Lou Reed a Vocal Influence on Bernard Sumner?

So, I've been listening to the Velvet Underground on the subways whilst riding around NYC a lot recently, and something hit me last night...

I was listening to Reeds voice on What Goes On, Heroin, and Venus in Furs, and I noticed that his cadence, intonation, and enunciation, and even the way he pronounces his words is somewhat similar to the way that Bernard sings, especially the way Bernard sings on earlier New Order songs.

Now, you will think I am crazy, I know. I've listened to New Order and the VU for years and I've never noticed a similarity in Reed and Sumner's vocal styles...

But the way that Bernard sings, the sort of almost hesitant, boyish tones, the pronouncement of certain words, the vocal accents.....I can hear it all there in Lou Reed's voice.

I know it sounds crazy, but listen...it's there.

Bernard has a very distinctive voice, and it was the first thing I really noticed when hearing New order for the first time...so I wonder if Lou Reed's singing was an influence on Bernard's singing, much like Jim Morrison was a vocal influence on Ian Curtis.

I also think Lou Reed's guitar playing influenced Bernard's guitar playing...

I don't know...some thoughts I wanted to share.

naaaa..

Doubt it. But Lou Reed is one of those under rated artists

"New York" the album is a stone cold classic.

On a side note, I saw Lou Reed walking his dog a few weeks ago.

Listen to Reed's vocals on the first VU record, then listen to early Sumner vocals. There is a similarity there. I think, anyways.

Barney:

'do,do,do,do,do,do,do,do,do,do,do,'

Lou (well his backing singer) 'do,do,do,do,do,do,do,do,do,do,do,do,do,do,do,do,do'

LiamShed wrote: Doubt it. But Lou Reed is one of those under rated artists

Lou Reed is about as "underrated" as orgasms, the Brazil side of 1970 and your first hit of crack.

FFS.

I don't hear much of a resemblance...

leather_girl wrote: I don't hear much of a resemblance...

Listen to the similarity in cadence, inflection, ect. It's not obvious at all, but its there.

I think there is a definite VU/Reed influence at times. I don't think Bernard would feel comfortable writing songs or singing directly like Reed, but I agree that Reed probably did inspire Bernard at times.

I wonder if Bernard liked the third VU album alot, in which Lou Reed successfully changed the direction of his band to something less dark, less harsh, more harmonic... similar to what Bernard did with New Order after Joy Division and Hannett was gone. "What Goes On" seems like a song Bernard would have loved to write.

From Brotherhood, "Paradise" seems to have a cool Lou Reed influence, and I've thought "Every Little Counts" was a very obvious Velvet Underground homage/pisstake.

What about "Run Wild"? Well, not a great song.

Most obviously - JD and NO covered Sister Ray and The Ostrich back in the days. Anymore hints needed? It seems, Velvet Underground and Lou Reed did in have an impact on Bernard's and Jd's/NO's music. If it was more on his singing style or his guitar play... dunno...

Rainmaster wrote: Most obviously - JD and NO covered Sister Ray and The Ostrich back in the days. Anymore hints needed? It seems, Velvet Underground and Lou Reed did in have an impact on Bernard's and Jd's/NO's music.

Yes. And Sumner has actually confirmed (as suggested above) that "Every Little Counts" was inspired by Reed. He's also mentioned how he was listening to "up music,like Street Hassle" as New Order evolved away from the Joy Division sound.

Barney has confirmed VU as an influence already. They had venus in furs on their back to mine as well.

Tony Casanova wrote:

And Sumner has actually confirmed (as suggested above) that "Every Little Counts" was inspired by Reed.

Muahahahahahhaarrrrr, you know Walk on the wild side, do you?

Ruined in a day wrote: Muahahahahahhaarrrrr, you know Walk on the wild side, do you?

Fuck Me. It's so obvious, but I haven't really noticed it for twenty odd years. Someone should do one of these 'mash-up' thingys the kids are fond of.

FDISK wrote:

Ruined in a day wrote: Muahahahahahhaarrrrr, you know Walk on the wild side, do you?

Fuck Me. It's so obvious, but I haven't really noticed it for twenty odd years. Someone should do one of these 'mash-up' thingys the kids are fond of.

Lou Reed should have sued them, not that whimp John Denver.

Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground

Every Little Cunts of Brotherhood is supposed to be a pisstake of Wank On The Wild Side.

isn't it?

And not a very good one at that.....