This video amuses me greatly because in June of 1988 Lou came to my high school in NYC and spoke to an english class. Me and a couple of my VU/Reed fan friends talked our way into the session and it was pretty brutal. The students were given printed lyrics of a few songs, "The Day JFK Died," The Gun" and one or two others. The kids were clueless, asked really stupid questions, and Lou was really frustrated. But his frustration was hysterical to watch. When one girl asked him why "all" of his songs were about violence, he calmly asked her which songs she was referring to again and again until she had to admit that she really didn't know any of his songs. When asked by another student if he could speak louder because people in the back couldn't hear him, his response was, "This is the way I talk - If you can't hear me, come up and sit closer." LOFL. Classic. I got my hall pass signed by him.
I was a huge teenage fan of his back then, and while I saw him from New Sensations tour forward til then, I cannot imagine how friggin cool that would be to see him there... and know his friggin music! That is the same issue he had with this asshole 'journalist'... "Do your homework or don't bother me with an interview if you don't know my work!!!" (Admittedly my friend worked for the venue he played here during the 80's, and he was an asshole to everyone in the venue's prep staff. It is a product of the 80's and his lack of recognition then. Valid.)
This is the nicest i've ever seen Lou Reed. He's actually amused here. When the nice young man (clearly way out of his depth) says he has no more questions before his time is up Lou realises the pompous self importance of the artist has been checkmated completely by accident. It's actually a lovely moment. "Was it my answers?" Yes I'm leaving now. Brilliant!
Any Interviewer (even amature) does research before hand about subject. Most important if you know nothing. It's insulting & disrespectful to person your meeting to be stupid.
I honestly think Lou Reed was incredibly nice to someone who came to interview him without even knowing who he was. And to whoever sent him there. I mean, you get 30 minutes to interview Lou Reed and you don't know what to ask. And Lou is smiling all through the interview. He's not even mad at all. He's just astonished that this could be happening!
pooginmouse exactly . Iou seemed fairly polite an friendly an concerned with trying to make the young lad feel better i think its just a case of missunderstanding .. the guy acting like he been assaulted . He way too sensitive to even be alive ..let alone be a journalist .. lou had a bit of banter going on but the nervous lad took it all to heart .. which i lou werent expecting an when he realised the lad was upset u can tell they was a genuine shock an concern .. the lad shoulda took 5 an gone back in an carried on ..he was lucky to be interviewing lou ... i think my 5year old son cudda done a better job tbh ..
@A C I preefer his "moronic pseudo rockstar's ugly face" , which is a true one and doesent wear any masks, than a fake plastic motown celebrity. At least this one has a soul (I cant believe I have to even remark that as something outsatanding but hey, thank that to 24 hour celebrity media bullshit)
Lou seemed genuinely concerned about the interviewers feelings when in the end he says "I said you're the exception". This kid should be honored that Lou cared even that much! I think Lou cut him some slack because of his age and could see that the English language was a challenge for him. I'm glad I saw this because it shows Lou's human side. When he realized this interviewer was totally clueless, he let his guard down. Sure, he was a bit condescending, but who wouldn't be? as these questions were so general, they could've been asked of anyone. So Lou got bored and turned the tables around, but he also showed compassion as he schooled the kid and his organization for being there and basically wasting his time with silly irrelevant questions. In all fairness to the interviewer, I don't think he's complaining about Lou Reed, but just pointing out the mistakes he made as a budding journalist being unprepared and unable to rescue himself from an embarrassing train-wreck of an interview. I hope he is better now.
***** - i agree, the interviewer wasn't being disrespected by Lou, and Lou just had to be blunt because the questions were sort of naive… the interviewer took it wrongly, because he hadn't known enough about Lou beforehand. he should change the title of this interview to something plain, like 'An uncertain interview with Lou Reed', more fitting.
Preliminimal Yes, the title should be changed, but I think it's misleading on purpose so people watch it thinking Lou is the "Lowest form of life" and something in the video will show this. Really, it should be titled "Who Lou Reed feels is the lowest form of life", but this title would not get as many views. Oh well,.... sensationalism.
***** -- Yes. the interviewer was nervous, sensitive to the responses and the questions were not thought out ahead very well... so it is understandable how maybe he felt Lou was overly aggressive. I think this video can teach everyone a lesson on self-composure, indirectly, that is what i get out of it
I think Lou really meant it when he said "you're the exception." As in, "you are of an ilk far too kind and real to be in this cut throat business of backstabbers and shilled sycophants..."
Just the fact that he repeated that phrase in the end proves it. I haven´t seen all that many interviews with Lou, but those I have seen has been killed off. When it´s done it´s done. He doesn´t add anything unless he has to. In this case though he repeats what he said before. A kind gesture.
In my opinion this journalist deserves the utmost respect for not letting this rot forever in some closet but to have the guts to publish it and reflect about what happened. And I really love Lou Reed... it´s a precious document of sheer kindness and humanity.
Lou always reminded me of my grandmother. Stern, a bit intimidating, but with a slight smile beneath. He was trying to make the kid feel good at the end.
Being unprepared is fine and a so called legend can play off of it because it creates tension and controversy. And tension and controversy means more eyes and ears and money. If an interviewer knows everything about the artist it comes across as a sappy fan boy who is groveling the entire time. Both styles of interview are needed.
Lou Reed looks like a perfect gentleman , in an awkward situation. The young man and he are doing the best with what they each had to work with. Reed seems like a regular human, better than most. Thanks for the memory.
Lou - (with mock accent) Obviously I think Sweden it is very beautiful, and I love it very much. Interviewer - Why do you love Sweden? Lou - I love Sweden because it is very beautiful. Journalism at its best!
I think what he was trying to convey is that he likes what he sees but he really didn’t know sweden at the time. He went on to ask the journalist how he finds Sweden. But then he discovers that the journalist isn’t quick to answer and so they talk about other places he’s seen
That may be the most respectful and pleasant I have ever seen Lou in an interview. I don't see this as being tragic ordeal for anyone put the interviewer for not knowing more about his subject. Lou could have crushed that guys ego into making him quit his job if he wanted to but he didn't. I think he was even trying to give him encouragement a couple of times.Cool post.
