FIRST TIME HEARING The Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings REACTION

[@billiam8554]

"The world is a vampire..." probably the most classic grunge opening lyrics! Also "Despite all my rage, I'm still just a rat in a cage" says all you need to know about the 90's feel.

[@donnakubiski5572]

One of my other reaction channels that I watch just did this song and I knew that I knew it by the title but couldn't place it. The minute it started and I heard "The world is a vampire" I knew exactly what song this was. My bad because I'm from and still live in their hometown of Chicago. I really haven't kept up with the group or listened to them in years except for a few of their songs that I hear on the classic rock radio station I listen to, but they don't play this one.

[@RobertSmith-js2kz]

You got that right for sure. It captures it perfectly.

[@ryanawilson8549]

And it kinda fits in 24, imho

[@andreas3761]

In the 90s I didn‘t feel like a rat in a cage as I do now

[@RobertSmith-js2kz]

@@andreas3761 I hear that

[@yankeeblu]

"Zero" is another song by The Smashing Pumpkins that hits hard.

[@Deidara85]

The song that put them on the map, and probably their best song. I've loved it since the 90s

[@joealvarez8733]

I was about to recommend that one as well...🤘👽🤘

[@stang7342]

Zero is definitely my favorite...

[@John-tr5hn]

@@Deidara85 I'm sorry, but the song that put them on the map was "Today." Definitely not their best, but don't rewrite history now. They were already huge by the time Mellon Collie came out.

[@michaelbivens9573]

@@John-tr5hn you're right! Today (who can forget the ice cream truck) was in huge rotation on MTV, along with Disarm.

[@eurofritz4617]

The Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock!

[@Pototoes949]

Mayonnaise!

[@tristramcoffin926]

my favorite by them. Yes, Cherub Rock

[@layinlow77]

and thirty three

[@EzraPeterson]

I second this

[@mmmtsp]

Cherub Rock has to be next, please!!!!

[@O_Towne_Bear]

"Disarm" - you both will love it. Guaranteed.

[@323johnnybravo]

Excellent lyrics !!

[@davidhuggan6315]

"Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins..." "Homer Simpson, smiling politely...."

[@Spiderific]

🤣🤣 That lollapalooza Simpsons episode was the best. I also remember Peter Frampton complaining about Sonic Youth raiding his cooler 🤣

[@robbob5302]

Ashamed to admit, I got that reference.

[@Deidara85]

"My kids think you're the greatest. And thanks to your gloomy music, they've finally stopped dreaming of a future I can't possibly provide."

[@robbob5302]

@@Deidara85 🤣

[@Dr.JHamilton]

@@Spiderific And Cyprus Hill stole his orchestra.

[@bazzer124]

Billy Corgan lives literally down the road from me in Highland Park. Met him once in the grocery store I worked in town. Pretty cool dude. He was polite and chatted a bit. Cheers....

[@pr073u569]

Corgan has done a few podcasts including Rogan and he was always polite, chill, and insightful. He had some interesting stories about the music industry, etc.

[@nickjohnson1445]

Hundreds of thousands of us in high school had "despite all my rage in still just a rat in a cage" written on their homemade paper bag book covers. Epitomy of 90's rock.

[@american_cosmic]

That entire album -- Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness -- was one of the best albums of not only the 90's, but of all-time. An absolute classic.

[@catherinerainville4232]

Agreed!!

[@ScottBacon-d2h]

Siamese Dream...one of the most underrated albums of all time

[@chrisclanton4430]

My favorite album hands down. Every song is a masterpiece.

[@jonathanmartin8716]

I want a dollar for every time someone complained about his voice! :P I'd be filthy rich. I, like you, am here for the whole package, the emotion, the lyrics, the guitars, the drums ... sure, and the keyboards :P why not ;) j/k

[@keithkoenig5320]

Not really...Many can't get past Corgan's voice. Myself included. Sorry, but here's your dollar. His voice is whiny...

[@CarRyan0809]

The best album of the 90s

[@3DJapan]

I think it's one of the most highly rated albums of all time. It was nominated for A Grammy, Best Alternative Music Album.

