a little controversy, and there was plenty surrounding “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper.” Donald Roeser said in 1998, “The second verse is the one that’s caused all the trouble all these years. ‘Valentine’ is a metaphor for mortal love. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ I used as an example of a couple who had faith to take their love elsewhere when they weren’t permitted the freedom to love here and now. What I meant was, they’re in eternity cause they had the faith to believe in the possibility. It frankly never occurred to me that the suicide aspect of their story would be plugged into people’s take on ‘Reaper,’ making it an advertisement for suicide. The “40,000” number was pulled from the air as a guess about how many people died every day worldwide, not how many people committed suicide.”

I love watching Amber. You can tell she REALLY feels music. I love that trait in a person.

Buck Dharma, lead singer, said (i am paraphrasing) the song is about the inevitability of death and the foolishness of fearing it, and love between partners, transcends death.

"Burnin' For You" should be next if you liked this one. "Don't Fear The Reaper" always makes me think of the original "Halloween" movie from 1979. I know a lot of people think of the SNL sketch, but that kind of undercuts the awesomeness of this song to me.

I've always loved how the feedback from the last note of the guitar solo sustains halfway through the next verse (7:12-7:43).

Cities on flame with rock and roll 🎸

Glad you picked up the cowbell so quickly. This song was the one in the Saturday Night Live sketch that gave rise to the Christopher Walken "more cowbell" meme. This song has forever after been associated with cowbell.

"Veteran of the Psychic Wars", "Godzilla", "Burning For You", "Astronomy"....so many killer songs by BOC. Don't quit on 'em here!

in a lot of ways this song is a masterpiece, but at the time back when it was written (I was there) :) most people thought this song represented a woman who was in pain emotionally from losing her love and was being coerced into suicide by the Reeper or angel of death, who was calling her to take his hand and fly away from land of the living. Then like Romeo and Juliet she would be reunited in death. 40,000 men and women die every day, its just what happens, "just take my hand" he urges. I have read comments below about what they are now saying the meaning is or the intention of the writer. It is a song that is truly unique and I have never heard another like it. But I think because it has suicidal imaging it should be recommended carefully. It is a very dark work of art, that is sung with an angelic voice, which captures your attention immediately. Love your channel guys and look forward to listening to it everyday. you two would have been awesome radio hosts back in the 70's.

This is one of those songs that hits you again years later when it comes around. When you are older and have experienced more of the ups and downs of life, love, and loss, this old friend sings it to you again and you appreciate is all the more ....

This is their most well known song, but my favorite is GODZILLA.

I've loved this song since I was a little kid (a long time ago 🤣) the guitar melody is probably my favourite of all rock songs.

"Burnin' for You" is another great one by them. Another personal favorite of mine is "This Ain't the Summer of Love," which is a really nice, hard rocker!

"Burning For You" should be next...and find the Saturday Night Live "More Cowbell" Skit with Christopher Walken...it's hysterical!!!!

When this came out there was something of an uproar because of, "Romeo and Juliet are together in eternity." Were they pushing suicide? The band came out and stated absolutely no. The story of their love is eternal. This is an amazing song.

I saw them do this in the 70's. I love it!! 😁 😍

a great song with cowbell, "Saturday Night Live" did a whole "More Cowbell" skit with this song that is a must watch :)

“More Cowbell!!” One of the funniest SNL skits

This was the opening song for the movie "The Stand" and has given me the creeps ever since. If you haven't seen the movie...you should. The story starts with a virus escaping from a lab...... Be warned though, it's like a 6 or 8 hour movie....story by Stephen King.

"She had become like they are"; that line always creeps me out!

I love the darkness of this song...used it as the theme to The Stand mini-series in the 90s -- perfect personification

Many say this is about suicide. I like to think of it as not letting the fear of death prevent you from taking chances, exploring further, etc.

Most of the guys here go back to the SNL skit, more cowbell. I go back to Steven King's The Stand original version as the opening credits song. Really highlights the scene.

"Then the door was open and the wind appeared, the candles blew and then disappeared, the curtains flew and then HE appeared..." Chillingly beautiful lyrics.

I saw Blue Öyster Cult a couple of times in the 70s, and I have to say it was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, definitely a light show they had the best laser light show, this song is one of my favorites along with Godzilla and in Thee.

This song, “Burnin’ for You” and “Then Came the Last Days of May” are a must listen.

You should DEFINITELY review the More Cowbell sketch from SNL. It’s is a classic that lives on today.

You got it! One of the best classic rock tunes with true genius from Blue Oyster Cult. Don't fear death (the Reaper), live your life as best you can. I'm 65 and am still waiting to feel "old". I got to see BOC during their heyday.

