Although Susan Boyle is singing the Lou Reed song Perfect Day on her new album, Lou was not willing to give permission to have Susan sing his song on America's Got Talent. Susan had been scheduled to perform that song on Wednesday night, and had flown over from the UK to Los Angeles specifically to sing that song. She rehearsed it and people had flown from all over the world to watch her sing it, but two hours before showtime, Lou said no.
So, Susan, who was in her hotel room when she heard the news, broke down and then canceled her performance and went home. "Susan is a very sensitive soul, and she takes her work very seriously...she was very upset about the situation. She knew a lot of of fans had flown in especially to watch her perform and felt she had let them down. She was heartbroken and had put so much effort in to this performance. It's a real shame."
It is a shame. I don't understand why Lou would not to let her sing his song. I think it is kind of a cold thing for him to do. Most people do not even remember who Lou Reed is and this would have been a chance for his music to be exposed to an entirely new audience.
she's too fragile for this business and Simon has to put an end to this shit. let her sing and forget about live performances.
ReplyDeleteJackass. She's not Perfect enough for him? (And yet he's still going to get a massive payout for the song being on her album?) Oh to the hell no. I hope she pulls that song off that album pronto.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for artists having a say on how, when and where their work is used, but he's let this song be covered by plenty of other people.
ReplyDeleteThat was harsh.
He's always been a jerk...
ReplyDeleteSomething about this is totally off. If she really needed clearance to sing his song, why was the decision made two hours before showtime? Had Lou Reed agreed, then changed his mind?
ReplyDeleteClearly, this woman has issues. To turn around and go home because she couldn't sing a particular song, is beyond sad. I think if she were truly well-balanced, she would have said fine and chosen something else to perform. Choosing to leave is letting down her fans, instead of staying and soldiering on.
When I first heard about this I had no idea that she was covering it on her next album. If it was okay for the album why would he pull it for a live performance? Was this about Susan or was this about AGT? Either way now his actions no longer make any sense.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if you cover a song on a cd what the legal boundaries are for performances? In other words why allow her to record it but not allow her to promote it?
I strongly disagree (and I'm surprised this song is on her CD). They didn't clear the rights before she began to rehearse? Foolish.
ReplyDeleteThese shows are all about money, not art. Serious composers want their music to be appreciated by music lovers, not people who love it for 5 minutes, then delete it when all their friends move on to the next big thing.
Reed is a breath of fresh air. He may not have been able to stop her from recording it (publishers do that). But he can stop it from becoming "lite" music on TV (and then the internet). Bravo.
Those not in power just love to
ReplyDeletego on a little power trip when they have the chance for their twisted enjoyment.
What's he really after, a royalty
check from the Simon Cowell money machine?
I know when you write a song for an artist, you give them permission first to sing it on cd. Any performance of the song has to be approved by the writer who can give this permission in the beginning when the song was given to the artist to sing on cd, like Dolly did for Whitney.
ReplyDeleteIn some other instances like this one, you have to ask permission each time you want to sing the song live.
Thanks Montana.
ReplyDeleteI'm no Boyle fan, but I think Lou Reed is acting a fool.
ReplyDeleteI would think an artist would be honored that a fellow artist wants to record and perform his or her song. There's so much amazing music the world would have missed out on if musicians didn't reinterpret works of other musicians.
Who knows. Boyle could have done something amazing with Reed's music. I think he needs to get over himself.
I don't think anything about this story is true. I don't even think SB was even scheduled to be on AGT last night.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anything about this story is true. I don't even think SB was even scheduled to be on AGT last night.
ReplyDeleteAgree with the others, she is too fragile to be in the business. That said, I think there must be more to it than Lou pulling the plug on the song and her leaving for home in tears.
ReplyDelete@anarchi - THANK YOU!!! I was reading the story and I was just going...'Yeah, like Lou's really going to go for this'. Kudos to Lou for sticking to his guns and not letting one of his songs become fluff. And Susan Boyle is very unstable. Everything I've read and heard about her screams that she's going to end up killing herself or in a mental institution in the next year.
ReplyDeleteAnd Enty, most people who care about music or pop art know who Lou Reed is. Keywords...MOST people.
I think Reed is a fool. SB's cover of Wild Wild Horses by the Stones is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThis is what happens when you pluck a cat lady out of obscurity and make her mega famous. Just let her go back to her marmite, Simon!!
