Nick Cave, Do You Love Me? - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction / Excerpts

[@altair8598]

The fact that you find you honestly don't like the style of this piece, yet can give us nearly 15 minutes of fair minded insight into it, is very much appreciated and a tribute to the excellence of your channel. I'm no expert on Mr Cave and have never heard this track before but you have inspired me to explore more of the album. Incidentally, one of the tracks, 'Nobody's baby now' has at least one cover (by Headless Heroes) and is a favourite of mine. 'Into My Arms' is another song that you may like more. Cave is an interesting character who has experienced great family tragedy and still identifies, I think, as having Christian values whilst disparaging organised religion.

[@lieseweiss1224]

If you read his recent book called Faith, Hope and Carnage , you will discover that he is absolutely pro organized religion.

[@psychokitty7268]

Liaten to straight to you. Beautiful.

[@brunosm.l2267]

@@lieseweiss1224 right, it sounds cool to say "I'm spiritual but I don't like organized religion". Nick says: "religion is spirituality with rigour". Plus, I don't think one can fully understand his poetry without considering his view of the world. Most of his songs are dark, about complex matters, like this one. For him all of this has to do with sin. Sin is not a thing you judge, is a part of human nature.

[@lieseweiss1224]

@@brunosm.l2267Beautifully put.🙏🏻

[@DrNothing23]

Wow! From Waits to Cave. Perfect flow.

[@rollingstoneworks3183]

One day Nick Cave was at Shane McGowan’s house, while Shane was sloppy, passed out drunk and depressed. Nick reached into the trash can, and pulled out a crumpled sheet of paper with lyrics Shane had scribbled down in his stupor and thrown away. The song was “A Rainy Night in Soho”. Nick saved that song for all of us, and recently played it at Shane’s funeral. Amy, you need to hear it. Everyone should. In my opinion, one of the single most beautiful songs of the twentieth century…maybe ever. Might even clear KZbin. Listen to the full song played by Shane and the Pogues…which is a band you should really know. Vlad, back me up on this…cheers to you both.

[@seanmcmichael2551]

Bruce Springsteen played a cover of that wonderful song during a recent May 2024 gig in Ireland. It was a tribute to Shane McGowan whose work Bruce admired.

[@marcelmarceau2526]

Yes!!!! Finally Nick Cave on the channel! ❤

[@sandracassinelli5874]

Nick Cave is an amazing artist who has grown in so many different directions. Every album is unique and interesting.

[@rogercageot-prod]

To give another chance to Nick Cave (another side of him), you should try a song taken from Boatman's Call (all ballads in it, more romantic, more piano, more confidential)

[@tetleyT]

National treasure. What a bard. What a genius. Thanks for your very considered reaction!

[@seelenwinter6662]

correct... but i would never call nick cave a rock band...

[@JustIn-mu3nl]

I saw him a few times in St Kilda when I went to see my sister, 2 times in the same book store.

[@wulfgold]

It's an incredibly menacing song and the final "like I love you?" at the end sums it up "nicely". Great reaction - there's some stunning and more tender material with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Opera House I believe.

[@denisderossi3498]

As a film buff you must be familiar with Wim Wenders. His film "Wings of Desire" features almost entirely nick caves music

[@peterhughes8699]

NC and the Bad Seeds are unique, unclassifiable, passionate, disturbed and often beautiful. If Amy explores into their back catalog she'll often be surprised and delighted :)

[@brettbridger362]

I think you will find that the term 'bad seeds' is used in the religious term. An 'evil parent' or person, is a bad seed, who will corrupt those around them. Think of it more like 'one bad apple will spoil the barrel.

[@paulhagger3895]

Evil child more commonly I think

[@brettbridger362]

@@paulhagger3895 Think it depends on your culture. Most references I've seen refer to something that will affect others, but i can remember a couple of times that it was used to refer to the offspring.

[@nelanncal]

Nick Cave's "Murder Ballads" album is one hell of a crazy ride. Watching Nick and Warren live doing "O'Malley's Bar" is sheer brilliance!

