Stephanie Says
"Stephanie Says" is a song by The Velvet Underground, originally recorded in 1968. Although available on various bootlegs, the song was not officially released until 1985, when a remixed version appeared on the album VU, and subsequently on the 1995 box set Peel Slowly and See. The original 1968 mix of "Stephanie Says" was included on the 2005 Velvet Underground compilation album, Gold.
The song was loosely inspired by the group's manager at the time, Steven Sesnick ("Stephanie" being the female form of "Steven"). Lou Reed rewrote the lyrics and renamed it "Caroline Says (II)" for his 1973 solo album Berlin. While vastly different in tone, it retained the refrain, "It's so cold in Alaska".
Film Soundtrack Usage
In 2001, the song was used in the Wes Anderson film The Royal Tenenbaums.
Cover versions
- Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth covered the song on Fifteen Minutes: A Tribute to the Velvet Underground.
- Keren Ann and Barði Jóhannson, lead singer of Icelandic band Bang Gang covered the song on their album Lady and Bird.
- The song is referenced heavily in Amanda Palmer's "Blake Says" on her 2008 solo album, Who Killed Amanda Palmer.
- Serbian rock band Eva Braun covered the song with lyrics in Serbian language in 1993 for the various artist compilation Radio Utopia. The song was again released as a bonus track on the remastered edition of their second studio album Pop music.
- Emiliana Torrini covered the song as well.
- Bettie Serveert covered the song on their live cover album Bettie Serveert Plays Venus in Furs and Other Velvet Underground Songs.
- The titular character's name in the John Green novel Looking for Alaska was inspired by the song, particularly the line, "But she's not afraid to die, the people all call her Alaska".
- Taxi Girl covered the song for a the Velvet Underground tribute album Les Enfants du Velvet in 1985, under the title "Je rêve encore de toi". This version was in turn covered by Stereo_Total in 2001.
- Paul Banks made a cover of this song on the BBC 6 Music (radio).[1]
References
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