Today the world lost a genius, but so much more than that. To say he had a profound impact on American culture is nothing compared to the profound impact he had on anyone who loves music.
Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.
"I'm Waiting for the Man," with John Cale. Uncompromising. Raw. "Sister Ray," seventeen minutes of beautiful noise. "Pale Blue Eyes," gorgeous, heart-wrenchingly beautiful. "Satellite of Love," forty years later, still an enigma. "Walk on the Wild Side," who among us doesn't know every word? Hard to believe now that it was was so . . . what? Taboo? Amazing it ever got airplay.
Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in the world, then it can only happen through music.
"Vicious," "Sad Song," "Sweet Jane." I mean Sweet Jane. One of those hand-on-my-heart songs, beautifully sweet . . . jane.
Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.
And "Street Hassle." When asked one of those questions, "Who would you invite to dinner?" Lou Reed. Without question. But in regard to this song? Bruce Springsteen. What must it have been like?
In music the passions enjoy themselves.
Few move me to the level Lou Reed does. Leonard Cohen too. Rolling Stone doesn't list either in its reader-chosen greatest songwriters of all time. And who among those chosen weren't influenced by Lou Reed? I'd ask all ten of them that question during my fantasy dinner.
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
I love music. I live my life by soundtrack. I can't imagine my world without music. And I can't imagine a world of music without the extraordinary contributions of Lou Reed.
Where words fail, music speaks.
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