[@jja77a]

Love Nick caves creepy sounds! The "do you love me" feels like a threat!😅

[@annakermode6646]

Menacing is the word that always comes to me with Nick Cave. An absolute master. Love this song.

[@seelenwinter6662]

nick cave... the biggest stage beast ever... if you see a live show from him, you will understand what i mean...^^

[@BumperMorgan]

He is the consummate performer.

[@tagadabrothersband]

This song is one of those to which there is absolutely nothing to modify, for the simple reason that it is just perfect. The only thing that could possibly change is the mood of the listener.

[@JamesLMason]

Leonard Cohen and now Nick Cave?! You're really spoiling us.

[@JMD166]

Australia's Finest!

[@seelenwinter6662]

yes... he is really a man at work...^^

[@randomname4726]

And INXS

[@epearc]

Nick Cave has enormous range and simply cannot be judged by one track alone. I find music appreciation of individual artists is akin to a local dialect. When checking out something like Nick Cave, I knew the words but still didn't understand what it is that I'm listening to. Once I picked up on the dialect, I found the music is very deep, very complex, and often mind blowing. Nick has some of my favorite records of all time, and some I'm still trying to understand. I hope you keep doing more Nick Cave reactions. (Abattoir Blues and Nocturama are both pretty accessible). If you really want to get crazy, give his other, very energetic project, Grinderman, a try.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Yeah, I left a comment about what song(s) I’d use to introduce someone to his music & it was more difficult than I thought. I also mentioned Grinderman (and maybe something from Dig Lazarus Dig). I suppose it would really depend on the person.

[@nodirips_8537]

If you want to get crazy, check Junkyard by The Birthday Party

[@jhen0709]

As an Australian I am contractually obliged to say Nick Cave is a wonderful songwriter who has written some of the best songs of all time. But just quietly, some of the monotonous vocal line on this song is due to his limitations as a singer. His best recordings somehow make a virtue of his limited range and technique.

[@jeromedupont5218]

bob dylan and leonard cohen have the same kind of vocals. he's not the first

[@mrtveye6682]

@@jeromedupont5218 All are classic examples for the fact that it's not always a question of being the technically best singer, have the largest range or whatever. In the end music is about a transporting a feeling, and if you know your limits, stick to your strong points, and stay true to yourself, chances are high you get way more exiting and unique results, that just being the next technically perfect but lifeless, boring and interchangeable voice. Besides ofc all oft them where/are great songwriters in the first place.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

I love Nick Cave, I think some of his earlier work (and more recent work as well) can take a bit to get used to. If I were going to introduce someone to him I might try something from Dig Lazarus Dig, or perhaps a Grinderman song. I think my favorite album just might be the Proposition soundtrack, but I’m not sure I’d start there either.

[@joshuastrawser9160]

Ah, Nick Cave. I mentioned going on a bit of a Nick Cave listening spree once in mixed company once, and got back several "Who?" from the unaware, yet from those who knew of him, I received concerned looks followed by "Are you okay?" 😂

[@trevorcarpenter6678]

Tom Waits and now Nick Cave you have reached the two greats at the same time. The problem with both of them is one track only skims the surface of two great repertoires

[@lieseweiss1224]

I cannot deny my disappointment that Amy didn’t “get” this song by probably my favourite musical artist. Btw, my background was in classical music.

[@lieseweiss1224]

He is positively electrifying in live performance. Try “Stagger Lee” live at Glastonbury.

[@BumperMorgan]

Better buckle up for that one

[@marcduhamel-guitar1985]

Midnight Oil- my favorite Aussie band. The Power and the Passion is the first song I've heard, but their breakthrough was Beds Are Burning. Hope you get a chance to listen to them!

[@michaelfunke8813]

You should check out Host of the Seraphim by Dead Can Dance. The singer is the same as on the soundtrack to the film Gladiator. It's one of the most emotional pieces I've heard. In style more like a medieval choir crossed with Bulgarian singing than popular music. It's on the same level as Kashmir by Led Zeppelin.

[@gablen23]

I've always found this emphasis interesting, too, as if it's not asking "do you love me?" but "do you really love me?". Nick Cave's music has always had this depressive, dark mood, but at the same time there is something anthemic, something uplifting about it.

