SO SOOTHING!.| FIRST TIME HEARING Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes REACTION

[@ublej]

A quote often attributed to music producer Brian Eno is: "The first Velvet Underground album only sold 10,000 copies, but everyone who bought it formed a band."

[@jefffiore7869]

Beat me to it!

[@williameckert1623]

I love that quote because it is absolutely true.

[@stoneybaloneyx4918]

30,000 copies...

[@GroovingPict]

cause everybody thought "fucking hell, even I can do better than this"? :p

[@samnette9707]

​@@GroovingPictthen why hasn't anybody done better??

[@JC-es5un]

“Heroin” is another phenomenal Velvet Underground classic (along with a lot of others). Lou Reed was a legendary musician. “Walk on the Wild Side”, “Perfect Day” and “Sweet Jane” are all classics worth checking out, it’s good for your soul. 👍

[@sideline5519]

Heroin is a powerful song and a must. It is art, education, and documentary with a mean beat. Sweet Jane is just the opposite of happy awesomeness

[@johnj2763]

I will repeat here what I posted alone. The VU were extremely influential. Lou Reed was the godfather of Punk. The 1973 Live version of 'Sweet Jane' at the Olympia in Paris with a glamed up platinum Reed, has to be one of the greatest intros in rock history. It was one of the greatest double lead rock guitar arrangements of all time, improvised by Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter. It has NEVER gotten old in 50 years!

[@simply_psi]

Perfect Day is awesome so is Satalite of Love, and Xmas in February (although more talking than singing a bit like Sam Baker who is also awesome, his song Broken Fingers makes me tear up every time)

[@superdave577]

Oh man Sweet Jane is a fantastic song.

[@MrCinpro]

Agree 100% either those sing suggestions, esp Heroin, it will get your heart pumping. Just try nit to interrupt too much sonyoubcan really feel the build up.

[@lyletuck]

So, this is the mellow, heartfelt side of the Velvets. They have another vastly different side of their music, and that side is made of noise and dissonance. The lead singer is usually Lou Reed, and he achieved great fame in his solo career with the iconic song "Walk On The Wild Side." (You must react to it if you haven't already.) John Cale (not to be confused with J.J. Cale) was the prime force behind the dissonant, experimental types of songs, and when he left (before the album called "The Velvet Underground" which includes "Pale Blue Eyes") the band became noticeably more mellow, soothing, and conventional. Which wasn't necessarily a BAD thing, but it was definitely a very Different thing. To experience more of the mellow side of VU, listen to "Jesus", the heartbreaking "Candy Says", "Some Kinda Love" "I Found A Reason" "Sunday Morning" "I'll Be Your Mirror" "All Tomorrow's Parties" "Femme Fatale" "New Age" and one of my favorites of theirs, "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'". Now, for the more "rockin'" side of this band, go for iconic songs like "Sweet Jane" "I'm Waiting For The Man" "Run, Run, Run" "There She Goes Again" or their absolute classic, "Rock & Roll" or possibly try some of their noisier and more experimental songs like "Heroin" "Venus In Furs" "The Black Angel's Death Song" or all seventeen and a half minutes of "Sister Ray". Be warned - this band has songs that deal quite explicitly with drug use, domestic violence, S&M, transsexualism, and other serious adult topics. It's not a band for everybody, though they do have songs (like "Pale Blue Eyes") that can appeal to most people. I am absolutely thrilled that you listened to them. Good on you! They're a massively important band in the history of American "pop", rock, and punk music even though they never had one single hit song ever. Life is simply not fair.

[@cazgerald9471]

This comment should be pinned

[@d-2793]

Sweet Jane can open “the cowboy Junkies’ box. Cowboy Junkies spin a sweet - sweet jane, blue moon revised (song for elvis). Misguided Angel.

[@HisboiLRoi]

@ Lyle Tuck - Well, you have covered everything that I was going to say, other than adding "Heroin" and "The Gift" to the recommended song list.

