Venus in Furs (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Venus in Furs” | ||
|---|---|---|
| Song by The Velvet Underground | ||
| Album | The Velvet Underground and Nico | |
| Released | March 1967 | |
| Recorded | May 1966 T.T.G. Studios, Hollywood, California | |
| Genre | Rock, Experimental Rock, Psychedelic Rock | |
| Length | 5:12 | |
| Label | Verve Records | |
| Writer | Lou Reed | |
| Composer | Lou Reed | |
| Producer | Andy Warhol | |
| The Velvet Underground and Nico track listing | ||
|
||
"Venus in Furs" is a song by The Velvet Underground, written by Lou Reed and originally released on the 1967 album The Velvet Underground and Nico. Inspired by the book of the same name by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, the song deals with themes of sadomasochism, bondage and submission.
Contents |
[edit] Recording
"Venus in Furs" was one of three songs to be re-recorded at T.T.G. Studios, Hollywood, before appearing on the final mix of The Velvet Underground and Nico (the other two being "Heroin" and "I'm Waiting for the Man"). The music features John Cale's cacophonous viola as well as Lou Reed's Ostrich guitar, that is, a guitar with all of its strings tuned to the same note.
[edit] Alternate versions
[edit] Ludlow Street Loft, July 1965
The song was one of several early songs to be recorded by Lou Reed, John Cale and Sterling Morrison in their Ludlow Street loft during July 1965. This version of the song features a drastically different arrangement than would appear on The Velvet Underground and Nico, and ends with what David Fricke calls a "stark, Olde English-style folk lament" in the liner notes for Peel Slowly and See (the 1995 compilation album that the Ludlow demos appear on).
[edit] Scepter Studios, April 1966
An alternate take of the song was first recorded at Scepter Studios, New York City before being re-recorded in Hollywood. This take of the song is performed at a quicker pace and the lyrics vary slightly from the T.T.G. recording.
[edit] Cover versions
Lou Reed has recorded several solo versions of the song and John Cale also performs it with his band. In addition, the following artists have recorded it.
| Artist | Year | Appears on album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niagara | ? | Beyond the Pale compilation | |
| The Melvins | 1991 | Here She Comes Now/Venus in Furs (split single with Nirvana) | |
| Eye & I | 1991 | Eye & I | |
| The Ukrainians | 1993 | Vorony | |
| Christian Death | 1993 | Path of Sorrows | |
| The Smashing Pumpkins | 1994 | Mashed Potatoes | |
| Rosetta Stone | 1996 | Hiding in Waiting EP | |
| Bettie Serveert | 1998 | Plays "Venus in Furs" and Other Velvet Underground Songs | |
| Miłość & Lester Bowie | 1999 | Talkin' about live and death | |
| The Creatures | 1999 | Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Now Buy Zulu (also referred to as simply "Now Buy Zulu") | |
| Dave Navarro | 2001 | Trust No One | |
| Hugh Cornwell | 2002 | Footprints in the Desert | |
| Krieg | 2004 | The Black House | |
| Monster Magnet | 2005 | Monolithic Baby! | |
| DeVotchKa | 2006 | Curse Your Little Heart EP | |
| Chuck Dukowski Sextet | 2006 | Eat My Life | |
| Boxcar Preachers | 2007 | Model T Ford |
[edit] Miscellenea
- The song was used in the Oliver Stone film The Doors (1991) and in Gus Van Sant's Last Days (2005).
- Steven Severin, from Siouxsie & the Banshees, developed his artistic last name inspired by the song, in which the name of von Sacher-Masoch's protagonist, "Severin", is repeated.
- This song was covered by the then guitarist Dave Navarro of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the mid 90s on their One Hot Minute tour.
- Dave Navarro also sat in with Siouxsie & the Banshees on their appearance at Lollapalooza and covered the song on more than one show.
- The song was adapted by the band The Ukrainians on their 1993 album, "Vorony", and entitled "Chekannya" (waiting).
|
||||||||||||||||||||