[@lanceholden4758]

FINALLY!!! You folks chose one of their kickin, rockʻn, screamʻn, head on fire songs. Thank you

[@anthonyblakely399]

Jay is gonna love this side of the Smashing Pumpkins!!!!

[@NeverTrustGhost]

Fun Fact: Lead singer Billy Corgan wrote this about pain that comes from being a rock star. The lyrics are exceptionally dramatic, and Corgan has said they are a bit of a joke.

[@mmanthey1007]

Facts.

[@robbob5302]

People always hate on Billy Corgan. I don’t know why. I like his voice.

[@williamyates694]

​@@robbob5302 Ppl hate on him for his condescending attitude, and well documented difficulty to get along with others. I say so what lol? That's part of being the leader and main songwriter in YOUR band right? 🤟👏🍻

[@robbob5302]

@@williamyates694 I knew nothing about that. Shows how outta touch I am.

[@robbob5302]

@@williamyates694 People forgave Prince for that crap. I can forgive Corgan.

[@kelbyfarley7000]

4:22 I played drums in a band for a lil over 15 years, until last year and this song was one of the funnest we played. This song makes me miss drumming so much! Think I'll make a trip to Guitar Center

[@JayyeStone]

When my daughter was 14, she wanted to go see them in concert. I wouldn't let her go alone or just her friends, so offered to take her to the concert (I liked them too). Of course I probably embarrassed the crap out of her, especially while I was in the mosh pit. 😁

[@kirkcather3670]

Da-a-ad!

[@ryanawilson8549]

Bc it's your biological right 😆

[@JayyeStone]

@@ryanawilson8549 You know that's right!

[@raymondohlsen5054]

"Despite all my rage, I'm still just a rat in a cage" is one of my favorite lyrics of all time! Miss Amber, you have the soul of a poet with your love of words. Side note: You guys are a bit younger than my youngest daughter. I wished so hard that I could've introduced my daughters to music of the past, but they were not interested. Thank you, guys, for letting me see it done for you. There is so much great music from so many eras and places.

[@fishitreelitreelitfishit881]

The Smashing Pumpkins were the loudest band I have ever heard and the loudest crowd I ever heard in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Rave. That was in the late nineties.

[@scottNNJ]

I was in college when this song came out, under tremendous stress. This was the perfect song to blow off some steam.

[@chrisclanton4430]

"Siamese Dream" is my all time favorite album. every song is a masterpiece.

[@sumonjamal1653]

I remember when this music video hit MTV in 1995 and pushed the album "Mellon Collie & the infinite sadness" by the Smashing Pumpkins to #1 on the US charts... 'Bullet w/ butterfly wings' was also the last video in which Billy Corgan (vocals/ guitar) had hair 😂...He appeared in the next 2 videos for '1979' ... 'Zero'... and 'Tonight, tonight'... w/ a shaved, bald head.

[@randallpetersen9164]

The LOUD-quiet-LOUD dynamic that caught your attention at 7:16 is a huge part of classic indie and alt rock. Another earlier example would be Pixies.

[@Rizzle2323]

"Despite all my rage i am still just a rat in a cage" represents the video very well. I believe it is about the common person struggling in everyday life working and grinding through life. Climbing up that hill.

[@terriertz5134]

And never getting ahead, only getting older.

[@TravisTaylorWriter]

We need more of this. There's so much great music from the Pumpkins!

[@Natalin0]

Cherub Rock next!!!! In fact you guys have to listen to the whole album, Siamese Dreams

[@RobertSmith-js2kz]

here, here!

[@roserivera7481]

Siamese Dream will always be my favorite Pumpkins album

[@johansilencio]

Cherub Rock, Today, Mayonaise. So many great songs. Billy Corgan is a genius underrated by everyone but himself.

[@julesschulte9293]

And here we are in 2024 amd my 16 year old has my original CD of Siamese Dream on display in his room and can play the whole album on his guitar. Great music never ages.

