Jimi Hendrix Was a Science Fiction Nerd

[@DissectingtheDisco]

This guys' video editing is top-notch. The way he creates stories with moving pictures is astonishing. Keep up to great work, Poly.

[@44marek21]

I wanted to like this comment but I won’t cus the like is at 420

[@DissectingtheDisco]

@@44marek21 love you dude Edit: you can like it now

[@bilbebop3693]

It's like monthly python

[@tomgross1953]

A guy I know had breakfast with Jimi. He had shown up at Apple studios to pick something up, but it wasn't open yet and Jimi was standing there. Jimi suggested they go get breakfast nearby. He said all Jimi talked about was science fiction books.

[@focusstudios1296]

That’s amazing!

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

*Fun Fact:* Muddy Waters used to scared the crap out of Jimi Hendrix with a guitar when he was a kid. _"The first guitarist I was aware of is Muddy Water," said Hendrix. "I heard one of his old records when I was a l little boy and it scared me to death because I heard all these sounds."_

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

@UNCLE KZbin I found it in one of his interviews in the article for some quick research. Not gonna lie.

[@TheGreatTomDix]

Jimi's music has done that to more people!

[@anthonyharris7226]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/inm3hJiobNumrJo

[@clicheguevara5282]

Don't even get me started on how broken KZbin is - but part of this issue is also the fact that Jimi's "half sister", Janie has made his music _impossible_ to access (while also selling it to credit card and shoe companies) Janie Hendrix is a HORRIBLE leech of a person. Jimi (who barely even _met_ Janie) would despise what she's done to his legacy - and to his _actual_ brother, Leon. Also.. Fun Fact... Purple Haze was _not_ about LSD. Jimi didn't even try LSD until after he recorded Are You Experienced? - and he only did acid for about a year. Jimi was absolutely not the unhinged "druggie" that people painted him to be. His death wasn't what we were told it was either... but that's a whole other issue.

[@pedrovogeley]

what about his death?

[@giovanni21mas]

He died after consuming too many sleeping pills. Barbiturate overdose. Nothing to do with other drugs

[@EclecticoIconoclasta]

He died from "straight" legal drugs: alcohol and pills

[@pedrovogeley]

@@giovanni21mas i've read he choked on his vomit after taking those pills, but i guess its rather hard to determine the exact cause of death

[@bluesrocker91]

@@pedrovogeley There are rumours that he was murdered... The doctor who performed the autopsy said it looked as though Hendrix had been force-fed several bottles of red wine and pills.

[@MarkArandjus]

Always made me sad that Jimi never got to see Star Wars. We could've had Star Wars rock tunes.

[@lucasrabello9766]

He would have hated.

[@DMDCOFFICIAL]

I love your work ! I’m a student at UCR researching modern and post modern approaches to dance. I don’t have much money but I am cancelling Disney plus just to get Nevula and have access to your work and the work of other academics that suffer because of KZbin’s ridiculous policies

[@TFFgeek]

Also explains why he covered All along the watchtower, an apocalyptic tale of impending doom that is told through traditional characters. And yeah, the Hendrikx copyright holders are notorious for being on the ball, unfortunately.

[@jennmolnar8811]

I love everything Polyphonic does. I miss having new videos weekly but they're always amazing.

[@beneq9994]

This channel is so well made and it hurts me when this guy gets his hard work demonetised :(( Stay strong and keep up the good work!

[@DavidRinkevich]

There was a French band named Magma who took it to the next level, they made songs and albums about humanity escaping to a new planet, with lyrics written in a constructed language called Kobaïa, they inspired other bands to make music in the genre of Prog Rock the band created, Zeuhl.

[@LeeGHThomas]

David Rinkevich if you’re into French sci fi psychedelic music check out “slift” if you’re not familiar. Their newest album is probably the best new rock album I’ve heard in the past 5 years

[@zeusapollo8688]

Blows against the empire

[@jasonlaird4575]

You ever thought about doing an episode on The End by The Doors

[@billiam7412]

Yes!

[@caldoreo]

Or the doors whole discography

[@theneonllama416]

Hell yeah

[@kostiantynponomarov1692]

That would be great

[@yashsolanki589]

Hell yes

[@donwoodward7944]

I discovered Hendrix when I was in College (1982-86) some 12 years after his death. I just loved "up from the skies" and admired the man not so much for his incredible guitar playing, but more his story telling and songwriting. Such a unique voice and perspective. I hope he continues to inspire younger people; we need his music now more than ever. Thank you Poly!

