I love everything about this song and what it really represents. Here you've got a guy twenty years out of the traditional 'prime' age range in popular music playing a three chord song with more speaking than melodic singing in it...yet why can't we stop listening to it, even decades after its release? Lou just had that immeasurable musical talent,character and soul you can't learn in school. This is like an F you to the ultra calculated way popular music is manufactured today. This guy would be laughed off those karaoke shows and they'd be missing out on one of the greatest artists of his kind.
Have anyone watch the American Idol where they look at famous artists like Bob Dylan, Lou Reed , Tom Waits , Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave and just laugh at theirs singing.. you just want to go in with a baseball bat and hit them all over and over again to the last blood drop fall out of them..
I find it tremendously moving that Lou, after all those years celebrating the misfits of the culture, those who rejected the American Dream, should lament that Pedro and those like him can never aspire to becoming doctors or lawyers, recognizing the anguish of those who *want* the American Dream, but will never reach it. There was always an implicit political dimension in Lou's work, and at this point the politics finally became explicit. And, yes, I also love the dancing bass player.
This has to be the COOLEST ROCK 'N ROLLER in the entire history, his name was Lou, a shy guy, whose only weapons, poetry, a guitar with 3 chords, and tons of authenticity, achieved the top of music
That is Tom Barney, awesome player sharing duties with none of other than Marcus Miller as part of the house band. Check this performance with Steve Ray Vaughn, including boken string. ruclips.net/video/IxqSKdtFd7M/видео.html
Truly amazing songwriter, fell in love with Lou and his music wen I was 13,now 63,still love him and all the music,hope to meet him in the next life,wonderful man and musician, thanks from the heart ,
Look at the Body Language of the Musicians. Lots of times they play back up to Who Gives a Fuck. Check out their pure joy in playing for a Real Musician/Songwriter
When the first chorus hits you can see the bass player was in the zone lol right in the sauce, as were the rest. Sax outro at the end was blissful. I can't say there is any other live performance I have seen played better. Brilliant lyrics and brilliant music
I love it! I'm recently obsessed with Lou's music and remember listening to the New York album on cassette till I wore it out. Seeing this live performance makes me pine for this pre-World Trade Center bombing, pre-McVeigh, pre-9-11 era, a sweet spot between the 80s glitzy crap and the 90s grunge wave. I admit I kind of dig the mullets and clothes of the time, although the shoulder pads make me laugh. We were starting to climb out of the 80s crap into a breath of fresh air in the 90s in pop culture, and Lou was telling and warning us about a lot of the shit bubbling up to the surface: "Whose home is the home of the brave by the Statue of Bigotry!" I know, I know, a lot of really bad shit had happened before that, but, at least to me, it didn't feel like the chickens had come home to roost yet.
Been listening to Lou Reed since buying the first Velvets Lp in, what? 1966? Was about twelve and was hooked. Was living in San Francisco and here was something that was most def not Peace and Love and groovy vibes. It is now forty-plus years later and Lou still kicks ass, My tastes have changed --more jazz less rock n roll-- but this shit still kills and smokes and takes no prisoners
Dirty Boulevard is for me Lou Reed’s best song. I’m so glad he recorded it again and I _love_ the way our mature Lou delivers this later version. I love it about 85% more than the record Bowie produced. The lines hang together so much more cohesively. But about 15% I miss how young and barely under control Lou sounded then. That line about cops getting sucked was _never_ going to get lost in any smooth delivery. I always wondered why Dirty Boulevard didn’t get the airplay in the rest of the country that Walk on the Wild Side did. Thinking now that it was that prominent line about cops getting called out for a suck. Not sure why that’s worse than talking about giving head...JS.
