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The Velvet Underground — Venus In Furs
Album: The Velvet Underground & Nico
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 353









Released: 1967
Length: 5:05
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Whiplash girl child in the dark
Comes in bells, your servant, don't forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
Downy sins of streetlight fancies
Chase the costumes she shall wear
Ermine furs adorn the imperious
Severin, Severin awaits you there
I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears
Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather
Shiny leather in the dark
Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
Severin, Severin, speak so slightly
Severin, down on your bended knee
Taste the whip, in love not given lightly
Taste the whip now plead for me
I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears
Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Whiplash girlchild in the dark
Severin, your servant comes in bells, please don't forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
Comments (88)add comment
venus in furs
This is pure magic.  It is like this song was tailor made for me.  My therapist said not to worry so I am just gonna go with that.{#Cowboy}
 SquiddlyDiddly wrote:

Thank you for your insightful comment, I feel like I have learnt something fresh and new. 

From my perspective, this track is a true classic that broke new ground and it still has a great edge after all this time. Luckily I am old enough to remember this in the context of when it came out and what music was being produced at the time, which of course influences my ears somewhat. 

So I can indeed understand some reactions to the piece. But good music is good music for for lots of reasons and not always because of the skills of the musicians.

A solid 9 from me. 

 
BRAVO!
Venus in Furs
 
Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Whiplash girl child in the dark
Comes in bells, your servant, don't forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
Downy sins of streetlight fancies
Chase the costumes she shall wear
Ermine furs adorn the imperious
Severin, Severin awaits you there
I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears
Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather
Shiny leather in the dark
Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
Severin, Severin, speak so slightly
Severin, down on your bended knee
Taste the whip, in love not given lightly
Taste the whip now bleed for me
I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears
Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Whiplash girlchild in the dark
Severin, your servant comes in bells, please don't forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart

Great THE HYMN of the Sado Maso Enthusiasts...Great Song!{#Whipit} 
Not my cuppa, Lou, but thanks. Avant en garde. Love that tamborine, though. Had to go to Julliard for that, did someone? 
"Taste the whip, now plead for me" - these folk must have had interesting sex lives :o). Whacko! {#Whipit}

By only because mushroom asked me to
Kangan Arora
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kanganarora/

Copyright All rights reserved


Well, I guess I shouldn't be too hard on people like that...

"Venus In Furs" still has the power to annoy. And I shall love it more for it!!!

The war against blandness is never won, but we should fight it every day.
 jonahboo wrote:
DOG SHIT
 
... says someone who gives a rating of 10 to Elbow, Fever Ray, The Cult, William Shatner and the appalling "Rock 'N' Roll Animal" version of "Sweet Jane" (cliched, without the heart in it, as Lou would readily admit!!!) 

Go back to school, please.


 jonahboo wrote:
DOG SHIT
 

You aren't all that bad. Stop being so hard on yourself.
 jonahboo wrote:
DOG SHIT
 
Thank you for your insightful comment, I feel like I have learnt something fresh and new. 

From my perspective, this track is a true classic that broke new ground and it still has a great edge after all this time. Luckily I am old enough to remember this in the context of when it came out and what music was being produced at the time, which of course influences my ears somewhat. 

So I can indeed understand some reactions to the piece. But good music is good music for for lots of reasons and not always because of the skills of the musicians.

A solid 9 from me. 
DOG SHIT
it's a viola isn't it?

which I think is a big violin??
In Lou's words: "you can all go take a walk"... This is unsurpassably good!!!
Make it stoooooop.

I have heard a lot of horrible Velvet Underground tunes, but this has to be the worst. Shrieking violins. Uggh. {#Puke}


Third awesome piece in a row.....Stop it, Bill, please, because I have to leave!
 loveslave wrote:
Hmm... Lou Reed sounds a lot like Brian Molko. Never thought of that before.
 
you mean Brian Molko sounds like Lou Reed. In my opionion, Lou Reed was influenced by Dylan, like so many were during that  time.

i was just thinking...i wonder if RP would play that? alas, I was not up early enuff in the morning. i miss some interesting stuff.
 gumbo73039 wrote:
Sorry, hit t'wrong button!
Nico did a spooky live version of "The End", pretty goood.
 

The movie is bizarre.{#Eek}
Man ... that violin is so out of tune it's making my eyes water.
Sorry, hit t'wrong button!
Nico did a spooky live version of "The End", pretty goood.
This reminds me of a short-lived alternative band of the 80s called Shiny Two Shiny (I've still got one of their singles, which must be a collector's item by now).
Saw 'em.  Electric Factory in Philly.  Way back.  One of the best underground groups of the time. Part of the backdrop.
Simply. AWESOME. {#Devil_pimp}

The Velvet Undergound & Nico - "Femme Fatale" Live:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjjDmX9Tkss

Why oh why was I not 25 years old and and living in NYC during this time period?  This is the stuff of legends.  The speaking/singing matches the low-energy monotonous guitar, both layered over drums and bass with lackluster energy. 