[@N.Sloane]

I've got to make one tiny addition to this very essential VU list, "Perfect Day" Lou's voice just always does it for me. there's a reason I let people call me Niko, because of this band.

[@bobwoolerOriGinal]

@@N.Sloane Perfect Day was a Lou Reed solo song, not VU. You could of picked Who Loves the Sun instead, a sunny-feeling, feelgood song, despite it's lyrics. A fab one.

[@Shrykespeare]

Lou Reed. John Cale. Legends. "Sweet Jane" and "Venus in Furs" are classics.

[@rachelpsmith3129]

Sweet Jane, I'm Waiting for the Man, Heroin, I Can't stand It, What Goes On, so many great, great songs from the Velvet Underground. They influenced thousands of later musicians and bands including David Bowie. (Heroes by Bowie would not exist w/out I'm Waiting for the Man by VU, for example.) Lou Reed went on to a huge (almost huge?) solo career but I'll always love his work with VU best.

[@jessicahartis6851]

Yes, these songs!!!

[@rhwinner]

More, please.

[@jco207]

Also check out the Lou Reed solo version of Sweet Jane. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2arl6qJa6qslZY

[@simontemplar3359]

Well said! Wholeheartedly agree.

[@lindalou6105]

Is that the same Sweet Jane I know from Mott the Hoople?

[@williameckert1623]

Lou Reed is an American treasure. You should listen to everything he ever wrote

[@dbradx]

Absolutely - especially 'Dirty Boulevard' front the 80s.

[@melprophet1936]

Great, great songwriter. Totally under rated.

[@williameckert1623]

@@melprophet1936 anyone who knows their music knows about Lou Reed..

[@KTRS]

RIP, gone too soon.

[@chris62tt]

May I correct a bit. He is a treasure for the World too. Music at its purest! I have always loved it.

[@rubyswaim1441]

That's Lou Reed on vocals. That would be an interesting rabbit hole...

[@tjames4025]

Velvet Underground is highly influential. There importance to modern music cannot be overstated.

[@alberthall1456]

The thing I loved about this period of time, people were just making music. They didn't worry about genre or classification. They just made great music. Lou Reed was a poet.

[@michaelthibault6106]

I dunno about not worrying about genre or classification. 60s girls groups (individually and as a genre) are much more awesome than the 60s Rock and Roll narrative would ever allow. In the 60s, some genres were considered better than others. Legend has it that the VU imposed a fine for anyone who played a Blues lick. I love that they resisted the White Blues genre that was dominating the charts and critical lists.

[@ianbarnard4963]

Lou Reed, the lead singer of Velvet Underground, did a song called Perfect Day which you guys should react to. It is basically the perfect song.

[@nancyhallatr]

Perfect Day is one of my all-time favorite songs.

[@bryanCJC2105]

One of my favorite songs is the haunting esoteric "Venus in Furs" during their Andy Warhol and Nico collaboration. It was said that while the album only sold 30,000 copies, that everyone that bought one started a band. Rolling Stone ranks them as the 19th greatest artists of all time. The Velvet Underground is legendary. While they never made it onto the charts, they were revolutionary in many ways and influenced many of Rock's greatest bands. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and are widely recognized as one of the most influential bands in Rock history. Most of their work was in the 60s and they broke up in the early 70s.

[@bjorn6495]

Thanks so much for doing this one; the VU is one of those bands that's meant more to me than just about anything in music. They recorded 4 albums between 1966 and 1970, evolving their style with every album, flitting from edgy garage rock to pure experimental noise to beautiful pop songs like this one, and Lou Reed penned lyrics that changed what rock music could be about. This is off their third album from 1969, one of those albums I can pretty much only listen to in the middle of the night. Both Lou Reed and John Cale (who had left the band by this album) went on to brilliant solo careers too. There was an excellent documentary about them released last year, everyone should check it out.

[@douglaschoe6723]

Thanks for sharing. It's so hard to encapsulate the greatness and importance of this band in three lines on a KZbin comments section. You managed to do a good job of it. This band also changed my life.

