John Cale - Venus In Furs (Live)

[bbpunk10]

Love the original but love this too. Both are fantastic!

[doctorfuse007]

He uses a wooden practice mute on the bridge of his electric viola! Ingenious!

[UltimateVenom]

i have the velvet underground boxset with very early demos and cale was the first person to sing this song

[bckm54]

AND HE PLAYS THE VIOLA!!! :)

[marcoscotlar]

awesome version

[skoty9999n]

wow

[mika7029]

Kommataraaaaaa.......tssss

[GajoDaFolha]

Reed and Cale, Cale and Reed; each one with his own brilliant style...the combination between was simply fabulous...

No need comparisions: Cale is a musical living culture! While Reed rock (and lyrics!) feelings are...imcomparable!

In this music, I think that Reed adds the dark side it requires...

but is a fabulous Cale version!

2 monuments, Cale and Reed - never comercial/plastic shit music...

[ForARide]

@GajoDaFolha the dark side in the Velvets music was definitely Cale´s achievment.

Just listen to the Ludlow sessions (Peel Slowly Box Set), Reed´s compositions were musically mainly Dylan orientated.

Cale brought that sinister and menacing sound into rock music.

I´ve uploaded some of Cale´s 60´s recordings you ought to listen to, especially At About This Time Mozart Was Dead..., After The Locust or (Untitled) For Piano.

Also Nico´s Marble Index and Desertshore which he arranged indicate this.

[GajoDaFolha]

@ForARide

Thanks ForARide, i'll go to listen your sugestions, specially Cale's 60's recordings.

But I will always feel that Cale's music/Lou's Lyrics, were born for each other...

See U!

[dejahthoris]

I love cale- but this isnt dirty.its too clean. no

[Bruuutal1]

@dejahthoris I think if he tried to made it more dirty, it would become so "unatural".. Like it would be "trying to hard".

[bgmckable]

fuckin fantastic....

[egregore]

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

[pomfolynx]

many rockers of the 60's still play their classic tunes... but not the way John Cale does

great update for a great song

[thisismactan]

That is some sexy guitar right there.

[AmyNitrate]

How is it a Velvet Underground cover, when John Cale was in the Velvet Underground?

[MisterMorizon]

One of the best songs ever written in musical history, you just have to credit Reed for these smashing lyrics. But you have to credit Cale even more for arranging that wonderful drone song (instead of making it folk as Reed planned it). Cales Cover here is one of the best covers that were ever done; some parts even better than the original. John Cale is one of the most underrated genius' in musical history. Influenced me very very much, awesome guy with awesome music. Genius Cale. Genius.

[Amaresku]

@MisterMorizon I agree. The lyrics are great, but the sound makes it a masterpiece.

[smoddelm]

Truly amazing.

[gulmorb]

This cover is better than original!

[maltrouve]

thanks to this song...i got into bolan..bowie..numan and early ultravox

[tsak99]

Cale's version is so majestic

[startygwint]

what year is this?

[fuckertwins]

lou reeds actually live version sounds like stoned, he should take cocaine again :P

[leponti]

Oh my... (^^)

[13915818]

Is it really a cover when he cowrote the song

[BogoEN]

@13915818 Ditto.

[justnicknet]

@13915818 I think so? People refer to Bowie's All the Young Dudes as a cover, when he wrote it?

[willbond]

Leonard Nimoy sure sings better here than on that album he made in the 60's.....just sayin'.....

[bosporgiz]

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing

[idiotjim]

the girl burned clean competing with the virgin causes churches to fall-like you.

[lendryesky]

Perry Farrell at 1:08?

[mkzelda]

@lendryesky sure looks like him

[hektorpike]

@lendryesky yeh man, it is. its from Later with Jools Holland, I remember JA were on the show, I actually remember him dancing to it

[hektorpike]

@lendryesky yeh, it is - definately. I watched this on Later with Jools Holland a few years back. JA were on the same show, I actually remember him dancing but it didnt click until i read yr post.

[quota49]

ecco uno che ha aperto tante tante strade musicali

[littlecomawhite]

I like cale singing this much better than lou reed. The dark atmosphere of the original is better kept. Although the both of them together as VU were pure genius and the original venus in furs is an uber-song.

