Satellite of Love
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"Satellite of Love" | ||||
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File:Satellite of Love (Lou Reed single - cover art).jpg | ||||
Single by Lou Reed | ||||
from the album Transformer | ||||
B-side | "Vicious" | |||
Released | February 1973 | |||
Length | 3:42 | |||
Label | RCA Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Lou Reed | |||
Producer(s) | David Bowie, Mick Ronson | |||
Lou Reed singles chronology | ||||
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"Satellite of Love" is a song by Lou Reed. It is the second single from his 1972 album Transformer. At the time of its release, it achieved minor chart success, though it later became a staple of his concerts and compilation albums.
Background and recording
"Satellite of Love" was composed in 1970 while Reed was still a member of the Velvet Underground. Fellow member Doug Yule, in a 2005 interview, recalled Reed first mentioning the song to him in the summer of 1970 while they were riding in the back of a limousine with Steve Sesnick: "Steve was there going on about "how we needed airplay", and Lou said "I have this song "Satellite of Love", and he mentioned the satellite that had just gone up which was a big deal in the news at the time, cause the space race was happening, and Steve Sesnick said "Yeah, yeah – that'll do it!"[1] While the band had soon recorded a demo track in the summer of 1970 during the sessions for Loaded, it didn't make the final album.
The song is about a man who observes a satellite launch on television, and contemplates what Reed describes as feelings of "the worst kind of jealousy" about his unfaithful girlfriend.[2] The chorus is:
- I watched it for a little while
- I love to watch things on TV
- Satellite of love
- Satellite of love
David Bowie, who produced the album with Mick Ronson, provided background vocals, especially for the final chorus. Reed would write later: "He has a melodic sense that's just well above anyone else in rock & roll. Most people could not sing some of his melodies. He can really go for a high note. Take 'Satellite of Love,' on my Transformer album. There's a part at the very end where his voice goes all the way up. It's fabulous."[3]
The existence of the original Velvet Underground version was largely unknown until the release of the box set Peel Slowly and See in 1995. It also appears on the 1997 Rhino Records 2-CD version of the Loaded album.
In addition to being more up-tempo, the band's version contains a significant change in the lyrics. The lines:
- I've been told that you've been bold
- With Harry, Mark, and John
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday to Thursday
- With Harry, Mark, and John
were originally recorded as:
- I've been told baby you've been bold
- With Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday to Thursday
- To Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod
Reflecting on the original lyrics, Reed said, "Jesus. Best left forgotten. Obviously, I didn't want to use real names yet. I probably wanted to make sure I wasn't using a name that really meant something to me."[2]
Personnel
- Lou Reed - guitar, lead vocals
- David Bowie and the Thunderthighs - backing vocals
- Trevor Bolder - trumpet
- Herbie Flowers - tuba
- Mick Ronson - piano, recorder
- Klaus Voormann - bass
- John Halsey - drums
Morrissey version
"Satellite of Love" | ||||
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Single by Morrissey | ||||
Released | 2 December 2013 | |||
Length | 3:46 | |||
Label | Parlophone | |||
Songwriter(s) | Lou Reed | |||
Producer(s) | David Millward, Mick Ronson | |||
Morrissey singles chronology | ||||
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Morrissey's live cover of the song was digitally released on 2 December 2013 as a tribute to Reed, following his death in 2013. The song was recorded on 25 November 2011 in at the Chelsea Ballroom of Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in Nevada.[4][5][6] The 7" and 12" vinyl version and a three-track digital version were also released on January 28, 2014.[7] All three versions of the single were supported by additional live tracks, including a rendition of the Smiths' song "Vicar in a Tutu", a cover of Buzzcocks' song "You Say You Don't Love Me" and his 1992 song "You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side".[7][8] The cover topped the U.S. Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart.[9]
Track listing
12"
A-side
- "Satellite of Love (Live)"
- "You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side"
B-side
- "Vicar in a Tutu (Live)"
- "All You Need Is Me (Live)"
7"
A-side
- "Satellite of Love (Live)"
B-side
- "You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side"
- "You Say You Don't Love Me (Live)" (Buzzcocks cover)
Digital download
- "Satellite of Love (Live)"
- "You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side"
- "Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed (Live)"
Credits and personnel
- Morrissey – lead vocals
- Boz Boorer – guitar, mixing
- Jesse Tobias – guitar
- Gustavo Manzur – piano, backing vocals
- Solomon Walker – bass
- Matt Walker – drums
- David Millward – recording, production
- Scott Minshall – design
- Bill Inglot – mastering
- Dan Hersch – mastering
- Renaud Monfourny – photography
- Mick Ronson – production ("You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side")
Charts
Chart (2014) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard Hot Singles Sales[9] | 1 |
Other cover versions
- Issay of Der Zibet covered it live with Yoshiki of X Japan on piano and a small orchestra at Extasy Summit '91 at the Nippon Budokan. The performance was later included on the home video release of the concert.