Pedro lives out of the Wilshire Hotel He looks out a window without glass The walls are made of cardboard, newspapers on his feet And his father beats him 'cause he's too tired to beg He's got nine brothers and sisters They're brought up on their knees It's hard to run when a coat hanger beats you on the thighs Pedro dreams of being older and killing the old man But that's a slim chance, he's going to the boulevard He's gonna end up on the dirty boulevard He's going out to the dirty boulevard He's going down to the dirty boulevard This room cost $2, 000 dollars a month You can believe it, man, it's true Somewhere a landlord's laughing 'til he wets his pants No one dreams of being a doctor or a lawyer or anything They dream of dealing on the dirty boulevard "Give me your hungry, your tired, your poor, I'll piss on 'em" That's what the statue of bigotry says Your poor huddled masses, let's club 'em to death And get it over with and just dump 'em on the boulevard Get 'em out on the dirty boulevard Going out to the dirty boulevard They're going down on the dirty boulevard Going out... Outside it's a bright night, there's an opera at Lincoln Center Movie stars arrive by limousine The klieg lights shoot up over the skyline of Manhattan But the lights are out on the mean streets A small kid stands by the Lincoln Tunnel He is selling plastic roses for a buck The traffic's backed up to 39th street The TV whores are calling the cops out for a suck And back at the Wilshire, Pedro sits there dreaming He's found a book on magic in a garbage can He looks at the pictures and stares up at the cracked ceiling "At the count of three, " he says, "I hope I can disappear" And fly, fly away from this dirty boulevard I want to fly from dirty boulevard I wanna fly from dirty boulevard I want to fly, fly, fly, fly from dirty boulevard I wanna fly away I wanna fly Fly, fly away I wanna fly Fly, fly away fly, fly away (Fly, fly, fly away) fly away (I wanna fly away) (Fly, fly, fly away) I wanna fly, I'm gonna fly away
Lou Reed is incredibly underated and The Velvet Underground one of the greatest bands ever. People especially critics( who suck and would not know a good artist or song if it fell from the sky and began to wiggle in there stupid face) are blind if they discard them. Alot of people now are dumb as fuck. Long live greatness.
I love everything about this song and what it really represents. Here you've got a guy twenty years out of the traditional 'prime' age range in popular music playing a three chord song with more speaking than melodic singing in it...yet why can't we stop listening to it, even decades after its release? Lou just had that immeasurable musical talent,character and soul you can't learn in school. This is like an F you to the ultra calculated way popular music is manufactured today. This guy would be laughed off those karaoke shows and they'd be missing out on one of the greatest artists of his kind.
Damn jasper!!!!That's brilliant right there!!!
Great assessment!
dang bro nice, wish I could've stolen this for my humanities class haha
Have anyone watch the American Idol where they look at famous artists like Bob Dylan, Lou Reed , Tom Waits , Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave and just laugh at theirs singing.. you just want to go in with a baseball bat and hit them all over and over again to the last blood drop fall out of them..
Yeah 3 chords. It's what Lou called jazz.
Could not have said better.
This video clip is historic and precious of Lou Reed at the top of his game.....His persona will never pass this way again.....
One of the coolest musicians we have ever known.I love this as his finest anthem.
Most people who dealt with Lou Reed said he was an arrogant, mean spirited, petty prick.
Hell yeah !
Just coolest.
totally agree
Reed, Dylan, Hendrix, and Plant are the epitome of Cool IMO
Damn I miss Lou so much it hurts. Thankfully we've got recordings and appearances - thanks a million for posting this.
I find it tremendously moving that Lou, after all those years celebrating the misfits of the culture, those who rejected the American Dream, should lament that Pedro and those like him can never aspire to becoming doctors or lawyers, recognizing the anguish of those who *want* the American Dream, but will never reach it. There was always an implicit political dimension in Lou's work, and at this point the politics finally became explicit. And, yes, I also love the dancing bass player.
This has to be the COOLEST ROCK 'N ROLLER in the entire history, his name was Lou, a shy guy, whose only weapons, poetry, a guitar with 3 chords, and tons of authenticity, achieved the top of music
One of my favorite songs by lou reed.
Bass player. Catch those stops. Ha ha yeah. Awesome song, awesome performance by Lou and the band.
That is Tom Barney, awesome player sharing duties with none of other than Marcus Miller as part of the house band. Check this performance with Steve Ray Vaughn, including boken string. ruclips.net/video/IxqSKdtFd7M/видео.html
Truly amazing songwriter, fell in love with Lou and his music wen I was 13,now 63,still love him and all the music,hope to meet him in the next life,wonderful man and musician, thanks from the heart ,
You will be sorely missed, Lou. Thank you for a magnificent contribution to my life. RIP.
Damn, bass player was feeling it with them sweet moves with his feet @ 2:47
Rock on, Lou. Thank you for many years of amazing music.
An army of very cool guys
Ive seen Lou twice. 20 years apart. both shows were great.
nuthin fancy just down & dirty,,,,, on the boulevard. fly fly,,, fly away. RiP. dude.
pure art .it happens once , can never matched ,it great to see there men know how great this effort is
Lou was so far beyond his years. Philosopher.