[@timespace.productions7513]

In Britain, in the 60s, "experienced" was slang for having been abducted by aliens.

[@cremetangerine82]

Not being chemically experienced?

[@artistaccount]

Hendrix saw a UFO it's in KZbin

[@docmullen3248]

Hendrix was really out there man

[@andycopeland7051]

I really don't understand why YT harasses you and other creators on the music clips. It's obvious y'all aren't claiming ownership or trying to profit off the music itself. Just one more reason why YT needs us to let it rot for its own sake. You should come create on Rumble Edit: forgot to say, again, that you are one of the best from this publisher called KZbin. Another great video. Keep it up. You're doing great stuff

[@jadenhawes7603]

“Babe wake up, PolyPhonic posted a new video”

[@blakebonanza]

Electric Ladyland is my favorite album of all time. Thanks for highlighting some of that music and helping me appreciate it even more...

[@romienomie]

I wore the grooves off mine. I went through a period of time where that's all I listened to People who don't understand don't know. He was without question the most creative guitar player ever.

[@blakebonanza]

@@romienomie 100% and for me, nobody else has come close to being able to portray emotion and an entire story just through his guitar.

[@noaht6723]

I wonder what his music would have been like if he read H.P. Lovecraft

[@hickorymccay2994]

Probably even greater.

[@alexfallen9543]

i guess a bit like king gizzard but with a lot more guitar solos

[@EclecticoIconoclasta]

There was actually a US psychedelic band from that era named "H.P. Lovecraft"

[@pedrovogeley]

doom psych blues

[@zigmeekane4361]

I was thinking the same...😅✌️

[@TheStarBlack]

How come I can search KZbin and find at least 10 videos with the whole 1983 song yet you can't even use a few short clips?It's insane. Fascinating video polyphonic, really introduced me to a completely new side to Hendrix. What he was going through back then, we're still struggling with today.

[@LostaraYil666]

i'm so happy you talked about 1983, it's my favourite Hendrix song and I think he would consider it his opus. The solo in the bridge is the most poetic phrasing ever played on the guitar

[@bonzo319]

1:45 “And he became more than just a friend” OH😳😏 “He became Hendrix’s manager and producer” oh ☹️

[@corn_onde_cob]

Although KZbin's copyright system is broken, I'm not sure all the blame can go to that in this instance. The Hendrix estate or whatever it's called rarely let's his music get used. Like in the Jimi bio-pic, none of his songs were or could be used

[@strange-universe]

That should have no bearing on Fair Use.

[@SuperStarr817]

I've been reading some sci-fi recently, I should do a deep dive into more of Hendrix's discography. The copywrite system is clearly broken on KZbin, this is fair use, the equivalent of a cited quote for an essay. Record companies are simply the epitome of greed and clearly don't understand free promo.

[@IzzyDaKid]

Theres not 1 video about this topic NOT ONE. I have been WAITING for this.

[@philinegro]

Love you Polyphonic. I'm sorry about the difficulties. I really appreciate your work and effort!

[@stefano-tq8ns]

As Syd Barrett, Jimi showed his love for science fiction putting it into music. Genius.

[@ala0284]

Never heard a positive comment on KZbin copyright. So annoying that you can’t at least get fair use

[@jonahbridger4859]

@@strange-universe The law is very forgiving thanks to fair use. It's mostly Hendrix's estate that's the problem with this video, but youtubes rules are a huge problem as well.

[@mywin_8275]

Man its kind of powerful to see how corporate greed has gutted your creativity, when its literalised with those silent moments in the video. also, tonal shift but i loved seeing you on swordstream the other day

[@randyhiiip]

May this be love, castles made of sand, wind cries Mary have the most vivid jimi lyrics

[@mokodo813]

Now that I think about it, Hendrix’s music sure had some dystopian elements and sci-fi themes.

[@jstall20]

Unfortunately this isn't just a youtube issue. Hendrix's family are pretty controlling of his music. Normally I don't agree that youtube commentators have any legs to stand on when complaining about copyright claims. However, Polyphonic is one of the very few channels that actually adds something to the conversation. A lot of work is put into your animation and commentary.