+BassToTheFaceMan Feeling a similar thing. Perhaps he noticed how the guy was just a rookie sent into something simply a step too high for his own good. Being constructive beats being destructive in the longer term, and the interviewer was still young, no lost cause journalist like Lou might've encountered earlier.
I agree. One has to know his work before you interview him!!! And if you're a fan... I am surprised he or she does not have mastery of that music knowledge! (Or at least a keen sense of inquiry with basic knowledge!)
This is the best thing I have watched in ages. It shows that Lou Reed was the real deal, someone able to be genuine at the right time. All my respect to his soul. This is a great lesson in how to go about in life.
It's a great interview. It's an interview in which you really get to know the human being behind the popstar. You can see he really likes this guy who is not really a professional, but just a very shy young man who wants to try to do this interview. It's almost romantic, the interaction between the two, and the sympathy Lou Reed shows to this boy
I really enjoyed this. It was interesting to watch Lou's demeanor change with his impression of your character. Your commentary was a skillful guide on this beautifully awkward tour.
I guess I'd heard of Lou Reed profiled in a lot of ways but "hilarious" was never one of them. Overall if you read the literature on Lou Reed you'd have the impression he was a somewhat "difficult" "disagreeable" and not terribly "lovable" man. {I don't know what other conclusion one could come too.} Again, I quote Mick Jagger from an interview, "A lot of artists can be quite difficult. That's fairly common." Question, "how well is that tolerated in the industry Mick?"........."Depends on how hot you are at a given moment. If you are hot it is well tolerated. If you aren't then not so well tolerated."
It is all a put-on by Lou since the 60's.. His face for the world of inquisitors. Laurie Anderson would have never stayed with him so long if it wasn't. (In fact she states he was the sweetest man on the planet!) Most writers (and posters here as well) have no idea of what they are talking about. Magazines are most concerned with hype and drama. He gave them that, only in the way they did not expect. His artistry is untouchable. Very few musicians have same influence over the past 50 years. Millions of bands owe a lot to Lou and the Velvets...
I love Lou's poker face whenever he is being interviewed..his facial expressions are priceless but he is definitely giving this guy a very warm interview for Lou he even got a few laughs out of him...He is the best
This was sooo damn sweet. Lou does like you! You were just young, but its clear he was trying to help you along, was very patient, even teasing a little. I loved every bit of this. Thanks you 😘 This is how we learn eh?
This interviewer misinterpreted the interview. I think Lou was asking him questions because it was clear the interviewer was uncomfortable and was trying to be more conversational. Being part Swedish myself, I know that some Swedes are notoriously sensitive people, and this guy is clearly very sensitive. Nothing wrong with that, but: Sensitive Swede with an old school guy from NYC....you get where I'm going. Misinterpretation.
More conversational? Lou was a razor blade. Maybe the interviewer was nervous and so was Lou, disagreements happen but when you have Lou Fucking Reed in froint of you... I mean that must be a scary fucking thing. If you jhave someone in front of you who is inexperience and has a job to do, you make company with tenderness and understanding, that applies even to LR. There are better ways. If you think an interviewer is the lowest form of life, then why THE FUCK ARE YOU GIVING AN INTERVIEW IN THE FIRST PLACE?
I believe Lou was having a ball with this "Kid"...I think he was most comfortable when things were very uncomfortable...He liked the tension. I believe most artists are this way. They worry when things are too easy. Being difficult comes with the job. BTW, I don't think he was being particularly difficult here. He had a rep for being far worse. I think he knew right off that the kid was new to this, and he actually liked him.
@@fernandobocadillos Because he liked to say things like that and because the british journalists ARE scum. Everybody knows that. He explicitly states that the interviewer is the exception and ok. But he is just a kid, who shouldn't have taken the job in the first place. This is as embarrasing as when Swedish television invited Johnny Thunders to play live at their tv show. I mean, who the hell books a junky, who can't play because he is too strung out, to play at a dinner show, only because they know that he is some kind of a name in Rock n' roll. Either they got a great sense of humor at their HQ or their planners and researcher are completely clueless. I seriously don't think this happens because of the great sense of humor at SVT, sooo....
Anyone who's ever seen/read an interview with Lou Reed knows that he _always_ answered like that. Short and with a sarcastic tone. You couldn't expect anything else.
There is a famous live album in which no expense was spared to make Lou Reed seem to be the rock'n roller that he never was. If money and dishonesty were no issue for Lou, then why not script the clowns and reports too? Listen guy, there never was a single interview where journalists genuinely fawned over their (male) interviewee like a pack of saps. You are speaking of fake interviews and deception. Lou Reed never took it up the wazoo and he never used intravenous drugs. Lou Reed is a fraudster who destroyed the fabric of society with illusions and broom handles up your a$$, unless you knew that. Oh, and some of the musicians, writers, and sound guys he worked with, or that somehow were persuaded to work with him, were very good. That is sure. I think Lou Reed is just a record label executive's shalom bro.
This wasn't that bad at all. He was a young, inexperienced awestruck kid dealing with a jaded superstar that has a beef with journalists and rightfully so. His lack of english skills didn't help. Reed actually did like this kid but he also ate him for breakfast. If you want to see some painful interviews then watch most Nick Cave interviews or anything with Iggy Pop circa 1980 for some pretty brutal stuff.
This is a gem, from the interview, to Reed asking him questions, to "you don't have any more questions???", to the remembering of the journalist looking back. Pure comedy. Thanks to the journalist for sharing one of the worst moments of his life so we could be amused.
i m a big lou reed fan, 48 years old.. i decided to watch some lou reed interviews, what i never did... and the first five interviews i saw, the interviewers where not in contact and honest towards him, like having a real conversation... than I saw your interview, and I though, hey that s the first interviewer who is himself and normally reacting on him and i though, Hey Lou finally likes being interviewd, as he in the end, also said.... he meant it Keep on doing the good work en being yourself, good interviewer, person
By the standards of usual Lou Reed interviews, it went pretty well actually. At least he asked about Lou's work instead of his lifestyle, which never goes down well.
