Opera Singer Reacts: Laurence, the First Vicar (Bloodborne: The Old Hunters OST)

[@AzariahWolf]

4:48 Oh, the Vicar ain't laughing. He's screaming. Loudly. A lot. Throughout the fight.

[@minescape1309]

the fight in a nutshell: *constant demonic screeching*

[@Kale13000]

And burning toy to death

[@treyatkinson7564]

Reeeeeiiiiaaahghn

[@cvalencia150493]

Bueno, en el juego si, grita pero en la Cancion no, en esa parte te habla del punto mas alto de la iglesia de la sanación. Y después del coro viene el derrumbe. La Letra es parte del Lore.

[@siddsimpson6249]

eeeeeeeeeeEEeeeeeEeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEE

[@ciroscialo5591]

To make it short: Laurence was the first Vicar because he is the founder of the Healing Church, he experimented with the blood discovered in the chalice This particular blood has the power to heal any kind of injuries, but the collateral side is that you trasform into a beast if you take too much of it So maybe Laurence experimented on himself the blood and ended up in a Cleric Beast The reason why you find him in the Nightmare it's because the nightmare serve as Purgatory, like the purgatory of Dante. He is on fire because he also decided to burn all Old Yharnam with the population still alive and not trasformed. So his punishment is to burn alive for the eternity in the nightmare

[@bloodborneguy4697]

He is in fire because when he transform into a beast, he was killed and then burned by the people

[@CRSB00]

you forgot to mention that the blood is highly addictive, so you *WILL* eventually take too much of it and transform into a beast

[@elderliddle2733]

Not only that, but if you look at the statue above him, it’s of a headless woman offering water from a bucket. Persephone quenching the thirst of Tantalus. It’s like the nightmare is taunting him.

[@ShaCaro]

A lot of this is fairly baseless speculation.

[@KibitoAkuya]

@@ShaCaro the part of burning of Old Yharnam is not entirely baseless considering that there is the body of a Cleric Beast burning on a cross on the base floor of the building where Djura stands atop off

[@proudlarry8225]

Laurence provides such a great sing along with this song during his fight. My favorite line is: _[GURGLING SCREAMS CHOKING ON ROILING MAGMA]_ It's like poetry.

[@Russo_Von_Carnificia]

RRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEE

[@kaiquealmeida2412]

​@@Russo_Von_Carnificia sintons of PTSD

[@Russo_Von_Carnificia]

@@kaiquealmeida2412 gah dayum

[@GoatHeadTed]

I wanna use his screeches and use them for vocal lines over some black metal riffs

[@zero_the_sneaky_boi7967]

@@GoatHeadTedyes

[@SpartanHighKing14]

Master Willem: "Don't do the thing, Laurence" *Laurence does the thing* _Bloodborne in a nutshell_

[@g00gleisgayerthanaids56]

It had to be done, if not laurence, then someone else, as witness by the vilebloods of castle cainhurst.

[@molagboolin313]

Its such a cool song because Laurence actually had good intentions, only after turning into a beast did he realize he was a fool

[@rezafebriansyah8620]

Let's not forget what he did to Gehrman, which some said to have been sacrificed or loaned to the moon presence.

[@coreansic2.046]

Laurence is the embodiment of “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

[@igornaimoli7321]

Willem had warned him

[@EagleEye-rw5pn]

@@rezafebriansyah8620 doesn't the reason why He was accelerating the proses was because He was Desperate to save Gherman from the dream also accelerating His own downfall in the proses tho i May be mistaken

[@absolutelyshmooie7086]

I think it was shortly before, once east your thoughts do not remain. You are only there to hunt for your own food prey.

[@iruga7379]

"We are born of the blood, made men by the blood, undone by the blood. Our eyes are yet to open...; Fear the old blood. By the gods, fear it, Laurence".

[@MyNameisRevenant]

I read this with the narrator/Willem voice over

[@leme686]

@@MyNameisRevenant We all did :D ..

[@professorgrimm4602]

Laurence: *proceeds to absolutely not fear it*

[@flaviomonteiro1414]

My favorite comment from the OST video: "In his defense, your first guess as a side effect wouldn't have been werewolves" - Carrot Cake

[@atomicbaconbits6695]

I saw that one when listening to it last night.