[@gardenoftwitty]

Not jimi Hendrix's family. His brother and other BLOOD relatives have nothing to do with thr ESTATE anymore. It's only Jimi's STEPSISTER, whom came I to his father's life years after Jimi became famous. Her mother married Jimi's father. So it's truly sad that none of his blood relatives, whom are alive get the rights to his ESTATE.

[@themrbadluck]

@@gardenoftwitty anyways whoever owns this estate now is simply destroying it, even economically speaking, destroying its value. As Rick Beato said, it's a shame, that the greatest guitarist and one of the greatest musicians of all time is falling into oblivion because of intellectual property stupidities.

[@kavetta]

Fantastic video, it amazes me how you can consistently make well made and informative content. I’ve been watching your videos for a year or two now and it’s really opened my eyes to new musicians and musical projects. All I can say is thanks man and keep up the good work, Noah.

[@happyron]

Thanks again! I never really thought of science fiction and rock and roll as being that connected, aside from Bowie. Makes me want to listen to more of Hendrix's music. Would love to see a video talking about the history of the science fiction/rock and roll connection. Keep up the great work. These videos would have blown my mind back when I was teenager in the 1970s and as a songwriter who got going later in life I'm glad I lived long enough to see this mixture of music/visuals and education come to life. All the best to you again

[@gerryg7514]

A serious contribution to understanding some of Jimi Hendrix's sources. Thank you

[@TXWatson]

saw where you were going with that warning at the front so I muted it here and watched it on nebula. (Didn't want to cost you the watchtime). Tbh you're the reason I most often remember to go and check Nebula-thanks for making those plugs so consistently.

[@BadGuyGoodAudioReviews]

Fascinating vid. As a Hendrix fan and an audio gear reviewer I run into his stuff to. I never knew this part of Hendrix.

[@2bteachable2]

Watching this edited video made me wish that there were timestamps in the description for "1983...(A Merman I Should Tout to Be)" so I could fill in the blanks with the music.

[@samraposo5792]

This video is a big departure from your usual style and it's amazing! It's so crazy looking and I really love it!

[@devzeppalin]

“A Merman I Should Turn to Be”, a little ocd, don’t mind me but great video. The sci-fi elements within Hendrix’s music were always so under appreciated.

[@jablair51]

Jimi is one of those artists that I really wish had lived longer. Who knows what he would have been making in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

[@stefanthorpenberg887]

You, polyphonic, is saying what I’ve said about Hendrix since the first time I saw him in May -67. A lot of inspiration came from science fiction, he often live sounded like a space ship crashing into a distant star. Many people say that he was inspired by blues and Buddy Guy, but I saw Hendrix 5-6 times and Guy 2-3 times and they sounded very different. Hendrix was one of a kind, perhaps since he got his inspiration, as you say, from stuff outside of music. Most musicians are teached by other musicians or in school, but not Hendrix. And... there’s another tune at electric LadyLand that has sci fi involved. It.’s House Burning Down, about riots in the cities where black people burned down their houses in rage. In the end of the song, space ships are landing to take away the dead.

[@thevfxmancolorizationvfxex4051]

Ah, man, contend ID strikes are really hard to handle. The only way they hurt less is if you don't do these videos for profit, and just do them for fun

[@DissectingtheDisco]

Hurts just as much without profit imo. If you put hours of passion into videos like those of Polyphonic, just to see some record company take down your video even though you're not making a profit, feels just as bad.

[@lowpolygangster]

The Hendrix estate...

[@DissectingtheDisco]

Ramon either or!

[@SuperStarr817]

@@DissectingtheDisco Record companies are the epitome of greed

[@FloridaManMatty]

I bet Randy Hansen would let you use clips of his live Hendrix covers...They’re as close to the real thing as youll find anywhere. Brilliant stuff.

[@twezzo99]

Beautiful! It´s a treat to watch your visuals along with the sounds of Jimi. His estate should allow all of it, as it is the best promotion for his music they could ask for.

[@smactork]

As someone who's not familiar with Jimi Hendrix music, I'm really disappointed in KZbin's handling of this music education/discussion video.

[@mda037]

Nice, Bill. Sci-fi and rock and including Rush's 2112 in the thumb at the end was a nice touch.

