Our Reaction to He Is by Ghost

We are a fantasy based progressive power metal band releasing our new album Spring 2022! In this series we are reacting to Ghost, a band that we are not familiar with at all! Hilarity ensues as we try to make sense of why we missed out on Ghost's rise to fame and success!
Our live first time reaction to He Is by Ghost.
Tobias Forge - vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion (2008-present)
Papa Emeritus - vocals performance (2010-2012)
Papa Emeritus II - vocals performance (2012-2015)
Papa Emeritus III - vocals performance (2015-2017)
Cardinal Copia - vocals performance (2018-2020)
Papa Emeritus IV - vocals performance (2020-present)
A Group of Nameless Ghouls - guitars, bass, keytars, drums, percussion, keyboards, organ, synthesizers, backing and choir vocals (2010-present)
Papa Nihil - saxophone (2018-2020)
/ ghost
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This video features:
Jason - the nerdy guy with the cool mustache (left)
Jennifer - hot girl (right)
Our band is Flame Imperishable! Check out our bandcamp page here:
flameimperisha...

[@nonstopbeet]

There are a couple of interviews with Tobias, one with a kid who asks him about the song “He is”, he explained that its about his older brother, Sebastian, he was very involved and a big influence with music, bought him his first record, took him to shows, he looked up to him, he passed away of a heart attack, never had the chance to see Ghost blossom to what it is today, there is a Swedish interview where he talks about his brother and then begins to choke up telling a story, i don’t speak the language but tear up hearing that part of the interview

[@Luk4zguy97]

Wow, I had no idea. It was already an intensely meaningful song for me. Having lost my older brother it is infinitely more meaningful to me now.

[@jebadiahfyefye8994]

I’m a pretty big fan of this band. I didn’t know this. Thank you

[@Luk4zguy97]

On further scrutiny it seems like a convenient answer for an innocent soul.

[@johnpassaniti4417]

One of the things I like about Ghost is that almost every song has multiple meanings. Yes, it's about his brother. It's also an inversion of a Christian worship song, which is made clear if you see the video which references corrupt preacher Tony Alamo.

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

@@Luk4zguy97 But it IS what Tobias wrote the song about. You can find the interview where he spells it out.

[@apefu]

The video, not the lyrical one, to this song is what turned me into a Ghost fan. I already liked them, but this video made me look closer at the lyrics. I think it was the first time a video actually furthered my understanding of a song.

[@orjankarlsson3773]

Other great songs with Ghost are Faith, Absolution, From the pinnacle to the pit, Bible, etc. Im going to see them in Stockholm in the end of April, its going to be great!

[@FlameImperishable]

Wow, I bet they are huge there!

[@TheHoldenmcgroin]

TBH< in my opinion, there isn't a bad ghost song, just different Ghost songs. Much like Faith No More... lol.

[@HellSpartanZ]

Fun fact: Some churches played this song because they thought it was about their Make believe God but soon found out it was about Satan LOL

[@DeGlennen]

Good choice, one of my favorite Ghost songs out there. The melody got me the first time I heard it. So many Ghost songs to recommend, and a lot of them have a totally different vibe to them. "Year Zero", "Ghuleh (Zombie Queen)" and "Kiss the Goat" come to mind as 3 totally different songs.

[@CassetticonTune]

I've been loving your journey into Ghost's music! I honestly can't wait for you guys to listen Deus in Absentia.

[@jebadiahfyefye8994]

I’m addicted to y’all’s reactions to ghost.

[@thomasrjanik]

Ghost is still in the US for another week. I strongly suggest going to see them and getting general admission tickets. It is the best!

[@purelycryptic]

THIS

[@johngaltsmotor2339]

I'd recommend checking out "miasma". It's instrumental but probably the best music ghost has put out.

[@purelycryptic]

Watching you two react to Ghost made my night, thank you. 😊 🙏 I recommend a reaction to "See The Light" and/or "Faith" if you haven't already!

[@purelycryptic]

As a side, introducing everyone around me to Ghost was so fun. Especially mom! lmao

[@magnusblomqvist966]

The song that started it all for me. Still gets me goosebumps. This song was written long before Meliora and the original title was She Is and was a love song from Tobias to his wife. It was finally record years later on Meliora with the new title and lyrics.