- U2 released a cover version on the "One" singles in 1992. The song was given added exposure in 1992-1993 by its regular use on U2's satellite-themed Zoo TV Tour, where Bono sang it as a duet with a prerecorded video image of Reed (and on a few occasions Reed appeared on stage to sing it in person).
- A remake of the song made by the Dab Hands, titled "Satellite of Love '04", was released in the United Kingdom in 2004, making it to #10 on the UK Singles Chart.
- Actress and occasional musician Milla Jovovich performed a cover for the film The Million Dollar Hotel with the MDH band – a group whose members included Bono and The Edge.
- Beck played the song at the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame 2015
- Other artists who have covered the song include the Bravery, Martin Plaza, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Leo Sayer, Porno for Pyros, Eurythmics, the Polyamorous Affair and Danny Saber.
In popular culture
- The Satellite of Love spaceship is the primary setting of the TV comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000. The song itself, with lyrics reflecting the characters ("Gypsy, Tom, and Crow" instead of "Harry, Mark, and John", for example), was sung at the end of all live shows featuring the cast.
- The song is mentioned in the Def Leppard song "Rocket".
- The Ron & Fez Show closed every show with the song. Sometimes the show's cast and producers will sing along.
- In Adventureland, Mike Connell's (Ryan Reynolds) claims that he was formerly a musician with Lou Reed are proven false when he periodically demonstrates ignorance of Reed's music, including referring to "Satellite of Love" as "Shed a Light on Love".
- The song was used in the fourth season of the TV series Gilmore Girls. In the episode "Raincoats and Recipes," the song plays as Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) loses her virginity to her married ex-boyfriend Dean (Jared Padalecki).
- The Lou Reed version of the song is played in the 1998 movie Velvet Goldmine, with Ewan McGregor lip-synching the backing vocals.
See also
References
- ^ The Velvet Underground – Doug Yule Part 7 on YouTube
- ^ a b Reed, Lou, interviewed by David Fricke. Peel Slowly and See liner notes, p. 73
- ^ Lou Reed. "100 Greatest Artist: David Bowie". Rolling Stone. Consulted on October 3, 2011.
- ^ McGovern, Kyle (November 11, 2013). "Morrissey Will Orbit Lou Reed's 'Satellite of Love' on Live Single". Spin. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
- ^ Battan, Carrie (November 11, 2013). "Morrissey to Release His Live Version of Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love" as a Single". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
- ^ "Morrissey to release cover of Lou Reed's 'Satellite of Love'". Fact. November 11, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
- ^ a b Grow, Kory (November 26, 2013). "Morrissey Reveals Full 'Satellite of Love' Single Details". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
- ^ "Morrissey announces B-sides for 'Satellite Of Love'". NME. November 30, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
- ^ a b "Hot Singles Sales – February 22, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 14 April 2014.