Velvet Underground, Still underground?
Velvet Underground, Still underground?
Ok, i was reading a thread where a couple of people were arguing whether the velvet underground are still "underground" or not. Of course the answer is no, they are not underground, however, I feel, they are far from being mainstream. If you went out on the street, and asked 100 people if they know about the velvet underground, alot would say yes, but only because they have heard about them somewhere in a lame magazine like rolling stone saying how influential they are on todays music, which is true. But those same people, who have heard about the VU, the majority of them wouldnt be able identify a VU song, because lets face it, the vast majority of VU songs, even to this day, are very unique in their sound and subject matter, and are definately not recognised by the general public. Also I know that many people like to name drop the VU, because they know how "influential" and "cool" the VU is, and they dont know crap about them. So, what I'm saying is, thee VU are not underground, but they are far, far far away from being mainstream. Also if you dont know anything about the VU, dont act like you do cause then you should drop dead!
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GroovyMusic
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They are #1 in Time Out Magazine's list of Greatest New York Musicians and were #2 (IIRC) in Rolling Stone's Greatest Albums of All Time.
That is MAINSTREAM.
An ABSOLUT advert cops the banana, they sold out stadiums on their reunion tour, in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and they are namechecked by rock bands CONSTANTLY.
That is MAINSTREAM.
Sorry guys, but most of us missed the underground train...it has long since blown through this station. The VU is 100% MAINSTREAM. If you want underground legends...or even partially underground legends...go buy The Germs.
That is MAINSTREAM.
An ABSOLUT advert cops the banana, they sold out stadiums on their reunion tour, in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and they are namechecked by rock bands CONSTANTLY.
That is MAINSTREAM.
Sorry guys, but most of us missed the underground train...it has long since blown through this station. The VU is 100% MAINSTREAM. If you want underground legends...or even partially underground legends...go buy The Germs.
Bargain bin gold, favorite bands, concerts, photos, and my record collection: All Good Music
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GroovyMusic
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embryos acknowledges that stuff in his post...and he points out that it doesn't mean much.mg196 wrote:They are #1 in Time Out Magazine's list of Greatest New York Musicians and were #2 (IIRC) in Rolling Stone's Greatest Albums of All Time.
That is MAINSTREAM.
An ABSOLUT advert cops the banana, they sold out stadiums on their reunion tour, in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and they are namechecked by rock bands CONSTANTLY.
That is MAINSTREAM.
embryos is right on the ball.
....sure, The Velvet Underground is mainstream--picture The Velvet Underground as an icebearg...the mainstream has only seen the tip of the icebearg.
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GroovyMusic
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Awesome picture, Groovy! I haven't seen this picture this big and clear before, thanks!
As far as the thread goes... VU is mainstream and NOT mainstream, underground and NOT underground both at the same time. People have gotten to know the name from things like the New York poll above. But, I still find hardly anyone who really KNOWS the music. So, in a way, the essence of the VU is still way under the radar of most of the general public.
I still like the line that's been thrown around for years to describe them:
Not very many people bought their albums, but almost everyone who did started their own band.
As far as the thread goes... VU is mainstream and NOT mainstream, underground and NOT underground both at the same time. People have gotten to know the name from things like the New York poll above. But, I still find hardly anyone who really KNOWS the music. So, in a way, the essence of the VU is still way under the radar of most of the general public.
I still like the line that's been thrown around for years to describe them:
Not very many people bought their albums, but almost everyone who did started their own band.
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Homme Fatale
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It's one thing what the VU were when they were originally together and what it meant to the people who knew (about) them at the time and in the '70s, and another what the band has been ever since the mid '80s when the first wave of VU name dropping began by indie bands - something that has been popular ever since.
Whatever way you want to look at it, the fact is The Velvet Underground TODAY is one of the best known and most popular rock bands of the '60s, FACT. It's not like everybody knows everything about The Kinks or The Who either but that hardly makes them "underground". Besides, that term hasn't meant anything in a looong time anyway, same as "indie".