[@MrSpikeMilligan]

Lou Reed's voice, so good. Try his 'Walk on the Wild Side' or 'Satellite of Love'

[@sarahjaneblenkhorn8821]

Such a great song!

[@HisboiLRoi]

My introduction to The Velvet Underground came in 1967 upon hearing "I'm Waiting for the Man" on Tucson's most popular radio station, top 40 KTKT. I didn't catch the band's name, and the DJ dismissed them saying "I don't think I'll ever play that song again", but I was mesmerized nonetheless. The song stuck with me, although it took another three years for me to finally connect the dots when freeform underground FM station KWFM came on the air and changed the local musical landscape for those of us craving more.

[@tombeyerlein3813]

This song may have a soothing or hypnotic quality about it, but the Velvets were probably the darkest band of the '60s, and some of their music was hard-driving and some of it was extremely chaotic. The subject matter sometimes involved kinky sex, violence and hard drugs. Lou Reed was his own man, but he was heavily influenced by Dylan. VU was an early progenitor of punk. An uncompromising group of musicians.

[@rray848]

A very influential band especially for having only lasted as a group for 5 years. They were together as a band since 1964 but didn't adopt the name The Velvet Underground name till 1965. The band started falling apart in 1970 when the lead singer Lou Reed left. They released one more album after 1970 but by then there was only one original member in the group.

[@johnk.2508]

These guys were the house band at artist Andy Warhol's house, a popular hangout for the young, hip, and stoned in the late 60s and 1970s. When I say Warhol was an artist, I'm referring to visual art, not necessarily music. Warhol was the person who coined the phrase "15 minutes of fame" because he said that in the future society's attention span would be so short that there wouldn't be conventional celebrities, but EVERYONE would have 15 minutes of fame.

[@futurereflections4097]

Read a story that Lou Reed and Bowie almost got into a fight at one of those parties.

[@sazguest]

Velvet Underground with Nico would be great for female Friday, her voice is extraordinary. I’ll Be Your Mirror gets my vote.

[@lillymatabata8584]

And Femme Fatale

[@Mark-zu6oz]

@@lillymatabata8584 Yes to both!

[@mikeharris3733]

For not having any chart breaking songs, Velvet Underground is named by more bands as an influence than probably any other band... especially in the 70s/80s. My favorite VU songs are Sweet Jane and Rock 'n Roll which was released in the 80s on a reunion album.

[@elizabethfranco1284]

Lou Reed 1942-2013 musician songwriter singer. Lead singer of this band. Solo career lasted 50 years.Need to hear Walk on the Wild Side

[@mrja1944]

I remember the velvet underground as pretty much the house band at The Boston Tea party in Boston on Berkeley street in an old converted church in the late 60’s. This was a legendary venue. I loved this place. The underground played all the early dates. This was the first physedelic venue on the East Coast. The light shows were incredible. Over the course of three plus years , every major act of late sixties and early seventies played there. There is a website that listed every show with who played. The Grateful Dead played. Led Zeppelin played 2 nights in a row as the only act. J Geils. Rod Stuart with faces. Look it up Amber it will amaze you.

[@joeyrobison6629]

A great song by Velvet Underground, "Sweet Jane", covered by Cowboy Junkies was a big hit in the 90s.

[@davebeach2343]

The cover by the Cowboy Junkies is such a marvelous song. The tone for that entire record is amazing, proof of the acoustics of Toronto's cathedral. Cowboy Junkies are still a regular on my playlist.

[@blinds46]

Velvet Underground was the first band I ever saw with a female drummer- Maureen Tucker. They were the beginnings of the early punk rock movement. I saw them fresh out of high school in 1965. They were involved with Andy Warhol the famous artist. And the original band had a female singer name Nico, a German beauty. Check out Heroin and Waiting on the man for a different angle to the band.

[@scottfrench4139]

We can trace punk back to at least rockabilly -- Greil Marcus takes it back to the Dadaists in the 1910s -- and then through the early to mid-'60s Pacific Northwest scene, through early Who and Kinks, and then it really starts taking off with the Stooges and couple years after the Velvets' debut. They were hugely influential for punk without actually being punk.

