Gemini Rising

1980's Sounds - Blue Oyster Cult

Written for:

FORUM

The Soundtrack of Your Life  (18+) Every February, you're invited to chronicle the music that has influenced your life! #1970896 by Jeff

#15 - 1980's Sounds - Blue Oyster Cult


I first heard Blue Oyster Cult when I was in 9th grade. It was 1981 and I was in art class. Elise and I were freshman so we sat at our own table, but Robert, the Junior, sat next to us and he listened to Blue Oyster Cult. They had an album out, "Fire of Unknown Origin," and "Burin for You" was the big hit. He told us all about BOC, and often listened to "Don't Fear the Reaper."

Elise and I were impressed that Robert would give us any attention at all being freshman. Ah, but art class was my introduction to Blue Oyster Cult. They had been a band big in the 70's and were now coming into the 1980's. I liked the heavier, "rock-ier" beat and I thought "Don't Fear the Reaper," was an awesome song. And that cowbell! For Christmas 1981, I even played one of my newly acquired BOC albums for my 70 year old Aunt Mary. She owed me. I watched soap operas with her.

Don't Fear the Reaper had that "Romeo and Juliet" vibe that appealed to my impressionable 9th grade heart. Burnin for You was just a jam. It wasn't until years later did I discover it was written about ah, cough, sexually transmitted diseases. My 3rd favorite BOC song was "Astronomy." It starts of slow, has almost an ethereal moon-like quality to it but ends fast and hard. I just loved cranking Astronomy full blast and singing at the top of my lungs in my car, "ASTRONOMY!!"

Blue Oyster Cult is my dirty little musical band secret. I will always love them and I will remember 9th grade art class because of them.

Note: Sadly, the video for Astronomy sucks in my humble opinion.

In 1987 Blue Oyster Cult played a club in Munster, Germany and I can't remember the how or why but I was there. I think I went with the Commo guys. There was a mix of American guys & gals. My Rock heroes, Blue Oyster Cult were playing in Munster, Germany and I actually got to see them! When the band was done playing we got an opportunity to meet them. I think they were impressed to see Americans. We were impressed to see them. We were the only ones waiting for them after the show. I remember we met them and had a nice talk.

After going through BOC's video collection on YouTube, most of their videos suck. Burnin for You was a song for the MTV generation, but even that video sucks. Here's BOC performing Don't Fear the Reaper Live.


DON'T FEAR THE REAPER
Blue Oyster Cult