This is about transvestites who come to New York City and become prostitutes. "Take a walk on the wild side" is what they say to potential customers.
Each verse introduces a new character. There is Holly, Candy, Little Joe, Sugar Plum Fairy, and Jackie. The characters that are all cronies of the infamous Andy Warhol Factory, as was Lou.
"Little Joe" refers to Joe Dallesandero, who was also one of Andy's kids in the factory. He was in several films by Warhol. Sugar Plum Fairy is the nickname of actor Joe Campbell.
"Holly," "Candy," and "Jackie" are based on Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, and Jackie Curtis. They are all real drag queens who appeared in Warhol's 1972 movie Women In Revolt. Woodlawn also appeared in Warhol's 1970 movie Trash, and Curtis was in Warhol's 1968 movie Flesh.
Reed: "I always thought it would be kind of fun to introduce people to characters they maybe hadn't met before, or hadn't wanted to meet."
This was not banned by the notoriously conservative BBC or by many US radio stations because censors did not understand phrases like "giving head." Depending on the regional US market, the song was edited for what we now call political correctness. Reed leads into the female vocalists' "Doo, doo-doo" hook with the words, "And the colored girls say," but some stations played a version that replaced the phrase with, "And the girls all say." In 1972, 3 to 3-1/2 minute songs were still the rule for radio, so this was edited accordingly.
Reed struggled with his sexuality for most of his life. His parents even tried to "cure" his homosexuality.
This came out at a time when audiences were intrigued by cross-dressing and homosexuality in music. "Glam Rock," where the performers wore feminine clothes, was big, and artists like Bowie and Elton John were attracting fans both gay and straight.
Reed was never strictly homosexual..just figured I'd clarify that. He claimed bisexuality for years, and then later revoked it, saying he merely became comfortable with and having "developed a taste" for men (as well as women) after doing some experimenting.
Reed was never strictly homosexual..just figured I'd clarify that. He claimed bisexuality for years, and then later revoked it, saying he merely became comfortable with and having "developed a taste" for men (as well as women) after doing some experimenting.
This is about transvestites who come to New York City and become prostitutes. "Take a walk on the wild side" is what they say to potential customers.
Each verse introduces a new character. There is Holly, Candy, Little Joe, Sugar Plum Fairy, and Jackie. The characters that are all cronies of the infamous Andy Warhol Factory, as was Lou.
"Little Joe" refers to Joe Dallesandero, who was also one of Andy's kids in the factory. He was in several films by Warhol. Sugar Plum Fairy is the nickname of actor Joe Campbell.
"Holly," "Candy," and "Jackie" are based on Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, and Jackie Curtis. They are all real drag queens who appeared in Warhol's 1972 movie Women In Revolt. Woodlawn also appeared in Warhol's 1970 movie Trash, and Curtis was in Warhol's 1968 movie Flesh.
Reed: "I always thought it would be kind of fun to introduce people to characters they maybe hadn't met before, or hadn't wanted to meet."
This was not banned by the notoriously conservative BBC or by many US radio stations because censors did not understand phrases like "giving head." Depending on the regional US market, the song was edited for what we now call political correctness. Reed leads into the female vocalists' "Doo, doo-doo" hook with the words, "And the colored girls say," but some stations played a version that replaced the phrase with, "And the girls all say." In 1972, 3 to 3-1/2 minute songs were still the rule for radio, so this was edited accordingly.
Reed struggled with his sexuality for most of his life. His parents even tried to "cure" his homosexuality. This came out at a time when audiences were intrigued by cross-dressing and homosexuality in music. "Glam Rock," where the performers wore feminine clothes, was big, and artists like Bowie and Elton John were attracting fans both gay and straight.
Reed was never strictly homosexual..just figured I'd clarify that. He claimed bisexuality for years, and then later revoked it, saying he merely became comfortable with and having "developed a taste" for men (as well as women) after doing some experimenting.
Reed was never strictly homosexual..just figured I'd clarify that. He claimed bisexuality for years, and then later revoked it, saying he merely became comfortable with and having "developed a taste" for men (as well as women) after doing some experimenting.
@JosephWolf Also Holly and Candy were/are transgender women. They were not drag queens.
@JosephWolf Also Holly and Candy were/are transgender women. They were not drag queens.