[@Lazarus_Cardinalis]

Wasn't it actually dedicated to his deceased brother? That's what I heard

[@magnusblomqvist966]

@@Lazarus_Cardinalis There are some other theories about the meaning of the song. Some say it's about his brother, some say it's about Tobias friend Selim Lemouchi who killed himself but Tobias has stated the the original title was She Is and was a love song written to his wife. The twist was that she liked Italian cheesy singers and Tobias wrote it like that. Like a Eros Ramazzotti love song. But both lyrics and melody changed when they recorded it to what you hear on the record. So the truth is somewhere in between.

[@skinnybricks]

@@magnusblomqvist966 It's definitely got multiple meanings. He also said in this interview that it was ALSO about his brother, which is absolutely heartbreaking: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oprLe6GZi7lrd8U He says the chorus is about his brother and the rest is about his friend (Lemouchi?). I'm unable to listen to the song without tearing up now knowing this. HA "He is. He's the shining in the light without whom I cannot see. He is insurrection he is spite he's the force that made me be". Which absolutely makes sense in the context of his brother being such a huge inspiration for him especially when he was younger, which he talks about in interviews. And the fact that his brother died the day he uploaded the first Ghost tracks to MySpace. He said that he felt almost like he was given a trade, the band for his brother. So sad.

[@magnusblomqvist966]

@@skinnybricks Yes. So cool by the way too se those old videos where Tobias dresses up as a Ghoul and try to fool us that they actually was in the band 😂. We really thought that it was a group and that they wrote the music together. 😄

[@redhawk666x]

YES! Do the cover! 🤘🏼

[@FlameImperishable]

She’s working on it!

[@DarkMatterBurrito]

This song has dual meanings, one within the Ghost mythology and one that is a tribute to Tobias Forge's brother that died. What is interesting is the lyric, "Two star-crossed lovers reaching out to the beast with many names". Forge talked about how his brother exposed him to various rock bands, so it seems like this is talking about the "beast" being rock music itself and the "many names" being the bands themselves. How rock and metal was vilified in the 1980s makes sense with this also.

[@BUGHUNTER6]

On one hand it's about Tobias' brother and on the other it's about the devil. More so as a popcultural symbol than the biblical interpretation, but Ghost loves poking fun at Christianity. Some of these songs have great clips to go along with em, sometimes explaining the meaning, sometimes just an interpretation

[@longhairdguy2043]

I actually got to be in the video for this. I recommend the song Secular Haze... It was the first song I heard from ghost and the video is very public access church band vibes.

[@FlameImperishable]

Wow that’s awesome! Where are you in the video?

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

Holy crap, where were you? In the congregation in the background or something?

[@longhairdguy2043]

I'm at the 2:26 mark on the left side in the back of the pews clapping and you see my head turn towards papa as he's walking down the aisle.

[@loristewart800]

This is their most beautiful song!

[@FlameImperishable]

I agree, I want Jenn to do a piano ballad cover of this one!

[@HellSpartanZ]

yeah about Satan LOL

[@henriklifh3465]

Listen to Secular Haze by Ghost, Rock in waltz pace...In my eyes the best they have done!

[@rodgill9376]

That song made me a fan of the band in the first.

[@rodgill9376]

This one was always a pleasure seeing this one on stage. It's one of their more... uplifting tracks for the lack of a better word.

[@millsphils]

Yeah definitely cover it!

[@ghoulie1997]

You definitely have to check out the video for He Is. One of the first videos from Ghost I had ever seen. I love that if you take out a few key words, you could easily show a die hard Christian this song and they would absolutely think it was about God. You know, minus the references to “The Morning Star”

[@FlameImperishable]

Morning star refers to Jesus in Revelation 22:16. So yeah that still fits!

[@Divig]

The mentioning of the Roman god of the underworld, Dis Pater, is a pretty heavy hint as well.

[@simquicky3448]

You guys should definitely check out Ghost’s version of Bible off the Popestar EP. It’s a beautiful track!

[@Robot666House]

Beautiful couple

[@FlameImperishable]

Thank you so much! 😃

[@AusTxMale]

That guitar intro is my current ringtone. One of my favorite songs by Ghost for sure.

[@jaymcgraw528]

This and call me little sunshine are my favorites from these guys

[@jebadiahfyefye8994]

Please check out ritual and Elizabeth from their Opus album(their first album)

[@FlameImperishable]

We did both of those already! You can find it in the playlist!! Thanks for yore support! 😁

[@SuperTurtlemandude1]

The video actually video is crazy his character is very Jim Jones

[@Ianews1]

If that is a superboy prime shirt i love it. He is the ghoul of the DC universe lol

[@johngaltsmotor2339]

Also, check out "zenith"

[@FlameImperishable]

You got it!