[maniacmae1]

wow!

[maniacmae1]

wow!

[timmopie]

its the violin,its just so torturous.magnificent

[MrMisab]

@timmopie I don't mean to be a dick but it's a viola

[ThePrairieFiddler]

@MrMisab actually, its a violin. an electric violin.

[MrMisab]

@ThePrairieFiddler no it's definitely a viola. an electric viola

[sekhmetraptah]

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.

[aquamoon22]

Awesome. A sonic narcotic.......

[gilfisher1]

His intonation on that fiddle is AWESOME.

[drakur31]

Severin, Severin, speak so slightly

[realspear]

Anyone know who's in the band?

[shmurklamashas]

@realspear

just WIki that...

[uberpedant]

I'm dumbstruck every time I listen to this song. You'd think it would lose it's impact 30 years after I heard it for the first time. - Timeless, and epic.

[ojoalcine]

Que buena version

[BusinessCeo1]

NICE! I dont care much about the singing. This song is about that Violin & Guitar. This is the only live version that killed it! like the original record!

[trollfinger]

I like three Velvet Underground songs, but I adore Cales solo back catalog.

[nick1137]

sterling morrison could certainly play

[TheSbsw]

John Cale is the ONLY reason Velvet Underground had any musical Merit whatsoever, no one in that band besides him could play, and he wrote the music, Lou's lyrics were good, but he can't sing, John could have made it a lot bigger I think had he chosen a different group

[dejahthoris]

@TheSbsw a group is a bloody group. if cale could have done it alone he would have. there is chemistry.

[Blaxfax]

amzing!!! Not enough thumbs to vote

[kikmyjimi]

Saw both versions,and I must say that John Cale's is more fitting,emotionally very fitting ! Not knocking Lou Reed's version,it is excellent too ! This song is too cool !!!

[gritzko]

Where is Siouxsie??? Love this

[nasalscarecrow]

Great version.

[theroachksu]

He does a great job recreating that ostrich sound on his violin. Haunting.

[alexhirka]

lou reed seems to get closer to the words emotionally, sexually.

[Wiedni]

I like both versions. This is more murk,.

Who wrote the text? Lou or John?

[bigdunk9]

Lou wrote the lyrics, I think the music was predominantly John's idea.

[Rikuthebadboy]

Could be wrong, but I think it was Lou who wrote the lyrics

[skyiscrying53]

@Rikuthebadboy that was my understanding as well and I think he wrote the majority of the band's songs. He being Lou..

[AFirmKickInThePants]

I've always thought of Venus In Furs as a John Cale song, so I think his voice suits it better than Lou's

[bonbon1995]

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.

[kuakerdoll]

BUENISIMo!

[monoclethief]

this version is amazing

[phoneix91]

Is Cale, trying to "be all Reed", in this song, its not working-to his benefit, its not the same.

[ForARide]

What the hell are you on about?

Cale is musically far superior to Reed´s limitations.

Cale was far more influential of what developed into Punk and Alternative music, and hardly anybody matches his musical versatality and creativity.

[jclarencelove3rd]

@ForARide true that, brother...

[nick1137]

i actually like this version better than the original

[smashingrapenuts]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! Did I scare you? Tastes like Spock to me. This is some crazy shit. Got my Freak Falg a Flyin

[telecasterthommy]

'tastes like spock to me' made me laugh proper loud

[CatrinaDarkangel]

wonderful....very very nice.

[NicoDraak74]

this song is so crazy, the whole structure, the lyrics, the whole gloomy sound. I love it.

[Thunderhour]

omg this was a crazy performance

[sarwae88]

i prefer vu version.

lou make it "dont give a f;.. way, and cale was too much playing with melodic elements.

original is pure and authentic.give me creeps. :)

[JazzRockClassic]

Cale has a classical music background.

Lou is more Rock. Together was a match made in heaven! But also this version is interesting. I mean both of the are Artist.

I met Lou once. It wasn't at a concert. I love Lou.

