Satellite of Love

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For the Mystery Science Theater 3000 spacecraft, see: Satellite of Love (MST3K)
"Satellite of Love"
"Satellite of Love" cover
Single by Lou Reed
from the album Transformer
Released February 1973
Genre Rock and Roll
Label RCA
Producer(s) David Bowie and Mick Ronson
Chart positions

UK: #10 (2004 version)
Lou Reed singles chronology
"Walk on the Wild Side"
(1972)		 "Satellite of Love"
(1973)		 "Vicious"
(1973)

"Satellite of Love" is one of the best known songs by Lou Reed. It was the second single from his 1972 solo album Transformer. At the time it did not achieve any chart success, though it later became a staple of his concerts and compilation albums.

The song is about a man who observes a satellite launch on television and contemplates what Reed describes as feelings of "the worst kind of jealousy" about his unfaithful girlfriend. The chorus goes:

I watched it for a little while
I love to watch things on tv
Satellite of love
Satellite of love

David Bowie, who produced the album, can be heard providing background vocals.

Thought of as a Reed solo song, it was originally recorded by The Velvet Underground. The band played the song at concerts and recorded it during the 1970 sessions for their album Loaded, though like many of the songs recorded during those sessions, it does not appear on the album. The existence of the VU version was largely unknown and even forgotten by the band members themselves until the release of the box set Peel Slowly and See in 1995. It also appears on the 1997 Rhino Records 2-CD version of the Loaded album.

"Satellite of Love" was originally recorded by The Velvet Underground during the Loaded sessions
"Satellite of Love" was originally recorded by The Velvet Underground during the Loaded sessions

In addition to being more up-tempo, the VU version contains a significant change in the lyrics. The lines:

I've been told that you've been bold
With Harry, Mark, and John
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday to Thursday
With Harry, Mark, and John

were originally recorded as:

I've been told that you've been bold
With Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday to Thursday
With Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod

On the original lyrics, Reed said "Jesus. Best left forgotten. Obviously, I didn't want to use real names yet. I probably wanted to make sure I wasn't using a name that really meant something to me."

[edit] Trivia

  • The song is used as the exit music for "The Ron and Fez Show," a program on XM satellite radio.
  • The show uses the version with "Harry, Mark, and John". Coincidentally, the Ron & Fez show often gives away music box sets as prizes, from Rhino Records.
  • The song is used in Velvet Goldmine during a scene when the two main characters Brian Slade and Curt Wild fall in love. The film is loosely based on the glam career & life of David Bowie, who denied the rights to his songs. This, then, is his only real appearance in the movie.

[edit] Covers

  • U2 released a cover version on the "One" singles in 1992. The song was given added exposure in 1992-1993 by its regular use on U2's satellite-themed Zoo TV Tour, where Bono sang it as a duet with a pre-recorded video image of Reed (and on a few occasions Reed appeared on stage to sing it in person).
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