Absolutely FASCINATING! Lou was such a complex guy. You see it here. What a beautiful little film this is -- thank you for sharing it, Nicholas -- it is brave for you to have done so -- AND really wonderful for people to see Lou in a rather "unguarded" (for him) state. I love your commentary. This is just brilliant from beginning to end.
Lou was being very nice to him. I honestly don't know what the issue is. He realized the kid was nervous and a novice and he was trying. He also has a dry sense of humor and being nervous the interviewer didn't pick up on it. It actually was going very well. He wasn't giving perfunctory answers. It wasn't his job to make the interviewer comfortable but he tries to engage him to do that.
Lou Reed interviews his 22 yo unprepared Swedish interviewer Lou could be cantankerous, but this dialogue has more meaning and insight into the persona of Lou Reed in a few minutes than most "professional" interviews
This was really great in such an unexpected way. It kind of felt like, at the end there, Lou was ready to just chat. I don't think there's ever been another interview where that was the case.
Lou Reed was real. Most people can't handle honesty, and that was all that Lou was. He hated journalists, he said so many times, so he would just screw around with them to purposely throw them off their game. RIP Lou.
"REAL" lmfao. Lou's jerkin your chain and you can't even see it. It was all a performance to create controversy and have more eyes and ears tune in. Nobody listens to people when they give nice pleasant little interviews that no one talks about a day later.
Lou had great presence coupled with composure and confidence. Most of us suffer from fear of being disliked or misunderstood which weakens our position.
two kwool people. Lou was magnanimous, as he probably was most of the time. That journalist should be proud. He was himself, maybe naive, but Lou Reed showed his respect and calm. What a dude!
I find Lou incredibly hilarious and engaging. He's always got that wry smile on his lips. And I can see his point about journalists, as they simply want to "report". Which is good for sudden happenings, and things that maybe hidden from public awareness. But when it comes to the arts - "So you have a new record, book, and movie out now..." Yep. "And there's lot's of songs on the record?" Yep "And you expect to sell lots of books?" Yep "And if your movie isn't successful?" I guess I'll have to make another that is... Journalists never ask "what" and "why" when it comes to the arts. They simply confirm what's already on the press release. And love how Lou simply does that, and/or shows more interest in the journalists than they really have of him.
Reed gives the impression that he’s bored sh*tless in many interviews, but to me he seems to be loving it! Like inside his head he’s screaming with laughter at the absurdity of it all!
It is unfortunate that an interviewer was intimidated and ended the conversation half way through. Lou regretted the awkward communication early on with him and even tried to find topics that he’d share with. Behind his tough demeanor, there is always sensitive and delicate personality that made Lou Reed a complex and interesting character.
Lou was a secular saint. One cannot write songs like Romeo Had Juliet and Coney Island Baby without having a big soft spot for humanity. He just didn't like pompous, arrogant people and took them down whenever he could.
This "Interviewer" might be in the wrong profession and I agree with the many people who say that Lou is being kind here. He WAS BEING about as Kind as he EVER Gets - he could be Brutal, Absolutely Brutal. He strived to be the best 'Lou Reed' he could possibly be, he expected those around him to be the best they could be. And I feel it's obvious that Lou took a genuine 'shine' to this particular Interviewer, I think Lou actually liked this guy and probably mostly for his honesty and his humanity.
One of the the things I've come to realise as I've gotten older, is that when people are super defensive and kind of heard to talk to, its usually not me, its them. By that I mean peoples shyness, and social anxieties make them seem stand offishing and even snobby, and more often than not that person would love to open up with you but their own anxiety wont let them. I always had the impression Lou reed was a man with a lot of anxiety and pent up feelings, but rather than collapse socially, he put on a slightly distant air, as a way of protecting himself.
No, he didn't take the interview seriously enough. He was utterly unprepared, and ill-equipped to intrigue Lou with any real questioning about his current projects at the time.
5 ปีที่แล้ว +2
That's the point of the film. He didn't realize he had Lou Reed unmasked.
Obviously, and for years it's been a pet peeve of Lou's (and many other celebrities) when interviewers don't even do the most basic homework for questions or direction. The interviewers usually insult Lou by this unprofessionalism and I have heard about since the early 80's... but it doesn't excuse the offenders; rather it justifes Lou's contempt. I have seen great interviews on Dutch TV that show what a wonderful guest he can be. Just understand your subject??
incredible... thank you for posting. how to interview lou reed when you're 22 and barely speak english, oh gosh, i would have been dying. and then he had to say the part about lowest life form... what an exhange.
At 3:58 the reporter should've said, "Instead he meets a 22 year old guy who knows NOTHING at all!" It's amazing how bad and just foolish the questions he asks are. It's hard to watch! No matter where you go, it seems the media and its *reporters are all the same; they all ask stupid questions* which they either already know the answer to, could easily look-up or research the answer, or just shouldn't ask the question(s) in the first place.
It's essentially a non event, but I like that it shows Lou's playful side. Lou is a Sharp Wiley customer and for any in the know it's plain to see that he is toying with the young guy in a delicate, cheeky, fashion likely trying to glean some entertainment value from this drab redundant moment. I mean, he was being nice, FFS, lol. All of life's worst have failed to make a dent in this man, and whether you love or loathe his music, he has made a life of it far beyond his Used by date. Respect!
That interview was nicest Lou Reed interview I've ever seen. I could feel he genuinely liked the interviewer, unlike almost every other interview I've seen of his. Makes me think, maybe he wasn't an asshole, maybe he just didn't like heartless journalists with an axe to grind. But this guy was very humble.
Yeah, it is rare Lou Reed would be nice to an interviewer. I don't see any "Lowest form of life" here. Quite the opposite. "Scared to fly" and rather than be nasty Lou Reed chuckles in good humour and agrees saying "Good reason"
Whoever sent this young man,with limited English who sounds like he knew nothing of Lou Reed,into this interview must have needed his head read.I thought that Lou Reed himself was very generous,he could have really tore into the interviewer if he had wished.He choose not too.