[nickfromCO]

Wow this is so fkin haunting. Absolutely terrific and it really puts Lou Reed's live performance to shame. I like Lou and all but it doesn't compare to this. Do Reed and Cale get along or not?

[KissMyAssWMG]

I don't think dear Lou gets along with anyone but himself.

[bonbon1995]

I know! I love Lou but that annoys me so much about him. I wish those two would just get over whatever it is they seem to hate so much about each other and PLAY because together they are absolutely amazing. Even if they don't seem to realise it.

[idontknowwhattocallm]

well they have reformed the VU together for a few shows in the past so they must get on ok. Cale only left the VU because Reed was afraid to take the band in the more experimental way that Cale envisioned for them, i believe.

But i agree this puts almost every other live performance to shame, let alone just Reed's work. It's such a simple song too, just so powerful and, as you say, "haunting".

[genericusername337]

crazy of Lou not to do anything John says.

if he never left, Loaded could've been White Light/White Heat part 2.

their eponymous wasn't too bad though, for a John Cale-less band.

[IanSchultz13]

and Cale actually knows the words to his songs

[Nisstyre56]

This is great, better than even the original...

[lesassassins]

cale is far a more emotional and stronger live performer than reed.

[SadLisa777]

Yes! That´s true! I don´t like Reed. this is great.

[mymindourdream]

better than the Reed version,Cale sings with more pathos,5/5!!

[Mulwany]

thats what make lou the genious that he is...

[trollfinger]

@mymindourdream

I just find Cale better all round.

[SeamusBlonde]

his voice is actually stronger than Reed's at the moment

[fmlosmolinos]

Cuelgue total, un himno.

[xauga]

'bleed' is indeed correct - it's in the official lyric book.

[borislamite]

génialissime, perturbant

[benjirichardshooper]

it is bleed!

[sacamano71]

Bets version....

[monstawild]

amazing... I love even better than the "new" loo reed version, more bluesy...

Is anyone know how this guitarist have this sound... Wich gear is he using? (I can only see the strat)

Mail me if someone know

[summegane]

.....

[irrelevnt]

This is a great version of the song.

[rrte2]

I love when he sings "taste the whip, now pleeeaad for meee".

It's possible to hear some kind of strange pleasure in his voice...

[mainman99987]

Haha, that's how Cale rolls. I love this version of this song, it's got that signature Cale menace behind it.

[PrawnSolo]

I like when John sings this even better than Lou, actually...

[ltsmash1200]

@PrawnSolo I agree. Especially later years Lou where he's not even really trying to sing and just kind of talks along to the music.

[taariqtaariq]

@ltsmash1200

yes lately Lou has given up even pretending to sing a melody that fits the music.

[berry541]

@taariqtaariq 

[BigZproductions]

@taariqtaariq yep i noticed that as well

[trollfinger]

@PrawnSolo

I prefer John Cale to the Velvets anyway.

[WSBianconeri1981]

@PrawnSolo nooooo, nobody's better than Lou for this song...

[ForARide]

@WSBianconeri1981 Bollocks!

Reed has turned into a lame duck, whereas Cale is still at the core of it.

It is Cale´s viola that defines this song. Listen to the original recording of the Ludlow sessions (Peel Slowly Box Set), very Dylan inspired and then you´ll notice what Cale turned this song into. He was mainly responsable for the Velvets sound.

Also compare Cale´s version of I´m Waiting For The Man (which I´ve uploaded) to any of Reeds vesions and you might sense what I mean.

[frankensteinmoneymac]

@ForARide Yeah, I agree. I actually like both artists, but to be honest, I've always thought that Cale was by far the superior of the two....Lou is just better at selling the image of himself. The way I see it, Lou is occasionally absolutally brilliant. While Cale's brilliance is much more consistent. I even think that Cale is every bit as much of a brilliant lyricist as Reed.....perhaps even outshining him. Of course that is a much more controversial statement, I admit.

[anonymeprod]

@PrawnSolo no it's not, but it's great

[earlyperl]

what a layer of sounds! Just lovely!

[LeonardAndNickFan]

Seriously sexy song!! Thanks for posting this!! Cale looks so much like Leonard!! Dig the vibe!!