Stephanie Says - Velvet Underground
Stephanie says that she wants to know
Why she's given half her life, to people she hates now Stephanie says when answering the phone What country shall I say is calling from across the world But she's not afraid to die, the people all call her Alaska Between worlds so the people ask her 'cause it's all in her mind It's all in her mind Stephanie says that she wants to know Why it is though she's the door she can't be the room Stephanie says but doesn't hang up the phone What sea shell she is calling from across the world But she's not afraid to die, the people all call her Alaska Between worlds so the people ask her 'cause it's all in her mind It's all in her mind They're asking is it good or bad It's such an icy feeling it's so cold in Alaska, It's so cold in Alaska, it's so cold in Alaska.... |
They never achieved much commercial success as a group, but Velvet Underground has been one of the more influential bands of the '60s and 70s. Brian Eno, of Roxy Music, speculated that only a few thousand people bought the Underground's first album, but every one of them was inspired to start their own band!
Andy Warhol (Yes - the soup-can artist), became the band's manager in 1965. Artist and band worked together in '67-'68 on a 'multimedia' project called Exploding Plastic Inevitable. It was during this period that actress/model Nico was inserted into the band, but she did not last very long.
Although the songs on the Velvet Underground's album VU, including Stephanie Says, were written in 1968-69, it was not released until 1985. I might have put this song in my 60s section, but I think it says something about a group when un-released music is still viable 16 years later. |
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