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10 Subversive Rock Songs Used In Commercials To Sell Stuff
Remember the Lou Reed/Susan Boyle controversy-that-wasn’t-really-a-controversy? In brief, Susan wasn’t allowed to sing Lou’s song “Perfect Day” on America’s Got Talent and everyone thought it was because Lou wasn’t a fan of the reality show performer. But it turns out Lou maybe didn’t have a problem with Susan tackling his song after all, and he even ended up directing the music video for her cover of the tune.
Well, the aging punker totally never had a leg to stand on. As anyone who has seen HP’s most recent commercial now knows, Lou is totally lame! The ad, which is sort of a general survey of their products, features a version of Lou’s transsexual-and-hustler-themed 1972 classic “Walk on the Wild Side” with insanely uncool lyrics that reference HP’s products. Ridiculous, right? Pretty much. Check out our video gallery of nine other subversive tunes that were misappropriated by the advertising powers that be. More »
Gallery: Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade Lets Freak Flag Fly
The Coney Island Mermaid Parade might be one of the few last vestiges of “old” New York’s theatricality. Which is to say, every year it’s okay to dress up like a drag queen fish, hang out with the Velvet Underground’s Lou Reed (pictured above, with life-partner and performance artist Laurie Anderson), or go tromping around the boardwalk covering up just enough body parts to not get arrested. It’s one of the more colorful traditions in the city, and this year… More »
Velvet Undergound Semi-Reunion
Image: Newscom
According to Billboard, members of the seminal Andy Warhol-sponsored band the Velvet Underground are making a rare public appearance at the New York Public Library. Lou Reed, Maureen Tucker, and Doug Yule (who replaced John Cale in 1968) will be at the library on December 8 in support of a new book: The Velvet Underground: New York Art, “a new compendium of previously unseen photographs, poster and cover designs by Andy Warhol, Lou Reed’s handwritten music and lyrics, underground… More »
Lou Reed and John Zorn
Legends Lou Reed (of Velvet Underground) and John Zorn will be playing at the very small (le) Poisson Rouge on September 2. $75 tickets are on sale now…. More »
Top 10 Songs I’m Listening to Right Now
As the headline suggests, here is a list of the top ten songs by New York bands that I’ve been listening to lately:
“Time to Pretend” by MGMT
“2080″ by Yeasayer
“Hands in the Dark” by Chromatics
“Hey! Mr. DJ” by Tiny Masters of Today
“One More Time” by the French Kicks
“California Girls” by the Magnetic Fields
“LES Artistes” by Santogold
“Blind” by Hercules and Love Affair
“Nobody’s Baby” by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
“I Can’t Stand It” by the Velvet Underground
What have you guys been listening… More »
SXSW Keynote Speaker: Lou Reed
Velvet Underground frontman Lou Reed will be the keynote speaker at South by Southwest in Austin, TX (March 12-16, 2008). According to SXSW:
The South By Southwest Music Conference and Film Festival are pleased to announce that Lou Reed will be the keynote speaker for 2008. Reed’s keynote will be held in conjunction with a screening of Julian Schnabel’s film “Lou Reed’s ‘Berlin,’” which documents a recent performance of the landmark 1973 album…Reed will speak at the Austin Convention Center on… More »
Top 10 New York bands you should discover…
This list isn’t focused on only new bands….it’s New York bands you should discover or re-discover.
Here we go folks…
10. Walkmen
This is a great band to start the list because they are simply a great rock band. They give you what you expect…acknowledgment that New York City Rock and Roll is alive and well…with a little experimentation.
Standout track: Little House of Savages
9. Velvet Underground
Yes, I know you’ve heard of them. Yes, I know they are one… More »