Nico: The Marble Index

Nico was one of the most original singers to emerge in the 1960's. She it known to some people because of the Velvet Underground'd first album, "The Velvet Underground and Nico." As a teenager she appeared in Fellini's "La dolce vita." She then became a model. Later she met Andy Warhol, and this led to her appearance on that album. She sang some of Lou Reed's best lyrics on that album. "All Tomorrow's Parties" is one of my favorite songs. Nico never had any hit songs, but she had dedicated followers. She had a somewhat detached sounding voice. On "The Marble Index" she sang and played the harmonium.John Cale played instruments on this album and did the arrangements. Her music is reminds me of some of the composers of the Twentieth Century, particularly Schönberg and Webern. In concert she would often perform by herself, singing and playing the harmonium.  To me her recording of the Doors' "The End" was much more chilling than the original. The recordings of her live performance are among my favorites. She may seem detached at times, but there is an intensity to her singing. Among the musicians with whom she worked are Jackson Browne, Brian Eno and Marc Almond. She died in Ibiza when she had a heart attack while riding her bicycle. She hit her head and had a brain hemorrhage. It is said that she was on her way to buy drugs. (The manner of her death led me to start wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle.)

Na shledanou.