I’d be remiss if I didn’t pay my respects today to Lou Reed, he of the Velvet Underground and Walk on the Wild Side fame. If you’re not quite sure why there’s so much press about his passing yesterday, check out this from Allmusic about Reed, and about the Velvet Underground, and give their ground breaking first album, the Velvet Underground and Nico, a listen. It was “produced” by Andy Warhol who also designed the cover art and make sure compare it to anything else you’ve heard from 1967. Their 1969 self titled record is also worthy of a listen and more accessible.
Before and after most every final exam I took in law school I listed to the Velvets on my Walkman (remember those?) just to drown out the pre-exam stress and post-exam chatter of those around me. More importantly, thank you for all those you’ve inspired (David Bowie, Brian Eno, Patti Smith, REM, Nirvana, and countless others) and for all the enjoyment you’ve provided the world.
follow-up: Here’s NPR’s piece on Morning Edition reviewing Reed’s career.
Well said commenters.
When parties seek to mediate or negotiate, it is common to find below the initial concerns a deeper conflict to be solved. The songs of Lou Reed are hypnotic meditations, from the incessant drone of guitar feedback in “Sister Ray” to the string arrangement of “Street Hassle”. They have the power to inspire the senses of perspective and objectivity, of awareness to the stresses of our life and how to greet them instead of repress them. Thanks to Reed, we all understand a bit more about what it’s like to walk on the wild side. A bit of a stretch, I know, but if we can carry ourselves with the same sense of perspective he communicated, it can do us all a bit of good.
…To Lou Reed.