[@lovesdragons2]

Could you do a Reaction Video to Ghost Nocturnal Me ? Thank you

[@Makado14]

Yes, do a cover....

[@FlameImperishable]

Witch Image is coming!

[@felipegomes7139]

Great video! Love Ghost :) You could react to Spiritbox, its an awesome mix btw heavy and clean

[@FlameImperishable]

Funny side note…. When Spotify sent out our stats for songs we listened to the most in 2021, Holy Roller was #1. I suspect Jenn would put that on repeat during her runs.

[@odinravenghast1246]

Listen to Rats and Faith by Ghost.

[@bjhellstream]

"The guidance of the Morningstar"... Morningstar = Lucifer!

[@belowthelights]

You should do some Misfits stuff, Descending Angel being my personal first.

[@omarwicab5447]

*Cover... Yeeesssss!* pls react to Ghost Life Eternal, very similar to HE IS...*

[@FlameImperishable]

I think we’ll end up doing the entire Meliora album!

[@davidnajor7536]

If you think about it when he says he's the shining in the light that makes me see then if you think about it well the word nakash means snake and also means a shining thing or bright which is what the serpent was in the garden and then he made them see made he made their eyes be open to things so they will be like God in that way but of course then they weren't eternally with God after that but anyway.

[@666Taylor999]

excellent work! I'm new here, it would be great if you react to "year zero” I'm waiting for your next reaction lml

[@CharlesTRose]

I've got an unusual suggestion. Church Of The Cosmic Skull - Evil In Your Eye Its like Sabbath /Kansas

[@FlameImperishable]

Kansas is one of my all time favorites!

[@iltonwhite]

There's nothing worse than stopping songs every 30 seconds, do your summing up at the end.

[@Galeryn218]

I enjoy better when there is less pausing and more enjoyment of the music, the comments can happen later

[@janlis001]

So funny....You look like Wilhelm 2, German Kaiser in the late 19th Century till 1918...

[@ferMusic7878]

Love your reactions. I don't care about the pausing, in fact I don't like reactors who don't pause... but I believe should think more "musically" when to pause. Like waiting until the bar, or section, or phrase is finished... not in the middle of it. Take it as contructive criticism please.

[@HellSpartanZ]

Can i suggest u peeps to listen to Nothing More - This is the time i think u two will like it

[@johanzander5919]

"He" is not the guy above. Rather him in the basement down below😁

[@TheComputerMissy]

While other commenters have mentioned the behind the scenes meaning about the song, which is true, its funny watching u guys completely miss what this song is about on the surface and in relation to the bands concept; SATAN, the song mention the beast with many names and the morning star, both names for lucifer/satan, and yeah, this band is 100% satanic (tho tongue-in-cheek for real). When u get to their earlier songs u cant miss it anymore lol

[@FlameImperishable]

Well it’s interesting that the lyrics are very praise like in their construction and by using language like “morning star” a term both used for Satan in Isaiah and also to Jesus in Revelation. I think it is clever and absolutely intentional.

[@TheComputerMissy]

@@FlameImperishable Oh yes definitely 😊

[@dancingpigmonkey]

I think "the beast with many names" is a pretty dead giveaway as well. 😄

[@cauldronoftheparanormal7423]

You should check out Avatar "Bloody Angel" or "Statue to the King"

[@rickymorphew2245]

Both great songs. A secret door is another of my favorites

[@bergman6581]

You skipped the line "the beast with many names"

[@FlameImperishable]

Oops!

[@apefu]

"It's not handicap friendly!" 🤣

[@larryhoover2965]

Tobias writes and records songs himself, band is only for live shows

[@FlameImperishable]

A talented chap!!

[@skiiinata]

if you didn't ignore the "beast with many names" part with stupid pause, you would't be confused.. if you pause, atleast go back 10 seconds before starting it again. Come on, guys, reacting is not that complicated. Use logic.

[@engineer5213]

You have the worst timing when you stop these songs. You miss important lyrics that help explain the song.

[@modeltraintherapy5376]

Song is about Satan. Obviously.

[@loristewart800]

Lucifer, not God!

[@FlameImperishable]

Part of the fun of a reaction is going in completely blind and coming up with of the wall interpretations! 😬

[@frogsgottalent1106]

It's a song to LUCIFER........

[@dallesamllhals9161]

So no black feathers where you roam?