[@hellokimmy68]

I heard "Siva" by Smashing Pumpkins the same night I first heard Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" back in August, 1991. That was a good night. That would be another great rocking SP song for you to react to. It was pretty early on in their career, and so raw and cool.

[@Lwize]

Bassist D'Arcy was such a cutie.

[@ryanawilson8549]

I wanted to say that was her name, but I second guessed myself

[@Lwize]

@@ryanawilson8549D'arcy Elizabeth Wretzky

[@ninja_tony]

@@Lwizei was 13 when Mellon Collie came out. I had such a huge crush on her.

[@indianikit741]

Yah didnt she get super strung out on meth or something?

[@kevinstull8552]

​@@LwizeI just loved how her last name sounds just like Gretzky, but with a W instead. That was pretty cool.

[@davidjamesbanko9315]

The drums Amber sound tribal and he's saying,"despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage". I'm so glad you guys finally did this song because I remember Jay not liking the other two songs because they were too mellow. I loved this album when this album came out.

[@williamwolfe4997]

"Disarm you with a smile" This would be your anthem!

[@Darbokst]

Disarm... its just disarm

[@JJFraggs1]

@@Darbokst indeed it is. One of my favorites, too. I hope they do that one some day.

[@treasuretrails]

AND I STILL BELIEVE THAT I CANNOT BE SAVED! *HITS BEER*

[@tristramcoffin926]

This song was ginormous in the mid 90s. This one and Black Hole Sun could not be avoided, not that you'd want to

[@foreveralone11w]

And "Under the Bridge" I still remember seeing it the first time on buzzworthy videos on Mtv 😂

[@sjoekiloeki]

Both songs are masterpieces!

[@Faltor895]

​@@foreveralone11wThat one was a little earlier, in 1991.

[@foreveralone11w]

@@Faltor895 Did I specify a year? No. I hope your day is complete now 🙄 It was the early 90s. Chill the fck out.

[@MikeWalsh-f1g]

The Pumpkins and the White Stripes are the very best at the transition from heavy as hell to soft and thoughtful. Great reaction to a phenomenal song!

[@mgpalardy]

The best part of many Pumpkins songs is they go from mellow and melodic to really hard, then back to mellow again, sometimes several times. Quite a rollercoaster ride. Especially songs like Hummer, Soma, Mayonaise and Thru The Eyes Of Ruby.

[@ddullaway]

Loads of band adopted that, influenced by the pixies.

[@stephendavis75]

Pumpkins are timeless

[@horsebydayartbynight]

Awesome reaction to a stellar hit from my favorite band, thank you! Cherub Rock rocks out, too - you'll love it.

[@JV44HeinzBar]

Loved this band when I saw them and The Vines together. As a kid, that's all I did was work and go to concerts. I regretted doing this when I was in my 30s, but now, 50+, I cherish all those concerts :)

[@jonathannichols196]

Cherub Rock and Mayonnaise ❤

[@wrutledge1]

Facts🎯

[@FritzMonday]

Saw these guys headline Lollapollooza 94 ! Great show !

[@johncarpenter3751]

The world is indeed a vampire 🧛‍♂️

[@xiropigado]

Their greatest song and WHAT a song!

[@randycooper3428]

One of my all-time favorite songs from one of my all-time favorite bands!

[@michelleb9808]

"Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage." Many people related to this 😊 Massive hit. SO many amazing songs by Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Corgan is a great songwriter.

[@EzraPeterson]

I love when you experience my young teen years in music.

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

Smashing Pumpkins. "Disarm", one of my favorites from them!

[@chuckoliver7613]

I was so happy to see the excitement over this song! I had the same reaction when it was released! Try Cherub Rock next, you'll love it!

[@marianberes8215]

Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness is my favourite album. Masterpiece in all ways.

[@chrislongisland]

Just saw them live with Green Day and Rancid, was amazing live!

[@bradstanley116]

Cherub Rock!

[@mickem4322]

One of the best Post-Grunge songs !! It doesnt get much better than this.. !! :)

[@willfromyadkinville]

welcome to a Smashing dream!!! they have so many songs that will truly take you on a emotional rollercoaster! lets go!!!!!!!!!! Jimmy Chamberlin on the drums is just all that and more!!!!!!!!!!!

