It never ceases to amaze how ignorant people can be of the importance that alternative perspectives in art and culture are in creating a meaningful whole. Imagine a sonic landscape completely filled by ABBA ... the Monkees ... Gene Pitney's merry tunes. Try to imagine a blancmange-canvass of sugar and respectability with no bitter to balance the sweet; no negatives to tame the overwhelming positives. Imagine the suffocating conformity of a world of uprighteousness where nary a wrong word is tolerated lest people get the wrong ideas.
The late great Lou Reed bucked the system to fight against such a world. Where possible he filled spaces with the decadence of the real. He saw a side of life that spoke of addictions and attitude, alternatives and otherness and gave it full expression. His songs were perfectly formed 3-4 chord memorable pop tunes worked over with dissonance to purposely unsettle the listener. While others involved themselves in art rock, Reed saw rock as art. But it was his lyrics above all that cut through. Composed with the noir lyricism of a Raymond Chandler he echoed on record in his words the musty dampness of side alley deals and forbidden dalliances.
It has been said many times before but it's always worth repeating - Brian Eno: "The first Velvet Underground record only sold 10,000 copies, but everyone who bought it formed a band". Such was the influence of Reed's vision back in 1967 along with his collaborator, John Cale.
Farewell Lou Reed, we all owe you our thanks for bequeathing us your art and helping to keep the world real.
VENUS IN FURS
Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Whiplash girlchild in the dark
Comes in bells, your servant, don't forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
Downy sins of streetlight fancies
Chase the costumes she shall wear
Ermine furs adorn the imperious
Severin, Severin awaits you there
I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears
Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather
Shiny leather in the dark
Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
Severin, Severin, speak so slightly
Severin, down on your bended knee
Taste the whip, in love not given lightly
Taste the whip, now plead for me
I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears
Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Whiplash girlchild in the dark
Severin, your servant comes in bells
... please don't forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart