Astronomy (song)
Encyclopedia
"Astronomy" is a rock song
by Blue Öyster Cult
that has appeared on several of the band's albums. It was first published on their 1974 album
Secret Treaties
. Their second live album, Some Enchanted Evening, included a version with an extended guitar solo and a third version was included on the Imaginos
album.
It was also re-recorded for the band's Cult Classic collection in connection with the TV miniseries
of Stephen King
's The Stand
. Most recently the song was included on the A Long Day's Night
album.
, the band's producer and mastermind behind their image, called "The Soft Doctrines of Immaginos". In the poem, which was later released under the BÖC moniker as "Imaginos", aliens known as Les Invisibles guide an altered human named Imaginos
, also called Desdinova, through history, playing key roles that eventually lead to the outbreak of World War I
.
In "Astronomy", the character of Imaginos comes to realize his heritage and his role as the altered human. References are made to celestial objects throughout the song-- "The light that never warms" being the moon
, "The Queenly flux" the constellation Cassiopeia
, "My dog, fixed and consequent" being Sirius
, the dog star. The "Four Winds Bar" may be a reference to the Tropic of Cancer
. All in all, it has Imaginos explaining his position as part of Les Invisibles.
recorded a spoken narration for the video, which is as follows:
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
by Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
that has appeared on several of the band's albums. It was first published on their 1974 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Secret Treaties
Secret Treaties
Secret Treaties is Blue Öyster Cult's third studio album, released in 1974.In 1975, a Melody Maker poll of critics voted Secret Treaties as the "Top Rock Album of All Time." The album spent 14 weeks in the US charts, peaking at #53. It went gold in 1992...
. Their second live album, Some Enchanted Evening, included a version with an extended guitar solo and a third version was included on the Imaginos
Imaginos
Imaginos is a 1988 concept album by Blue Öyster Cult.The "Imaginos" concept was originally begun by producer Sandy Pearlman in 1967, before BÖC was even formed. Drummer Albert Bouchard began writing music for it following the release of the band's first album in 1972...
album.
It was also re-recorded for the band's Cult Classic collection in connection with the TV miniseries
The Stand (TV miniseries)
# Project Blue [1:33]# The Dream Begins [2:08]# On the Road to Kansas [3:57]# The Trashmen in Vegas [1:58]# Headin' West [1:56]# Larry & Nadine [2:38]# Mother Abigail [3:10]# 'Sorry Mister, I Don't Understand' [2:54]# Mid Country [3:22]...
of Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
's The Stand
The Stand
The Stand is a post-apocalyptic horror/fantasy novel by American author Stephen King. It demonstrates the scenario in his earlier short story, Night Surf...
. Most recently the song was included on the A Long Day's Night
A Long Day's Night
A Long Day's Night is a live DVD by the American hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult, recorded in Chicago, Illinois on 21 June, 2002. It is so named because that day was 2002's summer solstice, the longest day of the year....
album.
Lyrics
The song's lyrics are selected verses from a poem by Sandy PearlmanSandy Pearlman
Sandy Pearlman is an American music producer, artist manager, professor, poet, songwriter, and once was a record company executive...
, the band's producer and mastermind behind their image, called "The Soft Doctrines of Immaginos". In the poem, which was later released under the BÖC moniker as "Imaginos", aliens known as Les Invisibles guide an altered human named Imaginos
Imaginos
Imaginos is a 1988 concept album by Blue Öyster Cult.The "Imaginos" concept was originally begun by producer Sandy Pearlman in 1967, before BÖC was even formed. Drummer Albert Bouchard began writing music for it following the release of the band's first album in 1972...
, also called Desdinova, through history, playing key roles that eventually lead to the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
In "Astronomy", the character of Imaginos comes to realize his heritage and his role as the altered human. References are made to celestial objects throughout the song-- "The light that never warms" being the moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
, "The Queenly flux" the constellation Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia (constellation)
Cassiopeia is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the vain queen Cassiopeia in Greek mythology, who boasted about her unrivalled beauty. Cassiopea was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century Greek astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations today...
, "My dog, fixed and consequent" being Sirius
Sirius
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. With a visual apparent magnitude of −1.46, it is almost twice as bright as Canopus, the next brightest star. The name "Sirius" is derived from the Ancient Greek: Seirios . The star has the Bayer designation Alpha Canis Majoris...
, the dog star. The "Four Winds Bar" may be a reference to the Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Cancer
The Tropic of Cancer, also referred to as the Northern tropic, is the circle of latitude on the Earth that marks the most northerly position at which the Sun may appear directly overhead at its zenith...
. All in all, it has Imaginos explaining his position as part of Les Invisibles.
Music video
A music video of the 1988 version was released by Sandy Pearlman in Britain. The video had no footage of the band playing, and instead focused on the story told by the song. Longtime BÖC fan and author Stephen KingStephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
recorded a spoken narration for the video, which is as follows:
"Imaginos (performed by
Blue Oyster Cult) - A bedtime story for the children of the damned.
From a dream world, paralleling our earth in time and space, the
invisible ones have sent an agent who will dream the dream of history.
With limitless power he becomes the greatest actor of the 19th century.
Taking on many ingenious disguises, he places himself at pivotal
junctures in history, continually altering its course and testing our
ability to respond to the challenge of evil. His name is 'Imaginos'".
Covers
- MetallicaMetallicaMetallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
did a cover of the song for their 1998 Garage Inc.Garage Inc.-Disc two:These tracks are a collection of B-sides from artists Metallica were inspired by, throughout the early years of the band.-Personnel:* James Hetfield – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar on "Whiskey In the Jar"...
album. - Arch EnemyArch Enemy (band)Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup, from Halmstad, formed in 1996. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, and Eucharist to name a few. It was founded by Carcass guitarist Michael Amott along with Johan...
used the chorus for their song "Pilgrim" from the Burning Bridges album. - Albert BouchardAlbert BouchardAlbert Bouchard and grew up in Clayton, New York. He is a drummer, guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a founding member of Blue Öyster Cult and a driving force through the band's first decade...
's band the Brain Surgeons recorded the song for their 1997 album Malpractise with Deborah Frost on lead vocals. Albert's post-Brain Surgeons band ÜnderbellyUnderbellyUnderbelly Limited is an English company that operates a series of four venues at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, in Scotland. From 2000-2004, Underbelly, Cowgate was the only venue operated by Underbelly. In 2005, Underbelly added the Baby Belly venue. In 2006, these venues were joined by the E4...
released a version of the song with original Soft White Underbelly singer Les Braunstein on lead vocals in 2011.