Old Composer REACTS to The Smashing Pumpkins Disarm // Rock Reactions // The Decomposer Lounge

[@hudbott]

A quote from Billie Corgan: "I didn’t have the guts to kill my parents, so I thought I’d get back at them through song. And rather then have an angry, angry, angry violent song I’d thought I’d write something beautiful and make them realize what tender feelings I have in my heart, and make them feel really bad for treating me like shit."

[@Bat8hitcrazy]

I never knew, wow that completely changes the emotional feeling I had since its release. I always liked Smashing Pumpkins there have been so many haters just because Billie used a high toned voice. His music was perfect for the time period. Couldn't have come out any other time.

[@SlapNSniff]

wow. he sounds like a spoiled whinny pussy

[@Istielthia]

@@SlapNSniff Can I ask why you feel like this is an appropriate thing to say about someone?

[@oldnsleepysmitty5503]

@@Istielthia its called projection

[@Istielthia]

@@oldnsleepysmitty5503 Oh, I get that, I wanted to see if they could get that.

[@nfbuckeye]

‘Siamese Dream’ is a phenomenal...PHENOMENAL...guitar album.

[@metalboy27]

Mayonaise next!

[@jamesmarshall7885]

And drums!

[@Portekberm]

Probably best ever

[@qriminal1648]

Absolute greatness from front to back. My favorite album of the 90s.

[@kpsa7108]

I still have the original CD I got at 13 years old. Almost 30 years ago. Still listen to it regularly

[@joshuamitchell6239]

“Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins.” “Homer Simpson, Smiling Politely” One of the greatest lines ever on The Simpsons. I can’t hear the band name without thinking of that

[@adamfstewart81]

The real heart-breaker from the Siamese Dream album is not this song, it's SOMA :) The saddest, most ecstatic, cathartic guitar solo ever captured. so beautiful

[@cebrinpitts]

Goosebumps everytime 🤙

[@danielr3522]

Exactly the song that came to my mind as I was watching this video, it's a song that really takes you on a journey :-)

[@PsychedelikMonk]

Forever my favourite SP guitar solos... and song in general really.

[@masonb9788]

My favorite SP song! Or is it “Rhinoceros?” 😁

[@LudvikM]

@@cebrinpitts Absolutely. It's not a solo, but a guitar crying

[@halfalligator6518]

I love how Pumpkins straddle the line between country goth, pop, shoegaze, alt rock and even metal. They don't sound like a genre-hopping band though - they blend them all into a quintessential "pumpkins" sound.

[@glyn5385]

country goth Yes!!!

[@immortalcoils93]

Metal has or will never be apart of Smashing Pumpkins

[@halfalligator6518]

@@immortalcoils93 even "a little" metal. C'mon metal is a vague term. Jellybelly riff and drums is pretty fucking metal. Fuck You (An Ode to No One), Tales of a Scorched Earth, X.Y.U. I've heard "metal" bands do songs less metal than those. Also music is a recipe of ingredients and Pumpkins employ a little metal. They're not PURE metal if that's what you're thinking about.

[@immortalcoils93]

@@halfalligator6518 haha maybe to you and the examples you are giving. Sure. But actual metal music, fuck no.

[@immortalcoils93]

@@halfalligator6518 nope. Been listening to pumpkins for a while now. Not metal. Sorry, sir. Enjoy them a ton though.

[@cubaprefect1]

Im a casual Pumpkins fan, I like a number of their songs-but this one? This one is a true masterpiece in writing and engineering. You can't not feel the weight of his words.

[@sean-ew2qv]

This was the first song I learned to play on guitar. I'm 45 now and the 90's are all I have left in life.

[@judsonwright]

I hope you have more left than a decade that happened 30 years ago!

[@bongodroid]

Too bad the world defaulted back to a crazy psychopath version of the late 80s that we´re still stuck in.

[@msdrtr]

That song segues into what I think is the best song on Siamese Dream .... Soma. A must!!!

[@zer01979xyu]

Soma is a beautiful song!

[@derricktipps9867]

Agreed. My favorite from dream.