ReplyDeleteIf her soul is so sensitive how could she be "heartbroken" about letting all of those fans who came for her down? If someone is going to fly in to hear someone sing that won't care what she sings as long as she puts on a performance. I also question why she has to have the go ahead to sing a song.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone seen footage of Elvis Vegas Concerts. I mean that dude was singing Neil Diamond, The Beatles, country songs, gospel. Do you think John, Paul, George, & Ringo all had to sign paperwork for someone to do a cover? Or what about cover bands who go and perform all over the place?
This lady needs to grow a pair of you know what, quit being a childish hag, and get her * together. Sensitive soul my butt, that's the stupidest load of garbage I have ever heard. The break she has been given at her age is unheard of, she better not screw it up.
You have to pay to play, plain and simple. Good for Lou to stick to his guns. They obviously paid for the licensing for the CD. They obviously did not play for her to sing it live on TV. Cheapskates! It's not like Simon is broke. How much could it have cost anyways?!?!? I just hate it when people with plenty of money try to cheat others out of what is rightfully due them.
ReplyDelete^^ how do you think they got so rich in the first place?
ReplyDeleteI thought Lou Reed was dead. Or was that Jerry Reed?
ReplyDeleteAnd for those people who still don't get it, Susan Boyle is, to be quite blunt, mildly retarded. She can't just "grow a pair" or get over it. Her mind isn't capable of such things. Sorry.
As a songwriter, there is not a whole lot you can do to stop someone else from recording a version of your song, if your song has already been released. It's in the US Copyright Act of 1909, I believe it's called "compulsory license" or something like that. It's been a while since my music publishing class....*L*. You do have to let the author/ publisher know that you have recorded it before it's released and you have to give credit to the author/ publisher as well so they can get paid for sales of the song.
ReplyDeleteTo use a song on a TV show though, that's a different kind of license...synchronization rights, I think it's called. I might be wrong. Like I said, it's been a while.
@chopchop: Jerry Reed.
ReplyDeleteAs a member of the VU, I can see why he would view America's Got Talent as anathema. I wish she could have performed the song, but I'm glad he put his foot down, too; a mixed bag.
Sadly, you're right about Susan Boyle.
Hey Lou~valium would have helped that bash
ReplyDeleteWhy on earth wasn't the song cleared BEFORE she flew out? Ridiculous. And I guess this might be a stupid question but why didn't she just sing another song??? I mean she is a singer...I get they have to rehearse but isn't the gift being able to do it pretty much anytime?
ReplyDeletewhat chopchop says ! - Sad to say that Susan is mildly retarded, which doesn't detract from the God given gift she has. But then a lot of performers have some kind of problem (Britney, anyone ?) I enjoy her album and would buy another, it would be better for her maybe to record and forget the live performances, they must be very hard on her. Either way I only wish Susan the very best.
ReplyDeleteLou is an ass. He treated Nico like crap, too, and was stingy with his songs. I suppose that's his right, but perhaps he shouldn't have given her permission to record it, since it goes to follow that she'd be expected to perform it live.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me sick how people are pushing this woman to do something she's not quite emotionally equipped for. The same goes for Britney. Greedy fucks.
Lou is an well-known ass of EPIC proportions. I can't believe Laurie Anderson married him. Yuck.
ReplyDeleteHe's always been very protective of his music, and he's always been very moody and crotchety. Was it kind or nice, certainly not. I think many people look at these shows as glorified karaoke contests. She's going to have a problem if she's this sensitive, the music industry is crueler than the movie industry. She seems like a nice person but you can't take everything so personally. She has a beautiful voice, it can't be one song or nothing. Someone should have had a prepared repertoire for her in case this happens. What singer can only sing one song or go home? It's odd.
ReplyDeleteLou Reed has always been an asshole. When Bowie was performing in Berlin once he covered White Light White Heat and said "This is a song by my friend Lou Reed...I think he's my friend". Lou Reed is not known for being nice to anyone, and is known as one of the nastiest people in music. He also won't perform any songs from Transformer or Berlin when he does perform live, his two best selling albums. I say good for him. I love Perfect Day, and if he won't perform it, I surely don't wanna hear Susan Boyle sing it on America's Got Talent. And I can see why Lou Reed wouldn't want such a beautiful song performed on such a joke of a show.
ReplyDeleteTeam Lou.
Team Lou.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, Lou does not need the audience that adores Susan Boyle. He does his own thing and probably isn't concerned if he's considered an asshat. He is Lou Reed. I doubt it was about money.