He was just messing around the whole time being dry and sarcastic. Lou knew right away this was a babe in the woods so he gave funny answers and wanted to see the interviewers reaction to the same questions. He even moved to mess with the camera guy. You could tell he felt bad in the end when he told him to remember he was the exception. Love Lou.
'You don't have to answer if you don't want to." "Ooh, thank you very much." :-))))) And i think tha inteviewer didn't understand when he asked is he leaving because of 'his answer', referring on 'i hate journalists'. Thou, this is great!
Interviews are best when they are by someone who is creatively involved in a medium, because making music and art is the opposite of analyzing, so it always clashes with analytical journalists. creative minded people are trying to express out, and journalists are dissectively going in
An interviewer has to find the point of flow with the person's interests who is being interviewed, otherwise there is a paradoxic flux between the 2 people. It has to be more like a conversation rather than taking an inventory of what they like, many don't like being interviewed at all. If someone asks to interview you, first spend some time chatting with them, that's wise for anyone to avoid static-type interviews
Okay this to me was a clear example of the language and cultural barrier being a problem. Because the interviewer's English isn't very good, and he maybe doesn't understand American deadpan humor, he's only getting Lou Reed's tone (Lou Reed is always going to be deadpan), not his content. He also doesn't know what to do about Reed having more to say than expected because he just has a list of questions to adhere to. He doesn't know how to follow up to Reed's off the cuff remarks and he's asking unnecessary follow-up questions because he's nervous and not understanding the language well. Reed was actually very patient with him and probably could even see that he wasn't like the typical manipulative journalists he despises. BTW he is so right about English journalists. They were manipulative assholes.
The content of the video doesn't quite match the title. Lou is being really cool, the journalist guy just didn't have the experience to deal with a star like Lou.
The interviewer must have a huge insecurity problem. He's asking these weird, largely trivial questions, and Lou's responding respectfully and is being fairly nice. This doesn't come close to some of his other interviews, especially in the 70's. And to be fair to Mr. Reed, a lot of the time he went off on journalists was when they were asking him completely unnecessary or personal questions.
![Lou Reed • Interview • 1983 [Reelin' In The Years Archive]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tBpaE0ppxow/mqdefault.jpg)
![Lou Reed • Interview • 1983 [Reelin' In The Years Archive]](/img/tr.png)
![Velvet Underground - New York Public Library - 2009 [Complete]](/img/n.gif)
This video amuses me greatly because in June of 1988 Lou came to my high school in NYC and spoke to an english class. Me and a couple of my VU/Reed fan friends talked our way into the session and it was pretty brutal. The students were given printed lyrics of a few songs, "The Day JFK Died," The Gun" and one or two others. The kids were clueless, asked really stupid questions, and Lou was really frustrated. But his frustration was hysterical to watch. When one girl asked him why "all" of his songs were about violence, he calmly asked her which songs she was referring to again and again until she had to admit that she really didn't know any of his songs. When asked by another student if he could speak louder because people in the back couldn't hear him, his response was, "This is the way I talk - If you can't hear me, come up and sit closer." LOFL. Classic. I got my hall pass signed by him.
amazing story you are lucky to have gone to highschool in NY
I was a huge teenage fan of his back then, and while I saw him from New Sensations tour forward til then, I cannot imagine how friggin cool that would be to see him there... and know his friggin music! That is the same issue he had with this asshole 'journalist'... "Do your homework or don't bother me with an interview if you don't know my work!!!" (Admittedly my friend worked for the venue he played here during the 80's, and he was an asshole to everyone in the venue's prep staff. It is a product of the 80's and his lack of recognition then. Valid.)
Good story. Congrats.
Nice dude! Very cool story.
What a jerk this lou reed is
This is the nicest i've ever seen Lou Reed. He's actually amused here. When the nice young man (clearly way out of his depth) says he has no more questions before his time is up Lou realises the pompous self importance of the artist has been checkmated completely by accident. It's actually a lovely moment. "Was it my answers?" Yes I'm leaving now. Brilliant!
The interviewer shows something about the endearingness of vulnerability
Lou was too cool for school, but not a complete ogre!
Any Interviewer (even amature) does research before hand about subject. Most important if you know nothing. It's insulting & disrespectful to person your meeting to be stupid.
@@lowe-quay-shush
*amateur
*beforehand
*you're
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
he's been much nicer than this.
I honestly think Lou Reed was incredibly nice to someone who came to interview him without even knowing who he was. And to whoever sent him there. I mean, you get 30 minutes to interview Lou Reed and you don't know what to ask. And Lou is smiling all through the interview. He's not even mad at all. He's just astonished that this could be happening!
Everything you said was correct I miss Lou Reed
Yeah I think Lou was really aware of the situation and was really just messing with the guy.
It’s actually quite precious and funny. We now have a record of a more spontaneous Lou!
I agréé !
Bonjour de France les amis ✌😉👍🇫🇷
Quite often when I've had a bad day i watch this...it makes me laugh...and reminds me to be more direct...i would have loved to hang out with Lou....
Poor guy is so scared and intimidated he did not realize Lou was being nice to him. Liked him in a way I suspect
pooginmouse exactly . Iou seemed fairly polite an friendly an concerned with trying to make the young lad feel better i think its just a case of missunderstanding .. the guy acting like he been assaulted . He way too sensitive to even be alive ..let alone be a journalist .. lou had a bit of banter going on but the nervous lad took it all to heart .. which i lou werent expecting an when he realised the lad was upset u can tell they was a genuine shock an concern .. the lad shoulda took 5 an gone back in an carried on ..he was lucky to be interviewing lou ... i think my 5year old son cudda done a better job tbh ..
@A C I preefer his "moronic pseudo rockstar's ugly face" , which is a true one and doesent wear any masks, than a fake plastic motown celebrity. At least this one has a soul (I cant believe I have to even remark that as something outsatanding but hey, thank that to 24 hour celebrity media bullshit)
the interviewer needs to get a new career if he ''scared''.