This song will be played at my funeral and hopefully LOUD . THANKS Again

If they never wrote another song this would make them legendary

One of the greatest rock songs ever recorded and one of my all time favorite songs. I used to cue this song up and listen to it over and over. Burning For You is a good next song for sure. The tune is pretty simply about accepting that death is a part of life but when I first heard this song I thought it was maybe about vampires, "She had become like they are". BTW you two NEED to see the "more cowbell" skit on SNL if you've never seen it, it's so damn funny.

Buck Dharma sings lead and plays lead. Underrated in the extreme both he and the band.

Yes, that transition you referenced is one of the best in Rock n Roll. Guaranteed!

The lyrics are haunting!! Until I looked them up, I didnt really understand some of them, but a very powerful message in this song🎶🎸 On a fun note, watch SNL's sketch on this song...its hilarious and spawned the phrase " more cowbell"!!😆🎶🎸

If you want to do the Amber sway and mellow out, react to Christopher Cross "Sailing" Will totally take you to another place

I cracked up when Rob stopped the music the first time. Amber was clearly in a zone, eyes closed, swaying to the music and then he pauses it. The look are her face when the music stopped was like "Why did you do that to me"

“Burning For You” is another good one from BOC. My favorite line from that son is “time to play B sides”.

"Godzilla" has some amazingly insane guitar playing by Buck, you may want to re-start the song a few times.

When I hear this song I immediately think of SNL's "More Cowbell" skit.

Buck Dharma is the guitarist that first inspired me to pick up the instrument. He has perfectly melded bluesy scales with exotic-sounding modes like the Lydian and Phrygian, which are known for sounding ‘Spanish’, or ‘Middle Eastern’. We Westerners tend to associate their sounds with the ominous, the unknown, the mysterious, and the occult. The ‘transition’ or the guitar solo, according to Buck Dharma himself (the guitarist and songwriter) , was meant to be an audio representation a door opening between the worlds of the living and the dead. Then, in the last verse, when the woman has lived her life and is herself dying, her dead lover steps through the gateway from the world of the Dead and tells her, ‘Hey, it’s not so bad over here; c’mon, trust me.’ She is delighted to see the man she’s missed for so long, and she trusts him-as she always did. At last she takes his hand and together they walk together through the gateway into the World Of the Dead, presumably to eternal happiness together. It’s a sweet story with some very weird, eerie moments. I mean, direct gateway between the world of the living and the dead? That’s pretty far out. It’s always reminded me of Greek myths, like the story of Orpheus, who travelled to the Underworld to bring back his lost love (though it doesn’t work out so well for him). Or even the film *Poltergeist* , if the portal in the closet led somewhere nice, rather than a creepy ocean of ectoplasm. Anyroad, it’s cool you dig the song. I can comfortably recommend almost anything from their 2nd through their 6th studio records, and absolutely anything from their first live album and their next-to-last live record. Blue Öyster Cult are one of those rare bands that rock WAY harder and play with more passion when they play live. Some of my favourite songs are: ‘Teen Archer’ ‘Quicklime Girl’ ‘The Subhuman’ (live 1974) 7 Screaming Diz-Busters (live 1974) ME262 (live 1974) Flaming Telepaths Astronomy (live 1978) Sinful Love Morning Final Tenderloin The Revenge Of Vera Gemini The Golden Age Of Leather Fireworks Death Valley Nights I Love the Night Nosferatu

It takes you and lifts you off the ground into oblivion. Rock on !

this song is SUCH a vibe. it even pops up in DJ sets (not covers or techno versions, the original song) that's some serious lasting power and broad appeal.

Buck Dharma is one of the most underated guitarists out there.

“Is your understanding of the grim reaper from family guy?” Amber’s best question to Jay I’ve heard yet! 😋

Blue Oyster Cult should be in Rocking Roll Hall of Fame for this song alone!!!!One of my favs of all time.

70's at it's finest. The cowbell was wrapped in a shitload of tape to muffle it.

Now react to the “more cowbell” skit on Saturday night live 😂😂😂😂🤘

WOW!!! I had just forgotten how AMAZING this song really is! thank you!

“Burning for you” is a must ❤️‍🔥🥰

I had to back it up 6 times to watch you guy's reaction when that lead BUSTED OUT. I knew it was coming being as I'm 68 year old. LMÀO 😂😊❤🎉

I can't help but think of Stephen King's The Stand every time I hear this lol.

That transition is an absolute masterpiece. This is one of the few times I'm going to recommend listening to the live version (but only because you heard the original 1st). From the album Some Enchanted Evening. They play a bit faster and with a little harder edge without sacrificing the quality of the sound AND there's a flaming guitar solo at the end that will blow you away. You owe it to yourself to hear that.

The family guy crack was spot on i think Miss Amber. 👍🤣

"Blue Oyster" great choice they came out when I was High School..this song is wonderful when your driving in the country..with the windows down just gettin it..it certainly clears your mind.. music

This came out when I was in the navy. An older Petty Office who didn't really care for Rock, said this album was very sensual.