Totally agree! Cale - Godfather of alternative music and yet most underrated musician of our times. Lou Reed once said: "I only hope that one day John will be recognized as ... the Beethoven or something of his day. He knows so much about music, he's such a great musician. He's completely mad - but that's because he's Welsh."
Everyone takes this as a cover just because Reed isn't there to sing it - well, Cale was the co-author of the song and the demos proved that he was the original choice for sing this song, so I'd more like to say - THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD HAVE EVER SOUNDED TO ME!!!
disagree totally. Cale sings it straight. go back and listen to the VU version. Lou has the most distinct phrasing and breaths and interpretation of the lyrics that are mostly missing here. Taste the whip, now plead for me line that Lou sings sends shivers. Cale's is a good version. But it ain't Lou.
As big a fan of Lou Reed as I am John Cale definitely helped write this song, the droning viola and numerous other elements of the song weren’t Reed’s idea, he may not have writing credits for it on the album but you only have to listen to it to hear Cale’s influence
@@nicksouza191 Cale was deceived by Reed about the copyright of the songs, they even had legal issues about it. Yes, Reed wrote the songs, but it was Cale's massive contributions towards the sound of The Velvets on TVU&N and WL/WH that were so groundbreaking. The credits on those two albums should have been: lyrics - Lou Reed music - Lou Reed and John Cale! But Reed's selfishness would have none of that.
I’m shocked at how magnificent and ‘finished’ this sounds, like it was always meant to be. Cale sounds darker, even the guitar sounds like a chain saw on a challenging assignment. The original has its unassailable place, but this too has its place, a world of lost masterpieces.
John Cale - responsible for most of the cool shit we listen to! We should all be thankful that this man exists, because without him 'alternative music' wouldn't be so 'alternative' at all! and thats a fact! Genius!
Epic sound from 1:25 to 1:45 - and what lyrics!! 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
i saw him solo in melbourne back in the late 80's or early 90's and he was extraordinary throughout. piano or violin. singing from the depths of a thousand years of culture, of his classical training, his take no prisoner attitude and extraordinary voice.
@@billytherhinonyc I saw him live in Dallas at a club called Mother Blues. 1979....amazing. I love this version, but this song is so beautiful and haunting I appreciate all versions. Good times, good music back then.
@@CaligulitaI'd rather compare him to Beethoven than Mozart. Ludwig was far heavier, his music far more profound and darker than anything Amadeus had created. Cale is from the same mold as LvB, wheras WAM is more equivalent to Elton John.
I love the recorded Velvet Underground version, but this one is equally good. The mesmerising part of this song has always been Cale's string play and his singing is much more tuned to the melody than Reed's.
I tried to sing and play a viola once, almost impaled my left eyeball with the bow. Last time I touched a viola, and there'll never be a time I'll get tired of listening to VU, Cale and Reed.
Thanks, man - you are so right! John Cale's albums are always terrific. I saw him do "Venus in Furs" with that skeletal violin here at Cafe du Nord and he and the band were great. But the songs from his latest CE and EP were fantastic, too!
I often drive through John Cale's home village in SW Wales. I always sing; 'Severin, Serevin, awaits you there'. Other passengers are often puzzled, but I say you either get the genius of John Cale, or you are lost forever.........................
Cale's father was a coal miner and you can hear that in his sinister and menacing soundscapes, the endlessly deep black abyss, threatening to suck you in, drowning you forever.
Now THIS is the shit! Terrific! John Cale always blew Reed right off the stage. This is Cale's song as much as Reeds, he co-wrote it. Cale clearly has always been the major talent of the VU alumni. (Just an opinion, so Reed devotees don't go apeshit.)
Crimson Wolf Spot on! Though Reed wrote most of the Velvets songs, it was Cale who was the musical mastermind of their sound . It was Cale who introduced the drone sound and that repetetive piano staccato into rock&roll, so many other bands have used in their songs ever since. But due to Reed´s selfishness, Cale was never properly credited for his musical contribution to TVU&N and WL/WH. It should have been: lyrics - Lou Reed music - Lou Reed & John Cale. This was the reason Cale and Reed wouldn´t speak to each other for years due to copyright issues.
@@calzabbath Average poet is being very generous! Cale wrote better songs, made better arrangements, had a better voice, was a better musician and produced/introduced MANY important iconic artists! If Mick Ronson and Bowie had not salvaged Reed's career with "Transformer"... he would have disappeared. Reed was 90% hype and cruised through his entire career on the VU reputation as if it was ALL his doing. Most of Reed's solo output, if truth be told, was crap.
@@crimsonwolf9099 agree. If you give me all Reed’s discography to listen for a week, I will come out mildly enjoying one track per album at best, maybe with the exception of Transformer which, as you say, it’s more about production than anything else.
I oftenparaphrase John Cale in that he has said.If you never become a "Superstar", you can have a great career in music. I agree,and he is one of many who have proved that statement to bre true.
Cale added that extra dimension that made the Velvets great. When Lou sacked him they became a different band…good but not great, Although I do like Loaded a lot. Cale added that edge.
This is probably the best live performance of this song ever recorded. See Lou, this is what you can do if you actually respect your audience and put a bit of effort in, rather than letting your ego butcher all the great work you have done.
I feel like anyone who takes that path won't be disappointed. :-) 'Paris 1919' is one of the best songs/albums ever. I wish more people knew about Cale, but because they don't, he's also a special treat.
Krystal: Personally I much prefer his more recent output. I think Hobosapiens is one of the strongest if not THE strongest album he's ever recorded. I also like much of its follow up album; Black acetate and also Shifty adventures in Nookie wood. Cale never stops experimenting and his ear is very open to modern (and apparently unlikely) influences.
Love Velvet Under ground without them we would never have had Lou Reed or John Cale ... the rest is History...Classic song from John ...Did you know it was John who introduce the first Electric Violin on Top of the Pops. Myex knows John Cale
This is absolutely amazing and Cale is really very talented but i stand by Lou too and think he is also incredible. I love them both even if they hate each other.
One's rendition of a song is as varied as all the individual poetic opinions of the world ...each perfect in their own right. John Cale personifies the embodiment of the wax and wane of the perfect coffee haus iambic verve.
Great version of this song. Not going to debate whether Lou Reed's album version was better, cause we're talking Lou Reed when he was in his absolute prime, but this is a great version all on it's own. I also love Cale's version of "All Tomorrow's Parties" from the VU live in Europe.
it doesn't really matter who the truly better artist is, or what constitutes that. john cale wouldn't have been john cale without lou reed, or vice versa and the velvet underground may have never made it out of cafe bizarre without a deal from andy warhol. in rare cases, genius complements genius. in this case, genius complemented genius complemented genius to make one of the greatest goddamn bands of all time, and probably the most unmistakable sound ever heard.
Exactly! Lou shall be rspected for many of his own songs written ansd peformed long after the Velvets. Some pieces you can play around with live. But Venus in Furs? I heard it live in Roskilde 1993. Every little diva-like change in intonation: This is not VU 1965, this is me, today! took away from the song and added nothing. John Cale must have been boiling inside. A privilege to have seen them live! Especially after it was over.