[@wordygirlandco]

❤They were great live performers. I habe seen them a couple of times. This song and Mayonaise were two of their best songs. 🎄BTW they did record a Christmas song called Christmastime in 97.

[@rdgarza1113]

I have been a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan since the late 90s, I am so glad y'all enjoyed this one! They have such amazing variety, from harder songs like "Cherub Rock", "Zero", and "The Everlasting Gaze", to softer ones like "Disarm", "Perfect", and "Thirty Three". I can't wait to listen to more with you both!

[@Festus171]

This song got me hooked on that album. I love bands that have variety like they do. Great talent in song writing and performance. I was waiting to see your reaction to this. I was not disappointed. Great reaction!

[@vanessalucas4760]

Glad you guys came back to the Smashing Pumpkins, because this one is one of my favourites and one of the band's most popular songs of all time. The "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" double album that this song is from is a must listen. "Zero" and "Thirty Three" would be the next suggestions from the same album. More suggestions from other albums include: "Slunk" from the Lull EP "I Am One", "Rhinoceros", and "Siva" from Gish "Cherub Rock", "Rocket", "Disarm", and "Today" from Siamese Dream "Ava Adore" and "Perfect" from Adore "The Everlasting Gaze", "Stand Inside Your Love", and "Try, Try, Try" from Machina: The Machines Of God AND "The End Is The Beginning Is The End" from the Batman & Robin soundtrack You guys are gonna love this rabbit hole!

[@jimmuratori7458]

Thank you guys for finally getting to the rocking side of the Pumpkins. There is sooooo much more to discover. The Pumpkins are a home town group here in Chicago. I'm a bit older but discovered them when my wife was expecting our son back in 95 when the album this song came from came out. No wonder the kid loves metal.

[@thseed7]

"Zero" is my next favorite Smashing Pumpkins song. Billy Corgan's voice is divisive. Some people hate it, I love it. It is perfect for their sound.

[@pr073u569]

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness was one of the best albums released in a torrent of great albums. The fact that it was a double album and gave us so much more value for the buck was amazing. Such a wide range of emotions and sounds. Billy Corgan was doing the singing/screaming combo by himself long before other bands were doing the same with two people.

[@KSDVLmom]

This brought back a flood of emotions. Before I ever heard of them was the year I graduated highschool 1989 and a cool truck kids that was trying to impress me bought a smashing pumpkins t at an alternative store. After that I married a lead singer so I eventually found out who they were but the thing was taking my 1 year old daughter to my husband band practice with all his friends and all of a sudden she belts out, DESPITE ALL MY RAGE I'M STILL JUST A RAT IN A CAGE... She was advanced but everyone was cracking up! She's still extremely good with lyrics. She's 32 now

[@sallyariad4623]

You two are just so lovely

[@danrudnick5252]

This was probably their biggest hit. Was on MTV 24/7.

[@andre.gorley]

Hey guys. Love your reaction channel so far. I was around 25 yrs old when that song came out and it blew me away. The phrase "despite all my rage I'm still just a rat in a cage" resonated so loud with how I felt at the time: first real job after University, first serious relation etc... I just felt that finally I'm a man! But, I was still just a newbie on the block and lots of things to learn about adulthood. So yeah, get the feeling of raging at the world because you've join the rat race but you're not totally out and free with the big boys yet. FYI this is a very typical sounding song for them. Tonight Tonight, Tonight and 1979 are actually a bit different from their usual stuff.

[@gdoggatl]

Saw them at Lollapalooza, the year Nirvana was supposed to headline. They were phenomenal!!! Disarm, Hummer, Cherub Rock...play them!!❤️❤️ Thanks!!