@@stevefranke6541 if you're not scared of interviewing lou reed, you didn't interview lou reed
He was so nice to him, that was pretty endearing for a Lou Reed interview.
One of the best interviews ever. I've watched it 10 times and still don't get bored. This is ...human interaction. That's it
Lou laughing, "But Nicholas" is more real and human than "Waves of Fear" and "The Kids" put together. God bless this man.
Nicholas getting Lou to drop his guard is honestly very impressive for a guy who characterized himself as a dumb 22 year old
Lou seemed genuinely concerned about the interviewers feelings when in the end he says "I said you're the exception". This kid should be honored that Lou cared even that much! I think Lou cut him some slack because of his age and could see that the English language was a challenge for him. I'm glad I saw this because it shows Lou's human side. When he realized this interviewer was totally clueless, he let his guard down. Sure, he was a bit condescending, but who wouldn't be? as these questions were so general, they could've been asked of anyone. So Lou got bored and turned the tables around, but he also showed compassion as he schooled the kid and his organization for being there and basically wasting his time with silly irrelevant questions. In all fairness to the interviewer, I don't think he's complaining about Lou Reed, but just pointing out the mistakes he made as a budding journalist being unprepared and unable to rescue himself from an embarrassing train-wreck of an interview. I hope he is better now.
***** Agree. He was as near to nice as he could be. I was expecting much worse.
***** - i agree, the interviewer wasn't being disrespected by Lou, and Lou just had to be blunt because the questions were sort of naive… the interviewer took it wrongly, because he hadn't known enough about Lou beforehand. he should change the title of this interview to something plain, like 'An uncertain interview with Lou Reed', more fitting.
Preliminimal Yes, the title should be changed, but I think it's misleading on purpose so people watch it thinking Lou is the "Lowest form of life" and something in the video will show this. Really, it should be titled "Who Lou Reed feels is the lowest form of life", but this title would not get as many views. Oh well,.... sensationalism.
***** -- Yes. the interviewer was nervous, sensitive to the responses and the questions were not thought out ahead very well... so it is understandable how maybe he felt Lou was overly aggressive. I think this video can teach everyone a lesson on self-composure, indirectly, that is what i get out of it
No, he really is just a pretentious, condescending curmudgeon. All his interviews are like this.
I think Lou really meant it when he said "you're the exception."
As in, "you are of an ilk far too kind and real to be in this cut throat business of backstabbers and shilled sycophants..."
Just the fact that he repeated that phrase in the end proves it. I haven´t seen all that many interviews with Lou, but those I have seen has been killed off. When it´s done it´s done. He doesn´t add anything unless he has to. In this case though he repeats what he said before. A kind gesture.
In my opinion this journalist deserves the utmost respect for not letting this rot forever in some closet but to have the guts to publish it and reflect about what happened. And I really love Lou Reed... it´s a precious document of sheer kindness and humanity.
Lou always reminded me of my grandmother. Stern, a bit intimidating, but with a slight smile beneath. He was trying to make the kid feel good at the end.
JoDee Purkeypile lol really that's hilarious
He reminds me a lot of my grandmother too haha, just an old school Jewish New York sense of humor I think
Dude same here
Your grandmother sounds like an awesome lady. Respect your grandmother.
My Mexican grandmother is the same
NY attitude and sarcasm at it's finest... he was actually being REALLY gentle with this kid
I’m from Nebraska, and I second this 💯
This should be shown to all media students, well done for showing it.
Being unprepared is fine and a so called legend can play off of it because it creates tension and controversy. And tension and controversy means more eyes and ears and money.
If an interviewer knows everything about the artist it comes across as a sappy fan boy who is groveling the entire time.
Both styles of interview are needed.
How interesting, what a lucky guy to be the only journalist lou didn't despise.
Lou Reed looks like a perfect gentleman , in an awkward situation. The young man and he are doing the best with what they each had to work with. Reed seems like a regular human, better than most. Thanks for the memory.
Lou - (with mock accent) Obviously I think Sweden it is very beautiful, and I love it very much.
Interviewer - Why do you love Sweden?
Lou - I love Sweden because it is very beautiful.
Journalism at its best!
Yup. The lowest form of life (-:
I think what he was trying to convey is that he likes what he sees but he really didn’t know sweden at the time. He went on to ask the journalist how he finds Sweden. But then he discovers that the journalist isn’t quick to answer and so they talk about other places he’s seen
A C i got some news for you hes fuckin dead bro it doesn’t matter because now all that stands is his art
interviewer doesn't have a clue.
interviewers commentary is basically him talking about how clueless and anxious he is over the interview
I feel like we saw the real Lou Reed in this chaotic episode. Loved it.
Funnily enough I'd say is what makes this interview if not the best, one of the best!
I think Lou's being LOVELY to this poor kid!
That may be the most respectful and pleasant I have ever seen Lou in an interview. I don't see this as being tragic ordeal for anyone put the interviewer for not knowing more about his subject. Lou could have crushed that guys ego into making him quit his job if he wanted to but he didn't. I think he was even trying to give him encouragement a couple of times.Cool post.
+BassToTheFaceMan Feeling a similar thing. Perhaps he noticed how the guy was just a rookie sent into something simply a step too high for his own good. Being constructive beats being destructive in the longer term, and the interviewer was still young, no lost cause journalist like Lou might've encountered earlier.
Being constructive beats being destructive in the long term, what a fantastic philosophical comment, well done.
Sorry, longer.
I agree. One has to know his work before you interview him!!! And if you're a fan... I am surprised he or she does not have mastery of that music knowledge! (Or at least a keen sense of inquiry with basic knowledge!)
Probably because he got tired of people asking him the same questions. Then, when he was asking the questions, he brightened up.
This is the best thing I have watched in ages. It shows that Lou Reed was the real deal, someone able to be genuine at the right time. All my respect to his soul. This is a great lesson in how to go about in life.
A talentless dickhead…….famous for being famous…..
It's a great interview. It's an interview in which you really get to know the human being behind the popstar. You can see he really likes this guy who is not really a professional, but just a very shy young man who wants to try to do this interview. It's almost romantic, the interaction between the two, and the sympathy Lou Reed shows to this boy
He wanted his Swedish meatballs.
