Day 7

To end this week's subject the ultimate Heroin song can only be Heroin by The Velvet Underground. 

It was released in 1967 on their debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. 

Lou Reed wrote the song in 1964...in 2004 it was placed at #455 of ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE TOP 500 SONGS OF ALL TIME. It is also included in The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame's top 500 songs that shaped rock n roll 

FABULOUS cover by Opal...with the stunning voice of Hope Sandoval(from Mazzy Star),1988

another cover by Beck, it's pretty good. There are alot of covers of the song...some of them in my opinion just terrible...reinterpreted just too much...so this will be the last.

Day 6 ~ Heroin in song.....

Today a duo.... first off The Rolling Stones with a little song called Dead Flowers, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. It first appeared on the 1972 album Sticky Fingers..the lyrics ever so clearly about heroin: "I'll be in my basement room, with a needle and spoon" It has sort of a countryish feel to it, that is not my fave nevertheless it is a powerful dark song.

and a decent cover version  by Guns N Roses...live

and probably my favorite version...by The Cowboy Junkies......

Another important heroin song is by Canadian Neil Young, the song is called The Needle and the Damage done, it first appeared in 1972 on the album Harvest. He states the song was written not about himself, but about musicians he watched go down that painful road, specifically guitarist Danny Whitten..and others. Neil young also tends to be countryish and while that may not be my thing so much..his lyrics are so very powerful..in all his works. He is a true poet and I love his words.

a cover by Pete Doherty...live

and one last cover by Laura Marling...again this last one...probably my favorite version of all.

Day 5

One of the saddest songs ever written: Hurt...it was written by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails in 1995 and originally performed by the band. Since, it has been covered many times. My favorite cover below is by Johnny Cash....not only the best cover but I believe it is the very best version of the song...you can feel the pain and you know it's real. It was on his 2002 album: America IV: The Man Comes Around. Cash was 71 when he filmed the video and passed on 7 months later.

 

NIN original version...also very good...the lyrics tell all, not only is it a painful song but a song about Heroin...

A duet featuring the Legend David Bowie and Trent Reznor live in 1995

and finally Sevendust....a very good moving live dedication to Johnny Cash... from their 2004 live album Southside Double Wide Acoustic Live xx

Lust for Life...art

Day 4

Lust for Life~ Iggy Pop

The song wo co-written by Iggy and David Bowie

Released in 1977.... I love the song and it is just so Trainspotting as it was

used in the beginning of the film whilst the characters were being

introduced. Below is a montage of photos from the film, followed by the original trailer 

for the film, which also uses the song. More of late the song has been

used for mainstream commercials on TV..with the drug references edited....

~Beetlebum Art~

Day 3

Continuing the theme.....Heroin in music... this is Blur, the song is Beetlebum, the video shows Gorillaz and I think it just works great....Damon Albarn is the singer for both bands.

Unlike some heroin influenced songs...Damon Albarn confirms this song is about his experience with the drug...it is a cool sexy, sleepy sort of tune :)


Here...the offical video....

The song was first recorded in 1996 by British band Blur and appears first on the album Charmless Man, then Beetlebum (1997), then Song 2 (1997)

Day 2~~~~

The La's There She Goes

Home studio Version

Cleaner studio version...think I prefer the rougher home version ;)

The La's are from Liverpool, England they formed around 1984. They released one full studio album and several "best of","lost tunes" and compilation albums...they have had many many players (more than 20!), breakups and reunions..you have to wonder if the basis of this song is the reason....