[@msdrtr]

Whenever Disarm ends I’m expecting to hear that trippy guitar intro soon after...

[@n__rtu8324]

@@derricktipps9867 that solo is the MOST emotionally expressive performance by billy if u ask me awwwright

[@aftp6646]

I recently found out that R.E.M.'s plays piano on Soma. It would have been nice if he would have played more with them.

[@INTERNET_RYAN]

Arrangements, cello, and violin we're done by one Eric Remschneider and David Ragsdale along with producer Butch Vig handling some arrangements too.

[@herethererainbows]

The story i heard was that the cello player got overdubbed a lot. Almost to the point where it would’ve been cheaper and faster to get more cello players in. Like there’s a crazy amount of dubbing of the cello

[@FadingNewDawn]

@@herethererainbows I would hate to see the final cost for producing that album. Considering the amount of re-records and Billy's insistence on redoing everything (ultimately playing basically every part himself) due to an obsession with perfection on it....... Don't get me wrong...the album is an absolute masterpiece....but that final recording studio bill. :O

[@TheGuruStud]

@@FadingNewDawn absolutely a top album of all time....like in the top 5 to me.

[@_permanence]

Billy recently claimed on his podcast that he wrote the string arrangements.... I don't know whether to believe him or not ha

[@cjsutoob]

@@_permanence Watch his Rick Beato interview... he didn't know how to write a string arrangement. That didn't stop him from getting his vision across. 25:20 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHLJnKt-mNaKgas

[@derricktipps9867]

I'm not gonna lie, my favorite pumpkins song is "Thirty Three." That would also be a nice one to come back around to or listen on your own

[@n__rtu8324]

you ... can make it last... forever ...

[@camw621]

Wonder if he'll spot the Asprin bottle out, lol...

[@marcovtjev]

That's a good one. "Today" is also a good one.

[@evan6534]

Absolutely my fav Smashing Pumpkins song

[@tomr.4199]

33.... great video too!

[@whatdothlife4660]

I've been obsessed with Smashing Pumpkins since I saw the Tonight Tonight video around 1998 on MTV but it never clicked with me until you suggested it in this reaction; Disarm is Billy's Eleanor Rigby.

[@roccobierman4985]

Another great Smashing Pumpkins Song that really goes all out on the strings is Tonight, Tonight. You should give it a try.

[@MrGreendayzed]

He'd love the strings

[@fearlessbiped]

YES PLEASE

[@n__rtu8324]

this prob would've been a better beginning imho

[@cassyh.2603]

That song is really so beautiful.

[@VoIcanoman]

That song is just so commonly played on radio (both now and when it came out) that he may have heard it already. Besides BWBW, it's probably their most well-known song.

[@jamespurvis464]

My favorite Smashing Pumpkins song. I had just bought this album when my mom got sick and listened to this song over and over. I always associated it with her. I had it played years later at her funeral.

[@derricktipps9867]

Thank God for smashing pumpkins! When i was being molded by music as a teen, I think they were the first band to which i was able to mentally comprehend the more emotional side of music... or, just learning that it's okay to feel... at all! I feel like this band in particular kicked the door in to harder music for me... i got into tool and the metal of the 90's because i wanted more emotion! I wanted more anger! this band (and song) take up a huge part of the soundtrack of my youth. Thanks geebz!

[@bosshogg8447]

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[@andrewjunge-dennison5953]

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness was the first I ever bought at the age of 9-10. Can definitely relate to this comment and boy was it worth that extra money for the double album even though it took forever to save up for.

[@derricktipps9867]

@@andrewjunge-dennison5953 bought that album with my first multi disk cd player... night and day didn't leave my changer for all of 96... a good year.

[@andrwarrior]

this song melts my face everytime. So great

[@dhoffnun]

As a *very* casual music nerd... this channel is an absolute treasure. Thanks for sharing this ride with us, man.

[@hilarywilkes7853]

Yes! Totally agree!

[@michaeljacyna1973]

Mayonaise! The emotional heart of that album...

