Lou (Reed) and VU

[JLacquer]

.....

[Not Right in the Head]

White Light/White Heat is like a sunny day? Where? Finland?

[nugz]

White Light/White Heat is like a sunny day? Where? Finland?

oh yeah, and "Heroin" always gets me fired up!


not.


but to answer the original question, I do like VU, but havent listened to alot of Lou Reed's solo stuff

[nugz]

Hah! Perhaps I should qualify it by saying that *to me*, yeah, even White Light/White Heat is a summer day. I think it probably is cos I first listened to them in that climate and also someone commented to me the very same thing 'they sound like a sunny morning' so I guess that's why I hear it every time I listen now. Enough of that bollocks... d'you not hear anything even mellow in much of their work?

songs like "stephanie says" and "sunday morning" i guess sound kinda... "sunny." but overall I see them as pretty dark. especially something like "candy says." and even though "I'm waiting for my man" is peppy, its about him shooting up, so to me that still makes it dark.

[klivert70]

'Berlin' is an absolutely fantastic album, very raw.
You have to be in the right mood for it though.
Lou Reed is one of life's great outsiders, anyone that releases 'Metal Machine Music' to get out of an album contract is fine by me.

[nugz]

I can understand. Absoluetly the content of the lyrics is often dark. Something that's dark to some people isn't necessarily dark to everyone though. To me there's something therapeutic there definitely - guess it's interesting how the same piece of music has a different impact on different people. I wouldn't be surprised if many consider it darker than I've stated.

Stephanie Says - That would be my favourite VU song. If you like it do have a listen to Caroline Says II from Berlin if you've not heard it yet.

no i can see how they can be therapeutic. often the darker stuff is. and i also associate them with a darker period in my life. my favorite is probably "Candy Says" actually. a dark one, see? haha.

I'll have to listen to Berlin, I've only heard good things, but never got around to it for some reason.

[klivert70]

I can understand. Absoluetly the content of the lyrics is often dark. Something that's dark to some people isn't necessarily dark to everyone though. To me there's something therapeutic there definitely - guess it's interesting how the same piece of music has a different impact on different people. I wouldn't be surprised if many consider it darker than I've stated.

Stephanie Says - That would be my favourite VU song. If you like it do have a listen to Caroline Says II from Berlin if you've not heard it yet.

'Caroline Says' is beautiful.
The "most of her friends call her Alaska" & "it's so cold in Alaska" lines just slay me every time.

[nugz]

'Caroline Says' is beautiful.
The "most of her friends call her Alaska" & "it's so cold in Alaska" lines just slay me every time.

isnt that Stephanie Says?

unless he re-uses that line in Caroline Says... haha

[klivert70]

isnt that Stephanie Says?

unless he re-uses that line in Caroline Says... haha

Yeah, he uses the lines in both.

Caroline says
as she gets up off the floor
Why is it that you beat me
it isn't any fun

Caroline says
as she makes up her eyes
You ought to learn more about yourself
think more than just I

But she's not afraid to die
all her friends call her "Alaska"
When she takes speed, they laugh and ask her

What is in her mind
what is in her mind

Caroline says
as she gets up from the floor
You can hit me all you want to
but I don't love you anymore

Caroline says
while biting her lip
Life is meant to be more than this
and this is a bum trip

But she's not afraid to die
all her friends call her "Alaska"
When she takes speed, they laugh and ask her

What is in her mind
what is in her mind

She put her fist through the window pane
It was such a funny feeling

It's so cold in Alaska
it's so cold in Alaska
It's so cold in Alaska

[nugz]

Aye tis also used in Caroline Says II, Nugz. It's similar but slower and really heartbreaking.

ahhh, interesting

whats the other VU "says" song? i forget.... its not as good as Candy or Stephanie

[nugz]

Yeah, he uses the lines in both.

Caroline says
as she gets up off the floor
Why is it that you beat me
it isn't any fun

Caroline says
as she makes up her eyes
You ought to learn more about yourself
think more than just I

But she's not afraid to die
all her friends call her "Alaska"
When she takes speed, they laugh and ask her

What is in her mind
what is in her mind

Caroline says
as she gets up from the floor
You can hit me all you want to
but I don't love you anymore

Caroline says
while biting her lip
Life is meant to be more than this
and this is a bum trip

But she's not afraid to die
all her friends call her "Alaska"
When she takes speed, they laugh and ask her

What is in her mind
what is in her mind

She put her fist through the window pane
It was such a funny feeling

It's so cold in Alaska
it's so cold in Alaska
It's so cold in Alaska

oh yeah, the lyrics are very similar. the "whats in her mind" part and "it was such a funny feeling" too

Lisa Says is the other un.

Lou's got a version of that too!

oh yeah thats it.

[Raised on prisoner's aid]

VENUS IN FURS is possibly one of the greatest songs of all time.

[nugz]

VENUS IN FURS is possibly one of the greatest songs of all time.

I've seen a stripper pole dance to that song before.

[Raised on prisoner's aid]

I've seen a stripper pole dance to that song before.

Oh man

[joey]

I just listened to VU for the first time a few weeks ago and I really loved it. I'll have to check out more of them later.

[soundofthenorth]

they are STILL way ahead of their time. unique sound, beautiful songs and anthems!

[Velvis]

Just spotted this thread.

I rate Lou Reed and Morrissey as the best lyricists... ever

I used to be totally obsessed with all things VU (I'm currently obsessed with Moz )

I've got all the albums and a fair few bootlegs as well - PM me if you'd like a list

I love the banana LP and have got a vinyl copy with peelable banana on the cover one of my precious things...

Went to see the Berlin show last year at Hammersmith... sorry I'll stop gushing now

[The Spirit of '69]

Just noticed this thread. Lou Reed is a legend. 'Berlin' and 'Transformer' are indeed works of genius, but anyone interested in the man needs to hear 'Street Hassle', 'The Bells', 'New York', 'Songs for Drella' (with John Cale), etc., etc.. Great stuff!

P.S. When's this comedian idiot sodding off..?

[PsychodelicateGirl]

Just noticed this thread. Lou Reed is a legend. 'Berlin' and 'Transformer' are indeed works of genius, but anyone interested in the man needs to hear 'Street Hassle', 'The Bells', 'New York', 'Songs for Drella' (with John Cale), etc., etc.. Great stuff!

P.S. When's this comedian idiot sodding off..?

Street Hassle is one of my favourite songs of all time, its fucking gorgeous!

[PsychodelicateGirl]

I agree that Lou is one of the best lyricists of all time, he has a great dramatists sense of story and character in his songs.
I think I own all of Lou's studio albums, along with all of the VU stuff. I must say that one album that I think is quite overlooked is Ecstasy, I think its really beautiful, and has some great songs (Modern Dance, Ecstasy, Rock Minuet)

I just watched Julian Schnabel's film of Lou Reed performing Berlin in NY, it was great! Berlin was my obsession when I was 19! It also made me long to see Lou and John Cale perform Songs for Drella, does anyone know if this was every filmed?