[@impa2787]

I SAW THIS HAHAHAHHA

[@ceciliasobo281]

yeah, but my first guess on how to make new medicine wouldn't be to take the cup someone found in the mysterious cursed labyrinths guarded by the ghosts of inhuman beings and drink it? Especially when the two guys that previously went into the labyrinths got the incurable eldritch madness?

[@richbattaglia5350]

Thank you for giving that unknown man his due credit. Few people would’ve done what you have. Thank you.

[@jcgonzalez84]

I spit out laughing!

[@OlTol21]

Laurence took a calculated risk, but damn was he bad at math

[@mohamedfakch]

By the gods Laurance, fear it

[@SheepyPanda95]

Does a lot of math, equation and problem solving Looks at results Laurence: Yep, perfectly calculated as planned! The result: *DESTINATION FUCKED*

[@EagleEye-rw5pn]

"i know a good deal when i see one, unfortunately i am blind" - Laurence the first Vicar

[@MyNameisRevenant]

Extremely to say at least.

[@MyNameisRevenant]

@@SheepyPanda95 Hahahahaha Im dead.

[@TheSylvirr]

Poor, Good-hearted, foolish Laurence. He meant well. He really did. He only wanted to help people, to cure their illnesses and their diseases and sicknesses, to treat them and help them to live longer, happier lives. But Laurence forgot the adage he promised Master Wilhem he wouldn't; Fear The Old Blood. On another note, Laurence is perhaps one of my favorite characters in Bloodborne, despite how little we see of him. Because he is one of the few characters who went into this with PURELY good intentions. He wasn't a bad person and he didn't want Yharnam to become what it did. And IMO, the reason we find him on fire is because in HIS nightmare, he *feels* like he deserves it. There's no hell for him except he one he made for himself, where he feels like he should burn for all he'd done. And so, in the nightmare, he does. He burns, because he feels like he deserves it. For what happened to Old Yharnam. For what happened to the people. For what happened to himself. In the beginning of the fight, he can't even look at The Hunter; he covers his eyes and turns away, only reaching out--not even aggressively at first. Almost like he's asking for help? It's for this reason that I feel like killing him in the nightmare is a mercy--to free him from his torment, the same way we did for Queen Yharnam. Releasing him from the nightmare is the only peace we can grant him.

[@orion9630]

This is my personal take on Laurence as well! People have sadly found evidence that seemingly disproves some of this, but I still believe Laurence did have purely good intentions, at least at first.

[@prawn1717]

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions." This is my favorite song in Souls history. To me, it represents an unbelievable amount of regret, the somber cello solo in particular is just something else entirely. I think the only tracks that rival Lawrence are Ludwig the Holy Blade and Mohg, Lord of Blood. Ludwig is just unbeatable in its bombast and energy, while Mohg takes the idea of Lawrence and warps it into someone who relishes in the choices he's made, no matter how depraved or horrific. Fantastic reaction and analysis, as always!

[@borealsullivan5486]

It can be only noticed after multiple hearingthrougs of an entire soundtrack, but Bloodborne is probably the only Souls game to use leitmotifs in it's music. This track in particular has the most noticeable ones. This string buildup you've called "vicar laughing" is a "Beast" leitmotif, and it appears in themes of such bosses as the Cleric Beast and the Blood-starved Beast. And the cello solo in the end of the track is a "Dream" leitmotif, and it is at the core of German's theme, but also at the theme of one of the Great Ones - Amygdala

[@Afroofthenight]

Pretty much the reason Bloodborne is my personal favorite (musically and otherwise)

[@insertnamehere001]

I thought I heard a similarity between Amygdala and Gerhman's themes!

[@nojokejon9577]

The only other leitmotif in souls is Gwyn and soul of cinder phase 2 I think

[@LePeppino]

The main Theme of DS3 and Slave K***ht Gael share one too

[@aperson1754]

There's also a massive similarity between Orphan of Kos and Blood Starved Beast, but for the life of me I cannot figure out the lore implications.