Is this what it feels like to be nodding out?  (Thank God I wasn't 25 years old and and living in NYC during this time period.  I'd have never lived through it.)
 Jazbo wrote:
8th grade, in a basement filled with posters and black lites......Need I say more? 10
 

.....  and frightened. , freakin' frightened!
This reminds me very much of The Doors' "This Is The End".

I just wrapped up a meeting in my office with a co-worker, where he said "in the last 20 minutes I have heard...what the hell are you listening to?...it's freaking awesome!"  Oh, did I mention that he is a Slipknot listening, drum playing, dedicated Pandora user?  Thanks RP, you rock my (and others) world(s)!
Velvet Underground - Venus In Furs
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Jethro Tull - Bouree
The Shins - Australia
Aretha Franklin - Rock Steady


rebound...much better now!  Shiney, shiney!
 crockydile wrote:

I wasn't there, even when I was stoned.

  yeah somtimes that doesn't even work....


 auburntigerrich wrote:
This must be one of those where you have to be completely stoned to fully appreciate it. 

The reverse bell curve of ratings confirms my suspicion that "you just had to be there".

I wasn't there.  2.

 
I wasn't there, even when I was stoned.

    Wot, no Banana?
Here you go:


This must be one of those where you have to be completely stoned to fully appreciate it. 

The reverse bell curve of ratings confirms my suspicion that "you just had to be there".

I wasn't there.  2.

8th grade, in a basement filled with posters and black lites......Need I say more? 10
amcallis wrote:
Sounds like a high school band....

I would have liked to have attended your high school...

