The album is the pair's first collaboration since 1972, and is dedicated to the memory of Andy Warhol, their mentor, who had died unexpectedly in 1987. Drella was a nickname for Warhol, a portmanteau of Dracula and Cinderella, used by Warhol's crowd.
Songs for Drella offers a kind of vie romancée of Warhol, focusing on his interpersonal relations. The songs fall roughly into three categories: Warhol's (semi-fictitious) first-person perspective, third-person narratives chronicling events and affairs, and first-person feelings towards and commentaries on Warhol by Reed and Cale themselves.
The pair had been playing the songs live in 1989 as a song cycle before committing them to tape. By the end of recording Cale vowed never to work with Reed again due to personal differences; nevertheless, Songs for Drella would prove to be the overture to a full-blown Velvet Underground reunion: a one-off performance of "Heroin" in 1990, and a tour in 1993.
Although the album was conceived as an indivisible whole, a single was released off it, "Nobody But You".
Style It Takes
Lou Reed & John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You want your freedom, make your freedom mine
'Cause I've got the style it takes
and money is all that it takes
You've got connections and I've got the art
You like my attention and I like your looks
and I have the style it take
and you know the people it takes
I'll turn the camera on and I won't even be there
A portrait that moves, you look great I think
I'll put the Empire State Building on your wall
Watch the sun rise above it in your room
Wallpaper art, a great view
I've got a Brillo box and I say it's art
It's the same one you can buy at any supermarket
'Cause I've got the style it takes
And you've got the people it takes
This is a rock group called The Velvet Underground
I show movies on them
Do you like their sound
'Cause they have a style that grates and I have art to make
Let's do a movie here next week
We don't have sound but you're so great
You don't have to speak
You've got the style it takes (Kiss)
You've got the style it takes (Eat)
I've got the style it takes (Couch)
We've got the style it takes (Kiss)
The song Style It Takes by Lou Reed could be seen as a commentary on the superficiality and pretentiousness of the New York art scene. The opening lines suggest a transactional relationship where one person has money and the other has time and freedom. The line "make your freedom mine" suggests that the person with more money is able to control the other person's freedom in some way. The singer seems to be commenting on the idea that style and money are all it takes to be successful in the world of art and fashion.
The next verse expands on this theme, with the singer proclaiming that they have the style it takes and the other person has the connections to make it in the art world. The line "you know the people it takes" suggests that the other person has connections to the right people, while the singer has the artistic talent and style to create something that will appeal to those people.
The final verse is perhaps the most interesting, as the singer seems to be mocking the very idea of art itself. They claim that a Brillo box is art, despite the fact that it is something anyone could buy at a supermarket. The line "they have a style that grates and I have art to make" suggests that the singer is aware of the discord between the Velvet Underground's music and the art scene they are a part of.
Overall, Style It Takes is a biting critique of the art world, and the way that money and connections often matter more than actual artistic talent.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got the money, I've got the time
You may have wealth, while I have sufficient availability, let's align these resources and spend time together.
You want your freedom, make your freedom mine
You desire to be unrestricted, so let me manage that freedom on your behalf.
'Cause I've got the style it takes and money is all that it takes
I possess the necessary flair and all that is required to succeed is money, which I have.
You've got connections and I've got the art
Your social network is in place, while I excel in artistic creation.
You like my attention and I like your looks and I have the style it takes and you know the people it takes
You desire my interest and I appreciate your attractiveness, I possess the appropriate charm and you have the social connections to thrive in our setting.
Why don't you sit right over there, we'll do a movie portrait
Let us create a film of you from that chair.
I'll turn the camera on and I won't even be there
I'll set up the camera and leave it running without any interference.
A portrait that moves, you look great I think
Your outward appearance is commendable, and we'll capture that appearance in a moving portrait.
I'll put the Empire State Building on your wall, Watch the sun rise above it in your room
I'll install a visual representation of the Empire State Building on your wall and have the sun sequentially appear over it in the morning.
Wallpaper art, a great view
A visually appealing wall that adds value in your space.
I've got a Brillo box and I say it's art, It's the same one you can buy at any supermarket
I have a readily available Brillo box that I designate as an artwork, even though it is a mundane object anyone can purchase from a store.
'Cause I've got the style it takes And you've got the people it takes
Because I possess the necessary modishness and you have the sufficient social connections, we can succeed together.
This is a rock group called The Velvet Underground, I show movies on them, Do you like their sound
I display films of a rock band named The Velvet Underground, do you enjoy their music?
'Cause they have a style that grates and I have art to make
Their music provokes a particular reaction in people and I have art to create in response to that reaction.
Let's do a movie here next week, We don't have sound but you're so great, You don't have to speak
We'll shoot a film here next week, without audio, but you don't have to dialogue as you're great without words.
You've got the style it takes (Kiss), You've got the style it takes (Eat), I've got the style it takes (Couch), We've got the style it takes (Kiss)
You have the right technique for kissing, you possess the skill for eating, I'm proficient in a relaxed lifestyle while together we possess a suitable style to prosper.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE, LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@elenaemilycociorva9560
LYRICS:
You've got the money, I've got the time
You want your freedom, make your freedom mine
'Cause I've got the style it takes
and money is all that it takes
You've got connections and I've got the art
You like my attention and I like your looks
and I have the style it take
and you know the people it takes
Why don't you sit right over there, we'll do a movie portrait
I'll turn the camera on and I won't even be there
A portrait that moves, you look great I think
I'll put the Empire State Building on your wall
For 24 hours glowing on your wall
Watch the sun rise above it in your room
Wallpaper art, a great view
I've got a Brillo box and I say it's art
It's the same one you can buy at any supermarket
'Cause I've got the style it takes
And you've got the people it takes
This is a rock group called The Velvet Underground
I show movies on them
Do you like their sound
'Cause they have a style that grates and I have art to make
Let's do a movie here next week
We don't have sound but you're so great
You don't have to speak
You've got the style it takes (Kiss)
You've got the style it takes (Eat)
You’ve got the style it takes (Couch)
You’ve got the style it takes (Kiss)
@j.dovales8713
Love the look on their faces in the beginning like, "Let's do this."
@rosemarymills1671
JC had the sweetest smile when he looked at Lou. Endearing, like a big brother or something.
@RobinLaRoca
I love the way they just look at each other, smile, nod, then off they go.
@Lichfieldgardens
When John sings 'this is the rock group called VA', I cannot help but bursting into tears.
@ralphdrake8659
Me too
@geirsakariassen4728
VU@@alexstrasser1924
@richardbanker3910
Such a beautiful song and so exquisitely performed. I love this album.,genius work by Lou Reed and John Cale. A fascinating picture of creativity.
@franzkafka77
Never has something been captured like this. An artist and his life, work and times committed to what can only be called opera so soon after his death by people who were there and participated in it. Andy's nickname: Drella- a portmanteau of Dracula and Cinderella. The performance at the Brooklyn Academy of Music had to be an emotional moment for Reed and Cale. The talent is evidenced everywhere.
@franzkafka77
Brooklyn Academy of Music. No audience. A masterpiece but both men came away saying that they'd never work with the other again.
@OsvaldoPaese
This was an excellent album in my opinion. I'm still not tired of it. Great melodies and lyrics.