Sympathy? Perhaps this was the only time mr reed tried to be normally courteous.
It's funny how Lou starts interviewing the journalist.
not unusual
@@andrewholburn3094
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He does that a lot.
it could have been a lot worse mate... he was respectful that you were nervous
I really enjoyed this. It was interesting to watch Lou's demeanor change with his impression of your character. Your commentary was a skillful guide on this beautifully awkward tour.
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to"
OH god thank you!
This made me love lou reed even more!
I love Lou Reed... he is hilarious
+Ted Cantu This truly is
kentucy9999 lou reed was overrated self centered ego maniac. his signing was very limited his guitar playing was mediocre to say the least.
Good point !
I guess I'd heard of Lou Reed profiled in a lot of ways but "hilarious" was never one of them. Overall if you read the literature on Lou Reed you'd have the impression he was a somewhat "difficult" "disagreeable" and not terribly "lovable" man. {I don't know what other conclusion one could come too.} Again, I quote Mick Jagger from an interview, "A lot of artists can be quite difficult. That's fairly common." Question, "how well is that tolerated in the industry Mick?"........."Depends on how hot you are at a given moment. If you are hot it is well tolerated. If you aren't then not so well tolerated."
It is all a put-on by Lou since the 60's.. His face for the world of inquisitors. Laurie Anderson would have never stayed with him so long if it wasn't. (In fact she states he was the sweetest man on the planet!) Most writers (and posters here as well) have no idea of what they are talking about. Magazines are most concerned with hype and drama. He gave them that, only in the way they did not expect. His artistry is untouchable. Very few musicians have same influence over the past 50 years. Millions of bands owe a lot to Lou and the Velvets...
"I'll be your mirror, reflect what you are in case you don't know"
stand around by the window where the light is, she's my best friend
I love Lou's poker face whenever he is being interviewed..his facial expressions are priceless but he is definitely giving this guy a very warm interview for Lou he even got a few laughs out of him...He is the best
This was sooo damn sweet. Lou does like you! You were just young, but its clear he was trying to help you along, was very patient, even teasing a little. I loved every bit of this. Thanks you 😘
This is how we learn eh?
What an honor, to be interviewed by Lou Reed I mean.
A perfect example of somebody taking themselves and life around them too seriously. I love Lou
This is hilarious. A good example of Lou's humour. I have a Swedish nephew. His children gets this!
This interviewer misinterpreted the interview. I think Lou was asking him questions because it was clear the interviewer was uncomfortable and was trying to be more conversational. Being part Swedish myself, I know that some Swedes are notoriously sensitive people, and this guy is clearly very sensitive. Nothing wrong with that, but: Sensitive Swede with an old school guy from NYC....you get where I'm going. Misinterpretation.
More conversational? Lou was a razor blade. Maybe the interviewer was nervous and so was Lou, disagreements happen but when you have Lou Fucking Reed in froint of you... I mean that must be a scary fucking thing. If you jhave someone in front of you who is inexperience and has a job to do, you make company with tenderness and understanding, that applies even to LR. There are better ways. If you think an interviewer is the lowest form of life, then why THE FUCK ARE YOU GIVING AN INTERVIEW IN THE FIRST PLACE?
I believe Lou was having a ball with this "Kid"...I think he was most comfortable when things were very uncomfortable...He liked the tension. I believe most artists are this way. They worry when things are too easy. Being difficult comes with the job. BTW, I don't think he was being particularly difficult here. He had a rep for being far worse. I think he knew right off that the kid was new to this, and he actually liked him.
@@fernandobocadillos Because he liked to say things like that and because the british journalists ARE scum. Everybody knows that. He explicitly states that the interviewer is the exception and ok. But he is just a kid, who shouldn't have taken the job in the first place. This is as embarrasing as when Swedish television invited Johnny Thunders to play live at their tv show. I mean, who the hell books a junky, who can't play because he is too strung out, to play at a dinner show, only because they know that he is some kind of a name in Rock n' roll. Either they got a great sense of humor at their HQ or their planners and researcher are completely clueless. I seriously don't think this happens because of the great sense of humor at SVT, sooo....
8:51 "But Niklas....." = legendary moment
he's so embarassed in his place it's almost a joke for him
LMAO
That was hilarious when he waved goodbye it sounded like the Interviewer jumped😂😂😂😂😂
Anyone who's ever seen/read an interview with Lou Reed knows that he _always_ answered like that. Short and with a sarcastic tone. You couldn't expect anything else.
There's a notorious interview he did with a bunch of dumb Australian journos in the 70s, it's on utube, he's being comparatively sweet here.
There's actually 2 such interviews. Both on TH-cam. V funny.
With that stupid ass blonde hair?
@@bluebird28tl well he heard blondes had more fun, so he tried lady Clairol. Gosh helooked like Milo Yiannopoulos then
There is a famous live album in which no expense was spared to make Lou Reed seem to be the rock'n roller that he never was. If money and dishonesty were no issue for Lou, then why not script the clowns and reports too?
Listen guy, there never was a single interview where journalists genuinely fawned over their (male) interviewee like a pack of saps. You are speaking of fake interviews and deception.
Lou Reed never took it up the wazoo and he never used intravenous drugs. Lou Reed is a fraudster who destroyed the fabric of society with illusions and broom handles up your a$$, unless you knew that.
Oh, and some of the musicians, writers, and sound guys he worked with, or that somehow were persuaded to work with him, were very good. That is sure. I think Lou Reed is just a record label executive's shalom bro.
oh yeah, the aussie interview is up. Comments disabled.
This wasn't that bad at all. He was a young, inexperienced awestruck kid dealing with a jaded superstar that has a beef with journalists and rightfully so. His lack of english skills didn't help. Reed actually did like this kid but he also ate him for breakfast.
If you want to see some painful interviews then watch most Nick Cave interviews or anything with Iggy Pop circa 1980 for some pretty brutal stuff.