Genius
if you don't give this song and dman near everything this badn ever did a 10 then you have sorely missed the greatest thing that ever happened to american music. maybe only 400 people bought this album when it came out, but every single one of them went and formed a band because of it. this is, imho, along with 3 or 4 others, one of the most important artistic works, period
VU top ten? Hmmm... 1. What Goes On 2. What Goes On 3. What Goes On 4. What Goes On 5. What Goes On 6. What Goes On 7. What Goes On 8. What Goes On 9. What Goes On 10. What Goes On The READ about them (incl a review of this song) at allmusic.com. You'll see (and hear) what all the fuss is about. WGO is about as great a rhythym guitar as you'll ever hear. Lou Reed is right there with Zappa as one of the most underrated guitar players of all time. (Zappa's answer to Lou's rhythym heroics on WGO? Check out his lead guitar on "Willie the Pimp" - a two minute vocal (by Captain Beefheart no less!) followed by an eight-minute guitar solo. Rock does not get much better than Lou and Frank. It just doesn't.) nolands wrote:
I pretty much can't stand Lou Reed. I'm open to hearing VU, but the few songs I've hear (this one among them) haven't done much to win me over. So, VU fans... List your 10 favorite songs here, and I'll check 'em out. either I'll see the light or decide for good that this is crap.
..............uhhhh, no. a 3.
Definitively, this is music of its age. And groundbreaking
To quote AMG: music was simply too daring to fit onto commercial radio; "underground" rock radio was barely getting started at this point, and in any case may well have overlooked the record at a time when psychedelic music was approaching its peak
tg3k wrote:
VU may have ben influential, but in my jaded opinion they are still an overblown garage band. The music (and I use the term pretty loosely) is over-drugged and uninspiring. Can't say about the lyrics, 'cause I couldn't make it past the dreck they were doing with the violins in the background. It's pretty clear that they influenced the bands you named above, since they, too, are pretty low on the musical evolutionary chart (IMJO). :headshake:
I agree with all points. Can't get past the crappy violin playing.
Dave Navarro does a good cover of this tune on his solo album. The original is pretty good, but bad recording.
Important: yes Good: no
nolands wrote:
I pretty much can't stand Lou Reed. I'm open to hearing VU, but the few songs I've hear (this one among them) haven't done much to win me over. So, VU fans... List your 10 favorite songs here, and I'll check 'em out. either I'll see the light or decide for good that this is crap.
Ok, I'll bite. In no particular order: Sunday morning I'm waiting for the man All tomorrow's parties Sister Ray Candy says What goes on Pale blue eyes Foggy notion Sweet Jane Rock and roll I would probably choose ten different songs tomorrow, but there you go. Now go and do your homework as you promised. ;)
i heard a live version of this song the other day that ROCKED. turns out it's from a new recently-recorded live album that lou reed just released. i don't understand all the negative comments re: this song and vu in general. sure they were rough at times, but they were imaginative and original. an american treasure, imo. personally i put this song pretty high on my list of all-time favorites.
Sounds like a high school band....
I pretty much can't stand Lou Reed. I'm open to hearing VU, but the few songs I've hear (this one among them) haven't done much to win me over. So, VU fans... List your 10 favorite songs here, and I'll check 'em out. either I'll see the light or decide for good that this is crap.
britrock wrote:
Don't you mean the other way round!! That's why the VU are so influential - a lot of bands imitate their sounds - such as Placebo, J&MC, Strokes - indeed, most new-wave guitar bands.
VU may have ben influential, but in my jaded opinion they are still an overblown garage band. The music (and I use the term pretty loosely) is over-drugged and uninspiring. Can't say about the lyrics, 'cause I couldn't make it past the dreck they were doing with the violins in the background. It's pretty clear that they influenced the bands you named above, since they, too, are pretty low on the musical evolutionary chart (IMJO). :headshake:
utopiapark wrote:
While I like this song and agree with most of what you wrote I just have to say this . . . Saying they're good because they write good lyrics and their music is fresh and challenging . . . Good call! However, just because a band influences people DOES NOT mean they're good. What? . . . bands can't be influenced by crap? It happens all the time . . So people say this about VU alot. It's just not a good benchmark for a band.
Kiss my boots. Kiss the shiny, shiny leather.
ndanger666 wrote:
Tell me again, why was this group supposed to be so good? It's been a long while since I listened to this. Now I remember why.
Agree. YUK. My garage band sounded better...and we were pretty bad.
loveslave wrote:
Hmm... Lou Reed sounds a lot like Brian Molko. Never thought of that before.
Oh no. I can't stand Brian Molko, and I love Lou Reed. I guess they're different enough.
loveslave wrote:
Hmm... Lou Reed sounds a lot like Brian Molko. Never thought of that before.
Don't you mean the other way round!! That's why the VU are so influential - a lot of bands imitate their sounds - such as Placebo, J&MC, Strokes - indeed, most new-wave guitar bands.
KevDog wrote:
They are so good because just about every band you listen to today were either directly or indirectly influenced by the VUs.
While I like this song and agree with most of what you wrote I just have to say this . . . Saying they're good because they write good lyrics and their music is fresh and challenging . . . Good call! However, just because a band influences people DOES NOT mean they're good. What? . . . bands can't be influenced by crap? It happens all the time . . So people say this about VU alot. It's just not a good benchmark for a band.
OK, now this is why I listen to RP! This song reminds me of my college days. Not necessarily good memories, but I'll take any memories at this point.......
Thanks Bill. We need more from these guys on RP!
KevDog wrote:
They are so good because just about every band you listen to today were either directly or indirectly influenced by the VUs. They are so good because they pushed the envelope on two guitars, bass and drums. They are so good because Lou Reed and John Cale wrote original, insightful and thought provoking lyrics. They are so good because they were doing all these things beginning in the mid-60s, when much of the world was listening "Itsy-Bitsy Yellow Polka Dot Bikini." They are so good because their music is still fresh and challenging nearly 40 years later.
While I agree with all of this... I could really do without this song. It just seems to go on for a while without going anywhere. *shrug* --d
the were the original punk band way before punk was ever even a word. an awesome song though...
Tizmself wrote:
I remember this....and it still gives me a headache.
Yup, About 2 Tylenol should do the trick.
Velvet Underground: Hands down, the most underrated, most underappreciated, most 'unkown', but one of the most influential acts in musical history.
Hmm... Lou Reed sounds a lot like Brian Molko. Never thought of that before.
I remember this....and it still gives me a headache.
Tell me again, why was this group supposed to be so good? It\'s been a long while since I listened to this. Now I remember why.
Originally Posted by BillG: Hoist that petard, matey
Right on Bill.
Originally Posted by rmurray248: Huh? An "icy imagery that sears?" I'm glad the song surpasses your clownish attempt to impress with specious and ostentatious vocabulary.
Hoist that petard, matey
excelent. VU forever.
I know this is supposed to be a famous tune.. but, man.... tis puttin\' me to sleep.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZz
Not good...
Hey RMurray 248, Glad your comment added such an insightful element to this discussion.
Another song that had me rush out and buy the album. Which did not dissappoint, though this is the best cut. Here is a piece of trivia: This song was once used in a European commercial for tires. And the ad actually did the song justice! Now go and try to picture it.
Originally Posted by BC_Night_Heron: This explication of secret desires from a historical juncture of sexual awakening still conveys an icy imagery that sears in a new time of similar repression.
Huh? An "icy imagery that sears?" I'm glad the song surpasses your clownish attempt to impress with specious and ostentatious vocabulary.
This explication of secret desires from a historical juncture of sexual awakening still conveys an icy imagery that sears in a new time of similar repression.
Now, that's old people's music I like ;-) Keep playing it! :)
Somehow I always thought I hate this group, but this sounds pretty damn good.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. :p God, I\'d forgotten how much I dug this album!