Whatever way you want to look at it, the fact is The Velvet Underground TODAY is one of the best known and most popular rock bands of the '60s, FACT. It's not like everybody knows everything about The Kinks or The Who either but that hardly makes them "underground". Besides, that term hasn't meant anything in a looong time anyway, same as "indie".
Whatever way you want to look at it, the fact is The Velvet Underground TODAY is one of the best known and most popular rock bands of the '60s, FACT. It's not like everybody knows everything about The Kinks or The Who either but that hardly makes them "underground". Besides, that term hasn't meant anything in a looong time anyway, same as "indie".
You know what homme fatale you are absolutly correct when you say "underground" and "indie" dont mean much these days. Some other terms I can think of are "alternative", "emo" and oh whats this? "MAINSTREAM"! That was the point of my original posting, stating that VU is not underground but in my opinion, are not mainstream. Its true you can find there albums almost anywhere, along side Van Halen and panic at the disco, but does it interest you that they don not yet have a platinum selling album? And that it took VU and Nico almost 30 years to go gold? I know that doesnt mean that much, but, what it does mean is that the MASSES or GENERAL PUBLIC have not taken much notice in the VUs actual music. Tell me, how often do you here their actual music on MAINSTREAM radio or television? Sure the media has blown their reputation up to the size of John Cales Schnoz, crediting them with everything, short of splitting the atom, remember, this is the media. The same media that dismissed them and their music until the 80s. The same media that loves to name drop VU constantly, but never puts the vu on the cover of their magazines, I wonder why that is? I think its because the VU are not recognizable enough by the general public to sell products.
That does not sound mainstream to me. What is mainstream about the VU, if anything, is their name "The Velvet Underground". But, I believe,
what any artist needs to be defined by is, well their art, in this case music.
And it is my opinion that their music is basically unknown to the masses. Maybe in my circle of people or yours, they are mainstream and maybe even played out, but to the general public, your average fratboy or accountant, they are unknown. Start paying attention to real life, the word on the street, not "Rolling Stones Top 500 albums of all time" (bullshit), or Absolut Vodkas use of an ANDY WARHOL PAINTING, (yes the cover of VU and NIco), and other worthless media outlets that shove jessica and ashley simpson down our throats. In conclusion, what Im trying to say is the media have blown the VU way out of proportion, romantacized their story, and have left their art, their music, in the dust. VU is not mainstream. Dont believe everything the media tells you.
You know what homme fatale you are absolutly correct when you say "underground" and "indie" dont mean much these days. Some other terms I can think of are "alternative", "emo" and oh whats this? "MAINSTREAM"! That was the point of my original posting, stating that VU is not underground but in my opinion, are not mainstream. Its true you can find there albums almost anywhere, along side Van Halen and panic at the disco, but does it interest you that they don not yet have a platinum selling album? And that it took VU and Nico almost 30 years to go gold? I know that doesnt mean that much, but, what it does mean is that the MASSES or GENERAL PUBLIC have not taken much notice in the VUs actual music. Tell me, how often do you here their actual music on MAINSTREAM radio or television? Sure the media has blown their reputation up to the size of John Cales Schnoz, crediting them with everything, short of splitting the atom, remember, this is the media. The same media that dismissed them and their music until the 80s. The same media that loves to name drop VU constantly, but never puts the vu on the cover of their magazines, I wonder why that is? I think its because the VU are not recognizable enough by the general public to sell products.
That does not sound mainstream to me. What is mainstream about the VU, if anything, is their name "The Velvet Underground". But, I believe,
what any artist needs to be defined by is, well their art, in this case music.
And it is my opinion that their music is basically unknown to the masses. Maybe in my circle of people or yours, they are mainstream and maybe even played out, but to the general public, your average fratboy or accountant, they are unknown. Start paying attention to real life, the word on the street, not "Rolling Stones Top 500 albums of all time" (bullshit), or Absolut Vodkas use of an ANDY WARHOL PAINTING, (yes the cover of VU and NIco), and other worthless media outlets that shove jessica and ashley simpson down our throats. In conclusion, what Im trying to say is the media have blown the VU way out of proportion, romantacized their story, and have left their art, their music, in the dust. VU is not mainstream. Dont believe everything the media tells you.