[@kylelewis4685]

Agreed

[@audioupgrades]

Facial expressions showed that the strings hit the spot. I think every song on Siamese Dream is perfect. It's my desert island disc.

[@Oreoleoo]

After 20 years, if I don't skip this song on the album I'm at best listening to it on autopilot. I've just heard it too many times. But watching your reactions as you're listening to it made me hear it in a whole new way, for the first time in a long time. What a treat for me. Thank you so much.

[@lukemarlow9441]

The thing for me that makes this song so great is the differences between the two choruses - the first one has so much space, not just in terms of the instruments but in that there are 2 bars in between each line that Billy delivers - then when the second chorus finally hits, not only does it have the full weight of the arrangement, but those two bars in between each line are gone and Billy just goes straight from delivering one line into the next, creating such a sense of urgency. I've known this song for almost 30 years now and it still always hits me really hard in that second chorus - just a masterpiece of songwriting and arrangement.

[@cainehazen]

Yeah, the Pumpkins were always a journey for me in college. The music takes you places. Yeah they had some pop-rock things, but they were far more than that. Start at the beginning with Rhinoceros to see where they came from, it was a massively awesome first album.

[@patrickp3485]

Gish...yes!

[@patrickp3485]

Gish...yes!

[@brandonkoch3852]

Gish is life!

[@camtron]

Ever since I heard this song when I was 12 or 13, I still get the chills.

[@acy2004]

Keep Smashing Pumpkins reactions coming! 👏🏼👋🏼👍🏼🙌🏼💜🇨🇦

[@thecoogs]

All their music is just hauntingly gorgeous

[@MB-ln9nv]

The pumpkins are such a deep and, they are unique and a battle at times. But there’s incredible stuff the deeper you go.

[@MindfulMusic]

The strings in this song are cellist Eric Remschneider and violinist David Ragsdale.

[@timothyevans7383]

This is such a beautiful song , and it wouldn't be out of order to cry to this

[@monitordown]

Honestly, you’re hard pressed to find any smashing pumpkins song earlier than 1999 that isn’t a completely beautiful universe of sonic escape. Love your channel BTW, you’re killing it.

[@GenX_Yaya]

Smashing Pumpkins is another one of those bands that is part of the soundtrack of my life. Gish came out when I was in high school, but this song really blew them up (in a good way). It's beautifully written and is a very personal song. Billy Corgan doesn't have a big of an ego as he used to, but his ego back in the day is really what lead to the break up of the band up. Growing up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s was such a blessing. I grew up with some amazing music.

[@GenX_Yaya]

@twnsn while all of that is true, you do have to admit Billy had a hell of an ego back in the day.

[@amssma2]

Thank you so much for decomposing this song 😍. This song has kept me sane in the most crazy of times - you're a legend, Geebz!

[@marcoscastaneda8848]

Please do Tonight Tonight!!!! 🙏

[@el-violador]

This is one of those songs that kicks me right in the guts if I shut of and just listen. So beautiful. So tragic yet still uplifting. I'm not crying you are

[@Dielawn69]

He is spot on with Billy's voice. I feel like people undervalue the variety of vocals he uses. Even just on one song. He will go from singing high in a pretty way to a high growl like scream. Then to like a speaking voice.

[@deViIle]

Pity he doesn’t do it as much anymore, the most recent example I can think of is Silvery Sometimes, and he doesn’t let loose as much there. I believe he had lessons and I get it, he’s more even and can sustain longer, but i kinda miss the days his voice would crack or he’d be completely off key. His voice really gets under my skin and into my brain in a wonderful way, it’s the 5th instrument that makes them what they are.

[@heathbarnhart1092]

One thing that I really appreciated from 90's music is the inclusion of string orchestras in a bigger role than just a support/pad and I wish we would see more of that.

[@Incubansoul]

My favorite Pumpkins tune, and one of my favorite 90s songs period.

[@rumrunner8019]

After seeing your last video, I would really love you to listen to a hidden gem, "Thru the Eyes of Ruby" by The Smashing Pumpkins, on their seminal album "Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness." For fans of the band, this song is well known, but not so much for others but it is a classic and a crowd pleaser. But you have to listen all the way to the end of the "twist" ending.