[@tetleyT]

It's darkness fortified by undeniable power.

[@tonytjandra4798]

"... motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going..." Jim Ryun ( a quote from Hypnosis book ) After listen to this, I remember Air Supply, a band from Australia and Nick Rhodes, a keyboardist of Duran Duran. Thank's.

[@TheBlackWhiteTeam]

Nick Cave and PJ Harvey duet from the album Murder Ballads is one of my favorite

[@davidconnolly6690]

That note about the falling cadence/pitch (i'm no music expert lol) on the question: "Do you love me", I would never have thought about that if you hadn't have picked it out. Same With Radioheads C sharp minor tone and that's where the saddest line is sung. It's these insights I love about your reviews! Love Nick Cave, love the 90's. Nick has a huge and varied catalogue of music. Music for thinkers and drinkers. Lots of thought and a little bit depressed. Talking of Nick Cave, P J Harvey is a great leap to make from there. Another unique talent and extremely interesting musically.

[@skabuoy]

"Do you love me?" It reminded me of the fact he had a relationship with PJ Harvey somewhere around the 80s/90s. You should check out PJ Harvey too. Also an artist with a niche of her own, like Nick Cave

[@davekite5690]

Oh and now you're onto Nick Cave... are you going through my collection?! ;-)

[@riphopfer5816]

Nick Cave is my favourite songwriter. He is a writer’s songwriter, and his lyrics are visceral and potent.This might not be the best song through which to introduce you to Nick Cave. I think if it were your first time, I would’ve brought to you ‘The Weeping Song’, or ‘O My Lord’ instead, then gradually get into his more tormented-but still very hooky-tunes, like ‘I Had A Dream, Joe’, or ‘John Finn’s Wife’.

[@denisderossi3498]

Here's a suggestion you might find interesting. Nick cave wrote the song "mery seat" It was later covered by Johny cash. You might find the differing treatments intetesting.

[@uncle_thulhu]

A "bad seed" is someone born evil. Bad from the seed, you see? Nick Cave is my top Aussie artist of all time. Honestly, Nick and the boys got me through my 20s. Blixa Bargeld is a German musician, who also formed experimental band Einstürzende Neubauten in the 80s. Prior to the Bad Seeds, Nick and Mick were in The Boys Next Door/Birthday Party (they changed the name). Kings of Aussie blues-rock.

[@ahhhlindsanityyy]

I love Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds performance in the 1987 film Wings of Desire (German title is Der Himmel Über Berlin)

[@PaulG.x]

You have to listen to Nick Cave's The Carny

[@jeromedupont5218]

this song is even more frightening 😅

[@thekaratekidpartii2169]

“Bad seed” is a common metaphor for a bad person, and shares a similarity with the term “black sheep” as it implies a familial association.

[@johnsilva9139]

Yes, Amy didn't seem familiar with that term being used to describe someone's character.

[@kanalnamn]

Blixa Bargeld is a man, and a very special guitarr player. However, he's an even more remarkable singer and writer in his main act Einstürzende Neubauten. Now, there's a group you should react to.

[@jeromedupont5218]

Blixa is a male.his name is an alias.his real name is Christian Emmerich he's a berliner. most of the members came from Australia but the band lived in Europe, London and Berlin at this time of this song and mostly during the existence of the band

[@skabuoy]

Blixa Bargeld is a German singer/musician with his own band : Einstürzende Neubauten (German for Collapsing New Buildings). Einstürzende Neubauten is more like 'Industrial' genre, or at least that's how I remember it. Blixa Bargeld is his stage name. Bargeld is German for Cash money.

[@Evocati2008]

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Tom Waits...you're getting great recommendations. liked

[@bucklberryreturns]

Completely understand why most Cave wouldn't appeal to someone with such a positive disposition, most being dark, gloomy and sorrowful. For most people, he's to be appreciated rather than enjoyed. There certainly are up moments, comparitively, but Nick could never write Yellow or Jungle Boogie.