[@kimbermorgan1971]

Sweet Jane is my fave by them. This band is a huge influence on a lot of artists/bands who came after.

[@mattshaw6180]

The Velvet Underground really dug into the seamy, dark side of society in their music. "Heroin" is a jarring but beautiful ride into addiction, "All Tomorrow's Parties" is a hypnotic song about a dead-end life, but "Sweet Jane" is kinda about redemption through rock'n'roll.

[@rmac8008]

Lou Reed John Cale Sterling Morrison Maureen Tucker They were a sound of their own Check out the song Heroin For the heavier side of the underground

[@thannaske5371]

Doug Yule wasn't too bad, either!

[@nancyhallatr]

And Nico. Her breathy monotone is an essentional VU sound.

[@Tom81196]

The saying was "Hardly anybody bought the Velvet Underground's records but most of those people who did buy them formed bands."

[@cinemixer]

I love, love, love Velvet Underground. Have to listen to Sweet Jane, Heroin, All Tomorrow’s Parties, Femme Fatale…and so many more.

[@1967PONTIACGTO]

so amazing that you found this song because this is a deeper cut from their stock of songs.... Velvet Underground is one of the deep roots of later punk and new wave.... they have many different sounds, and another aspect of the VU is a feed back heavy wall of sound .... for more softer songs like this one, try "I'll Be Your Mirror" (sung by Nico), "Sunday Morning" (sung by Lou Reed), or "Candy Says" (sung by Lou Reed), or "All Tomorrow's Parties" (sung by Nico), and for heavier songs that are more like early punk try "I'm Waiting for My Man", or "Sweet Jane". The only "hit" song for anyone involved in this is a Lou Reed solo song called "Walk of the Wild Side" which you will find very interesting. The Velvets were a huge influence of all of the punk bands like the Ramones and Sex Pistols, and the later new wave and goth bands.

[@johnnyborealis]

luv you guys! i think you would like "Sunday Morning", too (another chill but more lush velvet underground song)

[@mattjohn4731]

Are you two ready for more Velvet Underground yet? I highly recommend the song Rock And Roll! It is not about depravity, it's about a little girl who suddenly liked the radio when she turned to a Rock station! And Lou Reed often would exclaim Woooooo. Rhymes with Lou :P

[@kimberlyjenkins725]

Oh fantastic. Lou Reed.

[@simontemplar3359]

Oh man, this one aches. The velvet underground are such an important band. Seriously. They were real pioneers and inspirations for some of the most groundbreaking bands. They are so great. I suggest listening Sweet Jane or Heroin. Lou Reed was a complicated dude. God rest his tormented soul.

[@evanbirnholz2803]

Venus in Furs, Heroin, Sweet Jane, All Tomorrow's Parties (Nico on vocals, sing is about model Edie Sedgwick, one of Andy Warhol's Superstars who committed suicide), and Femme Fatale (Nico on Vocals) are MUSTS. Also check out Lou Reed's solo album Transformer a d the song Walk on the Wild Side (about Andy Warhol's Superstars from his Factory days).

[@emmarz8934]

Lou Reed was an amazing story teller. He unconsciously, maybe consciously, documented the New York underside, the drug addicted side of the art and music scene with The Velvet Underground and as a solo artist. Perfect Day, Walk on the Wild Side, Waiting For the Man, Rock and Roll, Sweet Jane, Vicious, Satellite of Love... I can think of a dozen more gems off the top of my head.

[@galvinklatt5273]

This is a favorite of mine. Thanks for reacting! ✌️💜 they have Many great songs!

[@futurereflections4097]

Lou Reed, and his band, The Velvet Underground have delivery down. It’s crazy that the band that is famous for being underrated is still underrated.

[@requiem165]

Holy shit, I literally just rediscovered this song last week, so cool you guys reacted to it!