[@sean88gator]

SOMA! You will love it. A guitar gently weeps so sweetly in that tune. Mayonaise is another in that way. Some of the sweetest piano work is done on Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness song and a true masterpiece is Porcelina of the Vast Oceans.

[@Andrew-cc4vk]

Tonight, tonight and stand inside your love

[@hathcock123]

Weird, i was just thinking about this song today and how it helped me get over so much stuff when i was a teenager

[@kraftwerk974]

Back to my uni years. Goosebumps again 🖤❤

[@vanilla_milkshake]

another great Pumpkins track is "Thru the Eyes of Ruby"

[@n__rtu8324]

a bloody rock masterpiece, that one

[@LudvikM]

Yessssssss. Now THAT is a journey...

[@VoIcanoman]

Love that one. Mellon Collie had some great B-sides...I'm partial to _Tales from a Scorched Earth._ It was perfect for the angsty period of my teenage years (read: all of them). Also, _Zero._ 'Nuff said.

[@ectoplasma5]

Or galapagos.

[@arc6017]

This song is a thing of beauty! Audio art!

[@AadZwaan]

This amazing composition contributes in my phycological day to day deposition so much, that it truly becomes part of who i am. Only one composition reaches deeper into my core, Ocean from John Butler.

[@CamaroSkooter]

Would be interested to hear your take on "The Beginning is The End is The Beginning"

[@jasonkelley6185]

One of the things I’m enjoying about going through your videos is that although you try.not to go to deep, I keep learning things. When you mentioned mouth positions, that was a springboard to go down a google rabbit hole and learn about something I had never heard of before. Thanks!

[@danielr3522]

So many Pumpkins songs I'd love to see you do reaction videos for - 'Porcelina of The Vast Ocean', 'Soma', 'To Sheila', 'Thru The Eyes of Ruby', amongst others.

[@joyouslyprofane]

i'd love to see you do more pumpkins stuff! you've done a decent range of them, but i'd love to see your takes on 1979, X.Y.U., ava adore, and perhaps the everlasting gaze

[@randallrowberry1205]

Billy Corgan is still writing furiously almost 30 years later- what a prolific artist. Check out stuff from his solo albums he's released the last couple of years-- specifically the tracks 'Mandarynne' from Ogilala or 'To Scatter One's Own' from Cotillions...

[@NotTheRealPD]

Jesus this song brings up so many memories!!

[@jakeenan]

Great reaction. Smashing Pumpkins one of THE great American all-rounder rock bands. The String arrangement on this tune was shared between Billy Corgan, Butch Vig & the two players on Celo & Violin.

[@jonathanbarb5516]

I love that you do such a variety of genre breakdowns. Please, I've been dying for someone to do a reaction to some Hot Water Music. Try 220 Years or Turnstile to start off! I think you'd really appreciate the orchestration between instruments and singers!

[@eboethrasher]

I was like 1000, sweet! I love this song, this album is amazing, back in the day it blew my mind and I had it on repeat all the time.

[@enigmaticx326]

This may well be my favourite Pumpkins song.

[@kuanged]

This was the song that first got me tuned into SP in 1993. So much nostalgia.

[@nevercastle9915]

One of , if not, my favorite bands. What makes this single a real treat is the landslide and dancing in the moonlight tracks as well. Back when singles were sought after. Although I will admit wasn't listening to them at the time

[@PowerDistGuy]

If you dig Smashing Pumpkins, you should check out The Silversun Pickups. I first heard about them in 2010 from a shoutout by D'arcy in a radio interview and I've been hooked ever since!

[@jleddy]

Yes! I think he'd dig the rollercoaster ride that is 'Lazy Eye' for sure!

[@riccardocravero3614]

Yes! Lazy Eye or Panic Switch. Maybe Nightlife, too.

[@pookievision]

Billy just had 5yrs of shear greatness!!!! 🤟🤟

[@MalinLH]

Great Pumpkins song! Love your Tool/APC series. Pleeeeaaassse do Disillusioned by APC.