[@paramedic2172]

In the game, Laurence is lying in one of the twin cathedrals, and he only awakes when you bring his long lost human skull. Here in Madrid, Spain, we have two twin churches, and in one of them is buried Francisco de Goya, his skull lost during the transfer of his body. He died in exile and Spain was never very careful with the remains of its people.

[@RottinPotato]

This is still by far the best OST they have ever released. The buildup, the tempo, the violin, the choir, the lyrics, the pipe organ ... shame some people actually missed Laurence on their first playthrough of the old hunters.

[@popeneiad7968]

Such a great theme, but such a shame it had to be a reskinned Cleric Beast with such a wacky second phase. Sure there’s something cool about “the first boss is also your last” but Laurence’s fight was just uninteresting sadly.

[@IzDube]

@@popeneiad7968 I loved the laurence fight, dont know why, at times it felt unfun but out of every fight it the game it felt like i was fighting something much stronger than me

[@victors4786]

Ludwig theme

[@Ale-yo7rg]

@@popeneiad7968 L

[@thesaviorofsouls5210]

@@popeneiad7968 its fitting lore wise and i actually really quite like that, but id be lying if i said id take this over a completely original beast. Then again, look at the bosses in the dlc. Each and every single one is a banger (yes i am counting living failures, whatcha gonna do about it), maybe its okay to have at least one lore boss.

[@taito7274]

8:22 Actually, thats pretty much 100% accurate when it comes to Laurence as a character lol. He commited to the hard choice to leave Byrgenwerth and master willem to open the Healing church and distribute the blood of the old gods and great ones to the people of Yharnam, because it has properties to heal every illness and wound. It is a really hard decision for him since he is master willems apprentice and he opposes to use the blood. And you are right that he was consumed, he became the first vicar, not literally, but the first vicar of an institution that labeled itself as a church, that doomed not only itself but all the people of Yharnam, though Laurence did not know better himself. Only later it turned out that the blood is dangerous, ultimately turning him and all Yharnamites into beasts, as that was the consequence of using the blood of the gods: Returning to mankinds beasthood. "Fear the old blood".

[@rezafebriansyah8620]

Willem and Laurence have a same goal, the advancement of humanity. The thing is, both of them have opposed opinions on how to do it. Willem chose through knowledge, as he believes that humanity's eyes are yet to open and that they need to proceed with caution. Laurence however, was a risk taker. He trifles with something yet known, an ancient relic of a forgotten civilization. Willem and Laurence had an argument of sorts about his decision and why he should reconsider his betrayal...

[@thesaviorofsouls5210]

I think laurence knew before turning, theres a whole branch of the chruch dedicated to taking out beasts without the other yharnamites knowing after all. Well at first anyway. I feel like maybe he thought the risk was worth the good the blood did...but the risk ended up unbearable high afterall.

[@fv6990]

@@rezafebriansyah8620 Willen used eyes (literal, not a metaphor about knowledge) to advance the humanity

[@corvianNoctis]

Laurence was once a human, transformed into a blazing beast, and there are few emotions that burn the human soul quite like shame.

[@colonelquesadilla5080]

The musical storytelling in this track is phenomenal, accomplished through the juxtaposition of such a grand theme with a full choir to this hideous deformed beast writhing alone in its flames of ambition. The time signatures also add to this storytelling. In Bloodborne they can be representative of manhood and beasthood: compare the 6/8 Cleric Beast with Ludwig’s waltz. Now, see both of these at work in this song as in several places it transitions from a clear waltz to 6/8 when the strings come in, symbolic of Laurence’s descent into beasthood from what he considered a noble pursuit. One of the best songs Fromsoft has created, for sure.

[@justanidiotmk2749]

"Dii Notus Timere" literally means "Spread the word be afraid" and is in the chorus. It is when they found out that the so called holy blood is turning everyone into monsters.

