RonJonSurfer Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 It has come to my attention that some folks would love to discuss the genius of The Velvet Underground...well this would be a good place to do...just that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted August 17, 2005 Report Share Posted August 17, 2005 Thank you, RonJon!! :: :: It´s interesting how a band such as VU influenced many of nowadays bands. They were a mix of avant-garde (Andy Warhol influence), pure rock (Lou Reed) and some refined and experimental music (John Cale). With Nico adding her look and voice...and glamour. I prefer their classics: "There she goes again" (straight rock) "I´ll be your mirror", "Sunday Morning", "Pale Blue Eyes", which had beautifull melodies and poetical lyrics. I never really got into that "White Light/White Heat" sound, "Black Angel´s Death Song" and that kind of trip. But they were really modern. And I enjoy their music, though I despise Lou Reed´s attitude with heroin, which was a clear subject in his work. I think he did a real propaganda... and publicity. In the mid 60´s you didn´t know as much as today about drugs, and I understand the poetic license, but I guess he went too far. Mainly considering that he never was a junky and all that seemed to be like a marketing trick. Maybe I´m wrong... and that´s not about dope but VU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted August 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2005 My favorite versions of VU songs were done by Bowie and The Spiders. They did a mean White Light White heat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jugband_Blues Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 I actually just bought The Velvet Underground & Nico. I've only really listened to the whole thing through twice, but I've already decided "Heroin" is my favorite on the album. Awesome song. Awesome band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobody_home Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 The VU were great - I especially like the live version of "Sweet Jane" with the long guitar solo at the beginning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katie_sane Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 I don't know much about the Velvet Underground, but I've heard good things, so I will investigate further! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisible_r Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 i'm not a huge fan but i quite like then, they have an interesting sound that lots of people have copied ever since. and i think someone in a music tv program said thhat they were the real forerunners of punk? i might be wrong, don't quote me on that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted August 28, 2005 Report Share Posted August 28, 2005 No, you´re not wrong... they were an inspiration for many bands even now. The Stooges included... They had all kind of songs: impossible ones, rock, pretty tunes... I guess the only way to know about them is to listen to their records. "VU and Nico" (first album, 1967) is a good record, as "The Velvet Underground" (1969)... I hate that "Heroin" song due to the lyrics... it sounds to me like if he (Lou Reed) was a pusher, which he actually was. I didn´t hate it in the early seventies but I can´t help it now, after seeing what happened to a whole generation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy diamond Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 I LOVE the VU ("Heroin" included, I've read a lot of first-person accounts and the song is pretty real). Definitely seminal-they just don't make music like that anymore. I'm currently obsessed with "Pale Blue Eyes." How about Nico on the first album? I've heard so many people say that her voice annoys them, but I've never been bothered by it. She doesn't sing on most of it anyway, and I like Nico-she's definitely a character. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImThatGuyToo Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 I love VU, they are one of my favorite bands. I understand that drugs were a big part of their subject matter, but I don't look at that as being a problem, look at The Beatles' psychedelic period, for example. My current favorite VU song is either "Some Kind of Love" or "I'm Waitin' For My Man" which, if you listen to the lyrics, is about waiting for a drug dealer. Doesn't keep it from being great music, though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 "Pale Blue Eyes" is my absolute favorite VU song... "I´ll be your mirror" is very good too, sung by Nico... she was a fantastic addition to the VU for me... I believe The Rolling Stones talked very much about drugs but did it better... and I thought "I´m waiting for the man" was about a dealer... WAITING FOR THE MAN I'm waiting for my man Twenty-six dollars in my hand Up to Lexington, 125 Feel sick and dirty, more dead than alive I'm waiting for my man Hey, white boy, what you doin' uptown? Hey, white boy, you chasin' our women around? Oh pardon me sir, it's the furthest from my mind I'm just lookin' for a dear, dear friend of mine I'm waiting for my man Here he comes, he's all dressed in black Beat up shoes and a big straw hat He's never early, he's always late First thing you learn is you always gotta wait I'm waiting for my man Up to a Brownstone, up three flights of stairs Everybody's pinned you, but nobody cares He's got the works, gives you sweet taste Ah then you gotta split because you got no time to waste I'm waiting for my man Baby don't you holler, darlin' don't you bawl and shout I'm feeling good, you know I'm gonna work it on out I'm feeling good, I'm feeling oh so fine Until tomorrow, but that's just some other time I'm waiting for my man Yes it´s about dope, I´mthatguy... I know the story, I´m quite old and I can tell you it´s about a man waiting for his dealer... "He´s never early, he´s always late, first thing you know is that you always gotta wait..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisible_r Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 she's not a particularly good singer, is she? her voice is interesting though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 (edited) She was a German muse for warhol and others... I think she did a brief appearence in "La Dolce Vita"... is that so? I´ll google to see... She died some ten years ago, she fell from her bike... I just found a bio of hers... it´s quite interesting...NICO Edited August 29, 2005 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 and I thought "I´m waiting for the man" was about a dealer... Yes it´s about dope, I´mthatguy... I know the story, I´m quite old and I can tell you it´s about a man waiting for his dealer... "He´s never early, he´s always late, first thing you know is that you always gotta wait..." Sorry, I´mthat guy!!! I didn´t read well your post, I was doing twenty things at a time... yes, you´re right!!! Will you ever forgive my speedy behaviour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 I've married the Japanese equivilent of Nico ( much to my surprise ) , mysterious , vulnerable, a junkie ( to work ... not drugs ) and rather unique looking ... cheers to the wife Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 That´s nice, Kevin! I was going to post on "Songfacts impossible": "Kevin being nice and tender"!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisible_r Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 awww! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted August 29, 2005 Report Share Posted August 29, 2005 "Kevin being nice and tender"!!! Nah, he's all gristle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleEye0 Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 The Velvet Underground is amzing. I recently puchased "Loaded" (Fully Loaded Edition) and its stellar. I also have The Velvet Underground and Nico." Overall, that album is more consistent than "Loaded," however, "Sweet Jane," "Rock and Roll, " and "Cool it Down" are superb tracks. VU ROCKS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katie_sane Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 Can any of you VU fans tell me about the song 'Ride Into The Sun'? I haven't listened to it yet, but I've heard it is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted October 4, 2005 Report Share Posted October 4, 2005 RIDE INTO THE SUN Looking for another place Somewhere else to be Looking for another chance To ride into the sun Ride into the sun Ride into the sun Ride into the sun Ride into the sun Where everything seems so pretty When you're lonely and tired of the city Remember it's a flower made out of clay To the city Where everything seems so ugly When your sitting at home in self pitty Remember you're just one more person Who's living there It's hard to live in the city It's hard to live in the city It's hard to live in the city ... I hardly remember this one... I just remember the chorus, Lou Reed singing that line... it must on a compillation which is called "Velvet Underground" and has a banana on the cover (but not the "VU and Nico") I bought my copy in a strange compillation in France and I guess I lost it in some divorce... it´s a quiet song, I recall... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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