Some may know Lou Reed for his work in the Velvet Underground. Maybe the song, “Walk on the Wild Side” rings a bell. He passed away in 2013 from liver disease, but his music lives on and has spanned generations. Artists similar to him include Iggy Pop, the Talking Heads, and David Bowie, who was directly inspired by Reed in many ways.
While studying abroad in Berlin, Germany, I came across Reed's album entitled, “Berlin”. This album is anything but uplifting. The songs concern themes such as domestic abuse, drug addiction, adultery, and prostitution. When it came out in 1973, it was a commercial failure. Rolling Stone said it was “grandiose and decadent” as well as “one of the most depressing records ever made”. After having his work battered, Reed did not perform it live for more than 30 years. The tragic rock opera was misunderstood and the storyline of Jim and Caroline, two junkies in love, did not carry weight. Reed had seemingly failed.
In the song, “The Kids”, it tells of a woman having her children taken from her by the authorities, and features the sounds of children crying for their mother. (On a side note, the UK group, The Waterboys takes its name from a line in this song). In the song, “How do you think it feels”, it alludes to Reed’s long struggle with heroin addiction. The lyrics depict his battle,
How do you think it feels
when you've been up for five days, come down here mama
Hunting around always, ooohhh
'cause you're afraid of sleeping
How do you think it feels
to feel like a wolf and foxy
How do you think it feels
To always make love by proxy, huh
how do you think it feels
And when do you think it stops
when do you think it stops
Other songs in the album such as “The Bed”, which is about suicide, and the songs Caroline Says I and Caroline Says II, which are about domestic abuse, reveal why Rolling Stone felt depressed listening to the album. The consistently torturous sentiment is masked by a heavenly orchestral composition, which is why I was so intrigued by it. The song Caroline Says I is actually upbeat and catchy. It is not until taking a closer look that the devastating lyrics grasped me.
In 2003, the tables turned. The album was ranked number 344 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Maybe it just took 33 years to understand? Later, in 2006, revitalized by Rolling Stone’s change of heart, Reed performed the album at St. Ann’s Warehouse Brooklyn. Julian Schnabel created a documentary of the performance to showcase what a special occasion it was.
(Here's the trailer for the documentary)
There are two versions of this album; the original from 1973, and the 2003 version. In the 2003 version, Reed's voice has definitely changed and does not have the same sharpness to it. The bittersweet performance has a worn element to it because of this. His voice decades later better reflects the sullen masterpiece.
