The Velvet Forum

I am curious at the pretty low votes for Femme Fatale. I realise that it was up against Heroin last time, and I think I voted for Heroin during the most recent vote, too. I'm surprised, though - what are some of your thoughts on Femme Fatale? Is it too scary? Does it freak people out? That sliding viola is so excellent, the lyrics tremendously original and really, the foundation for the name "Velevt Underground". Is it simply that most people think Heroin is more well-done? Hmm. I'm wondering...

I dunno - I'm sticking my neck out a bit here, but I think some of the 'pretty' songs, beautiful though they are, are less distinctively VU to me than the out-there rockers like Heroin and Sister Ray etc, which are absolutely uniquely VU. Not a very strong stream of logic given the uniqueness of Nico's voice, but still.

Yeah, I know there are quieter songs throughout their albums and I do love them all, but faced with a choice (as in this here poll) I go for the blasters. Maybe it's a guy thing.

Having said all that I do think Femme Fatale is weaker than Sunday Morning or I'll Be Your Mirror, maybe because it's been covered so many times, it's over-exposed. It doesn't really hold me in it's spell when I hear it the way the others do....

I don't like Femme Fatale's melody. It's too bland and it's not even a stark song as it oughta be.

To me, it isn't simply Sister Ray or Heroin that is VU, but it is the pairing of the 'pretty' songs with the feedback laden or more sinister songs. That is why VU 'Best Of's' don't work for me. The VU was a pure ALBUM group. Any song by itself is out of context of "The Velvet Undergroud."

Sunday Morning, I'm Waiting For The Man, Femme Fatale, Venus In Furs...THAT is distinctively VU to me.

But, opinions are like assholes...everyone's got one!

mg196 wrote: But, opinions are like assholes...everyone's got one!

that's why we're here though, yes/no? we don't get enough opinions around here.

I really like Femme Fatale, in fact, it's the first Velvet Underground song I ever heard. My dad had it on a mix tape that always went along on vacation. I didn't know it was the Velvet Underground back then, I was only 11 years old or something. It also had 'HookyWooky' by Lou Reed on it. Didn't found about that either until a good year ago.

But as much as I love it, and being my first ever VU song (although not aware), I voted Heroin. Because I love that one even more and it's just a better song in my opinion.

I love "Femme Fatale," then again, I love most of it. I wonder how the person who views the VU as "Sister Ray" and "Heroin" deals with the third album...

By the way, I have a feeling the person who initiated this thread was actually asking about "Venus in Furs," not "Femme Fatale" (sliding viola? Scary? Not FF!).

dsulpy wrote: By the way, I have a feeling the person who initiated this thread was actually asking about "Venus in Furs," not "Femme Fatale" (sliding viola? Scary? Not FF!).

I think you are right , basis of the the name velvet underground struck me funny.

Anyways , I said on the poll that FF got a bad draw.

I like it and would vote for it over most songs.
Heroin is a Heavyweight with Sister Ray.

dsulpy wrote: I wonder how the person who views the VU as "Sister Ray" and "Heroin" deals with the third album...

it's true! the 3rd album is my least favourite of the original 4, but it's still VU, and I still love it - it's not that SR and Heroin represent the whole band for me, just that to me they are at their most individual and inimitable when they are blasting...

I agree, though I think the softer tunes are quite individual as well. That's one of the things I love about the band - it's hard to pinpoint their influences, and it's hard to produce any music contemporary with theirs that sounds anything like them.