[@queenvictoriann]

It’s interesting how close your initial interpretation was, honestly. Just shows how well-written this song is. It’s essentially a walk from stability and a heroic goal to a slow descent into madness wherein questioning becomes a key part of the story. The vicar begins to question what he’s done, and if his intentions were truly pure all along. Then the dread sets in…the fear, and then that tragic cello hits and we hear a lament for the loss of the once noble ideals the vicar possessed. Then he loses himself and the climax of the song just encapsulates an enraptured and festive celebration of the now corrupt world he’s built. It’s almost like a mockery of the grand “heroism” he thought he had harbored within his life. I love it. The song tells such a strong story.

[@MissTokePanda]

Ugh this song always makes me fucking cry lol. I get such a sense of desperation from it. I love the soundtrack to this entire game. Probably one of my favorites of all time. Every song is so effective at conveying a varying range of emotions.

[@Bumbum_Inspector]

This is (in my opinion) the best piece ever written for a Fromsoft game and I'd argue in all of gaming in general.

[@mistrants2745]

"Laurence, for the sake of all that we both hold dear, DONT DO THE THING" Laurence: *does the thing*

[@flame1154]

Knowing the lore and Lyrics, for me the gentle beautiful moment is Laurence getting to glimpse "beyond the veil" at the cosmic truth. The bombastic section just after is him getting as close as humanly possible to transcendence and embracing it, knowing however on some level that these are the last sane thoughts he will have before he begins to transform fully into a mad beast as the strings bring us back down from the choral high

[@tahaelhour690]

this is one of the few fromsoft tracks that you can actually hear the lyrics from. it basically tells his whole backstory in latin. and to be fair to Laurence, your first guess at a side effect wouldn't have been werewolves.

[@MathewHargreaves]

Man... 6:52 onwards when the music just swells and the choir goes ham.. Made me tear up for real

[@AnonymousInternetUserLaine]

Whenever I think of Bloodborne music I always have an internal struggle on whether I like this or Lady Maria's theme more. After a year of deliberation I still can't make up my mind but it's great that you've now reviewed both of them!

[@Palmacry95]

same for me, but Lady Maria's theme is supported by a great boss fight, Laurence's in the other end......eh

[@axoliminator]

that last bombastic part is fucking incredible. 7 years later and it still gives me goosebumps

[@SilentMephisto]

The Organ is just amazing, so dark and melancholic at the same time, just an amazing piece of music just like all Bloodborne music

[@voxstelarum]

Bloodborne as a whole just hits different. OST, characters, combat, you name it. It excels on every aspect.

[@cinders5305]

I've looked at translations for this song, and most point towards this being sung by Lawrence himself, praising the glorious healing properties of the Blood, even as those around him claim it is blasphemy. Still he continues his holy mission, even as the Bloods darkness is revealed, turning men into demons, he really does want to help people The cello is him at long last realizing the meaning behind the phrase, "The Road to Hell is paved with good intentions" and he gives up, his while life spent trying to help people instead brought about the end of the world, eventually he too is infected and becomes a monster, returning to Hail the Unholy Blood once again, for it is the next step in evolution, whatever is left of his humanity drowned beneath a sea of pain and shame

[@Yilue]

This games music just instantly says nightmare to me. Which is the games setting if I'm not wrong lol so they did an amazing job on it. Always wanted to play this game. Maybe one day it will get a pc port lol. But damn organs always hit hard and I love how they used it in. The voilins and vocals are amazing as well. Wait I might as well say everything is amazing about it.

[@alancampbell764]

I am so glad you reacted to this. This is possibly my favourite composition in a From Software title and the choir was going absolutely nuts in this. I haven't even watched yet but I had to drop a comment. Thank you for this! I will consume this content expeditiously.

[@xLeenix]

I dont think any words will be worthly enough for this song.

[@rangopistacho6928]

the music pt4 is arguably the most beautiful music i have ever heard, it truly has a grand tragic theme. like watching someone make a grand sacrifice while everyone he loves watches

[@Eirueth]

I find it so powerful that even if the actual lore differs from what we imagine, we can still accurately perceive the feelings and emotions of it: namely that feeling of terrible resignation, of watching yourself become exactly the thing you never wanted to be (be it an evildoer and a traitor, as Marco speculates, or a beast, the thing that it's your church's mission to hunt). That's the incredible storytelling ability of music.