[@michaelgirdham7293]

I could see the both of you slow dancing to this in the kitchen while dinner is cooking.

[@JoTracy]

So great to see you guys really appreciate music. What a journey you've been on 💞

[@johncampbell756]

The most influential band that took decades to sell their original albums. My favorite song by them is Rock and Roll from their final studio album Loaded (1970). It was released as a single in 1973. The album was released on 1970. NY 1987, it had only sold 55,000 copies. By 2015 it jumped to 250,000 copies. In comparison, The Beatles Let It Be album was also released in 1970. It was just remastered and released a few months ago. The re-release sold 55,000 copies in its 1st week and made the top 10. Loaded didn't chart and took 17 years to sell 55,000 copies. Yet the Velvet Underground are immensely influential. Legendary producer and semi-obscure musician Brian Eno once claimed that though not that many people bought their albums, everyone who did started a band. (Not true, but sounds cool.)

[@fr00tcaketheclowntm]

Don't forget " Heroin" and " OH Sweet Nuthin" ... n " Walk On The Wild Side"

[@Ben.the.potter]

sooo beautiful. To be honest, this is just one of those songs that brings a little tear to my eye every time

[@douglaschoe6723]

Wow. This is a great surprise. The Velvet Underground - one of the greatest and most influential groups of all time!

[@tomross6652]

In close to 60 years of listening, Heroin by VU is my all time favorite song. The first punk band. First came out in 67

[@johnplaysgames3120]

One of the things I always liked about the Velvet Underground is that their songs often use sound and structure to evoke a particular experience or emotion. For instance, two favorites from them are "Heroin" and "Waiting For The Man." In "Heroin," the song alternates between chaotic rushes full of manic lyrics and sudden slowdowns into the long, drawn-out hook. It's meant to portray the experience of the drug in musical form and is absolutely an experience, a piece of art, and just a really good song. "Waiting For The Man" is about a guy waiting for his dealer to show up so he can buy to get his fix. Besides just being a good, well-written song, what's fascinating about it is how well the Velvet Undergound translates the nervous, jittery monotony of waiting, scoring, walking home, and already beginning to think about the next fix into a chunky guitar riff, jangly piano, and pounding drums. I know y'all have some sort of experience with someone close to you who had some sort of issue with substance abuse (or at least that's what I think I've picked up from some of your previous vids when a song concerns addiction) so I normally steer clear of suggesting songs about drugs and whatnot BUT I feel like these songs are different because they're not really written as sad, cautionary tales about someone the singer knew who went over the edge and which are meant to make you cry, they're really more like pieces of art that capture a moment in time in the life of the character (and, to a degree, Lou himself) so, in that way, they're more like musical paintings. Anyway, well worth a listen to experience the art of the Velvet Undergound.

[@BigToeify]

Amber was vibing so hard during the guitar solo.

[@LaraLeeCupcake]

The band Fistful of Mercy did a GORGEOUS cover of this song. Talk about harmonies! Firstful of Mercy is Ben Harper, James Arthur and Dhani Harrison, Beatle George Harrison's son.

[@yelnek4548]

Wow, The Velvet Underground. Have not heard that group for a long time.

[@leo1314ok]

Fortunately, neither have I

[@KTRS]

I love what you both just called out - I was thinking the same thing - it’s a *minimalist* song and it’s lovely that way.

[@scottfrench4139]

"One of the most soothing songs ..." Wait till they hear "I Heard Her Call My Name."

[@merrior7071]

Can’t wait to see a reaction to their song Oh! Sweet nuthin’. One of the best song out there!

[@robertyrigoyen2510]

RIP Lou Reed.You must hear "Femme Fatale" (pronounce Fem Fay-Tell). Has been covered by many artists, too (Dramarama, Duran Duran, Beck, Elvis Costello, etc.) Aaand "Perfect Day" "I'm waiting for the Man"

[@BoyMeetsSound]

Pale Blue Eyes are the Velvets as Dr Jeckll but they have their Mr Hyde side too. For me the most influential band there ever was. Other tracks yo consider would be Heroin, Venus in Furs, Sunday Morning, All Tomorrows Partys.