[@mgillies63]

Really interesting analysis. I love Nick and the bad seeds. Johnny Cash's children

[@richardgale5369]

Delighted that you came upon Nick Cave. However, this choice of songs would have been way down on my list. Have seen Nick many times both solo at piano and with the Bad Seeds -- a more art-rock version of Leonard Cohen who was an enormous influence on Cave. Sadly, Cave never reached the popularity as he has in West and East Europe, where he quickly sells out huge halls and stadiums. There is a sophistication to his music, an intellectual angst, that goes beyond the average American's comprehension. His new release, Wild God, is brilliant... waiting for his next American tour. Dont miss an opportunity to see him live... he performs with a passion that is rarely experienced in today's music.

[@robertoeduardoguerreromora9765]

Cohen, Waits, Cave... Sylvian? Nick Cave is enormous, difficult but he ´s a genious by his own.... mercy seat, from her to eternity...

[@michaelayliffe7238]

Nick Cave sung Suzanne by Leonard Cohen, at the Sydney Opera house Nick Cave is the best storyteller.

[@teclo1057]

would be great to hear PJ Harvey soon.

[@diogenesagogo]

IT'S MANDATORY!!!

[@teclo1057]

yes we do, yes we do, yes we do

[@mikeyseviersspookshow5183]

I can only imagine what would happen if Vlad loosed the fury of the Birthday Party upon her!

[@michaelfrank2266]

I wrote this reaction elsewhere. It is the closing track of an album. I was first taken by the lyrics, 'Do you love me?' which is relatable. The rest of the lyrics and the song's melody though reflect more a head space of 45 years ago. There is a kind of dark and urban kind of loneliness to both versions part 1 and part 2. I am not in that place anymore. I still thought it was a good song for being able to reflect the mood.

[@maximeteppe7627]

This is the opening track. The closing track is Do you love me part.2, which is more stripped down and subdued, and is even darker, as it's about a child being seduced by an abuser.

[@michaelfrank2266]

@@maximeteppe7627 Huh. That's why I don't like song writers telling me what their songs are about. I like my interpretation better.

[@gevansmd]

You might enjoy the Nick Cave and Warren Ellis instrumentals you can find on KZbin.

[@daipearmain]

I'm trying to subscribe to your channel, but getting an error "Error subscribing, try again" just wondering if others are? I'd like to subscribe, the way you discover music and your reactions remind me when I first started discovering all these artists.

[@VirginRock]

Must be something on your end….

[@daipearmain]

@@VirginRock I see now others are having the same issues, because channels that I've been. Subscribed to for years now say in not subscribed. Google keeps messing up KZbin with their greedy grabs.

[@wdomburg]

You can't listen to this and not follow up with "Do You Love Me? (pt. 2)"? The two tracks bookend the album, and the latter adds context and contrast to the first.

[@srenkongstad2992]

Nick Cave, especially in that period,fills his songs with loss, sadness, violence and longing. Do you love me is a love song for when love has gone. It might have left but behind is the memory of the affair, and the rage, hurt and sorrow. It stands on its own, but if you are so inclined, please listen to his lecture "the life and death of the love song" Helpfully leaked to KZbin In it he makes explicit his demands of the love song, amongst others that it contains in it the longing for the other, pain, melancholy and a sense of Los, without which, he claims, then love song is a disguised sing of hate. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h33CZKmCmc2Wb7Msi=wb4Ge59xIvTUDX95

[@deanmaynard8256]

Saw him live on Monday night. His more recent style is more dark folk.

[@maximeteppe7627]

I haven't listened much to the last two albums, but I wouldndn't necessarily say darker, but sadder/more broken, whereas his 90's stuff is dark too, but usually in a more playful/theatrical fashion. it's a gradual evolution, as he accumulated life experience, his songwriting became more personal.

[@davidheiser2225]

I'd recommend "Loom of the Land", spooky and atmospheric, or "Red Right Hand", bombastic and terrifying.

[@mhagain]

"Bad Seeds" is a Biblical reference, to the Parable of the Sower and the seed that falls on bad ground, but is also derived from Nick's older band, The Birthday Party, who had a song that referenced "the damp and rotten seed that blooms into the demon flower". This is thematically something that would appeal to Nick, or at least would have appealed to the younger Nick. He's a more mellow person these days. Some of their songs are straightforward modern rock, but others are quite experimental and with unusual instrumentation and arrangements. Do You Love Me Part 2 is a good example of the latter from the same LP, but Nick's back catalog is a rabbit hole that can go as deep as you want.