[@distorted_imagination]

GREAT video. I am glad I watched the unedited one before this one. KZbin is starting to make things real hard for fair use video clips. All those sound bites were totally in that realm of use. Keep up the amazing work!

[@josiahcruz2610]

I've always interpreted "1983" to be a nod to George Orwell's "1984" which is also a science fiction novel that dealt with a dystopian future society. Based on the novels mentioned in this video, I wouldn't be surprised if Hendrix picked it up at some point. The fact that the title is "1983" could probably be interpreted as a foreboding allusion to the dystopian future that would happen the very next year, within the context of Orwell's book, of course.

[@arthurr.r.lucasspublicdoma5621]

Can you do a video on science fiction in music?

[@nsc217]

It’s not youtube who blocks Hendrix songs, it’s the Hendrix Estate… Janie Hendrix

[@zjb_art]

12tone and Polyphonic, my two favorite youtubers, making a podcast together? I can't wait

[@tyler-edic]

Never realized how much Echoes by Pink Floyd draws on "1983" until today.

[@APDS-Akin]

The disclaimer before 0:57 ha the potential to damage the video essay scene on this platform in the long run. Not too surprised about the migration to 'curiosity stream' and 'nebula'. Thankful to know about them.

[@arig220]

You really need to show us how you make these awesome videos!

[@kaneo67]

That is really good polyphonic.I knew that Jimi read sci fi,and used it for lyric ideas.I also read sci fi,my favourite is Jack Vance.Years ago i thought to make a connection between "The Book of Dreams" and Jimi's "Bold as Love".I can't prove this but there are some amazing similarities.Jimi relates colours to emotions,and also ascribes colours to characters and situations in his song.Queen Jealousy is green,life-giving waters are blue.Red is a cinfident male,so confident that he flashes trophies of war.Orange is young and daring.Yellow is frightened.In "The Book of Dreams" ,the central villain character Howard Alan Treesong is a multiple personality person,he has at least 5 different personalities that argue with each other but also compromise and work together.And each personality character has a name and a colour,but also each ones nick-name is the colour it has been ascribed according to the type of emotion that dominates that particular characters behaviour.So Jimi's song and the book are not about the same theme at all,but the use of colours and connecting characters,emotions and behaviours is to me very similar-the same idea or "motif" if that's the right word for it.And now I see that The Book of Dreams was published in 1981,so there is no way I am right! Just shows that great minds think alike-my fav musician of all time and fav sci fi writer.....sorry to bore anyone! I have read Philip Jose Farmer though,but not the book related to Jimi

[@mat145395]

Support! Video is really interesting, visuals are amazing

[@niallgordon3413]

I always thought that 1983 was informed by Samuel Delaney’s 60s short story Driftglass.

[@Historyguy-xu5ht]

Purple haze’s origin was not what I had expected

[@jonathankrieger9121]

Thank you very much, Mr. Polyphonic! This got me over my listener's fatigue.

[@lrb662003]

As soon as Nebula is free; I'm there.

[@caryrodda]

Excellent video (even with the forced edits - KZbin sucks in that regard). I'm a huge SF fan too and I think this is the first video on Hendrix I've seen that explored this angle of his music. Thanks!

[@jonathannixon2021]

I’ve been watching and binging your videos for the entirety of quarantine, I love them!! Can you please do a vid on James brown, I don’t think you have yet, and it would be really interesting.

[@nlsantiesteban]

I don’t know if you mentioned but Third Stone from the Sun contains two aliens speaking to each other before the spaceship orbits earth. But, it can only be heard by playing the song in double speed.

[@joywarburton5719]

This is a great video! The graphics are really impressive

[@finchmeister1504]

As usual a kickass video , keep it up P

[@tomaslopez2940]

Got a new video idea: how Eddie Van Halen was the second coming of Jimi Hendrix. Both men revolutionized the way guitar was played. Eddie added classical music to the rock mix, took Jimi’s unconventional playing methods to an extreme, inventing new rock and metal sub genres in the process, and even used new technology to invent a whole new breed of guitar: the superstrat

[@elder_gambino3403]

it's truly awful that youtube is still broken, and your videos don't sound the same without the soundtrack

[@GiI11]

Hendrix would have spearheaded so much prog. Damn, I love PKD too.

