Friday, September 23

September 23, 2016 - The Velvet Underground - Venus In Furs (1967)


Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather...Maureen Tucker on drums - boom boom, boom boom. John Cale on electric viola - drone drone, screetch scratch. Lou Reed on ostrich guitar, strum strum, strum strum. Sounds like we are in a Moroccan opium den, not that I have any firsthand experience with that.

Venus in Furs was recorded in 1966 but released in 1967 on the VU and Nico album. Lou Reed sings a tale of sadomasochism involving a whiplash girl-child mistress who will strike Severin and cure his heart. Severin is ordered to taste the whip. I love the part that goes I am tired, I am weary, I could sleep for a thousand years. The music changes during this part, also sounding tired and weary. The guitar is cranky. Someone needs a nap!

The ritual continues, then picks up steam over the final 34 seconds as the whip flashes and dances before our eyes until we find ourselves alone, blinking in the middle of the desert somewhere.
Image result for velvet underground 1966

No comments:

Post a Comment