[@Levi_Amongst_the_Watchers]

This (in my opinion) is one of the greatest songs of all time. Along with many others but definitely one of them.

[@hollowify_tensa_zangetsu]

Saw the pumpkins twice. Both times great, the last time in 2018 I was dope sick only my good friend knew.and he didnt even know the whole story. But this song and thirty three made me cry.

[@klovig1]

Siamese Dream is one of my favorite albums and was a big influence on my guitar playing. The whole album is worth reacting to

[@ubermensch74]

I’m still here! Love your work. 🙏❤️

[@Acroanidd]

I've been listening to the Smashing pumpkins for 25+ years. The first cd I ever bought was theirs and I have heard this song more times than I can count. With that covered. Every time I hear it I still get chills. The song is so well put together and so unbelievably powerful.

[@kenndoll83]

This is another one I figured you'd enjoy. I agree with the others who recommended reacting to Tonight, Tonight next. If you haven't heard that tune yet, you're in for a real treat. It was a huge hit for them, and there's a reason for that. It was like the follow-up to Disarm that took string arrangements to another level, both sonically and emotionally, in my opinion. The Smashing Pumpkins wrote a lot of great songs during the 90s, but the songs by them I'd most like to see you react to are Rhinoceros Geek U.S.A. Mayonnaise *Tonight, Tonight Jellybelly Muzzle Porcelina of the Vast Oceans *Thirty-Three In the Arms of Sleep *1979 Thru the Eyes of Ruby Eye *Top priority picks

[@brandonkoch3852]

In The arms of sleep is so underrated . Great list!

[@SergioCristancho]

Geebz Gone mellow ... WOW! I have seen it all on this channel! ...Awwwrigth!

[@Primal391]

I was like 19 when this came out.. so crazy. Pumpkins were so huge for a few years it was awesome time

[@silentdecay]

THANK YOU. GREAT TRACK ..... and strings man . again happy birthday sir

[@frsty5783]

The string arrangement is from Eric Remscheinder (sp?). He put together various arrangements on a few of SP tunes,

[@bradgooner3284]

your intro kills me. love what your doing here, the only de-composer channel for the laymen. love your energy. peace brother.

[@nippythefish]

Happy birthday, belated, or impending!

[@gregkirk1842]

Awesome breakdown of one of my favorite old songs. Almost forgot about it. I'm heading back down the SP rabbit hole now! Thanks.

[@gregkirk1842]

@Vlad the Inhaler ill check it out!. Thanks +

[@WalterFriendly]

One thing you may find interesting is that Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha went on to join A Perfect Circle for their 2nd album, The Thirteenth Step.

[@walterbison]

This song is what made me fall in love with music as a teen. It remains one of my absolute favorite songs I've ever heard and the Pumpkins are my all-time favorite band. Thank you for doing this.

[@acmocaco]

same. This song was like an awakening. I was pretty unaware that the lyrics where hitting close to home. As an adult the nostalgia level is off the charts for me.

[@Atodaso]

Oooooh, THANK YOU FOR THIS ONE! (and all others)

[@johnmordecai2776]

String arrangements were by Billy Corgan, Butch Vig, and the two strings players: Eric Remschneider and David Ragsdale. Apparently they were arranged on the spot. With only two strings players, they did many overdubs to achieve the lush, full orchestration.

[@kimstelly9480]

This song always ripped me apart as a teenager. Beautiful and heart breaking. 💖

[@eduardopadilla1307]

great amazing beautiful haunting song, i love it, so many high school memories

[@ziptalia2456]

Sonic Dream (Siamese Dream) is one of the top 3 records of the last 50 years. This is the record where they got Billy's voice/singing style 100% dialed in and smooth as silk. No harsh/horrible nasaly screaming like on parts of Mellon Collie, etc. This IS the album/recording where he sounds the very best. Thanks Butch Vig.

[@MrRedacto]

The string arrangement was by Eric Remschneider and David Ragsdale, who played the cello and violin, respectively. Although producers Butch Vig and Billy Corgan probably had input as well.

