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Satellite of Love
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"Satellite of Love" is one of Lou Reed's best known songs. It was the second single from his 1972 solo album Transformer. At the time it did not achieve any chart success, though it later became a staple of his concerts and compilation albums.
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.
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Encyclopedia
"Satellite of Love" is one of Lou Reed's best known songs. It was the second single from his 1972 solo album Transformer. At the time it did not achieve any chart success, though it later became a staple of his concerts and compilation albums.
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. The chorus goes:
- 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, can be heard providing background vocals.
Thought of as a Reed solo song, it was originally recorded by The Velvet Underground. The band played the song at concerts and recorded it during the 1970 sessions for their album Loaded, though like many of the songs recorded during those sessions, it does not appear on the album. The existence of the VU version was largely unknown and even forgotten by the band members themselves 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 VU 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 that you've been bold
- With Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday to Thursday
- With Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod
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."
Covers
- 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 pre-recorded video image of Reed (and on a few occasions Reed appeared on stage to sing it in person).
- A remake of "Satellite of Love", titled "Satellite of Love '04", was released in the United Kingdom in 2004, making it to #10 on the UK Singles Chart.
- The Youngs recorded a version of "Satellite of Love" for their 2006 album "Hand Up, Head Down"
- Kowtow Popof covered the song for After Hours: a Tribute to the Music of Lou Reed, released by Wampus Multimedia in 2003. The version references the comedy television series Mystery Science Theater 3000, whose spacecraft was named after the song, by inserting the names of some of the show’s characters into the lyrics, as well as adding samples from some of the show’s host segments. The version was a collaboration with electronic rock band Hitchcock Blonde who later included it on their 2006 debut, Soul Button.
Other utilisation
- The song is used as the exit music for "The Ron and Fez Show," a program on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. The show uses the version with "Harry, Mark, and John". Coincidentally, the Ron & Fez show often gives away music box sets as prizes, from Rhino Records.
- The song is used in Velvet Goldmine during a scene when the two main characters Brian Slade and Curt Wild fall in love. The film is loosely based on the glam career and life of David Bowie, who denied the rights to his songs. This, then, is his only real appearance in the movie.
- The song was used as background music on the fifth episode of season two of Big Love on HBO.
- This song was featured in the 2005 film House of D which is written and directed by David Duchovny.
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