The Velvet Underground & Nico can easily be agreed upon
as “...The most influential rock group of the 60’s” (http://www.veoh.com/watch/v18444087ZF6xZy9c).
Overtime, The Velvet Underground & Nico eventually gave birth to Punk Rock.
Andy Warhol played as a heavy influence on The Velvet Underground, reaching
them and bending their minds on the concept of “pop art”; becoming more of an
art band. After further hearings on The Velvet Underground and each character,
Lou Reed and John Cale were the glue to this group. As a main songwriter for
the group, Reed normally wrote on personal happenings concerning sex and drugs,
which hadn’t normally happened much in Rock. John, being the co-founder of the
band, wrote most of the songs sung by the group themselves. What many don’t
know, is John biggest contribution was the electrically amplified viola, which
in turn assisted in helping the band take off – “…using chords, tones, and
great texture”(The Velvet Underground
& Nico (audiobook) by Joe Harvard). While there were many
differences and personal issues with each other, Andy Warhol & David Bowie kept
things abroad as he heavily supported, promoted and produced the Velvet
Underground & Nico. No one really praised the band, compared to as much as
the band contributed to the genre of Rock, Pop, and Punk with its
homosexuality, drug uses and way of life,
which eventually gave birth to their lack of success. In 1966, speaking on
those subjects was intriguing, yet ballsy move by The Velvet Underground. Not
many really understood their real meaning of why they spoke on those subjects
until later listening to it, having to ignore their preconceptions of the band
while letting the music do the explaining.
As The Velvet Underground plays as the Grandfather of Punk
Rock, It has too influenced me as, mainly, Lou Reed & John Cale changed and
established Art, Rock, and music all together with the blend of negligence and
compliance with each other. I was affected by them coincidently; 1986 Post modem Compilation VU.
Quinn,
ReplyDeleteIt is evident that you have clear understanding and grasp on how influential The Velvet Underground & Nico was during the 1960’s. Not only were you able to convey your point that they were essentially “the most influential rock group of the 60’s,” but you also discussed Andy Warhol’s art influence upon the band. You were also able to summarize the band’s “rise and fall” and what factors were contributed to that. My only advice is that you could have supplied more resources as to where you got your facts and statistics. In addition, simple editing could have been done. Overall, it was a well composed blog that truly captured who The Velvet Underground & Nico was and their mark in music history.