I've never understood what the context or purpose was for Nico to record Kander & Ebb's "New York New York", nor the circumstances of the recording. Who, for instance, produced and plays on it?
A clue can perhaps be found in these alternate versions of a video she made, perhaps shortly after the audio session, in which she druggily lip-syncs to it while photographed, Warhol-style, in a single, unflnching shot. One version is of the video itself, while in the other it is projected during some sort of performance at the Squat Theater.
video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLHDifZhPpc
Squat version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyaVt0dcrjY
It does seem clear that the Squat Theater was integral to the impetus for Nico to do this song. Located on W. 23rd St. a few doors down from the Chelsea Hotel, the Squat was the domain of a group of refugee activist/actors from Hungary, led by the parents of Eszter Balint of Stranger Than Paradise fame. While never a member of the company per se, for a number of years Nico "squatted" at the theater's space, and was the closest thing she had to a regular address in New York.
The video performance of "New York New York" appears to have been made with this one public display of it in mind, and for all I know the audio session was made for the same purpose. Any info on Nico's "New York" episode would be greatly appreciated.
--Phil
Nico's "New York New York"
Re: Nico's "New York New York"
Great screen capture!
Bargain bin gold, favorite bands, concerts, photos, and my record collection: All Good Music
- schnittstelle
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- velvetfan
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Re: Nico's "New York New York"
Really! one eye open one eye closed---mid nod.schnittstelle wrote:OMG!
- iaredatsun
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Re: Nico's "New York New York"
I take it back. Even Nico does not deserve to have this video posted on youtube.
Last edited by iaredatsun on 15 Apr 2015 23:27, edited 1 time in total.
underground, overground
Re: Nico's "New York New York"
Holy shit. I mean, musically that isn't bad at all, but the state of her in that video...
8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1