[@michaelcollier9893]

The Smashing Pumpkins are my all time favorite band. Lead singer & song writer strugled with mental health issuses and I always "fealt" his sorrow in much of his music. I too for many years delt with bi-polor disorder and it spoke to me, the hi's and the lowes. Billy's voice can range from peircing screaming to soft and melodically beautiful. Billy writes so many great songs from hard rockers to gentle poetry. I would defiently try out next: Cherub Rock, Today, Zero, Disarm and Ava Adore. Some of my personal favorites are: Inkless, For Martha (piano ballad) and Porcelina Of The Vast Oceans.

[@TheNotedHero]

Still need to do their song "Disarm". It's one of their best, imo.

[@ninja_tony]

Yeah, Disarm is so beautiful.

[@danielwarrenguitar]

It’s about the music industry - having to make music that will sell instead of music the artist actually believes in.

[@AlbertKang-s5m]

This song was on the follow up album to their huge smash hit Siamese dream. They were then signed to virgin records and Billy Corgan felt immense pressure to make another Siamese dream album and this song Dios with his frustration over that. I’m so glad that you finally listened to this song! Please listen to Cherub Rock next. As a college kid in the 90s, I would put Cherub Rock on full blast and jump into the shower to start my day!

[@Dr.JHamilton]

Siamese Dream was their breakout album. Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness was their commercial peak.

[@stephanieclark9849]

*Zero is another great one by SP. You'll notice in the video he was wearing the shirt that said "ZERO"... just a nod to their own song. They played both bullet with butterfly wings and zero on David Letterman years and years ago and everyone went nuts!* 🤘

[@laeonflux]

This was such an anthem back in the day. The whole "Meloncollie and the Infinite Sadness" is such a class act album. If you want more of that heavy SP try "Zero" and "An Ode To No One" off that same album.

[@TheGunslingerRoland]

Every known culture, no matter how primitive or advanced shares a commonality of the desire for create music.

[@Bekka_Noyb]

one of my fave Smashing Pumpkins songs! dbl ♥

[@randallpetersen9164]

Bands with Weird Sounding Male Lead Singers would 100% be my favorite spotify playlist. Plenty of Billy Corgan in that mix. :)

[@brucebanner2767]

Siamese Dream is one of my favorite albums of all time. I listened to it hundreds of times and never tired of it. I was really moved when I discovered my daughters in their early teens listening to it over and over again in their bedroom. The music obviously translates well across generations. Billy Corrigan is definitely a musical genius in his own right.

[@nosoul9805]

"Music is such a shared human experience," so well put. Half the time, I think people heard before what their reacting to but I still enjoy sharing the experience with people I only know online. It reminds me of the days we shared it with our friends before the internet.

[@agarven1]

I grew up near Chicago and the band is from Chicago. When I heard this song I became an instant fan. I didn’t know Billy was from Chicago and years later I found out. I had a friend that met him at a sandwich shop and he was a very quiet person from what he told me. His second band was Zwan when SP broke up. They made 1 album for Zwan. My favorite song by them is Landslide which is a cover from Fleetwood Mac

[@francasso1]

Love the fact that you loved the drumming. Jimmy C is just my favourite drummer ever. I grew up with grunge!! Love watching your reactions. It reminds me of what it felt like to hear these songs the first time. Peace and Love

[@benhernandez7556]

Best band of the 90s (with Nirvana right behind them)!!!

[@MrTheCamel]

Nice! I'm gonna see the Pumpkins this Saturday night (with Green Day, Rancid, and the Linda Lindas)

[@markv1113]

I keep coming back to this awesome reaction. "Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage", "I still believe that I cannot be saved". Absolutely ADORE this song. And "Tonight, Tonight" may be relatively mellow, but go back and listen to it now that your perspective of the band may have changed. It's a great song, and although the video can be distracting, it's so artistic and unique. Still waiting for "Our Lady Peace" reaction. Fingers crossed.

[@erinamaya9010]

Smashing Pumpkins is one of my all time favorite bands. Every song is amazing. They hard songs and soft songs and creepy songs. I never get tired of them. Somehow when I have a really bad day I will belt out Bullet With Butterfly Wings and I swear my stress starts to melt away. It brings me such an emotional release to scream along.