[@jamarswope2341]

I don’t actually remember that much about this song, so this should be interesting! Edit: OOOH IT’S A CLERIC BEAST REMIX LET’S GOOOOOOO

[@SolaScientia]

I also get a bit of Gehrman's theme in it towards the end where the solo stringed instrument (violin? My ear for strings is crappy since I grew up playing in a band that was only percussion and wind instruments) rises above the rest.

[@SM-ds1un]

Laurence's OST gives me shivers all the time ISTG.

[@pacnat_9069]

So glad Tsukasa Saitoh has such a huge presence in the Elden ring soundtrack 💕

[@-J-man777]

I feel this one is a bit underrated compared to many of the other tracks in bloodborne. Thanks for taking a look at it and would love to see more bloodborne!

[@kumo1814]

REEEEEEEEAAAAH! -Laurance the first vicar

[@alexboninsegna8050]

I absolutely suggest the living failures ost from Bloodborne

[@samumacedo6479]

YESSSSSSSS, MAN A LOVE THAT ONE, and almost no one remebers it

[@xtcaudio]

I rarely tear up at music, but that cello part gets me. Interesting to hear your perspective, great vid!

[@kazu9445]

Ugh I absolutely ADORE how you interact with the music!! The way you move and react without is so satisfying. I have moments where I listen to certain soundtracks like this and just am filled with so much emotion - rapture - that I cry. So to see you embrace the music like this is so refreshing!!

[@alriv827]

Personally my favorite ost Fromsoftware has ever made it is truly a masterpiece that transmits lots of emotions simply beautiful

[@ocelot09]

Great reaction. This is my favorite song in BB because I truly believe it summarizes the entire game's backstory through music which I think is amazing.

[@kobayashi1194]

This is the track that led me to being more interested in the lore of the game. The first one I heard was Ludwig, but it was Laurence’s theme that really pushed me into becoming a fan of the game and eventually playing and beating it myself.

[@averykrone3341]

i love how into it you get lol. its nice knowing im not the only one who cant help it when a track that gets down like this is on

[@DChainZ_YT]

One of my favorite tracks from my favorite game. Always love hearing you dissect Bloodborne music, can't wait until you cover the whole soundtrack lol

[@MarcoMeatball]

Slowly but surely.

[@Frenks731]

I loved when you started to follow the lead after the "FEEEEEESTIVA PRAEEEESTABEREEEEEEE" part

[@AntiSocialismo50]

What I like From softaware games is that they tell a story in the music, love it

[@Asuka0242]

It's so great how much the music is able to convey even without context. I felt like the first 40 seconds or so had a slight undercurrent of sadness or regret that comes back front and center with the cello solo. You're awesome bud, keep at it!

[@Herr_Gamer]

Laurence, the first vicar and founder of the healing church, did what he did for the good of Yahrnam. However, as the lyrics reveal (along with his presense in hell), it did not go to plan. «Fear the old blood. By the gods… fear it, Laurence» A note on cleric beasts: like other enemies in the game, people can turn into the same sort of monstrosity based on how much old blood they imbibe. Vicars, priests and clerics of course had access to limitless amounts compared to the citizenry. Thus it is that the clerics became the fiercest of beasts.

[@MarcoMeatball]

😳

[@insertnamehere001]

'be consumed by the thing he didn't want to become'. Wow, spot on. A bit of a spoiler but he drops the 'Beast's Embrace' rune after passing. A lot of beast runes talk about giving in to it, for it is comforting.

[@travisgatchell5986]

This was my favorite track out of From until Mohg. Such powerful vocals. You mentioned male vocalists ‘peeling the paint’ in a previous video. That finale is was a painter’s nightmare.

[@leon1san]

5:25 coincidentally, they sang "timere", which is latin for "be afraid". LOL

[@pkx_phant0m456]

Dude im amazed, you got the story or well the momentum of the song spot on, its a tragic retelling of the fall of Laurence from basically Hero to Villain, the lore behind it is great, def check it out! loved this video, this piece keeps me in goosebumps and chills from beginning to end. so stoked you found the time to listen to it!