Yet sweet with the kids, as you see. Calling pigs as pigs that they are.
Lou could have eaten him alive. He was being congenial. I feel for Lou. God bless him.....I would have chewed him up and spit him OUT.
@@stecklein7 no you wouldn't have.
This is a gem, from the interview, to Reed asking him questions, to "you don't have any more questions???", to the remembering of the journalist looking back. Pure comedy. Thanks to the journalist for sharing one of the worst moments of his life so we could be amused.
i m a big lou reed fan, 48 years old.. i decided to watch some lou reed interviews, what i never did... and the first five interviews i saw, the interviewers where not in contact and honest towards him, like having a real conversation... than I saw your interview, and I though, hey that s the first interviewer who is himself and normally reacting on him and i though, Hey Lou finally likes being interviewd, as he in the end, also said.... he meant it Keep on doing the good work en being yourself, good interviewer, person
By the standards of usual Lou Reed interviews, it went pretty well actually. At least he asked about Lou's work instead of his lifestyle, which never goes down well.
That interview was really great! Lou actually opened up slightly. Well done!
Absolutely FASCINATING! Lou was such a complex guy. You see it here. What a beautiful little film this is -- thank you for sharing it, Nicholas -- it is brave for you to have done so -- AND really wonderful for people to see Lou in a rather "unguarded" (for him) state. I love your commentary. This is just brilliant from beginning to end.
Lou was being very nice to him. I honestly don't know what the issue is. He realized the kid was nervous and a novice and he was trying. He also has a dry sense of humor and being nervous the interviewer didn't pick up on it. It actually was going very well. He wasn't giving perfunctory answers. It wasn't his job to make the interviewer comfortable but he tries to engage him to do that.
Lou Reed interviews his 22 yo unprepared Swedish interviewer
Lou could be cantankerous, but this dialogue has more meaning and insight into the persona of Lou Reed in a few minutes than most "professional" interviews
All lou interviews are gold, hell, It was a lou interview that helped launch punk rock in 1976 when the Ramones played CBGB!
'But Nicholas...' hahaha, I think he really quite liked this Swedish interviewer. That's the best Lou Reed interview I've seen.
This is the best Lou Reed interview i ‘ve ever seen
This was really great in such an unexpected way. It kind of felt like, at the end there, Lou was ready to just chat. I don't think there's ever been another interview where that was the case.
Lou Reed was real. Most people can't handle honesty, and that was all that Lou was. He hated journalists, he said so many times, so he would just screw around with them to purposely throw them off their game. RIP Lou.
"REAL" lmfao. Lou's jerkin your chain and you can't even see it.
It was all a performance to create controversy and have more eyes and ears tune in.
Nobody listens to people when they give nice pleasant little interviews that no one talks about a day later.
Big Jerk, this Lou Reed
I have never laughed out loud sat on my own after watching anything, in recent memory anyway, ever! I did at the end of this. Fantastic!
Lou had great presence coupled with composure and confidence. Most of us suffer from fear of being disliked or misunderstood which weakens our position.
two kwool people. Lou was magnanimous, as he probably was most of the time. That journalist should be proud. He was himself, maybe naive, but Lou Reed showed his respect and calm. What a dude!
Ugh... I would have LOVED to have interviewed Lou! I actually KNOW about Lou!
I find Lou incredibly hilarious and engaging. He's always got that wry smile on his lips. And I can see his point about journalists, as they simply want to "report". Which is good for sudden happenings, and things that maybe hidden from public awareness. But when it comes to the arts - "So you have a new record, book, and movie out now..." Yep. "And there's lot's of songs on the record?" Yep "And you expect to sell lots of books?" Yep "And if your movie isn't successful?" I guess I'll have to make another that is... Journalists never ask "what" and "why" when it comes to the arts. They simply confirm what's already on the press release. And love how Lou simply does that, and/or shows more interest in the journalists than they really have of him.
Reed gives the impression that he’s bored sh*tless in many interviews, but to me he seems to be loving it! Like inside his head he’s screaming with laughter at the absurdity of it all!
"Lou has no time for incompetence - no matter who you are" - Mo Tucker
It is unfortunate that an interviewer was intimidated and ended the conversation half way through. Lou regretted the awkward communication early on with him and even tried to find topics that he’d share with. Behind his tough demeanor, there is always sensitive and delicate personality that made Lou Reed a complex and interesting character.
Lou was a secular saint. One cannot write songs like Romeo Had Juliet and Coney Island Baby without having a big soft spot for humanity. He just didn't like pompous, arrogant people and took them down whenever he could.
This "Interviewer" might be in the wrong profession and I agree with the many people who say that Lou is being kind here. He WAS BEING about as Kind as he EVER Gets - he could be Brutal, Absolutely Brutal. He strived to be the best 'Lou Reed' he could possibly be, he expected those around him to be the best they could be.
And I feel it's obvious that Lou took a genuine 'shine' to this particular Interviewer, I think Lou actually liked this guy and probably mostly for his honesty and his humanity.
I love the honesty of the journalist. It is a beautiful video.
"You don't have any more questions? But Nicholas..." LOOOOOL
One of the the things I've come to realise as I've gotten older, is that when people are super defensive and kind of heard to talk to, its usually not me, its them. By that I mean peoples shyness, and social anxieties make them seem stand offishing and even snobby, and more often than not that person would love to open up with you but their own anxiety wont let them. I always had the impression Lou reed was a man with a lot of anxiety and pent up feelings, but rather than collapse socially, he put on a slightly distant air, as a way of protecting himself.
He’s a genius and you’re not , that’s the shortest answer.
@@vidalskyociosen3326 what a dumbass comment
Good on Lou for being so sweet to this guy.
This journalist is taking this way to serious.
Ha! Exactly. It's Lou fuckin' Reed!
No, he didn't take the interview seriously enough. He was utterly unprepared, and ill-equipped to intrigue Lou with any real questioning about his current projects at the time.
That's the point of the film. He didn't realize he had Lou Reed unmasked.