Look at the Body Language of the Musicians. Lots of times they play back up to Who Gives a Fuck. Check out their pure joy in playing for a Real Musician/Songwriter
When the first chorus hits you can see the bass player was in the zone lol right in the sauce, as were the rest. Sax outro at the end was blissful. I can't say there is any other live performance I have seen played better. Brilliant lyrics and brilliant music
Lou, more New York than New York itself, and this song & performance just amplifies that….👏👏
The Street Poet at his coolest. He found a book about magic…fly away.
"..he looks out a window without glass.." so many powerful lyrics
This reminds me of my best friend that sadly passed away he showed me this song 1 week before he died
R.I.P. … one of the best is gone … shocking and sad … hope he’s now at a better place. thanks for all the outstanding music and lyrics.
this is my favorite and no doubt lou's best performance of Dirty Boulevard...RIP Lou Reed..
Beautifull and great Lou Reed
I love it! I'm recently obsessed with Lou's music and remember listening to the New York album on cassette till I wore it out. Seeing this live performance makes me pine for this pre-World Trade Center bombing, pre-McVeigh, pre-9-11 era, a sweet spot between the 80s glitzy crap and the 90s grunge wave. I admit I kind of dig the mullets and clothes of the time, although the shoulder pads make me laugh. We were starting to climb out of the 80s crap into a breath of fresh air in the 90s in pop culture, and Lou was telling and warning us about a lot of the shit bubbling up to the surface: "Whose home is the home of the brave by the Statue of Bigotry!"
I know, I know, a lot of really bad shit had happened before that, but, at least to me, it didn't feel like the chickens had come home to roost yet.
As a measure of how much I love and admire Lou Reed, I am willing to overlook the mullet.😢
Whoa, and on third guitar and backing vocals: Robben Ford.
Night Music was the greatest music TV show EVER.
Sax the Max
He's incredible ending of each show was worth staying up
What a great time
Very nice it’s great more and more of the NY era is popping up on RUclips 👍🏻
Been listening to Lou Reed since buying the first Velvets Lp in, what? 1966? Was about twelve and was hooked. Was living in San Francisco and here was something that was most def not Peace and Love and groovy vibes. It is now forty-plus years later and Lou still kicks ass, My tastes have changed --more jazz less rock n roll-- but this shit still kills and smokes and takes no prisoners
the man with the most special guitar collection
one of my all time favorite artists, bye Lou
loved this song the first second I heard it
Though I wasn't your #1 fan I always admired your integrity.R.I.P lou
Great song and great live version of this song. Lou will be missed.
Amazing version! I can't believe Robben Ford is playing with them!!!!!
What a song!!!
Haven't heard this for over thirty yrs. wow..
I watch this and just wish I could have been there to see this live.
A true poet of reality
Awesome version I'd previously never seen. Love it, thanks! And thank you, Lou.
This song touched my soul 🥊
his songs make me say damn I wish I had said that.
320 Parks Yup! A great writer he was, and all great writing makes us say that.
Way ahead of it's time still relevant and just plain good!
J'ai découvert Lou Reed avec cet album.
And I don't remember his concert in the city of Colmar ( where I was born ) in 2004.
French Fan
Definitive live version. Sanborn fattens that calf.
DAVID SANBORN!!!!!!
Love this song. Great album.
Great story ! Great music ! Awesome song !!!!!
Killer...amazing..this is what what art,music and life is about
this is the best i seen this song . imo ty
Still a legend. Thanx Lou . And Sally can't dance..yet.
This is a great live version!
I still hate myself for never seeing Lou Reed live.... one of the greatest Gods of R&R.
Lou Reed you are surely missed you were great
This song and album ('New York') created for Lou a new generation of listeners; folks who knew nothing of his 60s and 70s work. I was one.
Poetry and kick ass music. Lou's formula
time to rest now,, Lou. take it easy mate..
WRONG! LOU LIVES FOREVER!! If you wanna turn it down then go to bed.. lol
Great song by Reed and the band!
Dirty Boulevard is for me Lou Reed’s best song. I’m so glad he recorded it again and I _love_ the way our mature Lou delivers this later version. I love it about 85% more than the record Bowie produced. The lines hang together so much more cohesively. But about 15% I miss how young and barely under control Lou sounded then. That line about cops getting sucked was _never_ going to get lost in any smooth delivery.
I always wondered why Dirty Boulevard didn’t get the airplay in the rest of the country that Walk on the Wild Side did. Thinking now that it was that prominent line about cops getting called out for a suck. Not sure why that’s worse than talking about giving head...JS.