[@viceroyzh]

Finally Nick Cave. Leonard Cohen's "musical son".

[@willjohnson8446]

It’s funny that the initial few bars made you think this was a modern song, because that instrumental always makes me think of the Doors from the 60’s.

[@phil6419]

Song of Joy and the Curse of Millhaven would be great to react too. Murder ballads is one of my favorite albums. Just a warning, it’s extremely dark, disturbing and sometimes violent. Idk why I like it so much 😅

[@brianwalsh3091]

So we dont get to hear it?

[@Hemprechaun]

I would recommend the album "Henry's Dream", the whole album.

[@simonwatkins3236]

Sometimes I can't understand Karl's choices but Tom Waits followed by Nick Cave makes perfect safe.

[@rainbowi8353]

I think that this nick cave song, given the album it’s coming from, is about kidnapping, rape and murder. To expend understanding his lyrics I’d go for older songs with the same name. Some knowledge about “her lady” church’s. The devil’s touch on her lady’s church’s. And maybe some about the hunchback of notredame.

[@Jaxy451]

I wouldn't overstate his Australian origins. No one else in Australia sounds like this and he settled in Europe many years ago. He now lives in England. He in fact has often been very critical of Australia and the impression he has created is that he didn't fit in here. This music is not really 'Australian'.

[@tiestenbosch]

Definitely no grunge. Nick Cave is much more of a dark story teller. This is not singing out his personal feeongs, but a story about creepy feelings of a stalker. At least, that’s how I read it. I think if you listen to more Nick Cave songs, I think it will grow on you. It is misic that needs more time.

[@lieseweiss1224]

Cave was friends with Mark Lanegan, who was at the root of the Seattle scene. You should listen to Mark Lanegan’s solo work.

[@lieseweiss1224]

Blixa went on to form the seminal German experimental music group, Einsturzende Neubauten. You won’t like them, lol.

[@tobidunno7628]

please I need you to check out some more of Radiohead some time soon Much love, Amy!

[@marcelmarceau2526]

Oh, we can’t hear the music 😕

[@Gr3g3r9]

Listen to pt2

[@michaelsnelling2918]

Hi Amy the 'do you love me' is asking the person to ask themselves 'do YOU love me' … don't you think?

[@michaelsnelling2918]

… in the sense that the other person may have said 'I love you' and he is questioning it … as in 'do you REALLY love me?' … if you see what I mean!!

[@johnsilva9139]

While you're on Nick Cave, an interesting "cover" comparison might be his cover of Bob Dylan's "Wanted Man".

[@CkjmediaNo2410]

The song is about a man meeting a girl during 4th of july (silver stars spangles). The man feels insecure (And I stacked all my accomplishments beside her. Yet I seemed so obsolete and small). She gets pregnant (I found God now his devils inside her). And then later he says he can't handel her PMS (Blood running down the inside of her legs), so he sends her to the asylum for hysteria (Crazy bracelets on her wrists and her ankles),

[@jeromedupont5218]

no no Nick cave is not grunge he's timeless.

[@AlejandoPrez]

Reaccione porfavor al álbum innuendo de QUEEN

[@gbsailing9436]

If that was a surprise, you might care (or not) to visit Nick's MURDER album: a collection of songs about murder: Murder Ballads 2011.

[@thekaratekidpartii2169]

Murder Ballads was released in 96.

[@stevem2700]

So much Rock and Roll history and still no Moody Blues. I love this channel, but it’s just not making any sense to me anymore, that such an Important and influential band has not been covered. Nothing against Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.. They’ve got some interesting music. The Moody Blues is one of the biggest selling bands in rock history and I just don’t understand why they have been ignored.

[@Jaxy451]

Well, this is not my favourite song from that album. And he has better albums. Nick Cave certainly has his moments. However, i think he's an acquired teste.