Obviously, and for years it's been a pet peeve of Lou's (and many other celebrities) when interviewers don't even do the most basic homework for questions or direction. The interviewers usually insult Lou by this unprofessionalism and I have heard about since the early 80's... but it doesn't excuse the offenders; rather it justifes Lou's contempt. I have seen great interviews on Dutch TV that show what a wonderful guest he can be. Just understand your subject??
if he was serious he would have done research@@hopedaniels4912
incredible... thank you for posting. how to interview lou reed when you're 22 and barely speak english, oh gosh, i would have been dying. and then he had to say the part about lowest life form... what an exhange.
I could never understand why he was so rude to journalists. They were doing their job. That's part of the game when you're famous
Cos they ask inane, boring questions. All of them do. Wouldn't you go stir crazy?
Still he's not different than others. Had to show some respect @@nihilisticbarbie
Amazing brillant genius. He was charming ...
this was fun. thank you!
I actually like this interview. It beats the old reused questions you see in any other interview
Lmao "so big you can't remember their name" holy shit
To be fair, Mary Quant is pretty forgettable these days...
Except in IQ tests.
Damn what up baby?
At 3:58 the reporter should've said, "Instead he meets a 22 year old guy who knows NOTHING at all!"
It's amazing how bad and just foolish the questions he asks are. It's hard to watch! No matter where you go, it seems the media and its *reporters are all the same; they all ask stupid questions* which they either already know the answer to, could easily look-up or research the answer, or just shouldn't ask the question(s) in the first place.
I would be terrified to interview Lou Reed, and I love the guy.
Belle rigolade ! Exemple d'humilité des 2 côtés - dans un monde de brutes. Un grand bienfait que cette vidéo nous apporte. Merci beaucoup.
Lou is real , no bullshit , no false talk unlike many band folk out there...
Lou Reed = LEGEND !!!
It's essentially a non event, but I like that it shows Lou's playful side. Lou is a Sharp Wiley customer and for any in the know it's plain to see that he is toying with the young guy in a delicate, cheeky, fashion likely trying to glean some entertainment value from this drab redundant moment. I mean, he was being nice, FFS, lol. All of life's worst have failed to make a dent in this man, and whether you love or loathe his music, he has made a life of it far beyond his Used by date. Respect!
This is probably the friendliest of I’ve ever seen Lou.
That interview was nicest Lou Reed interview I've ever seen. I could feel he genuinely liked the interviewer, unlike almost every other interview I've seen of his. Makes me think, maybe he wasn't an asshole, maybe he just didn't like heartless journalists with an axe to grind. But this guy was very humble.
What a nice interwiev
Yeah, it is rare Lou Reed would be nice to an interviewer. I don't see any "Lowest form of life" here. Quite the opposite. "Scared to fly" and rather than be nasty Lou Reed chuckles in good humour and agrees saying "Good reason"
the man is simply so cool..
I love this interview ... lou being nice ... and bewildered at the same time .... fucken hilirious .... i miss lou ....
Epic. Absolutely epic.
Whoever sent this young man,with limited English who sounds like he knew nothing of Lou Reed,into this interview must have needed his head read.I thought that Lou Reed himself was very generous,he could have really tore into the interviewer if he had wished.He choose not too.
Oh I see, this is Lou Reed AND the Lowest Form of Life
Amazing work!
Lou will always remain an enigma wrapped in a riddle...RIP
He was just messing around the whole time being dry and sarcastic. Lou knew right away this was a babe in the woods so he gave funny answers and wanted to see the interviewers reaction to the same questions. He even moved to mess with the camera guy. You could tell he felt bad in the end when he told him to remember he was the exception. Love Lou.
'You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
"Ooh, thank you very much." :-)))))
And i think tha inteviewer didn't understand when he asked is he leaving because of 'his answer', referring on 'i hate journalists'.
Thou, this is great!
I honestly found this interview quite amusing, I was laughing at some parts!
2:21 the moment it all starts to turn out for the best, when Lou felt like he could be him self and he was in charge of the interview
Lou is goofing on this poor guy but he's not that bad. I've seen Lou behave a lot worse.
Interviews are best when they are by someone who is creatively involved in a medium, because making music and art is the opposite of analyzing, so it always clashes with analytical journalists. creative minded people are trying to express out, and journalists are dissectively going in
An interviewer has to find the point of flow with the person's interests who is being interviewed, otherwise there is a paradoxic flux between the 2 people. It has to be more like a conversation rather than taking an inventory of what they like, many don't like being interviewed at all. If someone asks to interview you, first spend some time chatting with them, that's wise for anyone to avoid static-type interviews
What an awesome guy! When I grow up I wanna be as adorable as he is here. Masterpiece!
"Because prejudice isn't true".What an amazing statement. And if you can't understand what that means....just think about it.
What do you mean it isn't 'true'?
Okay this to me was a clear example of the language and cultural barrier being a problem. Because the interviewer's English isn't very good, and he maybe doesn't understand American deadpan humor, he's only getting Lou Reed's tone (Lou Reed is always going to be deadpan), not his content. He also doesn't know what to do about Reed having more to say than expected because he just has a list of questions to adhere to. He doesn't know how to follow up to Reed's off the cuff remarks and he's asking unnecessary follow-up questions because he's nervous and not understanding the language well. Reed was actually very patient with him and probably could even see that he wasn't like the typical manipulative journalists he despises. BTW he is so right about English journalists. They were manipulative assholes.
The content of the video doesn't quite match the title. Lou is being really cool, the journalist guy just didn't have the experience to deal with a star like Lou.
Unplumbable depths to the man. Always a direction you never anticipated.
Love it.
He lived a great life, he leaves a fantastic legacy, we'll miss him, we'll remember him. X
The interviewer must have a huge insecurity problem. He's asking these weird, largely trivial questions, and Lou's responding respectfully and is being fairly nice. This doesn't come close to some of his other interviews, especially in the 70's. And to be fair to Mr. Reed, a lot of the time he went off on journalists was when they were asking him completely unnecessary or personal questions.
I really like how he comes across here. You can tell he liked the interviewer.
R.i.P. Lou!
awesome wreck of an interview.