[@cosmic2750]

Ludwig the Holy Blade was probably my favorite theme from Bloodborne...and then I listened to Laurence and it instantly took its place as my favorite. More especially because I wasn't ready for the goosebumps in the closing section. That closing section is just immaculate. I love it. And now thinking back on it, that closing section is lorewise kinda similar to Stascourge Radahn's closing section. Also, the lyrics are so good to it too, you should look them up. Its like, being sung by Laurence himself, and from his pov, and thus he starts talking from a perspective of a human with good intentions, but ends up being a realization of the beast that's thus become. And now for some lore, Laurence was actually one of the scholars of the Lecture Hall, where they used to study the Great Ones and gain insight. His mentor (who's name I'm forgetting, but its the guy you meet just before jumping into Rom) warned him not to mess with the Great Ones, but he didn't heed him and instead went to get their blood. The Great Ones' blood is special because it can heal every disease known to human. Here my knowledge is a bit hazy, but I'm pretty sure at this point is where Gehrman, Maria and Laurence went to the Fishing Hamlet, where the incident at Fishing Hamlet happened, from where the first blood of the Healing Church comes. Initially, the Healing Church was good, doing good things in fact, and even foreigners came to Yharnam to seek the treatment of the Healing Church. That was, until, the Great Ones released a curse upon them, and thus those with the Great Ones' blood started becoming beasts. This led up to the burning of Old Yharnam, where many who weren't even beasts were burnt to ashes (and thus like, 90% of the enemies in Old Yharnam are scared of fire, what a cool little environmental storytelling). By this time both Gehrman and Maria questioned the ways of the Healing Church, and eventually the Church Hunters split up and set up their own workshops, like the one you find when going down on the way to Vicar Amelia if you don't have the medallion, Gehrman's workshop after which the Dream was designed. I realize now how long this comment is, but I just felt like giving you, shall we say, some 'Insight'...

[@executioner_ecgbert884]

Not sure if it's an incredibly obscure reference, or a coincidence, but the chorus is very similar to a song Mondego shortly sings in Count of Monte Cristo.

[@nikkan3810]

Man the sheer magnitude of the drop in this piece is insane 😮

[@GuardianAngel1522]

Great look into a great song! Bloodborne deserves so much more recognition for its music! The entire OST is astounding! Also might I suggest Ancestor Spirit from Elden Ring for a later video!

[@emperorpalpatine373]

He's already listened to it.

[@Subgenrelol]

Think this is my favorite bloodborne boss theme, maybe tied with Ludwig

[@pauloperez6671]

hey ! just found this channel and am loving it ! btw, a video needs to be done on "Dragonslayer Armor" and "Spear of the church" for DS3

[@MarcoMeatball]

[@stylianos304]

I enjoy watching your reactions and I love these games. I feel like having the visual fights playing along would be cool. Especially when we see the boss and music transform to phase 2

[@cyrusrogers6887]

The sad thing is that Laurence really had the best of intentions

[@nopegaming2117]

Would the phrase be "blinded by ambition"?

[@leme686]

The road to hell is paved with good intentions..

[@B-Blues]

Everything building to that simultaneous rise and fall (forgive me, I do not know the musical theory term) at 6:15 felt like courage ripping itself apart from fear so it can fight it. Then the real fight begins, which is where the beauty of the song breaks out. What a monumental game with a monumental score. This game is an absolute masterpiece in every way.

[@gideonsleftnut7627]

The part at 6:20 in your video is what makes this my favorite track of Bloodborne. That cello section followed by the climax is so powerful!

[@Mandus_The_Mad]

This one has always been my favorite

[@zangy3748]

Darn, this piece of music is so powerful but also tragic and twisted. They literally told the story of a man trying to do good but falling to the very same medicine he thought would do good but it turns people into beasts and so he himself turned into a grotesque abomination and was burned by his very own subordinates or the townspeople. Also I actually couldn't resist trying to sing "sanguine sanctum" in voice chat when I saw yesterday that you react to this piece.

