Rođen u New Yorku, Reedova muzika je postala sinonim za taj grad gde je on sa svojim bendom - Velvet Underground bitno uticao na stvaranje alternativnog muzičkog zvuka West Coast-a. Do vremena upoznavanja i saradnje sa Andy Warholom, Velvet Underground su napisali Venus in Furs, pesmu inspirisanu Sacher Masochovom istoimenom novelom, a Reed je bio počeo da piše pesme o transvetizmu, homoseksualnosti, biseksualizmu i drag kulturi, od kojih je jedan deo iz vremena Velvet Undergrounda, dok su druge snimljene na tri Reedova albuma sa početka njegove solo karijere: Transformer (1972), Berlin (1973) i Rock 'n' Roll Animal (1974). Dok se album Berlin sa njegovom Isherwoodskom kabaretskom atmosferom smatra njegovim najboljim ostvarenjem, po pesmi Take Walk on the Wild Side sa Transformera (kojeg je producirao David Bowie) Lou Reed se ipak najviše pamti. Pesma iako govori o transvestistima (stvarne ličnosti), puštala se na radiju u US i dospela je na top liste.

Reed je priznao da je eksperimentisao sa homosekualnošću i njegove koncertne turneje iz ranih sedamdesetih su poznate po intezivnom naslanjanju na gej kulturu i Glitter rock izvođačke stilove. Na njega su takođe gej pisci poput William Burroughsa i Allen Ginsberga izvršili uticaj. Do 1982. god. i albuma The Blue Mask, međutim, preuzeo je ulogu srećno oženjenog straight muškarca. Mada je Lou Reed ponovo okupio članove Velvet Undergrounda 1993. god. za evropsku turneju, grupa se raspala pre nego se ukrcala za Ameriku. Reedov značaj i uticaj na rok muziku je neosporan, a njegova solo karijera u '70-tim ostaje jedan od najuspešnijih doprinosa američkoj formi Glitter (ili Glam) roka (pored New York Dollsa) - muzičkom stilu koji mnogo duguje samom Velvet Undergroundu. Lou Reed je bio i uzor za nekoliko generacija alternativnih rock bendova (kao npr. pojedinim punk grupama).

Shelton Waldrep

Literatura:
Lou Reed, Between Thought and Expression: Selected Lyrics of Lou Reed, New York, 1993.

Iz: Who's Who in Conterporary Gay and Lesbian History, ed. By Robert Aldrich and Garry Wotherspoon, London & New York, 2001, 345-346.

Velvet Underground Web Page:
http://www.members.aol.com/olandem/vu.html

Prevod: N

Velvet Uderground

Lou Reed: Walk on the Wild Side

Holly came from Miami F.L.A.
hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.

Plucked her eyebrows on the way
shaved her leg and then he was a she
She says, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
said, hey honey, take a walk on the wild side

Candy came from out on the island
in the backroom she was everybody's darling

But she never lost her head
even when she was givin' head
She says, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
said, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
and the coloured girls go

Doo, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo-doo
doo, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Little Joe never once gave it away
everybody had to pay and pay

A hustle here and a hustle there
New York City is the place where they said
Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
I said, hey Joe, take a walk on the wild side

Sugar Plum Fairy came and hit the streets
lookin' for soul food and a place to eat

Went to the Apollo
you should have seen him go-go-go
They said, hey Sugar, take a walk on the wild side
I said, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
all right, huh

Jackie is just speeding away
thought she was James Dean for a day

Then I guess she had to crash
valium would have helped that bash
She said, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
I said, hey honey, take a walk on the wild side
and the coloured girls say

Doo, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo-doo
doo, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo-doo...