The Velvet Underground & Nico: Just Another Rock 'n Roll Album?

The Velvet Underground & Nico, the debut album of The Velvet Underground, is an innovative and inspiring piece of art and literature. It is an album, and The Velvet Underground is a band, that changed the history of rock ‘n roll. Although it may not be obvious in their record sales, only two of their albums even barely made it onto the Billboard Top 200, The Velvet Underground had a far reaching impact on those who listened to them… and even those who didn’t.

In the tumultuous and changing times of the 1960s, The Velvet Underground fit right in by standing out. The Velvet Underground is one of the first and few bands to openly talk about drugs and sex. Usually songs will allude to drug use and sex, but The Velvet Underground far exceeded that barrier with several songs on their debut album talking openly about sex and drugs, one song is actually called Heroin. The Velvet Underground & Nico is both culturally and historically valuable in the sense that it not only reflected the culture of that time, but added to it, and helped revolutionize it. They took in the new counterculture of the 1960s and their music reflects their observations, in songs such as Venus in Furs and Run Run Run. In the hippie movement, student protests, and the sexual revolution young people were beginning to find their place in the world and really test their boundaries. The Velvet Underground, a band full of young adults, some of the recent college graduates, was also pushing the boundaries. They not only reflected this ‘60s counterculture, but revolutionized rock ‘n roll by speaking openly about things that had only ever been alluded to before. This album can be considered musically valuable for many of the same reasons. Not only were they unique in their topic choice, but instrumentally they had a unique sound. John Cale was extremely experimental in his music, including the electric viola on many songs, which provided for The Velvet Underground’s unique sound.

The Velvet Underground did not necessarily change history, it did not have enough of a following for it to have a large impact during its time.  Instead, they added to the radical changes of the 1960s.  The Velvet Underground had a small cult following.  They never became very mainstream, but some believe that this album changed rock 'n roll.  The Velvet Underground and their album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, were ahead of their time, which can be seen in them outwardly singing about drugs and sex.  The Velvet Underground & Nico would be a good album to study when learning about the 1960s because many of the songs have a deeper meaning.  It reflects the events of the 1960s.

"Everyone should be encouraged ... inspiration and artistic freedom is the cornerstone of rock and roll." ~John Cale