[@martinquarton184]

You guys are in for a musical shock when you listened to their darker songs. Love this song.

[@salsonny]

Velvet underground, is a very important key band in music history. Very influential to the start of Punk, New Wave.

[@brentcox7772]

Nice reaction as usual!!🤘🔥

[@mjp3186]

Nice reaction. This was a super group. Besides Lou Reed als John Cale had a beautiful solo career. I bet you will also love Lou Reed's song Coney Island Baby. Thanks for your video.

[@Ninnative]

More, more, more!: "Venus in Furs," "Heroin," "Sunday Morning," "I'm Waiting for the Man," "All Tomorrow's Parties" ❤

[@bonniebanks7084]

Emmylou and Sheryl Crow ....Pale Blue eyes. Absolutely amazing!!! Hauntingly Beautiful!!!

[@emilymillikan992]

I love this! A friend put this on a mixed CD for me back when that was a thing. One of other songs on that mix, which I'd love to hear y'all's take on, is Rufus Wainwright's "Go or Go Ahead."

[@easysoul48able]

“Walk on the Wild Side” is a must.

[@rainbowgames1]

For more soothing songs from them check out “Sunday Morning” and “Femme Fatale.” Also “Perfect Day” is a great solo song by Lou Reed (the singer.)

[@kolchak357]

Sweet Jane, Heroin, and Candy Says are a few other Velvet Unground favorites of mine.

[@darrenkessler1968]

Yes! I am so pleased that you are listening to this. Find more. Try their first album - velvet underground and Nico. “I’m waiting for my man” a good choice

[@buzztp5119]

You need to hear The Platters Smoke Gets in Your Eyes you will love them

[@musicaddict5076]

REM does a great cover of this classic.

[@Rockford03]

Highway Star/ Deep Purple a must🤘🤘🤘🤘🎸🇦🇺

[@fr00tcaketheclowntm]

Also ... "Waiting For The Man" and " Sister Ray"

[@evanbirnholz2803]

Fun fact, the band got its name from a book with the same name about the S&M scene

[@brucebailey6688]

I loved growing up in this era of music, early teens thru high school. The music between '65-'75 set the stage for many groups also generated a number of Super Groups.

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

Nice how even this "simple" song makes use of their signature dissonance, especially when "the fact that you are married" comes along, you can feel the guitar choking down on that line just a bit. They take this to the max on "Heroine." You'll get a very different vibe on that, along with "Waiting for My Man," or "Venus in Furs."

[@BeastrealDT]

Singer, Lou Reed had a big hit with, "Take A Walk On The Wild Side." ✌️

[@johnc1593]

Lola. By the kinks. Listen to the words closely it's got a surprise

[@andreashofer4442]

You're onto the biggest star ever born on this planet ;) Check out Lou Reed & Velvet underground (basically the GOATs Lou Reed and Andy Warhole teaming up), especially Heroin, Sunday Morning, Cony Island Baby, Take a walk on the wild side, aso... and you will initiallly get, that Radiohead isn't anything new, but all the influences from Lou Reed, David Bowie & Depeche Mode, packed in one band - They are literally the reason why Radiohead is this great, besides of the singer. Love your reactions btw, keep up going where the others won't and educating PPL!🖤

[@damonhines8187]

Great tune and reaction. A personal VU favourite is 'Beginning to See the Light'; it was the first of theirs I ever heard, and I included it in my solo repertoire a couple decades later. Lots more great suggestions elsewhere here. Can hardly wait. enjoy!

[@futurereflections4097]

The velvet underground was a band that released a great album in the great year of 1967, it wasn’t received that well at the time and didn’t get much attention. Now it’s regarded as one of the best albums of all time. Velvet Underground is the best example of “ages like fine wine” in music history.