[@Lateralus347]

Another great Pumpkins track with fantastic string arrangement is Tonight Tonight

[@CaliDBan]

mmmmm one of my faves, such a beautiful song

[@billyt7081]

Hey nice reaction. Old Composers Never Die - They Just Decompose.

[@ryanallen8172]

This is great! I love watching/hearing song/voice reactions. This is extra special because of your knowledge of music, the writing process, etc. well done!!

[@johnyoung4561]

Just saw you are a fellow Aries! Happy belated birthday! 🥳🥳🥳

[@camtron]

Billie Corgan (front man) with assistance from Butch Vig, Eric Remschneider, and David Ragsdale. Eric also played cello and David on violin. The entire Siamese Dream album is a masterpiece IMO.

[@darinfields4238]

Wow, I haven't listened to that song in maybe 20 years. So powerful. Thanks!

[@LewisBdrums]

Strapping young Lad - Almost Again Please react to this you will love it. some amazing guitar work, an unbelievable vocal performance from Devin Townsend and some of the best metal drumming there is and my favourite groove of all time!

[@camwood8888]

Billy Corgan is a brilliant artist. Good one to start with on Smashing Pumpkins. I'm gonna request it again until you do it lol! Please do Between The Buried and Me - Viridian + White Walls

[@abemiller4021]

What an amazing song. Brilliant album!!!!

[@focusman420]

Excellent, as usual. I have a request. I don't see this one ever, but something by The Civil Wars would be so cool.

[@Wint3rWCU3]

One of the best songs of the 90s. Fantastic.

[@michaelmorton4143]

Check out live version of this song I think in Europe. Crowd took over singing word for word amazing !!!

[@aTrulyPowerfulSpirit]

There is actually an "alternative rock" electric guitar version of this that I heard on some kind of B-sides CD but this one is so cool.

[@QuickeMart]

One of my favorite songs of all time. The strings slay me, every time.

[@OmegaSoypreme]

Smashing Pumpkins had some amazing slow songs. I'm very fond of their song Beautiful. My sister and her husband had their first dance to it at their wedding. It was gorgeous.

[@jessicashenefield1546]

I have always loved the tube bells in this song. I don't know that I've ever conscientiously picked up on just how acoustic this is, or that there aren't any typical-rock-drums. Thanks for bringing that to my/our attention. And while you say you're a bit envious of those of us that just listen to the music without parsing it in any way, I admit to a touch of envy at your ability to hear the singer as an instrument. I can't NOT hear the lyrics--in fact I get discombobulated with a number of songs that the vocal lyrics aren't more "center stage" so to speak. Keep doing you, we'll keep coming. #aloha

[@michaelmarhal]

here are some other smashing pumpkins must hear tracks: hummer ( many die hard fans consider this to be one of their best tracks ) thru the eyes of ruby ( another track considered to be their very best ) soma, thirty three, to shela, tonight tonight (strings) (the song: tear also has strings but it's not widely loved as much) for martha, geek usa ( riff heavy ), porcelia and the vast oceans ( epic long track ) and my personal favorite riff heavy track by the band is jellybelly.. it's a 3 min song with non stop catchy interesting guitar riffs.

[@Werdna27]

You forgot Speed Kills (Rare Version)

[@twelvemonkeys8786]

You got to try BODIES, smashing Pumpkins. Powerful song... This is from there best album. Melon collie and the infinite sadness. Amazing drumming also

[@brandonkoch3852]

Oh lord please,do more pumpkins.soundtrack of my existence.i can pretty much play their catalogue in my head whenever.all parts and instruments come together like a symphony in my mind.i have hundreds of hours learning and playing their songs on guitar .for my own enjoyment of course.alot of folks can only handle Billy in doses.not this guy.i love all the "whiny"singers. Pumpkins,mars volta,rush,zeppelin,AFI,billy talent,...the list goes on. Thanks for the video, decomposer!

[@indianhead2416]

I'd love for you to cover Soma by Smashing Pumpkins, an absolute masterpiece ❤️