OK but this show was recorded in 1989... the same year the record came out.
When bass player starts dancing at 2:27
+Dimitrije Petrovic Lol, he looks like a short Arsenio Hall :D
I was listening and not looking...so glad you pointed that out. Sometimes you just gotta MOVE.
Tom Barney, Bass Player....and Smooth Dancer.
That's how we did it in the 80s
See ya mate! Much respect form Aussie fans! Transformer, one of my all time favourites
Belle nuit lou..à bientôt parmis les songes
song very clean ,for a pick up thing on TV , i love this song and i think it the best i see it done . brass is the killer in this mix
the greatest!!! thank you, lou :)
we will miss you Lou!!! RIP
Thank you, Lou. Rest easy.
So damn good, a big big loss.
RIP man. You were the godfather of Punk and New Wave... Fire one up and relax now bro, the journeys done.
Fantastic! Thanks.
omar hakim on the drums... Sweet fill at about 3:32 :-)
@Jethro2273 That is David Sanborn!!
Ai will never be able to do this in the same way people do it doesn’t matter
bruh
Pedro lives out of the Wilshire Hotel
He looks out a window without glass
The walls are made of cardboard, newspapers on his feet
And his father beats him 'cause he's too tired to beg
He's got nine brothers and sisters
They're brought up on their knees
It's hard to run when a coat hanger beats you on the thighs
Pedro dreams of being older and killing the old man
But that's a slim chance, he's going to the boulevard
He's gonna end up on the dirty boulevard
He's going out to the dirty boulevard
He's going down to the dirty boulevard
This room cost $2, 000 dollars a month
You can believe it, man, it's true
Somewhere a landlord's laughing 'til he wets his pants
No one dreams of being a doctor or a lawyer or anything
They dream of dealing on the dirty boulevard
"Give me your hungry, your tired, your poor, I'll piss on 'em"
That's what the statue of bigotry says
Your poor huddled masses, let's club 'em to death
And get it over with and just dump 'em on the boulevard
Get 'em out on the dirty boulevard
Going out to the dirty boulevard
They're going down on the dirty boulevard
Going out...
Outside it's a bright night, there's an opera at Lincoln Center
Movie stars arrive by limousine
The klieg lights shoot up over the skyline of Manhattan
But the lights are out on the mean streets
A small kid stands by the Lincoln Tunnel
He is selling plastic roses for a buck
The traffic's backed up to 39th street
The TV whores are calling the cops out for a suck
And back at the Wilshire, Pedro sits there dreaming
He's found a book on magic in a garbage can
He looks at the pictures and stares up at the cracked ceiling
"At the count of three, " he says, "I hope I can disappear"
And fly, fly away from this dirty boulevard
I want to fly from dirty boulevard
I wanna fly from dirty boulevard
I want to fly, fly, fly, fly from dirty boulevard
I wanna fly away
I wanna fly
Fly, fly away
I wanna fly
Fly, fly away
fly, fly away
(Fly, fly, fly away) fly away (I wanna fly away)
(Fly, fly, fly away) I wanna fly, I'm gonna fly away
They don't come cooler than Lou Reed. The Satelite's gone way up to Mars.....RIP My man.
love u lou rip
yeh
love is the word
Nobody like you, poet. See you later. Thank you, Lou.
The guy on the sax is great!
That is David Sanborn.
FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!🤜 💥🤛
r.i.p lou... i love you and i love the bass player
Great song-well done.
played many games to this song.
The best version🔥
Beautiful
love this song!
any awesome is Lou Reed !!!! ... perhaps his best album is the incredible "New York"
At least we know all the words :)
legendary
Teppich auf`m Kopf, Sonnenbrille, dumpfe Original-Stimme, schwarze Lederjacke, Ami-Slang... passt.
Gimme your poor huddles masses and I will club em to death! Thats what The Statue of Bigotry says. Lyrics that will knock Biebers teeth out :-)
Absolut!! Danke!
RIP Lou!
Lou Reed Dirty Boulevard
RIP Lou....thank u
love u lou
Happy St Patrick's Day ❤️🍀🥊🌙🇮🇪➕ 🌙🇮🇪⚓🍀
great great song.
RIP uncle Lou
Lou Reed is awesome
Lou Reed is incredibly underated and The Velvet Underground one of the greatest bands ever. People especially critics( who suck and would not know a good artist or song if it fell from the sky and began to wiggle in there stupid face) are blind if they discard them. Alot of people now are dumb as fuck. Long live greatness.