[@jaxonrenick5536]

Oh there are so-o-o many Lou Reed songs (VU and solo) for you two to explore and discover. My recommendation is "Little Sister" that was used in the 1983 movie "Get Crazy". (worthy of considering for a review on the other channel) It's a bittersweet song for me, having lost my little sister almost 4 years ago, but I still sing along when it pops up in the car.

[@bosgaurus1]

"The Velvet Underground & Nico is the debut album by American rock band the Velvet Underground and German singer Nico, released in March 1967 through Verve Records. It was recorded in 1966 while the band were featured on Andy Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable tour. The album features experimental performance sensibilities and controversial lyrical topics, including drug abuse, prostitution, sadomasochism and sexual deviancy. It sold poorly and was mostly ignored by contemporary critics, but later became regarded as one of the most influential albums in the history of rock and pop music. Described as "the original art-rock record", The Velvet Underground & Nico served as a major influence on many sub-genres of rock music and forms of alternative music, including punk, garage, krautrock, post-punk, shoegaze, goth, and indie. In 1982, musician Brian Eno stated that while the album only sold approximately 30,000 copies in its first five years, "everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band!" In 2003, it ranked 13th on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", and in 2006, it was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.

[@michaelknight2118]

Great choice. Super mellow, not the first thought from VU, but Lou Reed, nuff said. Sweet Jane, just one fav.Thanks for this memory.

[@jackbarlow8520]

Velvet underground were so phenomenally tallent

[@fallenangelart]

A lullaby is the perfect description.

[@jayelgy383]

Lou Reed--"No Money Down" video. It'll give you a heart attack! LOL

[@iwannotowidigdo9474]

Great reaction. So glad that you didn't start with Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music. All of the recommendations given below are great. Other Velvet Underground tunes worth checking out are Beginning to See the Light, We're Gonna Have a Real Good Time Together, What Goes On (real psychedelic), Sweet Bonnie Brown/It's Just Too Much, and from the extended Loaded album New Age and Ocean. Ocean has the same languid tempo as Pale Blue Eyes. Similarly, you ought to try Lou Reed and John Cale's Songs for Drella (a tribute to Andy Warhol)...especially Style It Takes and The Trouble with Classicists.

[@jeffreynolin9339]

Got into Velvet Underground back in my college days ‘69 or ‘70. Loved their variety and ability to surprise. (Bookend this with their homage to Heroin.)

[@michaelthibault6106]

The Velvets are a band that represent 60s counterculture from a different perspective than the Woodstock crowd. They saw the darkness underneath the surface of the openness of the hippies, and they embraced it and documented it. As the hippy bands were putting out their idealized psychedelic music, they were looking at the desperation behind drug culture in songs like Heroin and I'm Waiting for My Man. But there is an empathy that keeps those songs from being judgemental. The same lack of judgement is applied to people in their circles (Candy Says), the kinksters (Venus in Furs), and the power of pop music itself (Rock and Roll). True sonic and lyrical genius.

[@MrUndersolo]

I never thought that anyone would react to this one. Many thanks, and be careful, it can be very addictive. A girl once told me she broke up with her boyfriend because he would not (could not?) stop playing this one. ;)

[@messiahmoose]

Soothing. Oh man… are you in for a surprise. Sunday Morning has this same vibe. My personal fave is I’m Waiting For the Man.

[@deanmaynard8256]

Venus in Furs is my fav Velvet Underground tune.

[@LongplayCentral]

R.E.M. does a cover of this song which is pretty good, if you wanted to get another take of it ;)

[@xXaoZz]

My favorite and one of the best bands of all time. Even if it's older. It created grunge.

[@talon7132]

I think Stevie Nicks was impressed by the songwriter. I say this only because in the Fleetwood Mac song "Gypsy" there's the line in the song "So I'm back to the velvet underground , to a room with some lace and paper flowers". I am not sure when the band VU formed so I cannot swear for certain. But the name of this band is in the lyrics. Amber was asking not too long ago if Gypsy is worth checking out. Was one of FMs biggest singles.