[@Shakhmatov_GAMES]

can't wait till you fight this boss in Bloodborne :)

[@Sandmann1193]

For me personally Bloodborne is one of the greatest games ever made. One part because it's that cosmic, lovecraftian horror that Fromsoftware converted into that masterpiece of a game with all it's atmospheric areas. Another part is of course the soundtrack. And in particular the reason why I come back at least once a year for a run of it is the dlc. With Ludwig, Maria, Kos and Laurence, all the lore behind them, the soundtracks of their fights and the ton of tragedy that is within them just gets me everytime

[@exoticTaebiased]

I don't know much about fromsoft games but I did listen to a couple of soundtracks and man they are great! I loved the hype you were going through and yes it is A GREAT PIECE I love it ♡ and of course the predicitions, always here for those, makes me also want to go and check how right you were ! Great video as always !

[@nagaouesugi7356]

This song is beautiful, thank you for the reaction.

[@mrsgamer9218]

I always get goosebumps from this track.

[@mattshows3029]

Thank you for taking our recommendation and doing this piece. I really appreciate your perspective on this. The story itself is one more of sadness borne of Laurence's corrupt decisions vs him being one of outright malice. Funny thing. My girlfriend and I have a running joke that whenever the lyric "Sanguine Sanctum" is sung that we hear the misheard lyric "Soggy Bread" and that Laurence is really so upset because someone spilled something on his toast.

[@jadenkarpoff9158]

This is probably my favorite song in Bloodborne's soundtrack, but I should say it's much more interesting in the context of the Cleric Beast's OST, as it is a remix of that. My personal brief take, those strings you heard you described as the "the vicar laughing", those are actually the main strings of the Cleric Beast's theme. I took them to be representative of the sheer unrelenting terror and dread inspired by these massive deformed monstrosities that constantly shriek as though in agony. In Laurence's theme, the sorrow and tragedy of the character take the forefront, but in the end he's still just a Cleric Beast barely clinging to the last few vestiges of his old self, and to me the strings surfacing is a reminder of that fact.

[@TheChimeraPack]

Definitely recommend listening to Sister Friede, Sif or Seath the Scaleless . Each is a very impactful piece in their own way, from setting a tone, telling a story or providing a warning

[@Shakhmatov_GAMES]

You really listen to us, thanks for that :D 👍🏻

[@FeelsStrongMan69420]

There is no happy ending here, only regrets. There is no salvation here, only regrets. It's too late, faith only left him with regrets. Poor Laurence, poor Laurence. He is a fool with regrets.

[@vladislavpetkov6120]

One thing i should also mention is that at the beginning and ending of the theme, incorporate the leitmotiff of the cleric beast, the literal first boss you fight in the game, Laurence beint usually the last boss most will fight. It almost justifies the asset flip of the cleric beast lol

[@TopazIngenious]

Orphan of Kos next? I love the Bloodborne music

[@hyperfreeze2714]

So the first part of the song is about Lawrence praising the blood, because of its supernatural qualities, and handing it out to basically all of Yharnam. The second part of the song is him realising the side effects (or perhaps the main effect) of the blood, that it reduces and reverts people back to beasts. The third and final part of the song is Lawrence once again praising the holy blood, but in a much more grandiose way, which is likely just his thoughts as he has become a burning cleric beast. The intensity of the song in the third part is probably supposed to be ironic, as it is like "behold, the First, most important Vicar of the healing church, look at him in all of his power, now just a mindless, burning beast"

[@gastar805]

I feel like you would enjoy really "queen of the vilebloods" it is probably my favourite track from bloodborne and in my opinion one of if not THE most disturbing song fromsoft has ever made.

[@sirofnir]

Laurence would forget his legs in the morning if they weren't glued to him. Oh, wait...

[@thehobo00]

Once again, you're able to glean so much information from the song that is very close to the in-game lore! Laurence left the college of Byrgenwerth to found the Healing Church, believing the Old Blood to be something that should be shared to help others, but in doing so alienated himself from the college. I really think this ties in well with what you described as a priest making a "deal with the devil" and betraying his fellow clergyman, but in this case taking the form of a scholar leaving his college, who distrusted the blood, believing to to be evil and uncontrollable. Thanks again for such a brilliant and informative video, bro!

