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

Your rating:
Total ratings: 358









Released: 1967
Length: 5:05
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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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
Posted 1 year ago by dischuckin    [ Reply ]
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}
Posted 5 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
 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!
Posted 7 years ago by VH1    [ Reply ]
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} 
Posted 7 years ago by VH1    [ Reply ]
Not my cuppa, Lou, but thanks. Avant en garde. Love that tamborine, though. Had to go to Julliard for that, did someone? 
Posted 8 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
"Taste the whip, now plead for me" - these folk must have had interesting sex lives :o). Whacko! {#Whipit}
Posted 10 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]

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

Copyright All rights reserved


Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 14 years ago by Fables85    [ Reply ]
 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.


Posted 14 years ago by Fables85    [ Reply ]
 jonahboo wrote:
DOG SHIT
 

You aren't all that bad. Stop being so hard on yourself.
Posted 14 years ago by Bosami    [ Reply ]
 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. 
Posted 14 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
DOG SHIT
Posted 14 years ago by Wonderloaf    [ Reply ]
it's a viola isn't it?

which I think is a big violin??
Posted 14 years ago by salice    [ Reply ]
In Lou's words: "you can all go take a walk"... This is unsurpassably good!!!
Posted 14 years ago by Fables85    [ Reply ]
Make it stoooooop.
Posted 14 years ago by heytomkay    [ Reply ]

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


Posted 14 years ago by Mugro    [ Reply ]
Third awesome piece in a row.....Stop it, Bill, please, because I have to leave!
Posted 14 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 14 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 14 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
 gumbo73039 wrote:
Sorry, hit t'wrong button!
Nico did a spooky live version of "The End", pretty goood.
 

The movie is bizarre.{#Eek}
Posted 14 years ago by Coaxial    [ Reply ]
Man ... that violin is so out of tune it's making my eyes water.
Posted 14 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
Sorry, hit t'wrong button!
Nico did a spooky live version of "The End", pretty goood.
Posted 14 years ago by gumbo73039    [ Reply ]
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).
Posted 14 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
Saw 'em.  Electric Factory in Philly.  Way back.  One of the best underground groups of the time. Part of the backdrop.
Posted 14 years ago by PeteyGreens    [ Reply ]
Simply. AWESOME. {#Devil_pimp}
Posted 14 years ago by Bosami    [ Reply ]

The Velvet Undergound & Nico - "Femme Fatale" Live:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjjDmX9Tkss
Posted 15 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
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.)
Posted 15 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
 Jazbo wrote:
8th grade, in a basement filled with posters and black lites......Need I say more? 10
 

.....  and frightened. , freakin' frightened!
Posted 15 years ago by UncleChig    [ Reply ]
This reminds me very much of The Doors' "This Is The End".

Posted 15 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
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


Posted 15 years ago by azdcryan    [ Reply ]
rebound...much better now!  Shiney, shiney!
Posted 15 years ago by LongGoneDaddy    [ Reply ]
 crockydile wrote:

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

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


Posted 15 years ago by Moonflower31    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 15 years ago by crockydile    [ Reply ]
    Wot, no Banana?
Here you go:


Posted 15 years ago by ce    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 15 years ago by auburntigerrich    [ Reply ]
8th grade, in a basement filled with posters and black lites......Need I say more? 10
Posted 15 years ago by Jazbo    [ Reply ]
amcallis wrote:
Sounds like a high school band....

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

Posted 15 years ago by MM_Prague    [ Reply ]
Genius
Posted 18 years ago by king_monkey    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 19 years ago by th3boon    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by Caper    [ Reply ]
..............uhhhh, no. a 3.
Posted 20 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 20 years ago by 4999thnewuser    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
Dave Navarro does a good cover of this tune on his solo album. The original is pretty good, but bad recording.
Posted 20 years ago by mikael    [ Reply ]
Important: yes Good: no
Posted 20 years ago by Shimmer    [ Reply ]
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. ;)
Posted 20 years ago by Darkmatter    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by bluedot    [ Reply ]
Sounds like a high school band....
Posted 20 years ago by amcallis    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by nolands    [ Reply ]
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:
Posted 20 years ago by tg3k    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by ediTed    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by newwavegurly    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by britrock    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 20 years ago by utopiapark    [ Reply ]
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.......
Posted 20 years ago by beelzebubba    [ Reply ]
Thanks Bill. We need more from these guys on RP!
Posted 21 years ago by jeremy52    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 21 years ago by lindydallas    [ Reply ]
the were the original punk band way before punk was ever even a word. an awesome song though...
Posted 21 years ago by Drunkenlilacwine    [ Reply ]
Tizmself wrote:
I remember this....and it still gives me a headache.
Yup, About 2 Tylenol should do the trick.
Posted 21 years ago by KevinM    [ Reply ]
Velvet Underground: Hands down, the most underrated, most underappreciated, most 'unkown', but one of the most influential acts in musical history.
Posted 21 years ago by beelzebubba    [ Reply ]
Hmm... Lou Reed sounds a lot like Brian Molko. Never thought of that before.
Posted 22 years ago by loveslave    [ Reply ]
I remember this....and it still gives me a headache.
Posted 22 years ago by Tizmself    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 22 years ago by ndanger666    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by BillG: Hoist that petard, matey
Right on Bill.
Posted 22 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 22 years ago by William    [ Reply ]
excelent. VU forever.
Posted 22 years ago by Jacob    [ Reply ]
I know this is supposed to be a famous tune.. but, man.... tis puttin\' me to sleep.
Posted 22 years ago by squarepixel    [ Reply ]
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZz
Posted 22 years ago by X-Navy    [ Reply ]
Not good...
Posted 22 years ago by ChanceM3    [ Reply ]
Hey RMurray 248, Glad your comment added such an insightful element to this discussion.
Posted 22 years ago by BC_Night_Heron    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 22 years ago by Typesbad    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 22 years ago by rmurray248    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 22 years ago by BC_Night_Heron    [ Reply ]
Now, that's old people's music I like ;-) Keep playing it! :)
Posted 22 years ago by splacknuck    [ Reply ]
Somehow I always thought I hate this group, but this sounds pretty damn good.
Posted 22 years ago by kevinc    [ Reply ]
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. :p God, I\'d forgotten how much I dug this album!
Posted 22 years ago by Buzzardcheater    [ Reply ]