[@CANDOKNOWHOW]

Lotsa great songs with this band.. each one has its own distinctive vibe and a so ice journey of its own, almost as if it could be a different band playing each different song. Being this one is very slow paced and relaxing, I’d suggest a follow up with one of their more upbeat and more rocking songs... “Rock and Roll” is an amazing lyrical anthem revolving around the power and joy of rock n’ roll in a young girls life, but also consider “What Goes On”, “Foggy Notion” and “I Can’t Stand It” as all are bubbly dance floor rockers and all around crowd movers that ensure a good time. For a heavier, more aggressive tune that is a bit more reflective of what others are mentioning here regarding their influence as the beginning (1965) of punk, check out “I Heard Her Call My Name” or “White Light/White Heat”. For a smooth sexier and somewhat laid back side of the band, I’d suggest “Cool It Down”, “Some Kinda Love”, “Temptation Inside You Heart”, or “Here She Comes Now”. For something of a love story, “Sweet Jane” is a solid gem, and one the band is known for, and “I Found A Reason” is a harmonic profession of love. For more somber as thought provoking heartbreakers, “Oh, Sweet Nothing!” and “Candy Says” will have you compelled towards plotting an emergency intervention. “Heroin” is indeed a Sonic masterpiece which is most significant being its simple construction of something of a slow motion explosion, centered around the decadent romanticism of heroin. This would’ve been such a blatant shocker for parents back in ‘67 when it came out, that would’ve guaranteed to have them rushing to yank it off the turntable and run to church praying their kids weren’t inspired to try it in the mortal fear they might actually like it. Seeing as how so many are requesting you do it next, I’d wager it might be the strongest contender for what you end up choosing to react to by VU next, though I’d implore you to explore a couple of other tunes before jumping into “Heroin” simply because it’s really an anomaly unto itself, and overall not so reflective of most any other material by the band, though definitely shouldn’t be missed, as neither should the dark comedy that plays out in another song “The Gift”.

[@gorey4more837]

VU!!! No one ever reacts to them. I’ve seen reactions to Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side, but that is it. They have so many amazing songs. Venus in Furs is my favorite. Love you guys! Hugs to the entire fam!❤️❤️❤️

[@paulwalker9421]

almost forgot The Platters "Only You" and Jackson Brown "Load Out Stay" Thanks Again

[@scottfrench4139]

The four Velvet Underground albums with Lou Reed are completely different from each other. This comes from their third album, "The Velvet Underground," and it's a soft, bittersweet record. Their first album ("The Velvet Underground and Nico) is the groundbreaker -- one of the most influential in all of 20rh century music; "Heroin" is the best-known song, but I'd recommend "All Tomorrow's Parties," "Run Run Run," "Black Angel's Death Song," "Sunday Morning," "I'll be Your Mirror," "Venus in Furs" and "Femme Fatale." The second, "White Light/White Heat," is the most uncompromising. Check out "I Heard Her Call My Name" and "Lady Godiva's Operation." The fourth is "Loaded," their most commercial album. Andy Warhol promoted them, teamed them with Nico for the first album, provided the iconic banana cover to the album. Lou Reed went on to make many very good records, and John Cale is still active. Check out Nico's "Chelsea Girls."

[@bobbyowen5879]

My late son and I used to chill to them on road trips.

[@MisterWondrous]

"Last Great American Whale" and the entire New York album is worth reviewing. When you look up cool in the dictionary, it says: See and hear Lou Reed.

[@nickyd6457]

Ahhh, Lou Reed. Such simple, classic songs. You’ll love Sweet Jane & Perfect Day. Take A Walk on the Wild Side is also fabulous. There are some great songs they recorded with Nico, too. All Tomorrow’s Parties - one for your Female Fridays maybe? Xx

[@BillyNCrisp]

Loved Lou Reed. He was partially tone deaf and did a speak-sing thing with his voice. You could get around that with learning Music Theory with 13 notes and The Circle of 5ths, The Kodaly Method or Percussion. My brother had Down Syndrome and could speak a few words but learned how to Sign with both hands. The mysteries of music and life.................