[@ClamGaming-th2wt]

I’d pay to see you make a kind of music video for 1983, ive always wanted to see that song made into a video

[@rembrandtvanrijn8591]

Beautiful video, a true masterpiece, congratulations. And for other people I can recommend watching it on Nebula, with the original Jimi songs

[@vagabond4113]

I really enjoyed this video mate. I've listened to his songs so much that I can still hear them even when they are muted 😉

[@rabjacob]

Thank you @Polyphonic! KZbin copyright sucks but still a great video to watch and learn from :)

[@BetinaLundkaerJensenartist]

Beautiful video..love the colors and textures! I am too a fan of science fiction and never knew that Hendrix was !

[@aniruddhadatta784]

The art on this video is amazing!

[@davismiller3769]

I think we all need a video essay on EVH. RIP.

[@rokobacic8404]

Wow! Never heard this part of Jimi's story. Very informative and entertaining. Keep up the good work! 🤟

[@KaTOKZTV]

This is a very good vlog, thanks 4 sharing

[@focusstudios1296]

Great video! So cool to see this side of Hendrix I never knew about before. Sign in stranger is another cool sci-fi song by steely Dan, just in case you like that kind of stuff

[@johnmcdonald6602]

What about Nine to the universe? That whole album is sci fi! I was lucky enough to get the unedited version.

[@palmereldritchlives6183]

Great theme man, Bravo!

[@mikethepunk3209]

I somehow haven't seen this video until now. But this was fucking great. And seriously 1983 a merman i should turn to be is one of hendrix's best tunes (If not his best) and it's honestly one of the greatest anti war songs

[@DillonColtMusic]

I could watch this channel all day.

[@iambenslater]

Oh my god. Your work is beautiful. Thank you so much.

[@whdphd7116]

If only he had lived another 7 years

[@RetroVzqz9313]

Watching this just makes me a little sad how him and Chas fell out They could've made more killer tracks together But Chas couldn't leave the old ways of the "Red Light is On you're On" form of recording from his days in The Animals He got left behind cause he couldn't embrace making art for arts sake, a pity...

[@jmorales09]

That's kinda the case with everyone Jimi worked with. No one was as forward thinking as him, and didn't appreciate it.

[@RetroVzqz9313]

@@jmorales09 Oh definitely He was just such an out there cat That most couldn't hang with him But with those that did, man some magic was made

[@gerryg7514]

If you do your research, you'll find that in 1970, JH was looking to reconnect with Chas Chandler.

[@RetroVzqz9313]

@@gerryg7514 Yea, I know of this already But then fate had other plans sadly

[@tannerparrow7531]

keep up the amazing vids poly, love them

[@kathykraft5445]

That video was brilliant, thank you.

[@robjones2408]

The creator of this interesting overview of Hendrix's love of SF has forgotten to include the brilliant "EXP" from "Axis: Bold As Love"! A killer track.

[@TheErikjsm]

Love this channel so much i dont mind if you have to edit out things, i get that it sucks not to have your creative work fully realised though. Yt sucks

[@aarenmundzakmusic1550]

This is his best video yet

[@thetasteofwater918]

For some reason that I have not been able to grasp, no one seems to make these kind of analysis videos about The Rolling Stones, which is exceedingly odd as they are as legendary and important as anybody else.

[@thegrandcanyonisegypt2489]

Mr. Hendrix has very talented family, Nona Hendrix & his nephew Dewayne is a very avid researcher on The Atlanta Child Murders thx for the book mentions im on it👍🏾

[@QuyenNguyen-cp4eq]

It’s difficult to post stuff copyrighted especially Hendrix’s work. Good job. Going around the limits.

[@SAAker15]

Indeed a video to be proud of, great job!!

[@leolaurentis]

Hey man, love your essays! could you do an "automatic for the people" essay? I feel like this album has such a 90's aura, and I don't know what it is about it that makes me feel that way

[@DavidBagshaw]

Great work, I'm glad you proceeded even with the muting.

[@markukeley2924]

Hey, you can be proud! Sometimes music distracts from the content. Your video stands up and inspires me. Cheers! MU.

[@jaymaxwell8645]

Totally went and watched on nebula. Screw YT for making you diminish that video in amy way.

[@StringDogg]

This video was insanely good

[@VJMorph]

Well worth watching this over on Nebula