[@boots_33]

One of the things to take note of musically, is that when you begin Bloodborne, the first boss you're likely to encounter is the Cleric Beast. The choir in that song just opens with a dramatic and sinister line that leads into a strong and memorable tune that sets the tone for the rest of the game. This song for Laurence, begins with less of a punch on the choir, but the chord progression on the pipe organ feels familiar... and that's because it's the same that's used from the Cleric Beast's boss song (which also happens to get used for Vicar Amelia later in the game). In terms of the game's lore, it is stated that high members of the Healing Church suffered the most grotesque transformations, and as such, the Vicars would have become the biggest beasts... and Laurence was the first. It is this connection that allows you to realize that Laurence's song is a reprise of the song for the Cleric Beast. The string patterns you hear in the first half - the quick "bum-bum-bum-bum-bum" and even some of the strings underneath the choir sections mirror the main melodies of the Cleric Beast fight. I love when music makes these connections to help tell the story. It truly adds power to the experience.

[@CaptainMadAF]

HEY ITS MY ENTIRE SOULS OST! Absolute love for this one

[@HunterUnseen]

"Our honour is tainted through the Holy Hidden Blood"

[@foxofdiamonds2334]

So… the Violin in the background with the firm staccato is meant to reference the original Cleric Beast piece. If you listen to the two side by side, they’re very similar, with Laurence’s having that more grandiose melodic additions.

[@echoesffxiv]

Thank You! 🔥🔥🔥

[@Pascll]

the strings that you thought sounded like laughter is actually a callback to a previous song, cleric beast, which has those same strings. that's a boss that laurence is closely related to, so that's why. cleric beast is also likely the first boss you'll encounter, while laurence is one of the last, so it comes full circle too.

[@generalfeldmarschallaugust8089]

Wonderful video and awesome soundtrack

[@joshuagross3151]

Now go back to the Cleric Beast theme and you'll hear Laurence's choir singing reassurance in the 2nd part. The first part is all "fear the blood," "terrible curse" or "suffering." Then, the 2nd choir comes in and it starts to overwhelm the 1st part, like the fears of being cursed are allayed by the demand of absolute faith, eventually drowning it out entirely.

[@v.s.3196]

It is a man who did his best for everyone, and made a terrible mistake with a gift from the Old Gods. When the time came, and the beast blood took hold, spreading -- he pleaded to the god(s) far and wide to take just him instead and found his fight and guilt to be alone. The good in him fought as a monster to the end, until he was no longer. Dying in the very church he held dear, unable to tear himself away even as a mad beast.

[@geraldyeager7652]

As someone else who posted in the ost lyric video, it's musical irony on how it tells Laurence's ambition and regret/shame. Idk if it's in the song or put it on a message that someone put in the game for online play but the og commentor said *_"BEHOLD LAURENCE IN ALL HIS GLORY"_* yet in the boss fight he violently trashes around kick and flaying while vomiting and shitting lava everywhere like an infant.

[@vincentpey3929]

Many others have allready explained the charakters lore so ill just ad a fun fact: The titel first vicar is actually a mistranslation, in the japanese original his titel refers to something akin to a bishop or maybe even a pontif as he is the head of the church as a whole.

[@whitesharkch3334]

This was great, I would love to see you reacting to Living Failures from Bloodborne too

[@MarakamiSG]

What the strings are playing is the leitmotif of the Cleric Beast. One of the first bosses you encounter in Bloodborne.

[@expandapantsii341]

My favorite part of this song was “the blood is poison. Spread the word” if you play the game and know the lore you can feel the significance of that line when the music slows down and gets more quiet

[@JamesLovesGames118]

THE MADLAD DID IT. 🤩 But yes, one of my very favourite Bloodborne themes. I feel like the diabolical take on the pipe organ feels like a descent into Hell at first, before the infernal chanting and everything that portray the truly monstrous crimes he undertook. Then phase 2, a weeping, melancholic start of regret blares into a fullblown tragedy of ruin and agony. Absolutely sublime.

[@ratking1608]

In fairness to Laurence, werewolves wouldn't have been my first guess either.

[@shd_samurai9676]

As a wise man once said; I always wanted my game about elaborate fencing to have a fight where the gimmick is bullshit area denial attacks.