[@danroth11]

Even though I know the song and artist well I found this very hard to watch as you time skipped through the song. You might've done this to avoid being flagged by YT, but for me personally it detracts from what you are doing and the reason I clicked on the video.

[@billy4147]

chop chop change what a mess!

[@GaylordBonnafous]

It's not grunge at all, there's no piano and organ in grunge, and not this type of unusual, non-rock rhythm. His main influences are Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and bluesmen.

[@muzwell]

I mean i don't have any problem with her being ignorant of the genre - but i wish she'd said something interesting and informed by her musical expertise. Not subbing

[@DarthStridious]

can you let the song play, you pause so soon how can you talk about it two seconds hearing him... NEXT

[@paulsouth4794]

Hmm mmm your intellect doesn't run deep enough for you to relate to Nick Cave and the bad seeds ... their the bad seeds that don't grow daisies. Try the ship song 🎵

[@johntaylor6654]

Hmm, was this about Nick Cave ? or you ? I know Nick Cave is a music icon with numerous credits to his name, remind me again who you are ?

[@freefall8243]

If Nick Cave gazed into his naval any harder he could perform an appendectomy on himself.

[@paulberloth4302]

I love Nick Cave from the start. But I don't think he is an outstanding composer. At the start he made chaotic non-melodic noise just for the sake of it. Only once in a while he wrote a brilliant song though. This is not one of them. His best piece is "Stagger Lee". Song is good , lyrics are fantastic and superbly funny. Lately he thinks he is a real songwriter and doesn't need much instrumentation anymore, just piano. Boring. Overrated and thus pretentious.

[@Kodaemon]

Please stop trying to be Olive Oyl, it's not working.

[@saritalynnedwinabaker-brow8709]

I'm sorry, but have you been hiding under a rock somewhere? Do you understand the colloquialism 'bad seed". The bad seed Is a description often given to children who misbehave or someone who doesn't conform to society's norms? It's actually kind of an ironic badge of honor. And I don't know what to say about this review, except if you don't understand Nick Cave and the bad seeds and find them strange... Means that I probably won't subscribe to your channel because our tastes are too far removed from each other. You sound a little bit like a naive school teacher encountering modern music for the first time. Nooooo. Don't think so.

[@phil6419]

You’re cringe

[@charlesberton2581]

Nick Cave? Never heard of him in all my years, and it should've stayed that way.

[@surferles589]

It constantly baffles me how people think this guy is creative. Just my opinion.

[@DrNothing23]

Funny, it baffles me the few people I've run across who don't, don't find him creative. Listen to "Up Jumped the Devil" and "Right Red Hand", if you haven't heard them yet. :)

[@surferles589]

@@DrNothing23 I’ve seen him live and his stage presence is amazing. But his music always sounds pretentious. Like a wannabe Tom Waits. I’ll check them out though and revert back to you

[@DrNothing23]

@@surferles589 Ya, funny you say that. I've always thought of him as the Australian Tom Waits. hehe Never got a pretentious vibe from him, though. He's quite theatrical, as you suggest, in his live shows, so maybe it's the temperature of his thespian expression that seems a bit ham handed, thus, seems to have a pretentious air? He definitely takes himself a bit seriously, IMO, but not to the point of overdoing it for my taste anyhow. Considering what you say, though, I saw him a while back in Seattle promoting his Push the Sky Away album, and, I forget what song it was, but at one point he had a woman in the front row come up to him and put her hand over his heart while he sang to her. Ya, that is a little pretentious, now that I consider it... lol.

[@surferles589]

@@DrNothing23 I guess it flows so naturally for Tom Waits, NC seems contrived. I’m just fussy I guess. With so much crud out there I’m just ruthless with my time

[@TPJN777]

​@@surferles589 and Tom Waits comes across like a wannabe Captain Beefheart

[@owenlong2501]

Im giving up on you finishing "The wall" its ridiculous . You will do Taylor Swift and Vanilla Ice before you get that finished. Unsubscribing, all the best.

[@phil6419]

You are entitled and snobbish. I’m sure she won’t miss you

[@Nononnein-j4o]

Taylor Swift > The Wall.