[@kristenvaughn-smith6952]

I love The Smashing Pumpkins!! This could be my favorite song of theirs in all honesty. Thank you for reacting!!

[@Nitro1320]

This song holds up so well! I’m 61 and have this on a playlist that I listen to in the car and turn it up to full volume every time. You can’t help but scream the chorus.

[@sebastianschilling7337]

Smashing Pumpkins is so diverse! Billy Corgan has a unique voice and goes along with their very melodic songs, which can be a bit mellow, but some other times very hard like this one. Zero, Cherub Rock, Today, Ava Adore, Stand Inside Your Love (my personal favorite)… all great songs that you can check out!

[@valerieparton4713]

My fav Pumpkins song!

[@John-tr5hn]

There are so many SP songs you need to listen to: "Mayonaise," "Eye," "Rhinoceros," "Snail," and "Thirty-Three."

[@stanleysmith2221]

I really dig Murmur

[@neighborlyfiend1484]

this was the anthem of my youth

[@johnnelson3665]

Same here. Though I am no longer angry. Times have changed.

[@MobiusBandwidth]

one of the greatest screams of all time in this one, holy cow. powerful song. the pumpkins are very very diverse stylistically.

[@937jaminrob]

Front row at 14 in Dayton Ohio Hara arena 1994 the smashing pumpkins concert changed my life… it was only weeks after Kurt was gone & everyone was in shock. They put on the greatest concert, helped heal my heart, the music is not dead… I found the set list~ I also still have my concert tshirt ❤️‍🔥 * Geek U.S.A.* Rocket* Snail* Quiet* Disarm* I Am One* Drown* Hummer* Today* Luna* Siva* Cherub Rock Encore:* Soma* Silverfuck* Starla

[@TurkeyVol]

Y'all are making me relive my childhood! Between SP and Tool, it's like being 24 again. Can't believe you've only reacted to the Pumpkins 2 other times, all from the "Mellon Collie & Infinite Sadness" record. Granted, still their biggest album (in more ways than one, Billy Corgan was just about the only guy who would put out a double album about teenage angst at the height of the 'whatever' grunge era). Dig deeper, and you'll find they have some positively Floyd-ian psychedelic roots! (Recommend "Soma", "Drown", and "Mayonaise") ☮️❤

[@chrisfrench9257]

This song was my introduction to the band. It definitely gave them a great hit to stand on.

[@RomanPhilosopher]

I've been waiting for this reaction for YEARS. Its finally here!

[@NOLAgenX]

Surprised but glad to see this come up as a reaction!

[@jasoncinema]

Ditto!

[@Vanillaskygirl]

Thank goodness you enjoyed them! Smashing Pumpkins are one of my favorite bands of all time. The emotions that I feel when I listen to them transcends time. I still LOVE listening to them. Try DISARM next. It is a hauntingly beautiful song.

[@paulyoung8108]

Lyrics are a form of poetry, " Cherub Rock" is so good!!, it should be your next pumpkin spice

[@4tuneagent]

🎃🎃

[@theloniuszephyr4057]

Please do their video for Thirty-Three! Maybe not their biggest song but might be their most beautiful.

[@timfrancis3997]

Good evening, Jay and Amber smashing pumpkins are a great 90's alternative band by the way I'm a first time subscriber to your channel 👍❤️

[@scottipmagician]

Fine..... I'll be a sheep..... CHERUB ROCK next. I think you'd also dig Zero for it's heaviness and Soma because it's so dynamic (soft to hard) change

[@ninja_tony]

There are so many Smashing Pumpkins songs you all should do that I think you’ll love, but those are some of the absolute MUSTS: For a heavier/rock sound: Mayonaise, Zero, Cerub Rock. For more of their softer, emotional sound: Thirty-Three, Soma, Disarm. You can’t go wrong with any of these songs. ❤

[@andreasoice5905]

Knew you would like this one! My favorite Smashing Pumpkins!😍

[@petoasaurus]

It's great you guys have dug into the "heavy" side of Smashing Pumpkins. More great rockers are "Cherub Rock", "Rhinoceros" and "Zero".