Chelsea Girls (song)
Encyclopedia
"Chelsea Girls" is the title track to Nico
's 1967 debut album, Chelsea Girl
. The song was written by Lou Reed
and Sterling Morrison
of The Velvet Underground
, who Nico had collaborated with for their debut album the previous year.
The title of the song (and of the album itself) is referential to the 1966 Andy Warhol
film, Chelsea Girls
, which Nico starred in herself. The film was an experimental
reality movie
that focused on the various residents of the Hotel Chelsea
during Warhol's Factory
days; many of them were Bohemian
artists, drop outs, and drug addicts, which is depicted in the lyrics of the song.
Running at just under seven and a half minutes long, "Chelsea Girls" is similar in style to a ballad
, telling the stories of various residents at the hotel, and features instrumental work (guitar) from Sterling Morrison
, as well as a flute piece which is prominent throughout the song.
Nico stated in interviews that she "hated" the flute piece that was used, but had no say in the matter because it was in the hands of the album producers.
The song was covered in 1999 by late singer-songwriter Elliott Smith
and was played during live performances, but was never released on any of his albums.
Nico
Nico was a German singer, lyricist, composer, musician, fashion model, and actress, who initially rose to fame as a Warhol Superstar in the 1960s...
's 1967 debut album, Chelsea Girl
Chelsea Girl (album)
Chelsea Girl is the debut solo album by Nico. It was released in October 1967 by Verve Records, also home to The Velvet Underground. The name of the album is a reference to Andy Warhol's 1966 film Chelsea Girls, which Nico starred in...
. The song was written by Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
and Sterling Morrison
Sterling Morrison
Holmes Sterling Morrison, Jr. was one of the founding members of the rock group The Velvet Underground, usually playing electric guitar, occasionally bass guitar, and singing backing vocals.-Biography:...
of The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
, who Nico had collaborated with for their debut album the previous year.
The title of the song (and of the album itself) is referential to the 1966 Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
film, Chelsea Girls
Chelsea Girls
Chelsea Girls is a 1966 experimental underground film directed by Andy Warhol and Paul Morrissey. The film was Warhol's first major commercial success after a long line of avant-garde art films...
, which Nico starred in herself. The film was an experimental
Experimental film
Experimental film or experimental cinema is a type of cinema. Experimental film is an artistic practice relieving both of visual arts and cinema. Its origins can be found in European avant-garde movements of the twenties. Experimental cinema has built its history through the texts of theoreticians...
reality movie
Reality film
Reality film or reality movie describes a genre of films that have resulted from reality television, such as The Real Cancun, MTV's film version of The Real World, which was originally titled Spring Break: The Reality Movie...
that focused on the various residents of the Hotel Chelsea
Hotel Chelsea
The Hotel Chelsea, also known as the Chelsea Hotel, or simply the Chelsea, is a historic New York City hotel and landmark, known primarily for its history of notable residents...
during Warhol's Factory
The Factory
The Factory was Andy Warhol's original New York City studio from 1962 to 1968, although his later studios were known as The Factory as well. The Factory was located on the fifth floor at 231 East 47th Street, in Midtown Manhattan. The rent was "only about one hundred dollars a year"...
days; many of them were Bohemian
Bohemianism
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits...
artists, drop outs, and drug addicts, which is depicted in the lyrics of the song.
Running at just under seven and a half minutes long, "Chelsea Girls" is similar in style to a ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
, telling the stories of various residents at the hotel, and features instrumental work (guitar) from Sterling Morrison
Sterling Morrison
Holmes Sterling Morrison, Jr. was one of the founding members of the rock group The Velvet Underground, usually playing electric guitar, occasionally bass guitar, and singing backing vocals.-Biography:...
, as well as a flute piece which is prominent throughout the song.
Nico stated in interviews that she "hated" the flute piece that was used, but had no say in the matter because it was in the hands of the album producers.
The song was covered in 1999 by late singer-songwriter Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith
Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
and was played during live performances, but was never released on any of his albums.